Stockholders' Deficit Stockholder's Rights Plan (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2015

Shareholder's Rights Plan [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

Stockholders' Deficit

Preferred and Preference Stocks

NIC has authorized 30 million shares of preferred stock, none of which have been issued, with a par value of $1.00 per share. NIC has authorized 10 million shares of preference stock with a par value of $1.00 per share. Currently, Series B Nonconvertible Junior Preference Stock ("Series B") and Series D Convertible Junior Preference Stock ("Series D") are outstanding.

The UAW holds the Series B and is currently entitled to elect one member of our Board of Directors. As of October 31, 2015 and 2014, there was one share of Series B Preference stock with a par value of $1.00 per share authorized and outstanding.

As of October 31, 2015 and 2014, there were 70,282 and 100,702 shares, respectively, of Series D issued and outstanding. These shares were issued with a par value of $1.00 per share, an optional redemption price, and a liquidation preference of $25 per share plus accrued dividends. The Series D stock may be converted into NIC common stock at the holder's option (subject to adjustment in certain circumstances); upon conversion each share of Series D stock is converted to 0.3125 shares of common stock. The Series D stock ranks senior to common stock as to dividends and liquidation and receives dividends at a rate of 120% of the cash dividends on common stock as declared on an as-converted basis.

Common Stock

At October 31, 2015, the Company's amount of authorized shares of Common Stock was 220 million, with a par value of $0.10 per share. At October 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had 81.5 million shares and 81.4 million shares, respectively, of common stock outstanding, net of common stock held in treasury.

Additional Paid in Capital

In connection with the sale of the 2014 Convertible Notes, the Company purchased call options for $125 million and entered into separate warrant transactions whereby the Company sold warrants for $87 million to purchase shares of common stock. As the call options and warrants are indexed to our common stock, we recognized them in permanent equity in Additional paid in capital, and will not recognize subsequent changes in fair value as long as the instruments remain classified as equity. On October 15, 2014, upon maturity, the 2014 Convertible Notes were paid in full and the purchased call options expired worthless.

In accounting for the issuance of the 2018 Convertible Notes, a debt component and an equity component were separated resulting in the debt component being recorded at its estimated fair value without consideration given to the conversion feature. We estimated the fair value of the liability component at $177 million. The resulting equity component of $22 million, net of $1 million of discount, was recorded inAdditional paid in capital and will not be remeasured as long as it continues to meet the conditions for equity classification. Issuance costs were also allocated between the debt and equity components resulting in an immaterial amount being recorded as a reduction in Additional paid in capital.

In accounting for the issuance of the 2019 Convertible Notes, the debt component and equity component of the 2019 Convertible Notes were separated, resulting in the debt component being recorded at its estimated fair value without consideration given to the conversion feature. We estimated the fair value of the liability component at $367 million. The resulting equity component of $44 million was recorded in Additional paid in capital and will not be remeasured as long as it continues to meet the conditions for equity classification. Issuance costs were also allocated between debt and equity components with $1 million being recorded as a reduction in Additional paid in capital.

For more information on our 2014 Convertible Notes, 2018 Convertible Notes, and 2019 Convertible Notes, see Note 10, Debt.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Changes in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, included in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Deficit, consisted of the following:

(in millions)	Unrealized Gain on Marketable Securities		Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Defined Benefit Plans			Total
Balance as of October 31, 2014	$	1	$	(127	)	$	(2,137	)	$	(2,263	)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	—		(160		)	(309		)	(469		)
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss	—		—			131			131
Net current-period other comprehensive loss	—		(160		)	(178		)	(338		)
Balance as of October 31, 2015	$	1	$	(287	)	$	(2,315	)	$	(2,601	)

(in millions)	Unrealized Gain on Marketable Securities		Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Defined Benefit Plans			Total
Balance as of October 31, 2013	$	—	$	(75	)	$	(1,749	)	$	(1,824	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	1		(52		)	(491		)	(542		)
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss	—		—			103			103
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	1		(52		)	(388		)	(439		)
Balance as of October 31, 2014	$	1	$	(127	)	$	(2,137	)	$	(2,263	)

The following table displays the amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss and the affected line item in the Consolidated Statements of Operations:

	Location in Consolidated Statements of Operations	2015			2014
Defined benefit plans
Amortization of prior service benefit	Selling, general and administrative expenses	$	(4	)	$	(4	)
Amortization of actuarial loss	Selling, general and administrative expenses	136			109
	Total before tax	132			105
	Tax expense	(1		)	(2		)
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax		$	131		$	103

Dividend Restrictions

Under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, dividends may only be paid out of surplus or out of net profits for the year in which the dividend is declared or the preceding year, and no dividend may be paid on common stock at any time during which the capital of outstanding preferred stock or preference stock exceeds our net assets.

Certain debt instruments, including our Senior Notes indenture, our Loan Agreement with regard to the Tax Exempt Bonds, our Amended Term Loan Credit Facility, and our Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility, contain terms that include various financial covenants and restrictions, including, among others, certain limitations on dividends. We have not paid dividends on our common stock since 1980.