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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2011
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles of consolidation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of our manufacturing operations and our financial services operations, including VIEs of which we are the primary beneficiary. The effects of transactions among consolidated entities have been eliminated to arrive at the consolidated amounts. Certain reclassifications were made to prior year amounts to conform to the 2011 presentation.


We prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for comprehensive annual financial statements.


The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2010 and should be read in conjunction with the disclosures therein. In our opinion, these interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of annual operating results.


Variable interest entities consolidation
We are the primary beneficiary of several VIEs, primarily joint ventures, established to manufacture or distribute products and enhance our operational capabilities. We have determined for certain of our variable interests that we are the primary beneficiary as we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and have the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Accordingly, we include in our consolidated financial statements the assets and liabilities and results of operations of those entities, even though we may not own a majority voting interest. The liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating these VIEs do not represent additional claims on our general assets; rather they represent claims against the specific assets of the consolidated entities. Assets of these entities are not available to satisfy claims against our general assets.


We are also involved with other VIEs, which we do not consolidate because we are not the primary beneficiary. Our financial support and maximum loss exposure relating to these non-consolidated VIEs are not material to our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Equity method accounting
We use the equity method to account for our investments in entities that we do not control under the voting interest or variable interest models, but where we have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies. Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates represents our share of the net loss of these entities.
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Significant estimates and assumptions are used for, but are not limited to, pension and other postretirement benefits, allowance for doubtful accounts, sales of receivables, income tax contingency accruals and valuation allowances, product warranty accruals, asbestos and other product liability accruals, asset impairment, and litigation-related accruals. Actual results could differ from our estimates.