DISPOSITIONS	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2015
DISPOSITIONS
DISPOSITIONS	4. DISPOSITIONS In March 2015, the company closed the sale of all of the stock of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, John Deere Insurance Company and John Deere Risk Protection, Inc. (collectively the Crop Insurance operations) to Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa. These operations were included in the company’s financial services operating segment. At January 31, 2015, the total assets of $381 million and liabilities of $267 million were classified as held for sale in the consolidated financial statements, which consisted of $13 million of cash and cash equivalents, $79 million of marketable securities, $265 million of other receivables, $4 million of other intangible assets-net and $20 million of other assets. The related liabilities held for sale consisted of accounts payable and accrued expenses. The total amount of proceeds from the sale was approximately $154 million, including $5 million of cash and cash equivalents sold, with a gain recorded in other income of $42 million pretax and $40 million after-tax. The tax expense was partially offset by a change in a valuation allowance on a capital loss carryforward. The company provided certain business services for a fee during a transition period. In May 2014, the company closed the sale of the stock and certain assets of the entities that compose the company’s Water operations to FIMI Opportunity Funds. The sale was the result of the company’s intention to invest its resources in growing core businesses. At April 30, 2014, the total assets of $85 million and liabilities of $50 million were classified as held for sale in the consolidated financial statements, which consisted of $57 million of trade receivables, $10 million of other receivables, $49 million of inventories and $5 million of other assets less a $36 million asset impairment. The related liabilities held for sale consisted of accounts payable and accrued expenses of $47 million and retirement benefits and other liabilities of $3 million. The total amount of proceeds from the sale was approximately $35 million with a loss recorded in other operating expenses of $10 million pretax and after-tax in addition to the impairments recorded (see Note 5). The company provided certain business services for a fee during a transition period. In December 2013, the company closed the sale of 60 percent of its subsidiary John Deere Landscapes, LLC (Landscapes) to a private equity investment firm affiliated with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (CD&R). At October 31, 2013, the total assets of $505 million and liabilities of $120 million for these operations were classified as held for sale in the consolidated financial statements and written down to realizable value, which consisted of $153 million of trade receivables, $219 million of inventories, $37 million of property and equipment, $106 million of goodwill, $25 million of other intangible assets and $10 million of other assets less a $45 million asset impairment. The related liabilities held for sale consisted of accounts payable and accrued expenses. The total amount of proceeds from the sale at closing was approximately $305 million with no significant gain or loss, which consisted of $174 million equity contribution and third party debt raised by Landscapes. The equity contribution was in the form of newly issued cumulative convertible participating preferred units representing 60 percent of the voting rights (on an as converted basis), which rank senior to the company’s investment in Landscapes common stock as to dividends. The preferred units had an initial liquidation preference of $174 million and accrue dividends at a rate of 12 percent per annum. The liquidation preference is subject to the company’s rights under the stockholders agreement. Due to preferred dividend payment in additional preferred shares over the first two years, CD&R’s ownership increased over the two-year period. The company initially retained 40 percent of the Landscapes business in the form of common stock. As of January 2014, the company deconsolidated Landscapes and began reporting the results as an equity investment in unconsolidated affiliates. Due to the company’s continuing involvement through its initial 40 percent interest, Landscapes’ historical operating results are presented in continuing operations. Landscapes was rebranded to SiteOne Landscapes Supply, Inc. during 2015.

4. DISPOSITIONS

In March 2015, the company closed the sale of all of the stock of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, John Deere Insurance Company and John Deere Risk Protection, Inc. (collectively the Crop Insurance operations) to Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa. These operations were included in the company’s financial services operating segment. At January 31, 2015, the total assets of $381 million and liabilities of $267 million were classified as held for sale in the consolidated financial statements, which consisted of $13 million of cash and cash equivalents, $79 million of marketable securities, $265 million of other receivables, $4 million of other intangible assets-net and $20 million of other assets. The related liabilities held for sale consisted of accounts payable and accrued expenses. The total amount of proceeds from the sale was approximately $154 million, including $5 million of cash and cash equivalents sold, with a gain recorded in other income of $42 million pretax and $40 million after-tax. The tax expense was partially offset by a change in a valuation allowance on a capital loss carryforward. The company provided certain business services for a fee during a transition period.

In May 2014, the company closed the sale of the stock and certain assets of the entities that compose the company’s Water operations to FIMI Opportunity Funds. The sale was the result of the company’s intention to invest its resources in growing core businesses. At April 30, 2014, the total assets of $85 million and liabilities of $50 million were classified as held for sale in the consolidated financial statements, which consisted of $57 million of trade receivables, $10 million of other receivables, $49 million of inventories and $5 million of other assets less a $36 million asset impairment. The related liabilities held for sale consisted of accounts payable and accrued expenses of $47 million and retirement benefits and other liabilities of $3 million. The total amount of proceeds from the sale was approximately $35 million with a loss recorded in other operating expenses of $10 million pretax and after-tax in addition to the impairments recorded (see Note 5). The company provided certain business services for a fee during a transition period.

In December 2013, the company closed the sale of 60 percent of its subsidiary John Deere Landscapes, LLC (Landscapes) to a private equity investment firm affiliated with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (CD&R). At October 31, 2013, the total assets of $505 million and liabilities of $120 million for these operations were classified as held for sale in the consolidated financial statements and written down to realizable value, which consisted of $153 million of trade receivables, $219 million of inventories, $37 million of property and equipment, $106 million of goodwill, $25 million of other intangible assets and $10 million of other assets less a $45 million asset impairment. The related liabilities held for sale consisted of accounts payable and accrued expenses. The total amount of proceeds from the sale at closing was approximately $305 million with no significant gain or loss, which consisted of $174 million equity contribution and third party debt raised by Landscapes.

The equity contribution was in the form of newly issued cumulative convertible participating preferred units representing 60 percent of the voting rights (on an as converted basis), which rank senior to the company’s investment in Landscapes common stock as to dividends. The preferred units had an initial liquidation preference of $174 million and accrue dividends at a rate of 12 percent per annum. The liquidation preference is subject to the company’s rights under the stockholders agreement. Due to preferred dividend payment in additional preferred shares over the first two years, CD&R’s ownership increased over the two-year period.

The company initially retained 40 percent of the Landscapes business in the form of common stock. As of January 2014, the company deconsolidated Landscapes and began reporting the results as an equity investment in unconsolidated affiliates. Due to the company’s continuing involvement through its initial 40 percent interest, Landscapes’ historical operating results are presented in continuing operations. Landscapes was rebranded to SiteOne Landscapes Supply, Inc. during 2015.