0000771497-21-000038 | 10-K | XBRL Viewer

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Cover Page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Cover Page - USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2021	Dec. 21, 2021	Apr. 30, 2021
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Oct. 31, 2021
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-8929
Entity Registrant Name	ABM INDUSTRIES INC
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	94-1369354
Entity Address, Address Line One	One Liberty Plaza
Entity Address, Address Line Two	7th Floor
Entity Address, City or Town	New York
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	10006
City Area Code	212
Local Phone Number	297-0200
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	ABM
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 3,412,315,302
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		67,317,979
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Certain parts of the registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement relating to the registrant’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Entity Central Index Key	0000771497
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 62.8	$ 394.2
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances of $32.7 and $35.5 at October 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively	1,137.1	854.2
Costs incurred in excess of amounts billed	52.5	52.2
Prepaid expenses	88.7	85.4
Other current assets	60.0	55.9
Total current assets	1,401.2	1,441.9
Other investments	11.8	11.1
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $274.7 and $241.3 at October 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively	111.9	133.7
Right-of-use assets	126.5	143.1
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $389.3 and $343.8 at October 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively	424.8	239.7
Goodwill	2,228.9	1,671.4
Other noncurrent assets	131.2	136.1
Total assets	4,436.2	3,776.9
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt, net	31.4	116.7
Trade accounts payable	289.4	273.3
Accrued compensation	238.0	187.6
Accrued taxes—other than income	124.9	45.5
Insurance claims	171.4	155.2
Income taxes payable	11.4	6.2
Current portion of lease liabilities	31.8	35.0
Other accrued liabilities	387.4	167.3
Total current liabilities	1,285.8	986.9
Long-term debt, net	852.8	603.0
Long-term lease liabilities	116.6	131.4
Deferred income tax liability, net	22.5	10.8
Noncurrent insurance claims	413.3	366.3
Other noncurrent liabilities	123.5	168.1
Noncurrent income taxes payable	12.5	10.1
Total liabilities	2,827.0	2,276.6
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 500,000 shares authorized; none issued	0.0	0.0
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 67,302,449 and 66,748,157 shares issued and outstanding at October 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively	0.7	0.7
Additional paid-in capital	750.9	724.1
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes	(22.5)	(30.8)
Retained earnings	880.2	806.4
Total stockholders’ equity	1,609.2	1,500.3
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 4,436.2	$ 3,776.9

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Trade accounts receivable, allowance	$ 32.7	$ 35.5
Property, plant and equipment, accumulated depreciation	274.7	241.3
Other intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 389.3	$ 343.8
Preferred stock, par value (in USD per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	500,000	500,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in USD per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	67,302,449	66,748,157
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	67,302,449	66,748,157

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 6,228.6	$ 5,987.6	$ 6,498.6
Operating expenses	5,258.2	5,157.0	5,767.5
Selling, general and administrative expenses	719.2	506.1	452.9
Restructuring and related expenses	0.0	7.6	11.2
Amortization of intangible assets	45.0	48.4	58.5
Impairment loss of goodwill and other intangibles	0.0	172.8	0.0
Operating profit	206.3	95.7	208.3
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	2.1	2.2	3.0
Interest expense	(28.6)	(44.6)	(51.1)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	179.8	53.3	160.2
Income tax provision	(53.5)	(53.1)	(32.7)
Income from continuing operations	126.3	0.2	127.5
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0.0	0.1	(0.1)
Net income	126.3	0.3	127.4
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Interest rate swaps	4.5	(7.6)	(22.4)
Foreign currency translation and other	5.3	(1.8)	1.6
Income tax (provision) benefit	(1.5)	2.4	5.9
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 134.5	$ (6.6)	$ 112.5
Net income per common share — Basic
Income from continuing operations (in USD per share)	$ 1.87	$ 0.00	$ 1.92
Income from discontinued operations (in USD per share)	0	0	0
Net income (in USD per share)	1.87	0.00	1.91
Net income per common share — Diluted
Income from continuing operations (in USD per share)	1.86	0.00	1.91
Income from discontinued operations (in USD per share)	0	0	0
Net income (in USD per share)	$ 1.86	$ 0.00	$ 1.90
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	67.4	66.9	66.6
Diluted (in shares)	68.0	67.3	66.9

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Taxes	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Balance, beginning of year (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2018		66,000,000.0
Balance, beginning of year at Oct. 31, 2018		$ 0.7	$ 691.8	$ (9.0)	$ 771.2	$ 6.5
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued under employee stock purchase and share-based compensation plans (in shares)		600,000
Taxes withheld under employee stock purchase and share-based compensation plans, net		$ 0.0	(0.3)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		0
Repurchase of common stock		$ 0.0	0.0
Share-based compensation expense			17.5
Other comprehensive income (loss)				(14.9)
Net income	$ 127.4				127.4
Dividends
Common stock ($0.760, $0.740, and $0.720 per share)					(47.7)
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans					(1.0)
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2019		66,600,000
Balance, end of year at Oct. 31, 2019	$ 1,542.0	$ 0.7	708.9	(23.9)	856.3
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued under employee stock purchase and share-based compensation plans (in shares)		300,000
Taxes withheld under employee stock purchase and share-based compensation plans, net		$ 0.0	0.0
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	(200,000)	(200,000)
Repurchase of common stock	$ (5.1)	$ 0.0	(5.1)
Share-based compensation expense			20.3
Other comprehensive income (loss)				(6.9)
Net income	0.3				0.3
Dividends
Common stock ($0.760, $0.740, and $0.720 per share)					(49.3)
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans					(0.9)
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2020		66,700,000
Balance, end of year at Oct. 31, 2020	$ 1,500.3	$ 0.7	724.1	(30.8)	806.4
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued under employee stock purchase and share-based compensation plans (in shares)		600,000
Taxes withheld under employee stock purchase and share-based compensation plans, net		$ 0.0	(6.7)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	0	0
Repurchase of common stock	$ 0.0	$ 0.0	0.0
Share-based compensation expense			33.5
Other comprehensive income (loss)				8.2
Net income	126.3				126.3
Dividends
Common stock ($0.760, $0.740, and $0.720 per share)					(51.0)
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans					(1.5)
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2021		67,300,000
Balance, end of year at Oct. 31, 2021	$ 1,609.2	$ 0.7	$ 750.9	$ (22.5)	$ 880.2

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Common stock, dividends (in USD per share)	$ 0.760	$ 0.740	$ 0.720
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]				us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201409Member

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+ Details

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 126.3	$ 0.3	$ 127.4
(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0.0	(0.1)	0.1
Income from continuing operations	126.3	0.2	127.5
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
Depreciation and amortization	89.9	96.4	107.4
Impairment loss of goodwill and other intangibles	0.0	172.8	0.0
Impairment loss on fixed assets	9.1	0.0	0.0
Deferred income taxes	(48.0)	(36.6)	9.7
Share-based compensation expense	33.5	20.3	17.5
Provision for bad debt	0.6	19.6	6.7
Amortization of accumulated other comprehensive gain on interest rate swaps	(6.4)	(6.7)	(5.7)
Discount accretion on insurance claims	0.1	0.8	0.8
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	0.2	2.1	(0.6)
Reserves on other assets	0.0	17.6	0.0
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	(2.1)	(2.2)	(3.0)
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	1.9	0.1	5.4
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions
Trade accounts receivable and costs incurred in excess of amounts billed	(124.5)	141.4	(78.3)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	6.8	(15.5)	(13.2)
Right-of-use assets	19.3	24.4	0.0
Other noncurrent assets	13.8	(10.4)	4.5
Trade accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	265.7	(53.5)	85.8
Long-term lease liabilities	(16.3)	(22.9)	0.0
Insurance claims	(28.4)	5.7	3.9
Income taxes payable	8.3	7.6	3.2
Other noncurrent liabilities	(35.4)	96.2	(8.7)
Total adjustments	188.0	457.2	135.3
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	314.3	457.4	262.8
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of discontinued operations	0.0	0.1	(0.1)
Net cash provided by operating activities	314.3	457.5	262.7
Cash flows from investing activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(34.3)	(38.0)	(59.6)
Proceeds from sale of assets	4.4	5.5	1.3
Proceeds from redemption of auction rate security	0.0	5.0	0.0
Purchase of business, net of cash acquired	(710.2)	0.0	0.0
Net cash used in investing activities	(740.0)	(27.5)	(58.3)
Cash flows from financing activities
Taxes withheld from issuance of share-based compensation awards, net	(8.1)	(0.9)	(1.3)
Repurchases of common stock	0.0	(5.1)	0.0
Dividends paid	(51.0)	(49.3)	(47.7)
Deferred financing costs paid	(6.4)	(4.4)	0.0
Borrowings from credit facility	357.7	1,058.5	1,755.9
Repayment of borrowings from credit facility	(194.2)	(1,141.6)	(1,896.5)
Changes in book cash overdrafts	(17.9)	41.2	(0.2)
Financing of energy savings performance contracts	15.1	11.1	8.1
Repayment of finance lease obligations	(2.8)	(3.4)	(3.1)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	92.4	(94.1)	(184.8)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	1.9	(0.2)	(0.2)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(331.4)	335.7	19.4
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	394.2	58.5	39.1
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	62.8	394.2	58.5
Supplemental cash flow information
Income tax payments, net	93.5	82.2	20.6
Interest paid on credit facility	$ 14.3	$ 32.9	$ 39.9

The Company and Nature of Operations	12 Months Ended
The Company and Nature of Operations	Oct. 31, 2021
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
The Company and Nature of Operations	THE COMPANY AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS ABM is a leading provider of integrated facility services with a mission to make a difference, every person, every day. We are organized into four industry groups and one Technical Solutions segment: Through these groups, we offer janitorial, facilities engineering, parking, and specialized mechanical and electrical technical solutions, on a standalone basis or in combination with other services.

