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Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Summary of Changes in Equity (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jul. 31, 2016 | Jul. 31, 2015 | Jul. 31, 2016 | Jul. 31, 2015
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | $ 1,059.9 | $ 1,223.2
Net income | $ 46.4 | $ 9.3 | 69.0 | 58.0
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Foreign currency translation | (27.6) | 5.6 | (9.6) | (109.5)
Net reclassification of cash flow hedges to earnings, net of immaterial income tax benefit | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit) | 2.9 | (0.9) | 3.5 | 5.5
Comprehensive income (loss) | 21.7 | 14.0 | 62.9 | (45.9)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest and other |  |  |  | (10.5)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | (21.6) |
Net income allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests |  |  | (3.9) |
Other |  |  | (0.4) |
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders | (24.7) | (24.8) | (74.0) | (74.0)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest |  |  | 0.8 |
Dividends to noncontrolling interests |  |  | (3.9) | (4.0)
Stock options exercised |  |  |  | 0.2
Treasury shares acquired |  |  | (5.2) |
Restricted stock executives and directors |  |  | 1.4 | 1.4
Long-term incentive shares issued |  |  | 1.1 | 2.1
Ending balance | 994.2 | 1,092.5 | 994.2 | 1,092.5
Income tax benefit, minimum pension liability adjustment |  |  |  | 2.4
Out of Period |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | (19.8) |
Current Period |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | (3.1) |
Capital Stock |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | $ 139.1 | $ 135.5
Beginning balance (shares) |  |  | 47,814 | 47,724
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Stock options exercised |  |  |  | $ 0.2
Stock options exercised (shares) |  |  |  | 10
Treasury shares acquired (shares) |  |  | (110) |
Restricted stock executives and directors |  |  | $ 1.3 | $ 1.4
Restricted stock executives and directors (shares) |  |  | 47 | 31
Long-term incentive shares issued |  |  | $ 1.0 | $ 2.0
Long-term incentive shares issued (shares) |  |  | 41 | 49
Ending balance | $ 141.4 | $ 139.1 | $ 141.4 | $ 139.1
Ending balance (shares) | 47,792 | 47,814 | 47,792 | 47,814
Treasury Stock |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | $ (130.6) | $ (130.7)
Beginning balance (shares) |  |  | 29,028 | 29,118
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Stock options exercised (shares) |  |  |  | (10)
Treasury shares acquired |  |  | $ (5.2) |
Treasury shares acquired (shares) |  |  | 110 |
Restricted stock executives and directors |  |  | $ 0.1 |
Restricted stock executives and directors (shares) |  |  | (47) | (31)
Long-term incentive shares issued |  |  | $ 0.1 | $ 0.1
Long-term incentive shares issued (shares) |  |  | (41) | (49)
Ending balance | $ (135.6) | $ (130.6) | $ (135.6) | $ (130.6)
Ending balance (shares) | 29,050 | 29,028 | 29,050 | 29,028
Retained Earnings |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | $ 1,384.5 | $ 1,411.7
Net income |  |  | 66.4 | 59.5
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest and other |  |  |  | (0.4)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | 1.2 |
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders |  |  | (74.0) | (74.0)
Ending balance | $ 1,355.2 | $ 1,396.8 | 1,355.2 | 1,396.8
Retained Earnings | Out of Period |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | (19.8) |
Retained Earnings | Current Period |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | (3.1) |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | (377.4) | (274.4)
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Foreign currency translation |  |  | (5.3) | (87.7)
Net reclassification of cash flow hedges to earnings, net of immaterial income tax benefit |  |  |  | 0.1
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit) |  |  | 3.5 | 5.5
Ending balance | (379.2) | (356.5) | (379.2) | (356.5)
Non controlling interests |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | 44.3 | 81.1
Net income |  |  | 2.6 | (1.5)
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Foreign currency translation |  |  | (4.3) | (21.8)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest and other |  |  |  | (10.1)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | (22.8) |
Net income allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests |  |  | (3.9) |
Other |  |  | (0.4) |
Contributions from noncontrolling interest |  |  | 0.8 |
Dividends to noncontrolling interests |  |  | (3.9) | (4.0)
Ending balance | 12.4 | 43.7 | 12.4 | 43.7
Greif, Inc. Equity |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | 1,015.6 | 1,142.1
Net income |  |  | 66.4 | 59.5
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Foreign currency translation |  |  | (5.3) | (87.7)
Net reclassification of cash flow hedges to earnings, net of immaterial income tax benefit |  |  |  | 0.1
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit) |  |  | 3.5 | 5.5
Comprehensive income (loss) |  |  | 64.6 | (22.6)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest and other |  |  |  | (0.4)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | 1.2 |
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders |  |  | (74.0) | (74.0)
Stock options exercised |  |  |  | 0.2
Treasury shares acquired |  |  | (5.2) |
Restricted stock executives and directors |  |  | 1.4 | 1.4
Long-term incentive shares issued |  |  | 1.1 | 2.1
Ending balance | $ 981.8 | $ 1,048.8 | 981.8 | $ 1,048.8
Greif, Inc. Equity | Out of Period |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | (19.8) |
Greif, Inc. Equity | Current Period |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | $ (3.1) |

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