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Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - shares	Apr. 30, 2012	Jun. 01, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Apr. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	ABM
Entity Registrant Name	ABM INDUSTRIES INC /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0000771497
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		54,074,312

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 25,411	$ 26,467
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances of $12,190 and $13,485 at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively	564,055	552,098
Prepaid income taxes	3,337	7,205
Current assets of discontinued operations	893	1,992
Prepaid expenses	49,178	41,823
Notes receivable and other	51,740	52,756
Deferred income taxes, net	41,544	40,565
Insurance recoverables	10,851	10,851
Total current assets	747,009	733,757
Insurance deposits	31,720	35,974
Other investments and long-term receivables	5,332	5,798
Deferred income taxes, net	30,117	30,948
Insurance recoverables	59,844	59,759
Other assets	40,926	43,394
Investments in auction rate securities	17,994	15,670
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates, net	14,567	14,423
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $111,388 and $97,819 at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively	61,367	60,009
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $89,683 and $78,669 at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively	117,834	128,994
Goodwill	749,234	750,872
Total assets	1,875,944	1,879,598
Current liabilities
Trade accounts payable	128,619	130,464
Accrued liabilities
Compensation	103,085	112,233
Taxes-other than income	22,599	19,144
Insurance claims	86,540	78,828
Other	107,090	102,220
Income taxes payable	5,547	307
Total current liabilities	453,480	443,196
Income taxes payable	38,732	38,236
Line of credit	266,000	300,000
Retirement plans and other	37,682	39,707
Insurance claims	262,208	262,573
Total liabilities	1,058,102	1,083,712
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 54,060,072 and 53,333,071 shares issued at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively	540	533
Additional paid-in capital	225,190	211,389
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes	(1,000)	(2,661)
Retained earnings	593,112	586,625
Total stockholders' equity	817,842	795,886
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 1,875,944	$ 1,879,598

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Trade accounts receivable, allowance	$ 12,190	$ 13,485
Property, plant and equipment, accumulated depreciation	111,388	97,819
Other intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 89,683	$ 78,669
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	54,060,072	53,333,071

- Definition

The cumulative amount of depreciation, depletion and amortization (related to property, plant and equipment, but not including land) that has been recognized in the income statement.

+ References + Details

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Revenues	$ 1,057,244	$ 1,060,083	$ 2,131,029	$ 2,089,252
Expenses
Operating	947,916	944,523	1,914,336	1,868,828
Selling, general and administrative	85,164	83,395	169,184	166,050
Amortization of intangible assets	5,301	5,666	10,850	10,959
Total expenses	1,038,381	1,033,584	2,094,370	2,045,837
Operating profit	18,863	26,499	36,659	43,415
Other-than-temporary impairment credit losses on auction rate security recognized in earnings	(313)		(313)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates, net	1,501	832	4,633	1,619
Interest expense	(2,441)	(4,317)	(5,275)	(8,363)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	17,610	23,014	35,704	36,671
Provision for income taxes	(5,863)	(8,814)	(13,317)	(14,066)
Income from continuing operations	11,747	14,200	22,387	22,605
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(35)	(8)	(45)	(24)
Net income	$ 11,712	$ 14,192	$ 22,342	$ 22,581
Net income per common share-Basic
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.22	$ 0.27	$ 0.42	$ 0.43
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
Net Income	0.22	0.27	0.42	0.43
Net income per common share-Diluted
Income from continuing operations	0.21	0.26	0.41	0.42
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
Net Income	$ 0.21	$ 0.26	$ 0.41	$ 0.42
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding
Basic	53,944	53,106	53,721	52,972
Diluted	54,963	54,159	54,728	54,026
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.145	$ 0.140	$ 0.290	$ 0.280

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 22,342	$ 22,581
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	45	24
Income from continuing operations	22,387	22,605
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by continuing operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	25,803	25,906
Deferred income taxes	(1,253)	6,005
Share-based compensation expense	5,436	4,600
Provision for bad debt	1,548	1,172
Discount accretion on insurance claims	360	436
Auction rate security credit loss impairment	313
Gain on sale of assets	(1,229)	(102)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates, net	(4,633)	(1,619)
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	4,311	738
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Trade accounts receivable	(13,405)	(20,265)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(6,338)	(9,983)
Insurance recoverables	(85)	(1,046)
Other assets and long-term receivables	7,652	3,659
Income taxes payable	9,604	2,532
Retirement plans and other non-current liabilities	(313)	(3,141)
Insurance claims	6,987	(2,747)
Trade accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(2,766)	2,774
Total adjustments	31,992	8,919
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities	54,379	31,524
Net cash provided by discontinued operating activities	1,143	1,653
Net cash provided by operating activities	55,522	33,177
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(16,875)	(10,098)
Proceeds from sale of assets and other	1,793	344
Purchase of businesses, net of cash acquired		(292,178)
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates		(793)
Proceeds from redemption of auction rate securities		5,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(15,082)	(297,725)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercises of stock options (including income tax benefit)	8,097	7,731
Dividends paid	(15,579)	(14,834)
Deferred financing costs paid	(14)	(4,991)
Borrowings from line of credit	404,000	561,500
Repayment of borrowings from line of credit	(438,000)	(306,000)
Changes in book cash overdrafts		4,986
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(41,496)	248,392
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(1,056)	(16,156)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	26,467	39,446
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	25,411	23,290
Supplemental Data:
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received	5,236	4,794
Tax effect from exercise of options		1,266
Cash received from exercise of options	8,094	6,465
Interest paid on line of credit	$ 2,915	$ 5,410

Nature of Business

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Nature of Business

1.	Nature of Business

ABM Industries Incorporated (“ABM”), through its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), is a leading provider of end-to-end integrated facilities management services to commercial, governmental, industrial, institutional, residential, and retail facilities primarily throughout the United States. The Company’s comprehensive capabilities include expansive facility services, energy solutions, commercial cleaning, maintenance and repair, HVAC, electrical, landscaping, parking and security, provided through stand-alone or integrated solutions. The Company was reincorporated in Delaware on March 19, 1985, as the successor to a business founded in California in 1909.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

2.	Unaudited Interim Financial Information

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and Article 10 of Regulation S-X under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements (and notes thereto) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011. Unless otherwise noted, all references to years are to the Company’s fiscal year, which ends on October 31. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to fairly state the information for each period contained therein have been included.

The accounting policies applied in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are the same as those applied in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended October 31, 2011, contained in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, unless indicated otherwise.

Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected to occur for the entire fiscal year or any future periods. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.

In preparing the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements, the Company has evaluated subsequent events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the date of filing with the SEC, which is the date the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements were issued.

The Company’s Parking segment reports both revenues and expenses, in equal amounts, for costs directly reimbursed from its managed parking lot clients. Parking revenues related solely to the reimbursement of expenses totaled $76.3 million and $78.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $154.1 million and $151.5 million for the six months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements reflect the accounts of ABM and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes, including those related to self-insurance reserves, allowances for doubtful accounts, sales allowances, deferred income tax assets and valuation allowances, estimates of useful lives of intangible assets, impairment tests of goodwill and other intangibles, fair value of auction rate securities, cash flow forecasts, share-based compensation expense, and contingencies and litigation liabilities. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, known or expected trends, independent valuations, and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances based on information available as of the date of the issuance of these unaudited consolidated financial statements. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in those estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements in future periods.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-04 (“ASU 2011-04”), Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. This amendment was issued to achieve common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The new guidance does not extend the use of fair value but, rather, provides guidance about how fair value should be applied where it already is required or permitted under U.S. GAAP or IFRS. ASU 2011-04 expands the disclosures about fair value measurements to include increased transparency around valuation inputs and investment categorization. ASU 2011-04 is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of ASU 2011-04 did not have a material impact on the Company’s disclosures or consolidated financial position, financial results or cash flows.