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, specifically Regulation S-X and the instructions to Form 10-K. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to years are to our fiscal year, which ends on October 31.

The Financial Statements include the accounts of ABM and all of our consolidated subsidiaries. We account for ABM’s investments in unconsolidated affiliates under the equity method of accounting. We include the results of acquired businesses in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) from their respective acquisition dates. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires our management to make certain estimates that affect reported amounts. We base our estimates on historical experience, known or expected trends, independent valuations, and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates.

We round amounts in the Financial Statements to millions and calculate all percentages and per-share data from the underlying whole-dollar amounts. Thus, certain amounts may not foot, crossfoot, or recalculate based on reported numbers due to rounding.

Impact of the Pandemic

COVID-19 has resulted in a worldwide health Pandemic. To date, the Pandemic has surfaced in regions all around the world and resulted in business slowdowns and shutdowns, as well as global travel restrictions. In these Financial Statements, we have assessed the current impact of the Pandemic on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows as well as on our estimates, forecasts, and accounting policies. We have made additional disclosures of these assessments, as necessary. Given the unprecedented nature of this situation, we cannot reasonably estimate the full impact the Pandemic will have on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows in the foreseeable future. The ultimate impact of the Pandemic on our company is highly uncertain and will depend on future developments, and such impacts could exist for an extended period of time, even after the Pandemic subsides.

The Pandemic continues to create a dynamic client environment, and we are working diligently to ensure our clients’ changing staffing and service needs are met while actively managing direct labor and related personnel

costs, including furloughs or reduced hours for certain frontline employees in markets significantly impacted by business slowdowns and shutdowns.

Refer to additional discussion regarding the Pandemic and the impact on our business throughout this document, including Note 7, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” Note 9, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” and Note 11, “Credit Facility.”

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid securities with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents. As part of our cash management system, we use “zero balance” accounts to fund our disbursements. Under this system, at the end of each day the bank balance is zero, while the book balance is usually a negative amount due to reconciling items, such as outstanding checks. We report the changes in these book cash overdrafts as cash flows from financing activities.

Trade Accounts Receivable and Costs Incurred in Excess of Amounts Billed

Trade accounts receivable arise from services provided to our clients and are usually due and payable on varying terms from receipt of the invoice to net 90 days, with the exception of certain Technical Solutions project receivables that may have longer collection periods. These receivables are recorded at the invoiced amount and normally do not bear interest. In addition, our trade accounts receivable include unbilled receivables, such as invoices for services that have been provided but are not yet billed.

Costs incurred in excess of amounts billed arise from Technical Solutions project contracts that typically provide for a schedule of billings or invoices to the client based on our performance to date of specific tasks inherent in the fulfillment of our performance obligation(s). The schedules for such billings usually do not precisely match the schedule on which costs are incurred. As a result, revenues generally differ from amounts that can be billed or invoiced to the client at any point during the contract.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We determine the allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical write-offs, known or expected trends, and the identification of specific balances deemed uncollectible. For the specifically identified balances, we establish the reserve upon the earlier of a client’s inability to meet its financial obligations or after a period of 12 months, unless our management believes such amounts will ultimately be collectible.

Sales Allowance

In connection with our service contracts, we periodically issue credit memos to our clients that are recorded as a reduction in revenues and an increase to the allowance for billing adjustments. These credits can result from client vacancy discounts, job cancellations, property damage, and other items. We estimate our potential future losses on these client receivables based on an analysis of the historical rate of sales adjustments (credit memos, net of re-bills) and known or expected trends.

Other Current Assets

At October 31, 2021 and 2020, other current assets primarily consisted of other receivables, short-term insurance recoverables, and capitalized commissions.

Other Investments

At October 31, 2021 and 2020, other investments primarily consisted of investments in unconsolidated affiliates.

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

We own non-controlling interests (generally 20% to 50%) in certain affiliated entities that predominantly provide facility solutions to governmental and commercial clients, primarily in the United States and the Middle East. We account for such investments under the equity method of accounting. We evaluate our equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the estimated fair value of the investment is less than its carrying amount and we determine that the impairment is other than temporary. At October 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, our investments in unconsolidated affiliates were $11.7 million,

$11.0 million, and $8.9 million, respectively. We did not recognize any impairment charges on these investments in 2021, 2020, or 2019.

Property, Plant and Equipment

We record property, plant and equipment at cost. Repairs and maintenance expenditures are expensed as incurred. In contrast, we capitalize major renewals or replacements that substantially extend the useful life of an asset. We determine depreciation for financial reporting purposes using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:


Category			Years
Computer equipment and software			3–5
Machinery and other equipment			3–5
Transportation equipment			1.5–10
Buildings			10–40
Furniture and fixtures			5

In addition, we depreciate assets under finance leases and leasehold improvements over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the remaining lease term. Upon retirement or sale of an asset, we remove the cost and accumulated depreciation from our Consolidated Balance Sheets. When applicable, we record corresponding gains or losses within the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Leases

We adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), and all related amendments on November 1, 2019, on a modified retrospective basis. Comparative prior period Financial Statements for fiscal year 2019 have not been restated and continue to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for fiscal year 2019. Topic 842 requires lessees to recognize substantially all leases on their balance sheet as a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability. Upon adoption, we elected the package of transition practical expedients that allowed us to carry forward prior conclusions related to: (i) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases; (ii) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases; and (iii) initial direct costs for existing leases. Additionally, we elected the practical expedient of not separating lease components from non-lease components for all asset classes. We also made an accounting policy election to not record ROU assets or lease liabilities for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less and will recognize payments for such leases in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We did not elect the use of hindsight for determining the reasonably certain lease term.

We enter into various noncancelable lease agreements for office space, parking facilities, warehouses, vehicles, and equipment used in the normal course of business. We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception and begin recording lease activity at the commencement date, which is generally the date in which we take possession of or control the physical use of the asset. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term with lease expense recognized on a straight-line basis. We use our incremental borrowing rate to determine the present value of future lease payments unless the implicit rate in a lease is readily determinable. Our incremental borrowing rate is the rate of interest we would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term at an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. This incremental borrowing rate is applied to the minimum lease payments within each lease agreement to determine the amounts of our ROU assets and lease liabilities. Our incremental borrowing rate as of November 1, 2019, was utilized for the initial measurement of operating lease liabilities upon adoption of Topic 842.

Our lease terms range from one to 30 years. Some leases include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term. We typically include options to extend the lease in a lease term when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option and when doing so is at our sole discretion. Certain equipment and vehicle leases may also include options to purchase the leased property. The depreciable life of assets and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term, unless there is a transfer of title or purchase option reasonably certain of exercise. Typically, if we decide to cancel or terminate a lease before the end of its term, then we would owe the lessor the remaining lease payments under the term of such lease. Our lease agreements generally do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. We may rent or sublease certain real estate assets that we no longer use to third parties.

Lease agreements may contain rent escalation clauses, rent holidays, or certain landlord incentives, including tenant improvement allowances. Prior to November 1, 2019, we recognized lease expense related to operating leases on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases and, accordingly, recorded the difference between cash rent payments and recognition of rent expense as a deferred rent liability or prepaid rent. Landlord-funded leasehold improvements were also recorded as deferred rent liabilities and were amortized as a reduction of rent expense over the noncancelable term of the related operating lease. The ROU assets recognized upon adoption of Topic 842 included: cumulative prepaid or accrued rent on the adoption date, unamortized lease incentives, and unamortized initial direct costs initially recognized prior to adoption of Topic 842. Following adoption of Topic 842, ROU assets include amounts for scheduled rent increases and are reduced by lease incentive amounts.

