Stock-Based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2011

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

NOTE 11—STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock-based compensation is accounted for in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation,” which requires companies to estimate the fair value of share-based awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as an expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations over the requisite service periods. The Company uses the straight-line single option method of expensing stock options to recognize compensation expense in its consolidated statements of operations for all share-based awards. Because share-based compensation expense is based on awards that are ultimately expected to vest, share-based compensation expense will be reduced to account for estimated forfeitures. ASC 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. No stock options were granted in 2011, 2010 or 2009. For any options granted in the future, compensation expense will be based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718.

In 2001, the Company adopted the 2001 Management Equity Incentive and Compensation Plan (the “2001 Plan”). The provisions of the 2001 Plan allow the awarding of incentive and nonqualified stock options and restricted and performance shares of Class A Common Stock to key employees. The maximum number of shares that may be issued each year is determined by a formula that takes into consideration the total number of shares outstanding and is also subject to certain limits. In addition, the maximum number of incentive stock options that will be issued under the 2001 Plan during its term is 5,000,000 shares.

Prior to 2001, the Company had adopted a Non-statutory Stock Option Plan (the “2000 Plan”) that provides the discretionary granting of non-statutory options to key employees, and an Incentive Stock Option Plan (the “Option Plan”) that provides the discretionary granting of incentive stock options to key employees and non-statutory options for non-employees. The aggregate number of the Company’s Class A Common Stock options that may be granted under the 2000 Plan and Option Plan may not exceed 400,000 shares and 2,000,000 shares, respectively.

Under the terms of the 2001 Plan, the 2000 Plan and the Option Plan, stock options may be granted at exercise prices equal to the market value of the common stock on the date options are granted and become fully vested two years after date of grant. Options expire 10 years after date of grant.

In 2005, the Company adopted the 2005 Outside Directors Equity Award Plan (the “2005 Directors Plan”), which provides for the granting of stock options, restricted stock or stock appreciation rights to directors who are not employees of the Company. Prior to 2005, the Directors Stock Option Plan (the “Directors Plan”) provided for the granting of stock options to directors who are not employees of the Company. The aggregate number of the Company’s Class A Common Stock options, and in the case of the 2005 Directors Plan, restricted stock, that may be granted may not exceed 200,000 shares under each of these plans. Under the terms of both plans, options are granted at exercise prices equal to the market value of the common stock on the date options are granted and become exercisable immediately. Options expire 10 years after date of grant.

Stock option activity for the years ended October 31 was as follows (Shares in thousands):

	2011				2010				2009
	Shares		Weighted Average Exercise price		Shares		Weighted Average Exercise price		Shares		Weighted Average Exercise price
Beginning balance		510	$	16.14		643	$	15.91		785	$	16.01
Granted		—		—		—		—		—		—
Forfeited		1		12.72		—		—		1		13.10
Exercised		167		15.17		133		15.06		141		16.50
Ending balance		342	$	16.61		510	$	16.14		643	$	15.91

As of October 31, 2011, outstanding stock options had exercise prices and contractual lives as follows (Shares in thousands):

Range of Exercise Prices	Number Outstanding		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life
$5—$15		228		1.3
$15—$25		102		2.9
$25—$35		12		3.3

All outstanding options were exercisable as of October 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

During 2011, the Company awarded an officer, as part of the terms of his initial employment arrangement, 30,000 shares of Class A Common Stock under the 2001 Plan. These shares were issued subject to restrictions on transfer and risk of forfeiture. The sale or transfer of these shares is restricted until January 1, 2016. In June 2011, 7,500 of such shares vested with an expense of $0.5 million. The remaining shares vest in equal installments of 7,500 shares each on January 1, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. When shares vest, they are no longer subject to any risk of forfeiture. The Company’s results of operations did not include share based compensation expense for stock options for 2011, 2010, or 2009 respectively.

Under the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan and the 2005 Directors Plan, the Company granted 40,215 and 11,144 shares of restricted stock with a weighted average grant date fair value of $60.46 and $64.59, respectively, in 2011. The Company granted 134,721 and 14,480 shares of restricted stock with a weighted average grant date fair value of $54.88 and $49.70, under the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan and the 2005 Directors Plan, respectively, in 2010. All restricted stock awards under the Long Term Investment Plan are fully vested at the date of award.