In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-11 (“ASU 2011-11”), Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. This amendment requires disclosing and reconciling gross and net amounts for financial instruments that are offset in the balance sheet, and amounts for financial instruments that are subject to master netting arrangements and other similar clearing and repurchase arrangements. ASU 2011-11 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company expects to adopt ASU 2011-11 on November 1, 2013. The adoption of ASU 2011-11 will not have a material impact on the Company’s disclosures.

In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-12 (“ASU 2011-12”), Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. This amendment defers the effective date of the requirement to present separate line items on the income statement for reclassification adjustments of items out of accumulated other comprehensive income into net income. ASU 2011-12 is effective at the same time as Accounting Standards Update 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”), so that entities will not be required to comply with the presentation requirements in ASU 2011-05 that this ASU 2011-12 is deferring. ASUs 2011-12 and 2011-05 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company expects to adopt ASUs 2011-05 and 2011-12 on November 1, 2012. The Company does not expect the adoption of these new disclosure requirements to have a material impact on its disclosures or consolidated financial position, financial results or cash flows.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 2-6
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Publisher AICPA
-Number 94-6
-Paragraph 10
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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+ Details

Net Income per Common Share

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Net Income per Common Share

3.	Net Income per Common Share

Basic net income per common share is net income divided by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share is based on the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period, adjusted to include the assumed exercise and conversion of certain stock options, restricted stock units, and performance shares. The calculation of basic and diluted net income per common share is as follows:


	Three Months Ended April 30,						Six Months Ended April 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Income from continuing operations	$	11,747		$	14,200		$	22,387		$	22,605
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(35	)		(8	)		(45	)		(24	)

Net income	$	11,712		$	14,192		$	22,342		$	22,581

Weighted-average common shares outstanding—Basic		53,944			53,106			53,721			52,972
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options		402			568			358			577
Restricted stock units		358			273			369			285
Performance shares		259			212			280			192

Weighted-average common shares outstanding—Diluted		54,963			54,159			54,728			54,026

Net income per common share
Basic	$	0.22		$	0.27		$	0.42		$	0.43
Diluted	$	0.21		$	0.26		$	0.41		$	0.42

The diluted net income per common share excludes certain stock options, restricted stock units, and performance shares since the effect of including these awards would have been anti-dilutive, as follows:


	Three Months Ended April 30,				Six Months Ended April 30,
(in thousands)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Stock options		825		733		1,092		689
Restricted stock units		21		18		63		19
Performance shares		—		—		—		34

Acquisitions

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Acquisitions

4.	Acquisitions

On December 1, 2010, the Company acquired all of the outstanding limited liability company interests of The Linc Group, LLC (“Linc”) for an aggregate purchase price of $298.7 million in cash (the “Linc Acquisition”). The operations of Linc are included in the Facility Solutions segment (previously referred to as the Engineering segment) as of the acquisition date. Linc provides end-to-end integrated facilities management services, military base operation services, and translation and other services in support of U.S. military operations. Linc’s clients include state and federal governments, commercial entities and residential customers, throughout the United States and in select international locations. This acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Pro forma financial information for this acquisition has not been provided as such information is not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. The disclosure may include leverage buyout transactions (as applicable).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 88-16
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6972119&loc=d3e1486-128463

Reference 19: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6972119&loc=d3e1383-128463

+ Details

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

5.	Fair Value of Financial Instruments

As prescribed by FASB Accounting Standards Codification 820 (“ASC 820”), Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value should maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. These inputs consist of (1) observable inputs—market data obtained from independent sources, or (2) unobservable inputs—market data determined using the Company’s own assumptions about valuation. ASC 820 establishes a hierarchy to prioritize the inputs to valuation techniques, with the highest priority being given to Level 1 inputs and the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs, as described below:

Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets;

Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs or significant value-drivers are observable in active markets; and

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

The following table presents the fair value hierarchy, carrying amounts, and fair values of the Company’s significant financial instruments as of April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011:


		April 30, 2012				October 31, 2011
	Fair Value	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
(in thousands)	Hierarchy	Amount		Value		Amount		Value
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	1	$	25,411	$	25,411	$	26,467	$	26,467
Trade accounts receivable, net	2		564,055		564,055		552,098		552,098
Notes receivable	2		6,027		6,027		5,210		5,210
Assets held in funded deferred compensation plan	1		4,945		4,945		4,717		4,717
Investments in auction rate securities	3		17,994		17,994		15,670		15,670

Total		$	618,432	$	618,432	$	604,162	$	604,162

Liabilities
Trade accounts payable	2	$	128,619	$	128,619	$	130,464	$	130,464
Interest rate swap	2		242		242		253		253
Line of credit	2		266,000		266,000		300,000		300,000

Total		$	394,861	$	394,861	$	430,717	$	430,717

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of the Company’s classes of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value:

Cash and cash equivalents are stated at nominal value which equals fair value.

The carrying value of the Company’s trade accounts receivable and payable, notes receivable, current assets of discontinued operations, prepaid expenses, and accrued liabilities approximates fair value due to their nature and short-term maturities of these instruments. Currently, there is no indication that a decrease in the value of the Company’s notes receivable is probable. Therefore, the allowances on credit losses of notes receivable are immaterial.

The fair value of the assets held in the funded deferred compensation plan is based on quoted market prices. The assets are included in “other assets” on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

For investments in auction rate securities, fair value is based on discounted cash flow valuation models, primarily utilizing unobservable inputs. See Note 6, “Auction Rate Securities,” for the roll-forwards of assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable Level 3 inputs and the sensitivity analysis of significant inputs.

Due to variable interest rates, the carrying value of outstanding borrowings under the Company’s line of credit approximates its fair value.

During the six months ended April 30, 2012, the Company had no transfers of assets or liabilities between any of the above hierarchy levels.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 44A, 44B
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 15C, 15D
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 15A
-Subparagraph a-d
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 15B
-Subparagraph a, b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 3, 10, 14, 15
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 157
-Paragraph 32, 33, 34
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 159
-Paragraph 17-22, 27, 28
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 21
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13537-108611

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
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-Paragraph 30
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14172-108612

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13504-108611

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19296-110258

+ Details

Auction Rate Securities

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Auction Rate Securities

6.	Auction Rate Securities

As of April 30, 2012, the Company holds investments in auction rate securities from four different issuers having an original principal amount of $5.0 million each (aggregating $20.0 million). These auction rate securities are debt instruments with stated maturities ranging from 2025 to 2050, for which the interest rate is designed to be reset through Dutch auctions approximately every 30 days. Auctions for these securities have not occurred since August 2007. At April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, the estimated fair value of these securities, in total, was approximately $18.0 million and $15.7 million, respectively. As of April 30, 2012, none of the Company’s auction rate securities were in an unrealized loss position. As of October 31, 2011, three of the Company’s auction rate securities, with an aggregate fair value of $10.7 million, were in a continuous unrealized loss position for more than twelve months, and the remaining auction rate security, with a fair value of $5.0 million, was not in an unrealized loss position.

The Company estimates the fair values utilizing a discounted cash flow model, which considers, among other factors, assumptions about: (1) the underlying collateral; (2) credit risks associated with the issuer; (3) contractual maturity; (4) credit enhancements associated with financial insurance guarantees, if any; and (5) assumptions about when, if ever, the security might be re-financed by the issuer or have a successful auction. Since there can be no assurance that auctions for these securities will be successful in the near future, the Company has classified its auction rate securities as long-term investments.

