SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2018

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common Stock and Class A Common Stock

The Company has two classes of common stock that are virtually identical in all economic respects except voting rights. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share.  Each share of Class A Common Stock is entitled to a 1/10 vote per share.  Holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to receive dividends and other distributions payable in cash, property, stock or otherwise, when and if declared by the Board of Directors. In the event of liquidation, after payment of debts and other liabilities of the Company, the remaining assets of the Company will be distributable ratably among the holders of both classes of common stock.

Share Repurchases

In 1990, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program, which allows the Company to repurchase shares of Company common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions at the Company's discretion, subject to certain restrictions included in the Company's revolving credit agreement. As of October 31, 2018, the maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under this program was 4,886,353 of either or both of the Company's Class A Common Stock and the Company's Common Stock. The repurchase program does not have a fixed termination date. During fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not repurchase any shares of Company common stock under this program.

During fiscal 2018, the Company repurchased an aggregate 332,140 shares and 18,145 shares of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock, respectively, at a total cost of approximately $23.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively. The shares purchased represent shares tendered as payment of employee withholding taxes due upon the issuance of a share-based award. The shares purchased in fiscal 2018 did not impact the number of shares authorized for future purchase under the Company’s share repurchase program and are reflected as redemptions of common stock related to share-based compensation in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Such share repurchases in fiscal 2017 and 2016 were not material.

Stock Splits

In June 2018, December 2017 and March 2017, the Company's Board of Directors declared a 5-for-4 stock split on both classes of the Company's common stock. The stock splits were effected as of June 28, 2018, January 18, 2018 and April 19, 2017, respectively, in the form of a 25% stock dividend distributed to shareholders of record as of June 21, 2018, January 3, 2018 and April 7, 2017, respectively. All applicable share and per share information has been adjusted retrospectively to give effect to the 5-for-4 stock splits.