Certain of our lease agreements include variable rent payments, consisting primarily of rental payments adjusted periodically for inflation and amounts paid to the lessor based on cost or consumption, such as maintenance and utilities. These costs are expensed as incurred. Certain of our parking arrangements also contain variable rent payments that are a percentage of parking services revenue based on contractual levels. We record contingent rent as it becomes probable that specified targets will be met. Variable rent lease components are not included in the lease liability.

Service concession arrangements within the scope of ASU No. 2017-10, Service Concession Arrangements (Topic 853): Determining the Customer of the Operation Services, are excluded from the scope of Topic 842. Lease costs associated with these arrangements are recorded as a reduction of revenues. See Note 3, “Revenues,” for further discussion.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess purchase price of acquired businesses over the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We have elected to make the first day of our fourth quarter, August 1, the annual impairment assessment date for goodwill. However, we could be required to evaluate the recoverability of goodwill more often if impairment indicators exist. Goodwill is tested for impairment at a “reporting unit” level by performing either a qualitative evaluation or a quantitative test. The qualitative evaluation is an assessment of factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. We may elect not to perform the qualitative assessment for some or all reporting units and instead perform a quantitative test under which we estimate the fair value using a weighting of fair values derived from an income approach and a market approach. The discounted estimates of future cash flows include significant management assumptions, such as revenue growth rates, operating margins, weighted average cost of capital, and future economic and market conditions.

Other intangible assets primarily consist of acquired customer contracts and relationships that are amortized using the sum-of-the-years’-digits method over their useful lives, consistent with the estimated useful life considerations used in the determination of their fair values. This accelerated method of amortization reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits from the intangible assets of customer contracts and relationships are expected to be realized. We amortize other non-customer acquired intangibles using a straight-line method of amortization. We evaluate other intangible assets, as well as our long-lived assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. When this occurs, a recoverability test is performed that compares the projected undiscounted cash flows from the use and eventual disposition of an asset or asset group to its carrying amount. If the projected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then we calculate an impairment loss. The impairment loss calculation compares the fair value, which is based on projected discounted cash flows, to the carrying value.

See Note 9, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” for further information on goodwill, other intangible assets, and impairment charges.

Other Noncurrent Assets

At October 31, 2021 and 2020, other noncurrent assets primarily consisted of long-term insurance recoverables, deferred charges, capitalized commissions, ESPC receivables, insurance and other long-term deposits, and prepayments to carriers for future insurance claims.

Federal Energy Savings Performance Contract Receivables

As part of our Technical Solutions business, we enter into ESPCs with the federal government pursuant to which we agree to develop, design, engineer, and construct a project and to guarantee that the project will satisfy agreed-upon performance standards. ESPC receivables represent the amount to be paid by various federal government agencies for work we have satisfactorily performed under specific ESPCs. We assign certain of our rights to receive those payments to unaffiliated third parties that provide construction financing, which we record as a liability, for such contracts. This construction financing is recorded as cash flows from financing activities, while the use of the cash received to pay project costs under these arrangements is classified as operating cash flows. The ESPC receivable is recognized as revenue as each project is constructed. Upon completion and acceptance of the project by the government and upon satisfaction of true sale criteria, the assigned ESPC receivable from the government and corresponding ESPC liability are eliminated from our consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is the price we would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction with a market participant at the measurement date. In the absence of active markets for identical assets or liabilities, such measurements involve developing assumptions based on market observable data and, in the absence of such data, internal information that is consistent with what market participants would use in a hypothetical transaction that occurs at the measurement date.

Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our market assumptions. Preference is given to observable inputs. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:

Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;

Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable; and

Level 3 – Significant inputs to the valuation model are unobservable.

We evaluate assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements on a recurring and non-recurring basis to determine the appropriate level at which to classify them for each reporting period. Some non-financial assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis only in certain circumstances, including the event of impairment. See Note 7, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” for the fair value hierarchy table and for details on how we measure fair value for our assets and liabilities.

Insurance Reserves

We use a combination of insured and self-insurance programs to cover workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile liability, property damage, and other insurable risks. Insurance claim liabilities represent our estimate of retained risks without regard to insurance coverage. We retain a substantial portion of the risk related to certain workers’ compensation and medical claims. Liabilities associated with these losses include estimates of both filed claims and IBNR Claims.

With the assistance of third-party actuaries, we review our estimate of ultimate losses for IBNR Claims on a quarterly basis and adjust our required self-insurance reserves as appropriate. See Note 10, “Insurance,” for further details on the quarterly review procedures. As part of this evaluation, we review the status of existing and new claim reserves as established by third-party claims administrators. The third-party claims administrators establish the case reserves based upon known factors related to the type and severity of the claims, demographic factors, legislative matters, and case law, as appropriate. We compare actual trends to expected trends and monitor claims developments. The specific case reserves estimated by the third-party administrators are provided to an actuary who assists us in projecting an actuarial estimate of the overall ultimate losses for our self-insured or high deductible programs, which includes the case reserves plus an actuarial estimate of reserves required for additional developments, such as IBNR Claims. We utilize the results of actuarial studies to estimate our insurance rates and insurance reserves for future periods and to adjust reserves, if appropriate, for prior years.

In general, our insurance reserves are recorded on an undiscounted basis. We allocate current-year insurance expense to our operating segments based upon their underlying exposures, while actuarial adjustments related to prior year claims are recorded within Corporate expenses. We classify claims as current or long-term

based on the expected settlement date. Estimated insurance recoveries related to recorded liabilities are reflected as assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets when we believe the receipt of such amounts is probable.

Other Accrued Liabilities

At October 31, 2021 and 2020, other accrued liabilities primarily consisted of legal fees and settlements, other accrued expenses (which include the current portion of deferred payroll taxes), employee benefits, contract liabilities (which include deferred revenue and progress billings in excess of costs), unclaimed property, dividends payable, and insurance claims.

Other Noncurrent Liabilities

At October 31, 2021 and 2020, other noncurrent liabilities primarily consisted of noncurrent deferred payroll taxes, deferred compensation, ESPC liabilities, retirement plan liabilities, long-term finance leases, and warranty reserves.

Contracts with Customers

We account for a contract when it has approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties are identified, payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance, and collectability of consideration is probable. Once a contract is identified, we evaluate whether it is a combined or single contract and whether it should be accounted for as more than one performance obligation. Generally, most of our contracts are cancelable by either party without a substantive penalty, and the majority of our contracts have a notification period of 30 to 60 days. If a contract includes a cancellation clause, the remaining contract term is limited to the required termination notice period.

At contract inception, we assess the services promised to our customers and identify a performance obligation for each promise to transfer to the customer a service, or a bundle of services, that is distinct. To identify the performance obligation, we consider all of our services promised in the contract, regardless of whether they are explicitly stated or are implied by customary business practices.

The majority of our contracts contain multiple promises that represent an integrated bundle of services comprised of activities that may vary over time; however, these activities fulfill a single integrated performance obligation since we perform a continuous service that is substantially the same and has the same pattern of transfer to the customer. Our performance obligations are primarily satisfied over time as we provide the related services. We allocate the contract transaction price to this single performance obligation and recognize revenue as the services are performed, as further described in “Contract Types” below.

Certain arrangements involve variable consideration (primarily per transaction fees, reimbursable expenses, and sales-based royalties). We do not estimate the variable consideration for these arrangements; rather, we recognize these variable fees in the period they are earned. Some of our contracts, often related to Airline Services, may also include performance incentives based on variable performance measures that are ascertained exclusively by future performance and therefore cannot be estimated at contract inception and are recognized as revenue once known and mutually agreed upon. We include estimated amounts in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. Our estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on an assessment of our anticipated performance and all information (historical, current, and forecasted) that is reasonably available to us.

We primarily account for our performance obligations under the series guidance, using the as-invoiced practical expedient when applicable. We apply the as-invoiced practical expedient to record revenue as the services are provided, given the nature of the services provided and the frequency of billing under the customer contracts. Under this practical expedient, we recognize revenue in an amount that corresponds directly with the value to the customer of our performance completed to date and for which we have the right to invoice the customer.

We typically bill customers on a monthly basis and have the right to consideration from customers in an amount that corresponds directly with the performance obligation satisfied to date. The time between completion of the performance obligation and collection of cash is generally 30 to 60 days. Sales-based taxes are excluded from revenue.