The following table presents the significant assumptions used to determine the fair value of the Company’s auction rate securities at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011:


Assumptions	April 30, 2012	October 31, 2011
Discount rates	L + 0.62% - L + 4.47%	L + 3.21% - L + 17.50%
Yields	2.15%, L + 2.0% - L + 3.5%	L + 2.0% - L + 3.5%
Average expected lives	4 - 10 years	4 - 10 years

L—London Interbank Offered Rate

The fair value of the auction rate securities is affected most significantly by the changes in the average expected lives of the securities, but is also impacted by the discount rate used to adjust the outcomes to their present values. If the average expected lives of the securities increase or decrease, the fair value of the securities will decrease or increase accordingly, in amounts that will vary, based on the timing of the projected cash flows and the discount rate used to calculate the present value of the expected cash flows.

The Company’s determination of whether its auction rate securities are other-than-temporarily impaired is based on an evaluation of several factors, circumstances, and known or reasonably supportable trends including, but not limited to: (1) the Company’s intent not to sell the securities; (2) the Company’s assessment that it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the securities before recovering its cost basis; (3) expected defaults; (4) available ratings for the securities or the underlying collateral; (5) the rating of the associated guarantor (where applicable); (6) the nature and value of the underlying collateral expected to service the investment; (7) actual historical performance of the security in servicing its obligations; and (8) actuarial experience of the underlying re-insurance arrangement (where applicable), which in certain circumstances may have preferential rights to the underlying collateral.

The Company’s determination of whether an other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) represents a credit loss is based upon the difference between the present value of the expected cash flows to be collected and the amortized cost basis of the security. Significant assumptions used in estimating the credit loss include: (1) default rates for the security and the mono-line insurer, if any (which are based on published historical default rates of similar securities and consideration of current market trends); and (2) the expected life of the security (which represents the Company’s view of when market efficiencies for securities may be restored). Adverse changes in any of these factors could result in additional declines in fair value and further other-than-temporary impairments in the future.

During the quarter ended April 30, 2012, the Company recorded an additional OTTI credit loss of $0.3 million for one of its auction rate securities, driven primarily from a change in the expected values of cash flows to be received in the future. The Company had previously recognized an OTTI credit loss of $1.7 million for this security as of the year ended October 31, 2011. The credit losses were based upon the difference between the present value of the expected cash flows to be collected and the amortized cost basis of the security. Significant assumptions used in estimating the credit loss include: (1) default rates for the security and the mono-line insurer, if any (which were based on published historical default rates of similar securities and consideration of current market trends); and (2) the expected life of the security (which represents the Company’s view of when market efficiencies for securities may be restored). Adverse changes in any of these factors could result in additional declines in fair value and further other-than-temporary impairments in the future.

The following table presents the changes in the cost basis and fair value of the Company’s auction rate securities for the six months ended April 30, 2012:


				Fair Value
(in thousands)	Cost Basis			(Level 3)
Balance at beginning of year	$	18,307		$	15,670
Unrealized gains included in accumulated other comprehensive loss		—			2,324
Other-than-temporary credit losses recognized in earnings		(313	)		—

Balance at April 30, 2012	$	17,994		$	17,994

At April 30, 2012, there were no unrealized gains or losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. At October 31, 2011, unrealized losses of $2.6 million ($1.6 million net of taxes) were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of available-for-sale securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 03-1
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph a, b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS115-1/124-1
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph a, b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 19, 20, 21
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27337-111563

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27198-111563

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27161-111563

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 320
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957658&loc=d3e62557-112803

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-SubTopic 10
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Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27290-111563

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 320
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957658&loc=d3e62586-112803

+ Details

Self-Insurance

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Self-Insurance

7.	Self-Insurance

The Company evaluates the adequacy of its workers’ compensation, general liability, automotive and property damage self-insurance reserves in conjunction with rates considering the most recently completed actuarial reports and subsequent experience. Effective January 1, 2012, the Company is also self-insured for certain employee medical and dental programs. Actuarial reports are expected to be completed for the Company’s significant programs using recent claims data and will result in adjustments to earnings during the third and fourth quarters of 2012.

At April 30, 2012, the Company had $96.7 million in standby letters of credit (primarily related to its workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile, and property damage programs), $31.7 million in restricted insurance deposits, and $217.4 million in surety bonds (of which $35.9 million supported insurance claim liabilities). At October 31, 2011, the Company had $96.8 million in standby letters of credit, $36.0 million in restricted insurance deposits, and $231.5 million in surety bonds (of which $30.9 million supported insurance claim liabilities).

Line of Credit Facility

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Line of Credit Facility

8.	Line of Credit Facility

The Company holds a $650.0 million five-year syndicated line of credit that is scheduled to expire on September 8, 2016 (the “Facility”). The Company has the option to increase the size of the Facility to $850.0 million at any time prior to the expiration (subject to receipt of commitments for the increased amount from existing and new lenders). The Facility is available for working capital, the issuance of standby letters of credit, the financing of capital expenditures, and other general corporate purposes, including acquisitions.

The Facility includes covenants limiting liens, dispositions, fundamental changes, investments, indebtedness, and certain transactions and payments. In addition, the Facility also requires that the Company maintain the following three financial covenants which are described in Note 9, “Line of Credit Facility”, to the Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2011: (1) a fixed charge coverage ratio; (2) a leverage ratio; and (3) a combined net worth test. The Company was in compliance with all covenants as of April 30, 2012.

As of April 30, 2012, the total outstanding amount under the Facility in the form of cash borrowings was $266.0 million. Available credit under the line of credit was up to $287.3 million at April 30, 2012. The Company’s ability to draw down available amounts under its line of credit is subject to compliance with the covenants described above.

Interest Rate Swap

On October 19, 2010, the Company entered into a three-year forward starting interest rate swap agreement with an underlying notional amount of $25.0 million, pursuant to which the Company receives variable interest payments based on LIBOR and pays fixed interest at a rate of 0.89%. The effective date of this hedge was February 24, 2011. This swap is intended to hedge the interest risk associated with the Company’s forecasted floating-rate, LIBOR-based debt.

The fair value of the interest rate swap is estimated based on the present value of the difference between expected cash flows calculated at the contracted interest rates and the expected cash flows at current market interest rates using observable benchmarks for London Interbank Offered Rate forward rates at the end of the period. The Company includes its own credit risk for financial instruments deemed liabilities and counterparty credit risks for financial instruments deemed assets when measuring the fair value of derivative financial instruments. The effective portion of this cash flow hedge is recorded within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) and reclassified into interest expense in the same period during which the hedged transactions affect earnings. Interest payable and receivable under the swap agreement is accrued and recorded as an adjustment to interest expense.

As of April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, the fair value of the interest rate swap was a liability of $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, which were included in “retirement plans and other” on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The amount included in accumulated other comprehensive loss was $0.2 million ($0.1 million, net of taxes) and $0.3 million ($0.2 million, net of taxes) at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively.

Unrealized net losses related to the interest rate swap contract which are expected to be reclassified from AOCI to earnings during the next 12 months were $0.1 million at April 30, 2012.

