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DISTRIBUTION AND PARTIAL SALE OF INVESTMENT - SITEONE
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2017
DISTRIBUTION AND PARTIAL SALE OF INVESTMENT - SITEONE  
DISTRIBUTION AND PARTIAL SALE OF INVESTMENT - SITEONE

(19)  In December 2016, the Company sold approximately 38 percent of its interest in SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. (SiteOne) resulting in gross proceeds of $114 million and a gain of $105 million pretax or $66 million after-tax. In April 2017, the Company sold an additional 68 percent of its then remaining interest in SiteOne resulting in gross proceeds of $184 million and a gain of $176 million pretax or $111 million after-tax. The gains in both periods were recorded in other income in the agriculture and turf operating segment. The proceeds from the April sale were received in the fiscal third quarter and were presented in other receivables at April 30, 2017. After the December sale, the Company retained approximately a 15 percent ownership interest in SiteOne and approximately a 5 percent ownership interest after the April sale.

Prior to April 2017, the Company’s representation on the SiteOne board of directors allowed the Company to exercise significant influence, and therefore, the investment in SiteOne was accounted for using the equity method. In March 2017, the Company reduced its representation on the SiteOne board of directors. As a result, at April 30, 2017 the remaining investment in SiteOne of $90 million was recorded as an available for sale security and presented in marketable securities.