Stockholders' equity (deficit)

9 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2012

Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' equity (deficit)

Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)

Stockholder Rights Plan

In June 2012, our Board of Directors adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan (the "Rights Plan") and initially declared a dividend of one right on each outstanding share of the Company's common stock held of record as of the close of business on June 29, 2012. Pursuant to the Rights Plan, each share of common stock of the Company is now associated with one preferred stock purchase right. Each right entitles stockholders to buy a unit representing one one-thousandth of a share of a new series of preferred stock of the Company for $140.00. Under certain circumstances, if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Company's common stock, each right (other than rights held by the acquiror) will, unless the rights are redeemed by the Company, become exercisable upon payment of the exercise price of $140.00 for common stock of the Company having a market value of twice the exercise price of the right. The rights may be redeemed by the Company for $0.001 per right at any time until the tenth business day following the first public announcement of the acquisition of beneficial ownership of 15% of the Company's common stock. The rights expire on June 18, 2013.

Share Repurchase Programs

In September 2011, a special committee of our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to $175 million worth of the Company's common stock in the open market or in any private transaction.

In October 2011, the Company entered into a variable term accelerated share repurchase ("ASR") agreement with a third-party financial institution to purchase shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $100 million. Under the ASR agreement, the Company paid the financial institution $100 million and received an initial delivery of 2,380,952 shares. The value of the delivered shares on the date of purchase was $80 million at $33.60 per share, and was included in Common stock held in treasury in our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of October 31, 2011. The remaining $20 million was included in Additional paid in capital in our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of October 31, 2011.

In November 2011, the ASR program concluded and the Company received an additional 161,657 shares for a total of 2,542,609 shares. The final settlement was based upon the volume weighted average price of the Company's common stock (subject to a discount agreed upon with the financial institution) over an averaging period. With the conclusion of the agreement, the remaining $20 million included in Additional paid in capital was reclassified to Common stock held in treasury.

In October 2011, the Company entered into an open market share repurchase ("OMR") agreement with a third-party financial institution to purchase the remaining $75 million worth of the Company's common stock authorized by a special committee of our Board of Directors in September 2011. The OMR commenced in November 2011, following the completion of the ASR program. In January 2012, the OMR concluded with the Company repurchasing 1,905,600 shares of our common stock. Repurchases of $70 million were settled in cash during the three months ended January 31, 2012, and the remaining $5 million was settled in cash during the three months ended April 30, 2012. The share repurchase program expired upon its completion.