The following tables set forth the effect of the Company’s interest rate swap contract on the consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011:


	Amount of gain or (loss) recognized in AOCI on derivative
	(effective portion) (in thousands)
Derivatives designated as cash	Three months ended April 30						Six months ended April 30
flow hedging relationships	2012			2011			2012			2011
Interest rate swap	$	(1	)	$	(68	)	$	(68	)	$	246

	Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income
	(effective portion) (in thousands)
Location of gain or (loss) reclassified	Three months ended April 30						Six months ended April 30
from AOCI into income (effective portion)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Interest expense	$	(40	)	$	(40	)	$	(79	)	$	(350	)

- Definition

The entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants.

+ References + Details

Benefit Plans

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Benefit Plans

9.	Benefit Plans

The components of net periodic benefit cost of the Company’s defined benefit plans and post-retirement benefit plans attributable to participants associated with continuing operations for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:


	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	April 30,						April 30,
(in thousands)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Defined Benefit Plans
Service cost	$	12		$	12		$	24		$	23
Interest		124			142			248			285
Expected return on plan assets		(122	)		(93	)		(243	)		(187	)
Amortization of actuarial losses		24			28			49			57

Net expense	$	38		$	89		$	78		$	178

Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
Service cost	$	3		$	3		$	6		$	7
Interest		62			64			123			128

Net expense	$	65		$	67		$	129		$	135

- Definition

The entire disclosure for pension and other postretirement benefits.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph a
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph h
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph q
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph m
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 106
-Paragraph 518
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 87
-Paragraph 264
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Number 03-2
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Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 30
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Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2235017

+ Details

Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Contingencies

10.

Contingencies

The Company is subject to legal proceedings, settlements, class actions, and purported class actions arising from the ordinary course of business, generally including employment-based claims and customer contract claims. Litigation outcomes are difficult to predict and are often resolved over long periods of time. Estimating probable losses requires the analysis of multiple possible outcomes that often depend on judgments about potential actions by third parties. In accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 450-20, Loss Contingencies, the Company accrues for loss contingencies when losses become probable and are reasonably estimable. If the reasonable estimate of the loss is a range and no amount within the range is a better estimate, the minimum amount of the range is recorded as a liability. Legal costs associated with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred. At April 30, 2012, the total amount accrued for all probable litigation losses where a reasonable estimate of the loss could be made was $10.6 million.

The Company does not accrue for contingent losses that, in the judgment of the Company, are considered to be reasonably possible but not probable. Management currently estimates that the range of loss for all reasonably possible losses for which an estimate can be made is between $0 and $2.3 million. Factors underlying this estimate will change from time to time, and actual results may vary significantly from this estimate. Those matters for which the Company cannot reasonably estimate potential losses are not included within this estimated range and, therefore, this range does not represent the Company’s maximum potential loss exposure. The ultimate resolution of such matters is always uncertain, and any such proceeding brought against the Company could have a material adverse impact on its financial condition and results of operations.

There have been no significant changes to the cases disclosed in Note 11 in the Company’s Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2011 during the quarter ended April 30, 2012, except as described below.

The Company is a defendant in the previously reported consolidated cases of Augustus, Hall and Davis v. American Commercial Security Services filed on July 12, 2005 in the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County (the “Augustus case”). The Augustus case is a class action involving allegations that the Company violated certain state laws relating to meal and rest breaks. On January 8, 2009, the Augustus case was certified as a class action by the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County. On October 6, 2010, the Company moved to decertify the class and for summary judgment. Plaintiffs also moved for summary judgment on the rest break claim. On December 28, 2010, the Superior Court de-certified the portion of the class related to the meal break claims and granted summary judgment for the plaintiffs with respect to the rest break issue. On July 11, 2011, the Court closed the class period as of July 1, 2011 and vacated the previously scheduled trial date of September 12, 2011. On February 8, 2012, the plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment on the rest break claim which seeks damages in the amount of $103.0 million. On February 8, 2012 the Company filed a motion for decertification of the class. Both motions are now scheduled to be heard on July 6, 2012. The Company continues to believe it has strong defenses against this lawsuit and is vigorously defending it. The case is set for trial on November 30, 2012. An estimate of the potential exposure, if any, cannot be made at this time.

The Company is a defendant in the previously reported consolidated cases of Diaz/Morales/Reyes v. Ampco System Parking filed on December 5, 2006 in L.A. Superior Curt (the “Diaz case”). On June 22, 2011, the parties accepted a mediator’s proposal which involves settling all the claims made in the first amended complaint for the period of October 1, 2002 to the date on which the Court grants preliminary approval of the settlement. The Court granted its preliminary approval of the settlement on December 13, 2011. On January 27, 2012, the notice to the class of the settlement was mailed. The Court approved the settlement on May 21, 2012. Based on claims submitted, the amount of the payments is approximately $3.1 million, which includes payments to plaintiffs’ attorneys. During the quarter ended April 30, 2012, the Company increased its accrual from $2.9 million to $3.1 million with respect to this matter, which is included in the total amount accrued for all litigation matters described above.

The Company is a defendant in the previously reported case of Khadera v. American Building Maintenance Co.- West and ABM Industries filed on March 24, 2008 in the U.S. District Court of Washington, Western District (the “Khadera case”). The Khadera case is a collective action and involves allegations relating to unpaid overtime and meal and rest claims. It is an opt-in class under the Fair Labor Standards Act and 343 plaintiffs are in the class. On March 14, 2012, the parties accepted a mediator’s proposal and settled this matter for $1.8 million, which includes payments to plaintiffs’ attorneys. The settlement is subject to the District Court’s approval of the settlement and the state court’s approval of the settlement in the Simpson companion case discussed below. The Company has accrued $1.8 million with respect to this matter, which is included in the total amount accrued for all litigation matters described above.

The Company is a defendant in the previously reported case of Simpson v. ABM Janitorial Services-Northwest and ABM Industries Incorporated filed on September 24, 2010 in the Superior Court for the State of Washington in and for King County (the “Simpson case”). The Simpson case involves allegations relating to unpaid overtime, off-the-clock work, and failure to provide meal and rest periods under Washington state law. On March 14, 2012, the parties accepted a mediator’s proposal and settled this matter for $1.2 million, which includes payments to plaintiffs’ attorneys. The settlement is subject to the state court’s approval of the settlement and the District Court’s approval of the settlement in the Khadera companion case. The Company has accrued $1.2 million with respect to this matter, which is included in the total amount accrued for all litigation matters described above.

The Company is a defendant in the case of Las and Yanez v. ABM Industries Incorporated, et. al. filed on April 6, 2011 in Illinois state court and subsequently removed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (the “Las/Yanez case”). The Las/Yanez case involves allegations relating to unpaid overtime and off-the-clock work under federal and state law. It was filed as a collective action, but has not been certified as a class action or collective action. On May 4, 2012, the parties accepted a mediator’s proposal, which involves settling all the claims made in the operative complaint for the period of April 6, 2008 through May 7, 2012, subject to court approval. Under the terms of the proposed settlement, the gross settlement value (“GSV”) is the total agreed-upon value of the claims of all settlement class members in the Las/Yanez case assuming that 100% of the settlement class members were to submit a claim. The parties have agreed that the GSV is equal to $5.5 million, less certain costs and payments to the named plaintiffs in this action. Under the terms of the proposed settlement, in the event that more than 30% of the settlement class, measured by the aggregate value of their claims in relation to the GSV, submits claims, the Company has the option to terminate the settlement agreement. The Company currently anticipates that payments to members of the settlement class who properly submit claims, together with payments to plaintiffs’ attorneys, will total approximately $2.1 million and that the Company’s maximum exposure would be approximately $2.9 million. The Company has accrued $2.1 million with respect to this matter, which is included in the total amount accrued for all litigation matters described above.

