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Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Summary of Changes in Equity (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Apr. 30, 2017 | Apr. 30, 2016 | Apr. 30, 2017 | Apr. 30, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | $ 957.9 | $ 1,059.9
Net income | $ 39.9 | $ 32.5 | 47.9 | 22.6
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Foreign currency translation | 10.4 | 46.3 | 1.2 | 18.0
Interest rate derivative | 0.2 | 0.0 | 4.8 | 0.0
Other comprehensive income (loss), derivatives qualifying as hedges, tax |  |  | 2.9 |
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit) | 1.3 | (1.3) | 29.4 | 0.6
Other comprehensive (income) loss, pension and other postretirement benefit plans, tax |  |  | 17.5 |
Comprehensive income | 51.8 | 77.5 | 83.3 | 41.2
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | 0.0 |
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  |  | (21.6)
Net income allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests |  |  | (2.2) | (2.4)
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interest |  |  | (2.6) |
Other |  |  | 0.0 | (0.3)
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders | (24.7) | (24.8) | (49.2) | (49.3)
Dividends to noncontrolling interests |  |  | (3.1) | (2.2)
Treasury stock, value, acquired, cost method |  |  |  | (5.2)
Stock issued during period, value, restricted stock award, gross |  |  |  | 1.1
Long-term incentive shares issued |  |  | 2.7 | 1.1
Ending balance | 986.8 | 1,000.5 | 986.8 | 1,000.5
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 |  |  |  | (2.0)
Capital Stock |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | $ 141.4 | $ 139.1
Beginning balance (shares) |  |  | 47,792 | 47,814
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Treasury stock, shares, acquired |  |  |  | (110)
Stock issued during period, shares, restricted stock award, gross |  |  |  | (42)
Stock issued during period, value, restricted stock award, gross |  |  |  | $ 1.0
Long-term incentive shares issued |  |  | $ 2.6 | $ 1.0
Long-term incentive shares issued (shares) |  |  | (49) | (41)
Ending balance | $ 144.0 | $ 141.1 | $ 144.0 | $ 141.1
Ending balance (shares) | 47,841 | 47,787 | 47,841 | 47,787
Treasury Stock |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | $ (135.6) | $ (130.6)
Beginning balance (shares) |  |  | 29,050 | 29,028
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Treasury stock, shares, acquired |  |  |  | 110
Treasury stock, value, acquired, cost method |  |  |  | $ (5.2)
Stock issued during period, shares, restricted stock award, gross |  |  |  | (42)
Stock issued during period, value, restricted stock award, gross |  |  |  | $ 0.1
Long-term incentive shares issued |  |  | $ 0.1 | $ 0.1
Long-term incentive shares issued (shares) |  |  | (49) | (41)
Ending balance | $ (135.5) | $ (135.6) | $ (135.5) | $ (135.6)
Ending balance (shares) | 29,001 | 29,055 | 29,001 | 29,055
Retained Earnings |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | $ 1,340.0 | $ 1,384.5
Net income |  |  | 41.4 | 20.3
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  |  | 1.2
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders |  |  | (49.2) | (49.3)
Ending balance | $ 1,332.2 | $ 1,334.9 | 1,332.2 | 1,334.9
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 |  |  |  | (2.0)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | (398.4) | (377.4)
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Foreign currency translation |  |  | 3.5 | 18.6
Interest rate derivative |  |  | 4.8 |
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit) |  |  | 29.4 | 0.6
Ending balance | (360.7) | (358.2) | (360.7) | (358.2)
Non controlling interests |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | 10.5 | 44.3
Net income |  |  | 6.5 | 2.3
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Foreign currency translation |  |  | (2.3) | (0.6)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  |  | (22.8)
Net income allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests |  |  | (2.2) | (2.4)
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interest |  |  | (2.6) |
Other |  |  |  | (0.3)
Dividends to noncontrolling interests |  |  | (3.1) | (2.2)
Ending balance | 6.8 | 18.3 | 6.8 | 18.3
Greif, Inc. Equity |  |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  |  | 947.4 | 1,015.6
Net income |  |  | 41.4 | 20.3
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |
Foreign currency translation |  |  | 3.5 | 18.6
Interest rate derivative |  |  | 4.8 |
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit) |  |  | 29.4 | 0.6
Comprehensive income |  |  | 79.1 | 39.5
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  |  | 1.2
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders |  |  | (49.2) | (49.3)
Treasury stock, value, acquired, cost method |  |  |  | (5.2)
Stock issued during period, value, restricted stock award, gross |  |  |  | 1.1
Long-term incentive shares issued |  |  | 2.7 | 1.1
Ending balance | $ 980.0 | $ 982.2 | $ 980.0 | 982.2
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 |  |  |  | $ (2.0)

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