Stockholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2015

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Stock Issuance and Stock Repurchase Program

Stockholders’ Equity

Our authorized capital stock consists of 400 million shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“common stock”), and 15 million shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. At October 31, 2015, we had 174.8 million shares of common stock issued and outstanding, 9.7 million shares of common stock reserved for outstanding stock options and restricted stock units, 7.5 million shares of common stock reserved for future stock option and award issuances, 5.9 million shares of common stock reserved for conversion of our 0.5% Senior Notes, and 0.5 million shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our employee stock purchase plan. As of October 31, 2015, no shares of preferred stock have been issued.

Stock Issuance

In November 2013, in anticipation of the Shapell Acquisition, we issued 7.2 million shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a price to the public of $32.00 per share. We received $220.4 million of net proceeds from the issuance.

Stock Repurchase Program

In March 2003, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 20 million shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value per share, in open market transactions or otherwise, for the purpose of providing shares for our various benefit plans.

On December 16, 2014, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of 20 million shares of our common stock in open market transactions or otherwise for the purpose of providing shares for the Company’s equity award and other employee benefit plans and for any other and additional purpose or purposes as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Additionally, our Board of Directors terminated, effective December 31, 2014, our March 2003 share repurchase program. The following table provides information about the share repurchase programs for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013:

	2015		2014		2013
Number of shares purchased (in thousands)	1,665		2,947		498
Average price per share	$	34.17	$	30.80	$	30.90
Remaining authorization at October 31 (in thousands)	18,535		5,321		8,268

Stockholder Rights Plan and Transfer Restriction

In June 2007, we adopted a shareholder rights plan (“2007 Rights Plan”). The rights issued pursuant to the 2007 Rights Plan will become exercisable upon the earlier of (i) 10 days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock, or (ii) 10 business days following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock. No rights were exercisable at October 31, 2015.

On March 17, 2010, our Board of Directors adopted a Certificate of Amendment to the Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate of Amendment”). The Certificate of Amendment includes an amendment approved by our stockholders at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders that restricts certain transfers of our common stock in order to preserve the tax treatment of our net operating and unrealized tax losses. The Certificate of Amendment’s transfer restrictions generally restrict any direct or indirect transfer of our common stock if the effect would be to increase the direct or indirect ownership of any Person (as defined in the Certificate of Amendment) from less than 4.95% to 4.95% or more of our common stock or increase the ownership percentage of a Person owning or deemed to own 4.95% or more of our common stock. Any direct or indirect transfer attempted in violation of this restriction would be void as of the date of the prohibited transfer as to the purported transferee.