The Company is a defendant in the case of Bojorquez v. ABM Industries Incorporated and ABM Janitorial Services – Northern California, Inc. filed on January 13, 2010 in San Francisco Superior Court. Plaintiff brought suit for sexual harassment, retaliation, and failure to prevent harassment and discrimination. On May 17, 2012, a jury awarded the plaintiff approximately $0.8 million in damages. The Company anticipates that the plaintiff also will file an application for attorneys’ fees and costs with the Court. The Company intends to appeal this decision.

Other

During October 2011, the Company began an internal investigation into matters relating to compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Company’s internal policies in connection with services provided by a foreign entity affiliated with a former Linc joint venture partner. Such services commenced prior to the Linc Acquisition. As a result of the investigation, the Company has caused Linc to terminate its association with the arrangement. In December 2011, the Company contacted the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission to voluntarily disclose the results of its internal investigation to date. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the potential liability, if any, related to these matters. However, based on the facts currently known, the Company does not believe that these matters will have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. There have been no significant changes to the status of this internal investigation during the quarter ended April 30, 2012.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for loss and gain contingencies. Describes any existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as of the balance sheet date (or prior to issuance of the financial statements) as to a probable or reasonably possible loss incurred by an entity that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur, and typically discloses the amount of loss recorded or a range of possible loss, or an assertion that no reasonable estimate can be made.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 14
-Paragraph 3
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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+ Details

Comprehensive Income

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Comprehensive Income

11.

Comprehensive Income

The following table presents the components of comprehensive income for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011:


	Three Months Ended April 30,						Six Months Ended April 30,
(in thousands)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Net income	$	11,712		$	14,192		$	22,342		$	22,581
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities		(153	)		(406	)		2,324			332
Reclass adjustment for credit losses recognized in earnings		313			—			313			—
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swap agreement		39			(28	)		11			596
Foreign currency translation		171			438			69			586
Actuarial gains—adjustments to pension and other post-retirement plans		24			16			49			33

Income tax (expense) benefit related to other comprehensive income		(92	)		170			(1,105	)		(391	)

Comprehensive income	$	12,014		$	14,382		$	24,003		$	23,737

- Definition

The entire disclosure for comprehensive income. Includes, but is not limited to, the following: 1) the amount of income tax expense or benefit allocated to each component of other comprehensive income, including reclassification adjustments, 2) the reclassification adjustments for each classification of other comprehensive income and 3) the ending accumulated balances for each component of comprehensive income. Components of comprehensive income include: (1) foreign currency translation adjustments; (2) gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions that are designated as, and are effective as, economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity; (3) gains (losses) on intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature, when the entities to the transaction are consolidated, combined, or accounted for by the equity method in the reporting enterprise's financial statements; (4) change in the market value of a futures contract that qualifies as a hedge of an asset reported at fair value; (5) unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and that resulting from transfers of debt securities from the held-to-maturity category to the available-for-sale category; (6) a net loss recognized as an additional pension liability not yet recognized as net periodic pension cost; and (7) the net gain (loss) and net prior service cost or credit for pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 14-26
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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+ Details

Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Income Taxes

12.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rates on income from continuing operations for the three months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011 were 33.3% and 38.3%, respectively. The effective tax rates on income from continuing operations for the six months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011 were 37.3% and 38.4%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the quarter ended April 30, 2012 decreased over the quarter ended April 30, 2011 primarily due to discrete adjustments for employment-based tax credits. At April 30, 2012, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits of $97.1 million, all of which, if recognized in the future, would impact its effective tax rate. Approximately $1.2 million of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits has been recognized as a current liability. The Company includes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. As of April 30, 2012, the Company had accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions of $1.4 million.

The Company’s major tax jurisdiction is the United States. ABM, OneSource Services, Inc., and the Linc C Corporation’s U.S. federal income tax returns remain open for examination for the periods ending October 31, 2006 through October 31, 2011, March 31, 2000 through November 14, 2007, and December 31, 2007 through December 31, 2010, respectively. ABM is currently being examined by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for the tax years 2006 – 2008. The Company does business in all 50 states, significantly in California, Texas, and New York, as well as in various foreign jurisdictions. In major state jurisdictions, the tax years 2006 – 2011 remain open and subject to examination by the appropriate tax authorities. The Company is currently being examined by Illinois, Michigan, Utah, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, and Puerto Rico.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
-Article 4

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+ Details

Segment Information

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Segment Information

13.

Segment Information

During the three months ended January 31, 2012, the Company changed the name of its Engineering segment to Facility Solutions to better reflect the variety of end-to-end integrated facility services, building operation and maintenance, and bundled energy solution services provided to its clients. The Company is organized into four reportable operating segments, Janitorial, Facility Solutions, Parking and Security, which are summarized as follows:


	Three Months Ended April 30,						Six Months Ended April 30,
(in thousands)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Revenues
Janitorial	$	593,447		$	590,254		$	1,187,787		$	1,184,860
Facility Solutions		222,550			229,197			456,323			421,845
Parking		152,680			156,127			306,130			308,993
Security		88,890			84,138			180,872			172,894
Corporate and other		(323	)		367			(83	)		660

	$	1,057,244		$	1,060,083		$	2,131,029		$	2,089,252

Operating profit
Janitorial	$	33,494		$	34,934		$	64,002		$	64,798
Facility Solutions		6,381			6,842			12,746			14,292
Parking		6,092			4,894			10,842			9,628
Security		1,012			897			1,857			2,198
Corporate and other		(28,116	)		(21,068	)		(52,788	)		(47,501	)

Operating profit		18,863			26,499			36,659			43,415
Other-than-temporary impairment credit losses on auction rate security recognized in earnings		(313	)		—			(313	)		—
Income from unconsolidated affiliates, net		1,501			832			4,633			1,619
Interest expense		(2,441	)		(4,317	)		(5,275	)		(8,363	)

Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	17,610		$	23,014		$	35,704		$	36,671

Most Corporate expenses are not allocated. Such expenses generally include current actuarial developments of self-insurance reserves relating to claims incurred in prior years, certain legal costs and settlements, certain information technology costs, share-based compensation costs, branding initiative costs, direct acquisition costs, severance costs associated with acquisitions, and certain chief executive officer and other finance and human resource department costs.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10 percent or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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+ Details

Subsequent Events

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Subsequent Events

14.

Subsequent Events

On May 1, 2012, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company acquired the businesses and substantially all the assets of TEGG Corporation and CurrentSAFE Corporation, both Delaware corporations (“TEGG and CurrentSAFE”), pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) with TEGG and CurrentSAFE and the members and shareholders of TEGG and CurrentSAFE, dated as of May 1, 2012. TEGG and CurrentSAFE are U.S.-based, privately-held corporations engaged in the business of selling franchises and granting licenses to use their proprietary systems to deliver comprehensive electrical service and preventive and predictive maintenance solutions to commercial and industrial facilities, in the case of TEGG, and residences, in the case of CurrentSAFE. The acquisition expands the Company’s reach, increasing its services network in the commercial, industrial and residential electrical contracting industry.

The acquisition will be accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. The purchase price for the acquisition was approximately $6.2 million in cash, subject to post-closing adjustments. Approximately 8% of the purchase price is subject to a hold back by the Company for a period of 24 months as security for the sellers’ indemnification obligations under the Asset Purchase Agreement.

