Stock Repurchase Program

The Company’s Board of Directors (Board) previously approved a stock repurchase program pursuant to which the Company was authorized to purchase up to $500.0 million of its common stock, and has periodically replenished the stock repurchase program to such amount. The Board replenished the stock repurchase program up to $500.0 million on April 5, 2018. The program does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and the program may be suspended or terminated at any time by the Company's Chief Financial Officer or the Board. The Company repurchases shares to offset dilution caused by ongoing stock issuances from existing equity plans for equity compensation awards and issuances related to acquisitions, and when management believes it is a good use of cash. Repurchases are transacted in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and may be made through any means including, but not limited to, open market purchases, plans executed under Rule 10b5-1(c) of the Exchange Act and structured transactions. As of October 31, 2018, $325 million remained available for further repurchases under the program.

In September 2017, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement (the September 2017 ASR) to repurchase an aggregate of $100.0 million of the Company’s common stock. Pursuant to the September 2017 ASR, the Company made a prepayment of $100.0 million and received initial share deliveries valued at $80.0 million. The remaining balance of $20.0 million was settled in the first quarter of 2018. Total shares repurchased under the September 2017 ASR were approximately 1.2 million shares, at an average purchase price of $83.80 per share.

In December 2017, the Company entered into two simultaneous accelerated share repurchase agreements (the December 2017 ASRs) to repurchase an aggregate of $200.0 million of the Company's common stock. Pursuant to the December 2017 ASRs, the Company made a prepayment of $200.0 million and received initial share deliveries of shares valued at $160.0 million. In February 2018, the Company received additional deliveries of shares valued at $20.0 million for one of the two December 2017 ASRs. The remaining balance of $20.0 million was settled in March 2018. Total shares repurchased under the December 2017 ASR were approximately 2.3 million shares, at an average purchase price of $87.08 per share.

In May 2018, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement (the May 2018 ASR) to repurchase an aggregate of $165.0 million of the Company’s common stock. Pursuant to the May 2018 ASR, the Company made a prepayment of $165.0 million and received initial share deliveries valued at $132.0 million. The remaining balance of $33.0 million was settled in October 2018. Total shares repurchased under the May 2018 ASR were approximately 1.8 million shares, at an average purchase price of $92.42 per share.

The following table summarizes stock repurchase activities as well as the reissuance of treasury stock for employee stock-based compensation purposes:



	Year Ended October 31,
	2018		2017		2016
	(in thousands, except per share price)
Shares repurchased(1)	4,688		5,413		8,506
Average purchase price per share(1)	$	89.59	$	70.21	$	49.37
Aggregate purchase price(1)	$	420,000	$	380,000	$	420,000
Reissuance of treasury stock	3,508		4,404		4,803

(1) The first quarter of fiscal 2018 includes the settlement of the $20.0 million equity forward contract related to the September 2017 ASR.