Contracts generally can be modified to account for changes in specifications and requirements. We consider contract modifications to exist when the modification either changes the consideration, creates new

performance obligations, or changes the existing scope of the contract and related performance obligations. Historically, contract modifications have been for services that are not distinct from the existing contract, since we are providing a bundle of services that are highly interrelated, and are therefore treated as if they were part of that existing contract. Such modifications are generally accounted for prospectively as part of the existing contract.

Contract Types

We have arrangements under various contract types, as described below.

Monthly Fixed-Price

Monthly fixed-price arrangements are contracts in which the client agrees to pay a fixed fee every month over a specified contract term. We measure progress toward satisfaction of the performance obligation as the services are provided, and revenue is recognized at the agreed-upon contractual amount over time, because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the services as they are performed.

Square-Foot

Square-foot arrangements are contracts in which the client agrees to pay a fixed fee every month based on the actual square footage serviced over a specified contract term. We measure progress toward satisfaction of the performance obligation as the services are provided, and revenue is recognized at the agreed-upon contractual amount over time, because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the services as they are performed.

Cost-Plus

Cost-plus arrangements are contracts in which the clients reimburse us for the agreed-upon amount of wages and benefits, payroll taxes, insurance charges, and other expenses associated with the contracted work, plus a profit margin. We measure progress toward satisfaction of the performance obligation as the services are provided, and revenue is recognized at the agreed-upon contractual amount over time, because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the services as they are performed.

Work Orders

Work orders generally consist of supplemental services requested by clients outside of the standard service specification and include cleanup after tenant moves, construction cleanup, flood cleanup, and snow removal. The nature of these short-term contracts involves performing one-off type services, and revenue is recognized at the agreed-upon contractual amount over time as the services are provided, because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the services as they are performed.

Transaction-Price

Transaction-price contracts are arrangements in which customers are billed a fixed price for each transaction performed on a monthly basis (e.g., wheelchair passengers served, airplane cabins cleaned). We measure progress toward satisfaction of the performance obligation as the services are provided, and revenue is recognized at the agreed-upon contractual amount over time, because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the services as they are performed.

Hourly

Hourly arrangements are contracts in which the client is billed a fixed hourly rate for each labor hour provided. We measure progress toward satisfaction of the performance obligation as the services are provided, and revenue is recognized at the agreed-upon contractual amount over time, because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the services as they are performed.

Management Reimbursement

Under management reimbursement arrangements, we manage a parking facility for a management fee and pass through the revenue and expenses associated with the facility to the owner. We measure progress toward satisfaction of the performance obligation over time as the services are provided. Under these contracts we recognize both revenues and expenses, in equal amounts, that are directly reimbursed from the property owner for operating expenses, as such expenses are incurred. Such revenues do not include gross customer collections at the managed locations, because they belong to the property owners. We have determined we are the principal in

these transactions, because the nature of our performance obligation is for us to provide the services on behalf of the customer and we have control of the promised services before they are transferred to the customer.

Leased Location

Under leased location parking arrangements, we pay a fixed amount of rent, plus a percentage of revenues derived from monthly and transient parkers, to the property owner. We retain all revenues received and we are responsible for most operating expenses incurred. We measure progress toward satisfaction of the performance obligation as the services are provided, and revenue is recognized over time, because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the services as they are performed.

Rental expense and certain other expenses under contracts that meet the definition of service concession arrangements are recorded as a reduction of revenue.

Allowance

Under allowance parking arrangements, we are paid a fixed amount or hourly rate to provide parking services, and we are responsible for certain operating expenses that are specified in the contract. We measure progress toward satisfaction of the performance obligation as the services are provided, and revenue is recognized at the agreed-upon contractual rate over time, because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the services as they are performed.

Energy Savings Contracts and Fixed-Price Repair and Refurbishment

Under energy savings contracts and fixed-price repair and refurbishment arrangements, we agree to develop, design, engineer, and construct a project. Additionally, as part of bundled energy solutions arrangements, we guarantee the project will satisfy agreed-upon performance standards.

We use the cost-to-cost method, which compares the actual costs incurred to date with the current estimate of total costs to complete, to measure the satisfaction of the performance obligation and recognize revenue as work progresses and we incur costs on our contracts; we believe this method best reflects the transfer of control to the customer. This measurement and comparison process requires updates to the estimate of total costs to complete the contract, and these updates may include subjective assessments and judgments. Equipment purchased for these projects is project-specific and considered a value-added element to our work. Equipment costs are incurred when title is transferred to us, typically upon delivery to the work site. Revenue for uninstalled equipment is recognized at cost and the associated margin is deferred until installation is substantially complete.

We recognize revenue over time for all of our services as we perform them, because (i) control continuously transfers to the customer as work progresses or (ii) we have the right to bill the customer as costs are incurred. The customer typically controls the work in process, as evidenced either by contractual termination clauses or by our rights to payment for work performed to date plus a reasonable profit to deliver products or services that do not have an alternative use to us.

Certain project contracts include a schedule of billings or invoices to the customer based on our job-to-date percentage of completion of specific tasks inherent in the fulfillment of our performance obligation(s) or in accordance with a fixed billing schedule. Fixed billing schedules may not precisely match the actual costs incurred. Therefore, revenue recognized may differ from amounts that can be billed or invoiced to the customer at any point during the contract, resulting in balances that are considered revenue recognized in excess of cumulative billings or cumulative billings in excess of revenue recognized. Advanced payments from our customers generally do not represent a significant financing component as the payments are used to meet working capital demands that can be higher in the early stages of a contract, as well as to protect us from our customer failing to meet its obligations under the contract.

Certain projects include service maintenance agreements under which existing systems are repaired and maintained for a specific period of time. We generally recognize revenue under these arrangements over time. Our service maintenance agreements are generally one-year renewable agreements.

Franchise

We franchise certain engineering services through individual and area franchises under the Linc Service and TEGG brands, which are part of ABM Technical Solutions. Initial franchise fees result from the sale of a franchise license and include the use of the name, trademarks, and proprietary methods. The franchise license is

considered symbolic intellectual property, and revenue related to the sale of this right is recognized at the agreed-upon contractual amount over the term of the initial franchise agreement.

Royalty fee revenue consists of sales-based royalties received as part of the consideration for the franchise right, which is calculated as a percentage of the franchisees’ revenue. We recognize royalty fee revenue at the agreed-upon contractual rates over time as the customer revenue is generated by the franchisees. A receivable is recognized for an estimate of the unreported royalty fees, which are reported and remitted to us in arrears.

Costs to Obtain a Contract With a Customer

We capitalize the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer, primarily commissions, as contract assets and recognize the expense on a straight-line basis over a weighted average expected customer relationship period. Capitalized commissions are classified as current or noncurrent based on the timing of when we expect to recognize the expense.

Contract Balances

The timing of revenue recognition, billings, and cash collections results in contract assets and contract liabilities, as further explained below. The timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. If a contract includes a cancellation clause that allows for the termination of the contract by either party without a substantive penalty, then the contract term is limited to the termination notice period.

Contract assets primarily consist of billed trade receivables, unbilled trade receivables, and costs incurred in excess of amounts billed. Billed and unbilled trade receivables represent amounts from work completed in which we have an unconditional right to bill our customer. Costs incurred in excess of amounts billed typically arise when the revenue recognized on projects exceeds the amount billed to the customer. These amounts are transferred to billed trade receivables when the rights become unconditional. Contract assets also include the capitalization of incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer, primarily commissions.

Contract liabilities consist of deferred revenue and advance payments and billings in excess of revenue recognized. We generally classify contract liabilities as current since the related contracts are generally for a period of one year or less. Contract liabilities decrease as we recognize revenue from the satisfaction of the related performance obligation.

Management Reimbursement Revenue by Segment


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Business & Industry	$	185.8	$	221.4	$	283.1
Aviation	54.5		74.3		95.5
Total	$	240.3	$	295.6	$	378.7

Restructuring and Related Expenses

We may periodically engage in various restructuring activities intended to drive long-term profitable growth and increase operational efficiency, which can include streamlining and realigning our overall organizational structure and reallocating resources. Our most recent restructuring program was primarily associated with integrating our acquisition of GCA and reorganizing our healthcare business. During 2020 and 2019, restructuring expenses were $7.6 million and $11.2 million, respectively. By the end of 2020, we had substantially completed the restructuring program.

Restructuring and related expenses include employee severance, external support fees, lease exit costs, and other costs. Our methodology to record these costs is described below.

Severance

As we do not have a history of consistently providing severance benefits, we recognize severance costs for employees who do not have formal employment agreements when management has committed to a restructuring plan and communicated those actions to impacted employees, such that the employee is able to determine the type and amount of benefits that they will receive upon termination. In addition, if the employees are required to render service beyond the minimum retention period until they are terminated in order to receive the benefits, then a liability

is recognized ratably over the future service period. For employees with employment agreements, we accrue for these severance liabilities when it is probable that the impacted employee will be entitled to the benefits and the amount can be reasonably estimated.