Due to the acquisition occurring subsequent to the reporting date, certain required disclosures, such as the preliminary allocation of the purchase price, the determination of goodwill, and acquisition related costs, have been omitted from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2012 because the initial accounting for the business combination is incomplete as of the filing date. The Company will not provide pro forma information as the results of operations of this acquisition are not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Unaudited Interim Financial Information (Policies)	Apr. 30, 2012
Basis of Presentation	*Basis of Presentation* The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and Article 10 of Regulation S-X under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements (and notes thereto) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011. Unless otherwise noted, all references to years are to the Company’s fiscal year, which ends on October 31. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to fairly state the information for each period contained therein have been included. The accounting policies applied in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are the same as those applied in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended October 31, 2011, contained in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, unless indicated otherwise. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected to occur for the entire fiscal year or any future periods. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year financial statements to conform to the current year presentation. In preparing the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements, the Company has evaluated subsequent events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the date of filing with the SEC, which is the date the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements were issued. The Company’s Parking segment reports both revenues and expenses, in equal amounts, for costs directly reimbursed from its managed parking lot clients. Parking revenues related solely to the reimbursement of expenses totaled $76.3 million and $78.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $154.1 million and $151.5 million for the six months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Principles of Consolidation	*Principles of Consolidation* The consolidated financial statements reflect the accounts of ABM and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates	*Use of Estimates* The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes, including those related to self-insurance reserves, allowances for doubtful accounts, sales allowances, deferred income tax assets and valuation allowances, estimates of useful lives of intangible assets, impairment tests of goodwill and other intangibles, fair value of auction rate securities, cash flow forecasts, share-based compensation expense, and contingencies and litigation liabilities. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, known or expected trends, independent valuations, and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances based on information available as of the date of the issuance of these unaudited consolidated financial statements. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in those estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements in future periods.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	*Recent Accounting Pronouncements* In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-04 (“ASU 2011-04”), Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. This amendment was issued to achieve common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The new guidance does not extend the use of fair value but, rather, provides guidance about how fair value should be applied where it already is required or permitted under U.S. GAAP or IFRS. ASU 2011-04 expands the disclosures about fair value measurements to include increased transparency around valuation inputs and investment categorization. ASU 2011-04 is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of ASU 2011-04 did not have a material impact on the Company’s disclosures or consolidated financial position, financial results or cash flows. In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-11 (“ASU 2011-11”), Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. This amendment requires disclosing and reconciling gross and net amounts for financial instruments that are offset in the balance sheet, and amounts for financial instruments that are subject to master netting arrangements and other similar clearing and repurchase arrangements. ASU 2011-11 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company expects to adopt ASU 2011-11 on November 1, 2013. The adoption of ASU 2011-11 will not have a material impact on the Company’s disclosures. In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-12 (“ASU 2011-12”), Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. This amendment defers the effective date of the requirement to present separate line items on the income statement for reclassification adjustments of items out of accumulated other comprehensive income into net income. ASU 2011-12 is effective at the same time as Accounting Standards Update 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”), so that entities will not be required to comply with the presentation requirements in ASU 2011-05 that this ASU 2011-12 is deferring. ASUs 2011-12 and 2011-05 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company expects to adopt ASUs 2011-05 and 2011-12 on November 1, 2012. The Company does not expect the adoption of these new disclosure requirements to have a material impact on its disclosures or consolidated financial position, financial results or cash flows.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy regarding (1) the principles it follows in consolidating or combining the separate financial statements, including the principles followed in determining the inclusion or exclusion of subsidiaries or other entities in the consolidated or combined financial statements and (2) its treatment of interests (for example, common stock, a partnership interest or other means of exerting influence) in other entities, for example consolidation or use of the equity or cost methods of accounting. The accounting policy may also address the accounting treatment for intercompany accounts and transactions, noncontrolling interest, and the income statement treatment in consolidation for issuances of stock by a subsidiary.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 140
-Paragraph 46
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 2-6
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 46R
-Paragraph 14, 15
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 18
-Paragraph 5, 6, 16-19
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 18
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph a(2)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 96-16
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 97-2
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 3A
-Section 02, 03

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph k
-Article 1

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 46R
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph c
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 46R
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-Subparagraph d
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section 45
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/section&trid=2197723

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 19: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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+ Details

Net Income per Common Share (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Calculation of Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Share

The calculation of basic and diluted net income per common share is as follows:


	Three Months Ended April 30,						Six Months Ended April 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Income from continuing operations	$	11,747		$	14,200		$	22,387		$	22,605
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(35	)		(8	)		(45	)		(24	)

Net income	$	11,712		$	14,192		$	22,342		$	22,581

Weighted-average common shares outstanding—Basic		53,944			53,106			53,721			52,972
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options		402			568			358			577
Restricted stock units		358			273			369			285
Performance shares		259			212			280			192

Weighted-average common shares outstanding—Diluted		54,963			54,159			54,728			54,026

Net income per common share
Basic	$	0.22		$	0.27		$	0.42		$	0.43
Diluted	$	0.21		$	0.26		$	0.41		$	0.42

Antidilutive Shares Excluded from Calculation of Net Income Per Common Share


	Three Months Ended April 30,				Six Months Ended April 30,
(in thousands)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Stock options		825		733		1,092		689
Restricted stock units		21		18		63		19
Performance shares		—		—		—		34

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Fair Value Measurements

The following table presents the fair value hierarchy, carrying amounts, and fair values of the Company’s significant financial instruments as of April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011:


		April 30, 2012				October 31, 2011
	Fair Value	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
(in thousands)	Hierarchy	Amount		Value		Amount		Value
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	1	$	25,411	$	25,411	$	26,467	$	26,467
Trade accounts receivable, net	2		564,055		564,055		552,098		552,098
Notes receivable	2		6,027		6,027		5,210		5,210
Assets held in funded deferred compensation plan	1		4,945		4,945		4,717		4,717
Investments in auction rate securities	3		17,994		17,994		15,670		15,670

Total		$	618,432	$	618,432	$	604,162	$	604,162

Liabilities
Trade accounts payable	2	$	128,619	$	128,619	$	130,464	$	130,464
Interest rate swap	2		242		242		253		253
Line of credit	2		266,000		266,000		300,000		300,000

Total		$	394,861	$	394,861	$	430,717	$	430,717

Auction Rate Securities (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Significant Assumptions Used to Determine the Fair Value of Auction Rate Securities

The following table presents the significant assumptions used to determine the fair value of the Company’s auction rate securities at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011:


Assumptions	April 30, 2012	October 31, 2011
Discount rates	L + 0.62% - L + 4.47%	L + 3.21% - L + 17.50%
Yields	2.15%, L + 2.0% - L + 3.5%	L + 2.0% - L + 3.5%
Average expected lives	4 - 10 years	4 - 10 years

Changes in Cost Basis and Fair Value of Auction Rate Securities

The following table presents the changes in the cost basis and fair value of the Company’s auction rate securities for the six months ended April 30, 2012:


				Fair Value
(in thousands)	Cost Basis			(Level 3)
Balance at beginning of year	$	18,307		$	15,670
Unrealized gains included in accumulated other comprehensive loss		—			2,324
Other-than-temporary credit losses recognized in earnings		(313	)		—

Balance at April 30, 2012	$	17,994		$	17,994

Line of Credit Facility (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Company's Interest Rate Swap Contract on The Consolidated Financial Statements

The following tables set forth the effect of the Company’s interest rate swap contract on the consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011:


	Amount of gain or (loss) recognized in AOCI on derivative
	(effective portion) (in thousands)
Derivatives designated as cash	Three months ended April 30						Six months ended April 30
flow hedging relationships	2012			2011			2012			2011
Interest rate swap	$	(1	)	$	(68	)	$	(68	)	$	246

	Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income
	(effective portion) (in thousands)
Location of gain or (loss) reclassified	Three months ended April 30						Six months ended April 30
from AOCI into income (effective portion)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Interest expense	$	(40	)	$	(40	)	$	(79	)	$	(350	)

Benefit Plans (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost of Defined Benefit Plans and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans


	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	April 30,						April 30,
(in thousands)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Defined Benefit Plans
Service cost	$	12		$	12		$	24		$	23
Interest		124			142			248			285
Expected return on plan assets		(122	)		(93	)		(243	)		(187	)
Amortization of actuarial losses		24			28			49			57

Net expense	$	38		$	89		$	78		$	178

Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
Service cost	$	3		$	3		$	6		$	7
Interest		62			64			123			128

Net expense	$	65		$	67		$	129		$	135

Comprehensive Income (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Components of comprehensive income

The following table presents the components of comprehensive income for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011:


	Three Months Ended April 30,						Six Months Ended April 30,
(in thousands)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Net income	$	11,712		$	14,192		$	22,342		$	22,581
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities		(153	)		(406	)		2,324			332
Reclass adjustment for credit losses recognized in earnings		313			—			313			—
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swap agreement		39			(28	)		11			596
Foreign currency translation		171			438			69			586
Actuarial gains—adjustments to pension and other post-retirement plans		24			16			49			33

Income tax (expense) benefit related to other comprehensive income		(92	)		170			(1,105	)		(391	)

Comprehensive income	$	12,014		$	14,382		$	24,003		$	23,737

Segment Information (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Reportable Operating Segments

The Company is organized into four reportable operating segments, Janitorial, Facility Solutions, Parking and Security, which are summarized as follows:


	Three Months Ended April 30,						Six Months Ended April 30,
(in thousands)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Revenues
Janitorial	$	593,447		$	590,254		$	1,187,787		$	1,184,860
Facility Solutions		222,550			229,197			456,323			421,845
Parking		152,680			156,127			306,130			308,993
Security		88,890			84,138			180,872			172,894
Corporate and other		(323	)		367			(83	)		660

	$	1,057,244		$	1,060,083		$	2,131,029		$	2,089,252

Operating profit
Janitorial	$	33,494		$	34,934		$	64,002		$	64,798
Facility Solutions		6,381			6,842			12,746			14,292
Parking		6,092			4,894			10,842			9,628
Security		1,012			897			1,857			2,198
Corporate and other		(28,116	)		(21,068	)		(52,788	)		(47,501	)

Operating profit		18,863			26,499			36,659			43,415
Other-than-temporary impairment credit losses on auction rate security recognized in earnings		(313	)		—			(313	)		—
Income from unconsolidated affiliates, net		1,501			832			4,633			1,619
Interest expense		(2,441	)		(4,317	)		(5,275	)		(8,363	)

Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	17,610		$	23,014		$	35,704		$	36,671

Interim Financial Information - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Parking
Organization and Principal Activities [Line Items]
Revenues related solely to the reimbursement of expenses	$ 76.3	$ 78.1	$ 154.1	$ 151.5

Calculations of Basic and Diluted Net Income per Common Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations	$ 11,747	$ 14,200	$ 22,387	$ 22,605
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(35)	(8)	(45)	(24)
Net income	$ 11,712	$ 14,192	$ 22,342	$ 22,581
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-Basic	53,944	53,106	53,721	52,972
Effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-Diluted	54,963	54,159	54,728	54,026
Net income per common share
Basic	$ 0.22	$ 0.27	$ 0.42	$ 0.43
Diluted	$ 0.21	$ 0.26	$ 0.41	$ 0.42
Stock options
Effect of dilutive securities:
Effect of dilutive securities	402	568	358	577
Restricted stock units
Effect of dilutive securities:
Effect of dilutive securities	358	273	369	285
Performance shares
Effect of dilutive securities:
Effect of dilutive securities	259	212	280	192

Stock Options and RSUs Excluded from Diluted Net Income per Common Share since the Effect of Including these Stock Options and Restricted Stock Units would have been Anti-dilutive (Detail) - shares shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Stock Option
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount	825	733	1,092	689
Restricted stock units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount	21	18	63	19
Performance shares
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount				34

- Definition

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 13, 14
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 171
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph c
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Diluted Earnings Per Share
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510752

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Contingent Stock Agreement
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6508534

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Antidilution
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505113

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 07-4
-Paragraph 4
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	Dec. 01, 2010 USD ($)
The Linc Group LLC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition aggregate purchase price	$ 298.7

Carrying Amounts and Fair Values of the Financial Instruments by Fair-Value Hierarchy (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 25,411	$ 26,467	$ 23,290	$ 39,446
Trade accounts receivable, net	564,055	552,098
Notes receivable	6,027	5,210
Assets held in funded deferred compensation plan	4,945	4,717
Investments in auction rate securities	17,994	15,670
Total carrying amounts of Financial Assets	618,432	604,162
Liabilities
Trade accounts payable	128,619	130,464
Interest rate swap	242	253
Line of credit	266,000	300,000
Total carrying amounts of Financial Liabilities	394,861	430,717
Assets
Total Fair Value of Financial Assets	618,432	604,162
Liabilities
Interest rate swap	242	253
Total Fair Value of Financial Liabilites	394,861	430,717
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	25,411	26,467
Assets held in funded deferred compensation plan	4,945	4,717
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2
Liabilities
Interest rate swap	242	253
Assets
Trade accounts receivable, net	564,055	552,098
Notes receivable	6,027	5,210
Liabilities
Trade accounts payable	128,619	130,464
Interest rate swap	242	253
Line of credit	266,000	300,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3
Assets
Investments in auction rate securities	$ 17,994	$ 15,670

Auction Rate Securities - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012 USD ($) Entity	Oct. 31, 2011 USD ($)
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of different issuers the Company held investments in for auction rate securities \| Entity	4
Investments in auction rate securities	$ 20,000
Interest rate revising interval	30 days
Auction rate securities, maturity range, low	2025
Auction rate securities, maturity range, high	2050
Investments in auction rate securities, estimated fair value	$ 17,994	$ 15,670
Auction rate securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value		10,700
Other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) Credit loss recognized	300	1,700
Unrealized losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax	0	2,600
Unrealized losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes	0	1,600
Auction Rate Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Auction rate security, at fair value, that was not in unrealized loss position		$ 5,000
Single Issuer Investment
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Investments in auction rate securities	$ 5,000

Significant Assumptions Used to Determine Fair Value of Auction Rate Securities (Detail) - Year	Apr. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Yields	2.15%
Minimum
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Discount rates	0.62%	3.21%
Yields	2.00%	2.00%
Average expected lives	4	4
Maximum
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Discount rates	4.47%	17.50%
Yields	3.50%	3.50%
Average expected lives	10	10

Changes in Cost Basis and Fair Value of Auction Rate Securities (Detail) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012 USD ($)
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of year	$ 15,670
Balance at ending of year	17,994
Cost Basis \| Auction Rate Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of year	18,307
Other-than-temporary credit losses recognized in earnings	(313)
Balance at ending of year	17,994
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 \| Auction Rate Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of year	15,670
Unrealized gains included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	2,324
Balance at ending of year	$ 17,994

- Definition

Total of debt securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading which are intended be sold or mature more than one year from the balance sheet date or operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 13
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 22
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 16
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 17
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379932&loc=d3e22054-111558

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26626-111562

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS115-1/124-1
-Paragraph 15C
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS115-1/124-1
-Paragraph 15D
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS115-1/124-1
-Paragraph 15E
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

- Definition

The amount of other than temporary impairment losses on investments in debt and equity securities categorized as Available-for-sale which have been recognized in earnings during the period. Such impairment losses consist of other than temporary impairments (OTTI) on equity securities, credit losses on investments in debt securities, and when the entity intends to sell an impaired debt security or it is more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the impaired debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.

