SPECIAL ITEMS	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2016
SPECIAL ITEMS
SPECIAL ITEMS	5. SPECIAL ITEMS Impairments In the fourth quarter of 2016, the company recorded a non-cash charge in cost of sales for the impairment of long-lived assets of $13 million pretax and after-tax. The assets are part of the company’s construction and forestry operations in China. The impairment is the result of a decline in forecasted financial performance that indicated it was probable the future cash flows would not cover the carrying amount of assets used to manufacture construction equipment in that country. In addition, the company recorded a non-cash charge of $12 million pretax and after-tax, in equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates for an other than temporary decline in value of an investment in a construction equipment joint venture in Brazil (see Note 26). In 2016, the company recorded non-cash charges in other operating expenses of approximately $31 million pretax for the impairment of equipment on operating leases and approximately $29 million pretax on matured operating lease inventory recorded in other assets. The impairment was the result of lower estimated values of used agriculture and construction equipment than originally estimated with the probable effect that the future cash flows would not cover the carrying amount of the net assets. The assets are part of the financial services operations (see Note 26). In the fourth quarter of 2014, the company recorded non-cash charges in cost of sales for the impairment of long-lived assets of $18 million and other assets of $16 million pretax and after-tax. The assets are part of the company’s agriculture and turf operations in China. The impairment is the result of a decline in forecasted financial performance that indicated it was probable the future cash flows would not cover the carrying amount of assets used to manufacture agricultural equipment in that country (see Note 26). In 2014, the company recorded non-cash charges of $62 million pretax, or $30 million after-tax, related to the Water operations. In the first quarter, a $26 million pretax and after-tax loss was recorded in cost of sales for the impairment of long-lived assets. In the second quarter, an additional non-cash charge of $36 million pretax, or $4 million after-tax, was recorded in other operating expenses for an impairment to write the Water operations down to fair value less costs to sell. The tax benefits recognized resulted primarily from a change in valuation allowances of the Water operations. These operations were included in the company’s agriculture and turf operating segment (see Note 26). Sale of Partial Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate In May 2016, the company received a distribution of $60 million from SiteOne that reduced the company’s investment in unconsolidated affiliates. The distribution included $4 million of a return on investment, which is shown in the statement of consolidated cash flows in undistributed earnings of unconsolidated affiliates in net cash provided by operating activities, and $56 million of a return of investment shown in other cash flows from investing activities. In May 2016, the company also sold approximately 30 percent of its interest in SiteOne in an initial public offering and terminated a service agreement resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $81 million with a total gain of $75 million pretax or $47 million after-tax. The gain is recorded in other income. The company retained approximately a 24 percent ownership interest in SiteOne. The approximate fair value of the company’s holding at the fiscal year end was $292 million. In December 2016, the company sold an additional portion of its interest in SiteOne. Details of the sale are included in Note 30.

5. SPECIAL ITEMS

Impairments

In the fourth quarter of 2016, the company recorded a non-cash charge in cost of sales for the impairment of long-lived assets of $13 million pretax and after-tax. The assets are part of the company’s construction and forestry operations in China. The impairment is the result of a decline in forecasted financial performance that indicated it was probable the future cash flows would not cover the carrying amount of assets used to manufacture construction equipment in that country. In addition, the company recorded a non-cash charge of $12 million pretax and after-tax, in equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates for an other than temporary decline in value of an investment in a construction equipment joint venture in Brazil (see Note 26).

In 2016, the company recorded non-cash charges in other operating expenses of approximately $31 million pretax for the impairment of equipment on operating leases and approximately $29 million pretax on matured operating lease inventory recorded in other assets. The impairment was the result of lower estimated values of used agriculture and construction equipment than originally estimated with the probable effect that the future cash flows would not cover the carrying amount of the net assets. The assets are part of the financial services operations (see Note 26).

In the fourth quarter of 2014, the company recorded non-cash charges in cost of sales for the impairment of long-lived assets of $18 million and other assets of $16 million pretax and after-tax. The assets are part of the company’s agriculture and turf operations in China. The impairment is the result of a decline in forecasted financial performance that indicated it was probable the future cash flows would not cover the carrying amount of assets used to manufacture agricultural equipment in that country (see Note 26).

In 2014, the company recorded non-cash charges of $62 million pretax, or $30 million after-tax, related to the Water operations. In the first quarter, a $26 million pretax and after-tax loss was recorded in cost of sales for the impairment of long-lived assets. In the second quarter, an additional non-cash charge of $36 million pretax, or $4 million after-tax, was recorded in other operating expenses for an impairment to write the Water operations down to fair value less costs to sell. The tax benefits recognized resulted primarily from a change in valuation allowances of the Water operations. These operations were included in the company’s agriculture and turf operating segment (see Note 26).

Sale of Partial Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate

In May 2016, the company received a distribution of $60 million from SiteOne that reduced the company’s investment in unconsolidated affiliates. The distribution included $4 million of a return on investment, which is shown in the statement of consolidated cash flows in undistributed earnings of unconsolidated affiliates in net cash provided by operating activities, and $56 million of a return of investment shown in other cash flows from investing activities. In May 2016, the company also sold approximately 30 percent of its interest in SiteOne in an initial public offering and terminated a service agreement resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $81 million with a total gain of $75 million pretax or $47 million after-tax. The gain is recorded in other income. The company retained approximately a 24 percent ownership interest in SiteOne. The approximate fair value of the company’s holding at the fiscal year end was $292 million. In December 2016, the company sold an additional portion of its interest in SiteOne. Details of the sale are included in Note 30.