Advertising

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. During 2021, 2020, and 2019, advertising expense was $6.2 million, $1.8 million, and $1.7 million, respectively.

Share-Based Compensation

Our current share-based awards principally consist of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and various performance share awards. We recognize compensation costs associated with these awards in selling, general and administrative expenses. For RSUs and certain performance share awards, the amount of compensation cost is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments issued. Since our total shareholder return (“TSR”) performance share awards are performance awards with a market condition, the compensation costs associated with these awards are determined using a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model. For RSUs and TSR awards, compensation cost is recognized over the period that an employee provides service in exchange for the award. We recognize compensation cost associated with other performance share awards over the requisite service period based on the probability of achievement of performance criteria.

Taxes Collected from Clients and Remitted to Governmental Agencies

We record taxes on client transactions due to governmental agencies as receivables and liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Net Income Per Common Share

Basic net income per common share is net income divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted to include the potential dilution from the conversion of RSUs, vesting of performance shares, and exercise of stock options.

Contingencies and Litigation

We are a party to a number of lawsuits, claims, and proceedings incident to the operation of our business, including those pertaining to labor and employment, contracts, personal injury, and other matters, some of which allege substantial monetary damages. Some of these actions may be brought as class actions on behalf of a class or purported class of employees. We accrue 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, then the minimum amount of the range is recorded as a liability. We recognize legal costs as an expense in the period incurred.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amount of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to be applied to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered. Deferred tax assets are reviewed for recoverability on a quarterly basis. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amount of a deferred tax asset to its realizable value unless it is more likely than not that such asset will be realized. We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326) in June 2016 and subsequently issued these amendments to the initial guidance: ASU 2018-19, ASU 2019-04, ASU 2019-05, ASU 2019-11, and ASU 2020-03 (collectively, “Topic 326”). Topic 326 replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with a methodology that incorporates all expected credit loss estimates, resulting in more timely recognition of losses. Under Topic 326, an organization is required to measure all

expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported financial assets. It also requires credit losses related to available-for-sale debt securities to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. We adopted this standard effective November 1, 2020, on a modified retrospective basis. The asset and liability classes that we have identified to be in the scope of Topic 326 at the time of the adoption are trade accounts receivable, costs incurred in excess of amounts billed, guarantees, reinsurance recoverables, and notes receivable. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. This accounting update aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The guidance also specifies that the presentation of capitalized implementation costs and the related amortization on the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows should align with the presentation of the hosting (service) element of the arrangement. We adopted this standard effective November 1, 2020, on a prospective basis. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

No other recently adopted accounting standards have had a significant impact on our fiscal 2021 consolidated financial statements

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

We do not expect any recently issued accounting pronouncements to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Revenues

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenues

REVENUES

Disaggregation of Revenues

We generate revenues under several types of contracts, which are further described in Note 2, “Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies.” Generally, the type of contract is determined by the nature of the services provided by each of our major service lines throughout our reportable segments; therefore, we disaggregate revenues from contracts with customers into major service lines. We have determined that disaggregating revenues into these categories best depicts how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows are affected by economic factors. Our reportable segments are B&I, T&M, Education, Aviation, and Technical Solutions, as described in Note 17, “Segment and Geographic Information.”


	Year Ended October 31, 2021
(in millions)	B&I		T&M		Education		Aviation		Technical Solutions		Total
Major Service Line
Janitorial(1)	$	2,651.7	$	790.5	$	730.8	$	117.2	$	—	$	4,290.3
Parking(2)	296.9		39.8		0.9		261.8		—		599.4
Facility Services(3)	397.4		156.8		104.7		28.9		—		687.8
Building & Energy Solutions(4)	—		—		—		—		534.0		534.0
Airline Services(5)	0.5		—		—		260.9		—		261.4
	$	3,346.5	$	987.1	$	836.4	$	668.8	$	534.0	$	6,372.9
Elimination of inter-segment revenues											(144.2)
Total											$	6,228.6


	Year Ended October 31, 2020
(in millions)	B&I		T&M		Education		Aviation		Technical Solutions		Total
Major Service Line
Janitorial(1)	$	2,420.4	$	770.9	$	716.5	$	121.2	$	—	$	4,029.0
Parking(2)	362.8		33.5		1.8		255.9		—		654.0
Facility Services(3)	374.1		151.6		90.5		31.6		—		647.9
Building & Energy Solutions(4)	—		—		—		—		506.6		506.6
Airline Services(5)	0.4		—		—		272.2		—		272.6
	$	3,157.8	$	956.0	$	808.8	$	680.9	$	506.6	$	6,110.0
Elimination of inter-segment revenues											(122.4)
Total											$	5,987.6

(1) Janitorial arrangements provide a wide range of essential cleaning services for commercial office buildings, airports and other transportation centers, educational institutions, government buildings, health facilities, industrial buildings, retail stores, and stadiums and arenas. These arrangements are often structured as monthly fixed-price, square-foot, cost-plus, and work order contracts.

(2) Parking arrangements provide parking and transportation services for clients at various locations, including airports and other transportation centers, commercial office buildings, educational institutions, health facilities, hotels, and stadiums and arenas. These arrangements are structured as management reimbursement, leased location, and allowance contracts. Certain of these arrangements are considered service concession agreements and are accounted for under the guidance of Topic 853; accordingly, rent expense related to these arrangements is recorded as a reduction of the related parking service revenues.

(3) Facility Services arrangements provide onsite mechanical engineering and technical services and solutions relating to a broad range of facilities and infrastructure systems that are designed to extend the useful life of facility fixed assets, improve equipment operating efficiencies, reduce energy consumption, lower overall operational costs for clients, and enhance the sustainability of client locations. These arrangements are generally structured as monthly fixed-price, cost-plus, and work order contracts.

(4) Building & Energy Solutions arrangements provide custom energy solutions, electrical, HVAC, lighting, electric vehicle charging station installation, and other general maintenance and repair services for clients in the public and private sectors and are generally structured as Energy Savings and Fixed-Price Repair and Refurbishment contracts. We also franchise certain operations under franchise agreements relating to our Linc Network and TEGG brands pursuant to franchise contracts.

(5) Airline Services arrangements support airlines and airports with services such as passenger assistance, catering logistics, and airplane cabin maintenance. These arrangements are often structured as monthly fixed-price, cost-plus, transaction price, and hourly contracts.

Remaining Performance Obligations

At October 31, 2021, performance obligations that were unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied for which we expect to recognize revenue totaled $307.2 million. We expect to recognize revenue on approximately 79% of the remaining performance obligations over the next 12 months, with the remainder recognized thereafter, based on our estimates of project timing.

These amounts exclude variable consideration primarily related to: (i) contracts where we have determined that the contract consists of a series of distinct service periods and revenues are based on future performance that cannot be estimated at contract inception; (ii) parking contracts where we and the customer share the gross revenues or operating profit for the location; and (iii) contracts where transaction prices include performance incentives that are based on future performance and therefore cannot be estimated at contract inception. We apply the practical expedient that permits exclusion of information about the remaining performance obligations with original expected durations of one year or less.

Contract Balances

The following tables present the balances in our contract assets and contract liabilities:


(in millions)	October 31, 2021		October 31, 2020
Contract assets
Billed trade receivables(1)	$	1,057.6	$	835.8
Unbilled trade receivables(1)	112.1		53.9
Costs incurred in excess of amounts billed(2)	52.5		52.2
Capitalized commissions(3)	27.8		25.2

(1) Included in trade accounts receivable, net, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fluctuations correlate directly to the execution of new customer contracts and to invoicing and collections from customers in the normal course of business.

(2) Fluctuation is primarily due to the timing of payments on our contracts measured using the cost-to-cost method of revenue recognition.

(3) Included in other current assets and other noncurrent assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. During the year ended October 31, 2021, we capitalized $16.3 million of new costs and amortized $13.7 million of previously capitalized costs. There was no impairment loss recorded on the costs capitalized.


