Fair value measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2014

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis

The following table presents the classification of our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at July 31, 2014:

	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Rabbi trust (a)	$	13,550	$	—	$	13,550	$	—
Foreign currency forward contracts (b)		3,688		—		3,688		—
Total assets at fair value	$	17,238	$	—	$	17,238	$	—
Liabilities:
Deferred compensation plans (c)	$	8,494	$	8,494	$	—	$	—
Foreign currency forward contracts (b)		3,966		—		3,966		—
Total liabilities at fair value	$	12,460	$	8,494	$	3,966	$	—

(a) We maintain a rabbi trust that serves as an investment to shadow our deferred compensation plan liability. The investment assets of the trust consist of life insurance policies for which we recognize income or expense based upon changes in cash surrender value.

(b) We enter into foreign currency forward contracts to reduce the risk of foreign currency exposures resulting from receivables, payables, intercompany receivables, intercompany payables and loans denominated in foreign currencies. Foreign currency forward contracts are valued using market exchange rates. These contracts are not designated as hedging instruments.

(c) Executive officers and other highly compensated employees may defer up to 100% of their salary and annual cash incentive compensation and for executive officers, up to 90% of their long-term incentive compensation, into various non-qualified deferred compensation plans. Deferrals can be allocated to various market performance measurement funds. Changes in the value of compensation deferred under these plans are recognized each period based on the fair value of the underlying measurement funds.