+ References + Details

Self-Insurance - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Schedule of Other Liabilities [Line Items]
Standby letters of credit	$ 96,700	$ 96,800
Restricted insurance deposits	31,720	35,974
Surety Bonds	217,400	231,500
Supported Insurance Claim Liabilities
Schedule of Other Liabilities [Line Items]
Surety Bonds	$ 35,900	$ 30,900

Line Of Credit Facility - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Description of covenants under the Facility	(1) a fixed charge coverage ratio; (2) a leverage ratio; and (3) a combined net worth test.
Line of credit, amount outstanding	$ 266.0
Line of credit, borrowing capacity currently available	287.3
Unrealized Loss on Derivatives
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Unrealized net losses related to the interest rate swap contract	$ 0.1
Forward starting swaps
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Derivative agreement date	Oct. 19, 2010
Description of derivative agreement	The Company entered into a three-year forward starting interest rate swap agreement with an underlying notional amount of $25.0 million, pursuant to which the Company receives variable interest payments based on LIBOR and pays fixed interest at a rate of 0.89%. The effective date of this hedge was February 24, 2011. This swap is intended to hedge the interest risk associated with the Company's forecasted floating-rate, LIBOR-based debt.
Interest rate swap agreement period	3 years
Notional amount of derivatives	$ 25.0
Derivative, fixed interest rate	0.89%
Derivative, effective date	Feb. 24, 2011
Interest Rate Swap
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Fair value of interest rate swaps	$ 0.2	$ 0.3
Effective portion of cash flow hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax	0.2	0.3
Effective portion of cash flow hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	0.1	$ 0.2
Five Year Syndicated Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Syndicated line of credit, maximum capacity	$ 650.0
Syndicated line of credit facility, expiration date	Sep. 08, 2016
Syndicated line of credit, optional maximum capacity at any time prior to the expiration (subject to receipt of commitments for the increased amount from existing and new lenders)	$ 850.0

Effect of Company's Interest Rate Swap Contract on Consolidated Financial Statements (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]
Amount of gain or (loss) recognized in AOCI on derivative	$ (1)	$ (68)	$ (68)	$ 246
Interest Expense
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]
Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income	$ (40)	$ (40)	$ (79)	$ (350)

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost of Defined Benefit Plans and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Defined Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 12	$ 12	$ 24	$ 23
Interest	124	142	248	285
Expected return on plan assets	(122)	(93)	(243)	(187)
Amortization of actuarial losses	24	28	49	57
Net expense	38	89	78	178
Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Service cost	3	3	6	7
Interest	62	64	123	128
Net expense	$ 65	$ 67	$ 129	$ 135

- Definition

An amount calculated as a basis for determining the extent of delayed recognition of the effects of changes in the fair value of assets. The expected return on plan assets is determined based on the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and the market-related value of plan assets.

+ References

+ Details

- Definition

The increase in a defined benefit pension plan's projected benefit obligation or a defined benefit postretirement plan's accumulated postretirement benefit obligation due to the passage of time.

+ References + Details

- Definition

The actuarial present value of benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to services rendered by employees during the period. The portion of the expected postretirement benefit obligation attributed to employee service during the period. The service cost component is a portion of the benefit obligation and is unaffected by the funded status of the plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 106
-Paragraph 518
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 87
-Paragraph 264
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph a, h
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (h)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Service Cost (Component of Net Periodic Pension Cost)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6525008

+ Details

Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 14, 2012	Apr. 06, 2011	Apr. 30, 2012	May 17, 2012
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency amount accrued for probable losses			$ 10.6
Range of loss for all reasonably possible losses, minimum			0.0
Range of loss for all reasonably possible losses, maximum			2.3
Augustus
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Break claim which seeks damages			$ 103.0
Final hearing date			Jul. 06, 2012
Diaz
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Final hearing date			May 21, 2012
Anticipated payment for settlement of case			$ 3.1
Diaz \| Scenario, Previously Reported
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency amount accrued for probable losses			2.9
Diaz \| Scenario, Adjustment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency amount accrued for probable losses			$ 3.1
Khadera
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Gross litigation settlement value	$ 1.8
Simpson
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Gross litigation settlement value	$ 1.2
Las and Yanez
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Gross litigation settlement value		$ 2.1
Agreement settlement date for litigation		On May 4, 2012, the parties accepted a mediator's proposal, which involves settling all the claims made in the operative complaint for the period of April 6, 2008 through May 7, 2012, subject to court approval.
Gross settlement value percentage		100.00%
Proposed gross settlement value		$ 5.5
Gross settlement value percentage		30.00%
Gross litigation settlement value		$ 2.9
Bojorquez \| Subsequent Event
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
The jury awarded the plaintiff in damages for suit filed				$ 0.8

Components of Comprehensive Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net income	$ 11,712	$ 14,192	$ 22,342	$ 22,581
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities	(153)	(406)	2,324	332
Reclass adjustment for credit losses recognized in earnings	313		313
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swap agreement	39	(28)	11	596
Foreign currency translation	171	438	69	586
Actuarial gains - adjustments to pension and other post-retirement plans	24	16	49	33
Income tax (expense) benefit related to other comprehensive income	(92)	170	(1,105)	(391)
Comprehensive income	$ 12,014	$ 14,382	$ 24,003	$ 23,737

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012 USD ($) Location	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2012 USD ($) Location	Apr. 30, 2011
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective tax rate on income from continuing operations	33.30%	38.30%	37.30%	38.40%
Unrecognized Tax Benefit	$ 97.1		$ 97.1
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, accrued interest	$ 1.4		$ 1.4
Number of states in which entity operates \| Location	50		50
Domestic Country
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax returns open for examination			October 31, 2006 through October 31, 2011
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax returns open for examination			2006 - 2008
State and Local Jurisdiction
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax returns open for examination			2006 - 2011
Current Liabilities
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Unrecognized Tax Benefit	$ 1.2		$ 1.2
OneSource Services Inc \| Domestic Country
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax returns open for examination			March 31, 2000 through November 14, 2007
Linc C Corporations \| Domestic Country
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax returns open for examination			December 31, 2007 through December 31, 2010

Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail)	Apr. 30, 2012 Segment
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Reportable operating segments	4

Reportable Operating Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,057,244	$ 1,060,083	$ 2,131,029	$ 2,089,252
Operating profit	18,863	26,499	36,659	43,415
Other-than-temporary impairment credit losses on auction rate security recognized in earnings	(313)		(313)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates, net	1,501	832	4,633	1,619
Interest expense	(2,441)	(4,317)	(5,275)	(8,363)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	17,610	23,014	35,704	36,671
Janitorial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	593,447	590,254	1,187,787	1,184,860
Operating profit	33,494	34,934	64,002	64,798
Facility Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	222,550	229,197	456,323	421,845
Operating profit	6,381	6,842	12,746	14,292
Parking
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	152,680	156,127	306,130	308,993
Operating profit	6,092	4,894	10,842	9,628
Security
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	88,890	84,138	180,872	172,894
Operating profit	1,012	897	1,857	2,198
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(323)	367	(83)	660
Operating profit	$ (28,116)	$ (21,068)	$ (52,788)	$ (47,501)

Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	May 01, 2012 USD ($)
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Purchase price for the acquisition related to TEGG Corporation and Current SAFE Corporation	$ 6.2