(in millions)	Year Ended October 31, 2021
Contract liabilities(1)
Balance at beginning of year	$	36.4
Additional contract liabilities	248.9
Recognition of deferred revenue	(226.8)
Balance at end of year	$	58.5

(1) Included in other accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

- Definition

The entire disclosure of revenue from contract with customer to transfer good or service and to transfer nonfinancial asset. Includes, but is not limited to, disaggregation of revenue, credit loss recognized from contract with customer, judgment and change in judgment related to contract with customer, and asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer. Excludes insurance and lease contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=49130388

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123351226&loc=SL49130551-203045

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123351226&loc=SL49130556-203045

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123351226&loc=SL49130554-203045

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123351226&loc=SL49130550-203045

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123351226&loc=SL49130554-203045

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123351226&loc=SL49130554-203045

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123351226&loc=SL49130554-203045

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123351226&loc=SL49130558-203045

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123351226&loc=SL49130554-203045

+ Details

Acquisitions

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Business Combination and Asset Acquisition [Abstract]

Acquisitions

ACQUISITIONS

Acquisition of Able

On September 30, 2021, we completed the Able Acquisition for a net cash purchase price of $741.7 million. Pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement, approximately $12.1 million of the cash consideration was placed into escrow accounts, of which approximately $8.2 million was placed into escrow to satisfy any applicable indemnification claims for a period of 12 months. To fund the cash purchase price, we used cash on hand and borrowed $325.0 million on September 30, 2021, at an average interest rate of 1.58% from our revolving line of credit.

Preliminary Acquisition Accounting

The assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recognized at their acquisition date fair values. The acquisition accounting is subject to change as the Company obtains additional information during the measurement period about the facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. The final acquisition accounting may include changes to customer relationships, goodwill, deferred taxes, legal matters, insurance claims reserves, and other liabilities. Goodwill arising from the Able Acquisition is not deductible for tax reporting purposes.

The following table summarizes the preliminary acquisition accounting based on currently available information:


(in millions)


Cash and cash equivalents	$	31.5
Trade accounts receivable(1)	159.3
Other assets	24.9
Customer relationships(2)	220.0
Trade names(2)	10.0
Goodwill(3)	554.0
Trade accounts payable	(27.0)
Accrued compensation	(38.2)
Insurance claims	(91.6)
Other liabilities	(41.7)
Deferred income tax liability, net	(59.5)
Net assets acquired	$	741.7

(1) The gross amount of trade accounts receivable was $160.6 million, of which $1.4 million was deemed uncollectible at October 31, 2021.

(2) The amortization periods for the acquired intangible assets are 15 years for customer relationships and 2 years for trade names.

(3) Goodwill is largely attributable to value we expect to obtain from long-term business growth, the established workforce, and buyer-specific synergies. This goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes.

Financial Information

The Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021, includes $101.1 million of revenue and $4.4 million of net income attributable to the operations of Able since the acquisition date. The operations of Able are included in our B&I segment.

The following table presents our unaudited pro forma results for 2021 and 2020 as though the Able Acquisition occurred on November 1, 2019. These results include adjustments for the estimated amortization of intangible assets, interest expense, and the income tax impact of the pro forma adjustments at the statutory rate of 28%. These unaudited pro forma results do not reflect the cost of integration activities or benefits from expected revenue enhancements and synergies.


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Pro forma revenue	$	7,223.2	$	7,078.2
Pro forma income (loss) from continuing operations(1)	139.1		(7.9)

(1) These results were adjusted to exclude $17.3 million of acquisition-related costs incurred during 2021, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Leases

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

LEASES

The components of lease assets and liabilities and their classification on our Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows:


(in millions)	Classification	October 31, 2021		October 31, 2020
Lease assets
Operating leases	Right-of-use assets	$	126.5	$	143.1
Finance leases	Property, plant and equipment, net(1)	3.7		6.1
Total lease assets		$	130.2	$	149.2

Lease liabilities
Current liabilities
Operating leases	Current portion of lease liabilities	$	31.8	$	35.0
Finance leases	Other accrued liabilities	0.4		2.3
Noncurrent liabilities
Operating leases	Long-term lease liabilities	116.6		131.4
Finance leases	Other noncurrent liabilities	2.0		2.8
Total lease liabilities		$	150.8	$	171.4

(1) Finance lease assets are recorded net of accumulated amortization of $16.3 million and $13.6 million as of October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, respectively.

The components of lease costs and classification within the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) were as follows:


(in millions)	Year Ended October 31, 2021		Years Ended October 31, 2020
Operating lease costs:
Operating expenses(1)(2)	$	51.9	$	67.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses(3)	25.3		28.5
Finance lease costs:
Operating expenses(4)	2.5		3.5

Interest expense(5)	0.5		0.5
Total lease costs	$	80.2	$	100.4

(1) Related to certain parking arrangements.

(2) Includes short-term lease costs and variable lease costs.

(3) Includes short-term lease costs.

(4) Represents amortization of leased assets.

(5) Interest on lease liabilities.

The following table presents information on short-term and variable lease costs:


(in millions)	Year Ended October 31, 2021		Year Ended October 31, 2020
Short-term lease costs	$	34.8	$	47.0
Variable lease costs	3.7		3.5
Total short-term and variable lease costs	$	38.5	$	50.5

Sublease income generated during the year ended October 31, 2021, was immaterial. We continue to monitor the impact of the Pandemic on our subleases; however, we do not expect a significant impact.

The amounts of future undiscounted cash flows related to the lease payments over the lease terms and the reconciliation to the present value of the lease liabilities as recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 31, 2021, are as follows:


(in millions)	Operating Lease Liabilities		Finance Lease Liabilities		Total
Fiscal 2022	$	37.2	$	1.7	$	38.9
Fiscal 2023	32.1		0.9		33.0
Fiscal 2024	27.2		—		27.2
Fiscal 2025	21.1		—		21.1
Fiscal 2026	18.7		—		18.7
Thereafter	31.6		—		31.6
Total lease payments	168.0		2.6		170.6
Less: imputed interest	19.6		0.2		19.8
Present value of lease liabilities	$	148.4	$	2.4	$	150.8

Future sublease rental income was excluded for the periods shown above as the amounts are immaterial.

We have entered into operating lease arrangements as of October 31, 2021, that are effective for future periods. The total amount of ROU assets and lease liabilities related to these arrangements is immaterial.

The following table includes the weighted-average remaining lease terms, in years, and the weighted-average discount rate used to calculate the present value of operating lease liabilities:


	Year Ended October 31, 2021		Year Ended October 31, 2020
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
Operating leases	5.7		6.1
Finance leases	1.5		2.0
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases	4.11	%	4.14	%
Finance leases	4.78	%	4.55	%

The following table includes supplemental cash and non-cash information related to operating leases:


(in millions)	Year Ended October 31, 2021		Year Ended October 31, 2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	38.9	$	44.8
Operating cash flows from finance leases	0.5		0.5
Financing cash flows from finance leases	2.8		3.4
Lease assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities(1)	20.6		15.7

(1) Excludes the amount initially capitalized in 2020 in conjunction with the adoption of Topic 842.

Leases

LEASES

The components of lease assets and liabilities and their classification on our Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows:


(in millions)	Classification	October 31, 2021		October 31, 2020
Lease assets
Operating leases	Right-of-use assets	$	126.5	$	143.1
Finance leases	Property, plant and equipment, net(1)	3.7		6.1
Total lease assets		$	130.2	$	149.2

Lease liabilities
Current liabilities
Operating leases	Current portion of lease liabilities	$	31.8	$	35.0
Finance leases	Other accrued liabilities	0.4		2.3
Noncurrent liabilities
Operating leases	Long-term lease liabilities	116.6		131.4
Finance leases	Other noncurrent liabilities	2.0		2.8
Total lease liabilities		$	150.8	$	171.4

(1) Finance lease assets are recorded net of accumulated amortization of $16.3 million and $13.6 million as of October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, respectively.

The components of lease costs and classification within the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) were as follows:


(in millions)	Year Ended October 31, 2021		Years Ended October 31, 2020
Operating lease costs:
Operating expenses(1)(2)	$	51.9	$	67.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses(3)	25.3		28.5
Finance lease costs:
Operating expenses(4)	2.5		3.5

Interest expense(5)	0.5		0.5
Total lease costs	$	80.2	$	100.4

(1) Related to certain parking arrangements.

(2) Includes short-term lease costs and variable lease costs.

(3) Includes short-term lease costs.

(4) Represents amortization of leased assets.

(5) Interest on lease liabilities.

The following table presents information on short-term and variable lease costs:


(in millions)	Year Ended October 31, 2021		Year Ended October 31, 2020
Short-term lease costs	$	34.8	$	47.0
Variable lease costs	3.7		3.5
Total short-term and variable lease costs	$	38.5	$	50.5

Sublease income generated during the year ended October 31, 2021, was immaterial. We continue to monitor the impact of the Pandemic on our subleases; however, we do not expect a significant impact.


