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Post Retirement Benefit Plans - Number of Participants in Defined Benefit Plans (Detail) - Participant Participant in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Oct. 31, 2016 | Oct. 31, 2015
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants (participant) | 1,573 | 1,869
Vested former employees (participant) | 2,149 | 2,083
Retirees and beneficiaries (participant) | 4,114 | 4,050
United States |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants (participant) | 1,405 | 1,509
Vested former employees (participant) | 1,484 | 1,525
Retirees and beneficiaries (participant) | 2,565 | 2,480
Non-United States | Germany |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants (participant) | 95 | 105
Vested former employees (participant) | 60 | 57
Retirees and beneficiaries (participant) | 258 | 255
Non-United States | United Kingdom |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants (participant) | 0 | 133
Vested former employees (participant) | 462 | 399
Retirees and beneficiaries (participant) | 699 | 718
Non-United States | Netherlands |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants (participant) | 73 | 74
Vested former employees (participant) | 89 | 81
Retirees and beneficiaries (participant) | 534 | 540
Non-United States | Other International |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants (participant) | 0 | 48
Vested former employees (participant) | 54 | 21
Retirees and beneficiaries (participant) | 58 | 57
Postretirement Health Care and Life Insurance Benefits |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants (participant) | 22 | 25
Retirees and beneficiaries (participant) | 704 | 757
Postretirement Health Care and Life Insurance Benefits | United States |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants (participant) | 12 | 12
Retirees and beneficiaries (participant) | 616 | 667
Postretirement Health Care and Life Insurance Benefits | South Africa |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants (participant) | 10 | 13
Retirees and beneficiaries (participant) | 88 | 90

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