(in millions)	Operating Lease Liabilities		Finance Lease Liabilities		Total
Fiscal 2022	$	37.2	$	1.7	$	38.9
Fiscal 2023	32.1		0.9		33.0
Fiscal 2024	27.2		—		27.2
Fiscal 2025	21.1		—		21.1
Fiscal 2026	18.7		—		18.7
Thereafter	31.6		—		31.6
Total lease payments	168.0		2.6		170.6
Less: imputed interest	19.6		0.2		19.8
Present value of lease liabilities	$	148.4	$	2.4	$	150.8

Future sublease rental income was excluded for the periods shown above as the amounts are immaterial.

The following table includes the weighted-average remaining lease terms, in years, and the weighted-average discount rate used to calculate the present value of operating lease liabilities:


	Year Ended October 31, 2021		Year Ended October 31, 2020
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
Operating leases	5.7		6.1
Finance leases	1.5		2.0
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases	4.11	%	4.14	%
Finance leases	4.78	%	4.55	%

The following table includes supplemental cash and non-cash information related to operating leases:


(in millions)	Year Ended October 31, 2021		Year Ended October 31, 2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	38.9	$	44.8
Operating cash flows from finance leases	0.5		0.5
Financing cash flows from finance leases	2.8		3.4
Lease assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities(1)	20.6		15.7

(1) Excludes the amount initially capitalized in 2020 in conjunction with the adoption of Topic 842.

Net Income Per Common Share

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Net Income Per Common Share

NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Share Calculations


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions, except per share amounts)	2021		2020		2019
Income from continuing operations	$	126.3	$	0.2	$	127.5
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	—		0.1		(0.1)
Net income	$	126.3	$	0.3	$	127.4

Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding — Basic	67.4		66.9		66.6
Effect of dilutive securities
RSUs	0.3		0.1		0.2
Stock options	—		0.1		0.1
Performance shares	0.2		0.1		0.1
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding — Diluted	68.0		67.3		66.9

Net income per common share — Basic
Income from continuing operations	$	1.87	$	0.00	$	1.92
Income from discontinued operations	—		—		—
Net income	$	1.87	$	0.00	$	1.91

Net income per common share — Diluted
Income from continuing operations	$	1.86	$	0.00	$	1.91
Income from discontinued operations	—		—		—
Net income	$	1.86	$	0.00	$	1.90

Anti-Dilutive Outstanding Stock Awards Issued Under Share-Based Compensation Plans


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021	2020	2019
Anti-dilutive	—	0.4	0.3

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Fair Value Hierarchy of Our Financial Instruments

Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis


		As of October 31,
(in millions)	Fair Value Hierarchy	2021		2020
Cash and cash equivalents(1)	1	$	62.8	$	394.2
Insurance deposits(2)	1	0.7		0.7
Assets held in funded deferred compensation plan(3)	1	4.9		2.6
Credit facility(4)	2	888.8		725.3
Interest rate swap liabilities(5)	2	4.6		15.5

(1) Cash and cash equivalents are stated at nominal value, which equals fair value.

(2) Represents restricted deposits that are used to collateralize our insurance obligations and are stated at nominal value, which equals fair value. These insurance deposits are included in “Other noncurrent assets” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 10, “Insurance,” for further information.

(3) Represents investments held in Rabbi trusts associated with two of our deferred compensation plans, which we include in “Other noncurrent assets” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of the assets held in the funded deferred compensation plan is based on quoted market prices. See Note 12, “Employee Benefit Plans,” for further information.

(4) Represents gross outstanding borrowings under our syndicated line of credit and term loan. Due to variable interest rates, the carrying value of outstanding borrowings under our line of credit and term loan approximates the fair value. See Note 11, “Credit Facility,” for further information.

(5) Represents interest rate swap derivatives designated as cash flow hedges. The fair values of the interest rate swaps are 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 the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rates at the end of the period. At October 31, 2021 and 2020, our interest rate swaps are included in “Other accrued liabilities” and “Other noncurrent liabilities,” respectively, on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 11, “Credit Facility,” for further information.

At October 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had no financial assets or liabilities recorded at fair value using Level 3 inputs, and there were no transfers to or from Level 3 financial assets or liabilities during 2021 and one such transfer during 2020.

Non-Financial Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

In addition to assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, we are also required to measure certain items at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These assets can include: goodwill; intangible assets; property, plant and equipment; lease-related ROU assets; and long-lived assets that have been reduced to fair value when they are held for sale. If certain triggering events occur or if an annual impairment test is required, we would evaluate these non-financial assets for impairment. If an impairment were to occur, the asset would be recorded at the estimated fair value, using primarily unobservable Level 3 inputs.

During the third quarter of 2021, we recognized a non-cash impairment charge totaling $9.1 million in our Corporate segment for previously capitalized internal-use software related to our Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) system implementation. The Company determined that certain components that were previously developed would no longer be implemented. The impairment charge reduced the carrying value to zero for those components and is recorded in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the year ended October 31, 2021.

During the second quarter of 2020, given the general deterioration in economic and market conditions arising from the Pandemic, we identified a triggering event indicating possible impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, and we recorded impairment charges on goodwill and customer relationships. The fair value of these items was determined based on unobservable Level 3 inputs. The fair value of goodwill was determined using a weighting of fair values derived from an income approach and a market approach. The fair value of customer relationships

was determined based on discounted cash flows associated with the customer relationships that include significant management assumptions, including expected proceeds. See Note 9, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” for further information.

- 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 + Details

Property, Plant and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, Plant and Equipment


	As of October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Machinery and other equipment	$	148.9	$	137.0
Computer equipment and software	97.2		101.2
Transportation equipment	57.9		57.7
Leasehold improvements	59.6		57.1
Furniture and fixtures	14.6		13.7
Buildings	7.7		7.6
Land	0.7		0.7
	386.6		375.0
Less: Accumulated depreciation(1)	274.7		241.3
Total	$	111.9	$	133.7

(1) For 2021, 2020, and 2019, depreciation expense was $45.0 million, $48.0 million, and $48.9 million, respectively.

Finance Leases Included in Property, Plant and Equipment


	As of October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Transportation equipment	$	19.8	$	19.4
Furniture and fixtures	0.2		0.2


	20.0		19.7
Less: Accumulated depreciation	16.3		13.6
Total	$	3.7	$	6.1

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill


(in millions)	Business & Industry		Technology & Manufacturing		Education		Aviation		Technical Solutions		Total
Balance at October 31, 2019	$	573.9	$	407.2	$	558.6	$	125.0	$	170.7	$	1,835.4

Foreign currency translation	0.1		—		—		—		(0.3)		(0.2)
Impairment(1)	—		—		(99.3)		(55.5)		(9.0)		(163.8)
Balance at October 31, 2020	$	574.0	$	407.2	$	459.3	$	69.5	$	161.5	$	1,671.4
Acquisition(2)	554.0		—		—		—		—		554.0
Foreign currency translation	1.8		—		—		0.4		1.2		3.4
Balance at October 31, 2021	$	1,129.8	$	407.2	$	459.3	$	69.9	$	162.7	$	2,228.9

(1) The impairment charge is included in “Impairment loss” on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the year ended October 31, 2020, and is not tax deductible.

(2) During 2021, goodwill increased as a result of the Able Acquisition. See Note 4, “Acquisitions,” for additional information.

During the second quarter of 2020, we recognized a non-cash impairment charge totaling $163.8 million in three goodwill reporting units ($99.3 million related to Education, $55.5 million related to Aviation, and $9.0 million related to our U.K. Technical Solutions business) as part of an interim impairment test performed as a result of a triggering event arising from the Pandemic. The fair values of the goodwill reporting units were determined using a combination of the market approach and income approach. The market approach estimates the fair value of a reporting unit by using market comparables for reasonably similar public companies and a control premium. The income approach estimates fair value of a reporting unit by using discounted cash flows that include significant management assumptions, such as revenue growth rates, operating margins, weighted average cost of capital, and future economic and operating conditions. We did not record goodwill impairment charges during fiscal year 2021.

Other Intangible Assets


	October 31, 2021						October 31, 2020
(in millions)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Total		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Total
Customer contracts and relationships(1)(2)	$	793.8	$	(378.5)	$	415.3	$	573.1	$	(333.6)	$	239.6
Trademarks and trade names(2)	19.8		(10.4)		9.5		9.8		(9.8)		—
Contract rights and other	0.5		(0.4)		0.1		0.5		(0.4)		0.1
Total(3)	$	814.1	$	(389.3)	$	424.8	$	583.5	$	(343.8)	$	239.7

(1) Reflects a net impairment charge of $9.0 million recorded in 2020 as a result of the triggering event described above. We recognized net impairment charges of $5.6 million related to Aviation (consisting of a $13.8 million reduction in the gross carrying amount of the underlying customer relationships less $8.2 million of accumulated amortization) and $3.4 million related to our U.K. Technical Solutions business (consisting of an $8.7 million reduction in the gross carrying amount of the underlying customer relationships less $5.3 million of accumulated amortization). These impairment charges are included in “Impairment loss” on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the year ended October 31, 2020. We did not record impairment charges on other intangible assets during fiscal year 2021.

(2) Reflects additions from the Able Acquisition in 2021. See Note 4, “Acquisitions,” for additional information.

(3) These intangible assets are being amortized over the expected period of benefit, with a weighted average life of approximately 12 years.

Estimated Annual Amortization Expense for Each of the Next Five Years


(in millions)	2022		2023		2024		2025		2026
Estimated amortization expense(1)	$	69.1	$	62.3	$	51.7	$	45.7	$	40.2

(1) These amounts could vary as acquisitions of additional intangible assets occur in the future and as purchase price allocations are finalized for existing acquisitions.

The estimates of future cash flows used in determining the fair value of goodwill and other intangible assets involve significant management judgment and are based upon assumptions about expected future operating performance, economic conditions, market conditions, and cost of capital. Inherent in estimating the future cash flows are uncertainties beyond our control, such as changes in capital markets. The actual cash flows could differ materially from management’s estimates due to changes in business conditions, operating performance, and economic conditions.

Insurance

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Insurance [Abstract]

Insurance

INSURANCE

We use a combination of insured and self-insurance programs to cover workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile liability, property damage, and other insurable risks. For the majority of these insurance programs, we retain the initial $1.0 million to $1.5 million of exposure on a per-occurrence basis, either through deductibles or self-insured retentions. Beyond the retained exposures, we have varying primary policy limits ranging between $1.0 million and $5.0 million per occurrence. To cover general liability and automobile liability losses above these primary limits, we maintain commercial umbrella insurance policies that provide aggregate limits of $200.0 million. Our insurance policies generally cover workers’ compensation losses to the full extent of statutory requirements. Additionally, to cover property damage risks above our retained limits, we maintain policies that provide per occurrence limits of $75.0 million. We are also self-insured for certain employee medical and dental plans. We maintain stop-loss insurance for our self-insured medical plan under which we retain up to $0.5 million of exposure on a per-participant, per-year basis with respect to claims.

We maintain our reserves for workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile liability, and property damage insurance claims based upon known trends and events and the actuarial estimates of required reserves considering the most recently completed actuarial reports. We use all available information to develop our best estimate of insurance claims reserves as information is obtained. The results of actuarial reviews are used to estimate our insurance rates and insurance reserves for future periods and to adjust reserves, if appropriate, for prior years.

Insurance Reserve Adjustments

Actuarial Reviews and Updates Performed During 2021

We review our self-insurance liabilities on a quarterly basis and adjust our accruals accordingly. Actual claims activity or development may vary from our assumptions and estimates, which may result in material losses or gains. As we obtain additional information that affects the assumptions and estimates used in our reserve liability calculations, we adjust our self-insurance rates and reserves for future periods and, if appropriate, adjust our reserves for claims incurred in prior accounting periods.

During the first and third quarters of 2021, we performed comprehensive actuarial reviews of the majority of our casualty insurance programs to evaluate changes made to claims reserves and claims payment activity for the periods of May 1, 2020, through October 31, 2020, and November 1, 2020, through April 30, 2021, respectively (the “Actuarial Reviews”). The Actuarial Reviews were comprehensive in nature and were based on loss development patterns, trend assumptions, and underlying expected loss costs during the periods analyzed.

During the second and fourth quarters of 2021, we performed interim actuarial updates of the majority of our casualty insurance programs that considered changes in claims development and claims payment activity for the respective periods analyzed (the “Interim Updates”). These Interim Updates were abbreviated in nature based on actual versus expected development during the periods analyzed and relied on the key assumptions in the Actuarial Reviews (most notably loss development patterns, trend assumptions, and underlying expected loss costs).

Based on the results of the Actuarial Reviews and Interim Updates, we decreased our total reserves related to prior years for known claims as well as our estimate of the loss amounts associated with IBNR claims during 2021 by $36.0 million. In 2020, we decreased our total reserves related to prior year claims by $30.2 million.

Insurance-Related Balances and Activity


(in millions)	October 31, 2021		October 31, 2020
Insurance claim reserves, excluding medical and dental	$	574.8	$	504.9
Medical and dental claim reserves	9.9		16.6
Insurance recoverables	66.5		70.1

At October 31, 2021 and 2020, insurance recoverables are included in both “Other current assets” and “Other noncurrent assets” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Casualty Program Insurance Reserves Rollforward


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Net balance at beginning of year	$	434.8	$	443.3	$	427.7
Change in case reserves plus IBNR Claims — current year	117.9		128.5		137.9
Change in case reserves plus IBNR Claims — prior years	(36.0)		(30.2)		(3.4)
Claims paid	(99.8)		(106.8)		(119.1)
Acquisition(1)	91.6		0.2		—
Net balance, October 31(2)	508.3		434.8		443.3
Recoverables	66.5		70.1		64.5
Gross balance, October 31	$	574.8	$	504.9	$	507.8

(1) During 2021, insurance reserves increased as a result of the Able Acquisition. See Note 4, “Acquisitions,” for additional information.

(2) Includes reserves related to discontinued operations of approximately $0.3 million for 2021, $0.5 million for 2020, and $1.0 million for 2019.

Instruments Used to Collateralize Our Insurance Obligations


	As of October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Standby letters of credit	$	157.9	$	143.6
Surety bonds	83.8		82.6
Restricted insurance deposits	0.7		0.7
Total	$	242.3	$	226.9

Credit Facility

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Credit Facility

CREDIT FACILITY

On September 1, 2017, we refinanced and replaced our then-existing $800.0 million credit facility with a new senior, secured five-year syndicated credit facility, consisting of a $900.0 million revolving line of credit and an $800.0 million amortizing term loan, both of which are scheduled to mature on September 1, 2022. In accordance with the terms of the Credit Facility, the revolving line of credit was reduced to $800.0 million on September 1, 2018. In late March 2020, we borrowed approximately $300 million as a precautionary measure to provide increased liquidity and preserve financial flexibility in response to uncertainty resulting from the Pandemic. This represented all remaining amounts then available under the revolving line of credit. During the quarter ended July 31, 2020, the Company repaid substantially all of these amounts borrowed under the revolving line of credit without penalty.

On May 28, 2020, we amended our Credit Facility with the First Amendment to further enhance our financial flexibility as a precautionary measure in response to uncertainty arising from the Pandemic. The First Amendment modified the financial covenants under the Credit Facility, including: (i) replacing a maximum total leverage ratio with a maximum total net leverage ratio that varies on a quarterly basis and adjusted to 6.50 to 1.00 by the quarter ending October 31, 2020, and back to 4.00 to 1.00 by the quarter ending October 31, 2022; (ii) modifying the minimum fixed charge coverage ratio on a quarterly basis, which adjusts to 1.25 to 1.00 as of the quarter ending

April 30, 2022; and (iii) adding a minimum liquidity (defined in the Amendment as domestic cash plus available revolving loans) of $250.0 million. These financial covenants were effective with the quarter ended April 30, 2020.

The First Amendment changed the interest rate, interest margins, and commitment fees applicable to loans and commitments under the Credit Facility. It also added a new anti-cash hoarding mandatory prepayment that required us to repay outstanding revolving loans or swingline loans if at any time we have in excess of $250 million of cash and cash equivalents on our balance sheet. The First Amendment made certain additional changes to the negative covenants restrictions under the Credit Facility, including, subject to certain exceptions, restrictions on our ability to make acquisitions, share repurchases, and other defined restricted payments, depending on our total net leverage ratio.

Prior to the First Amendment, borrowings under the Credit Facility bore interest at a rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus a spread that was based upon our leverage ratio. The spread ranged from 1.00% to 2.25% for Eurocurrency loans and 0.00% to 1.25% for base rate loans. We were also charged a commitment fee, which was paid quarterly in arrears and was based on our leverage ratio, that ranged from 0.200% to 0.350% on the average daily unused portion of the revolving line of credit. For purposes of this calculation, irrevocable standby letters of credit, which are issued primarily in conjunction with our insurance programs, and cash borrowings were included as outstanding under the line of credit.

Subsequent to the First Amendment, borrowings under the Credit Facility bore interest at a rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus a spread that is based upon our total leverage ratio. The spread ranged from 1.00% to 2.75% for revolving Eurocurrency loans and 0.00% to 1.75% for revolving base rate loans. We were also charged a commitment fee, which was paid quarterly in arrears and was based on our total leverage ratio, that ranges from 0.200% to 0.450% on the average daily unused portion of the revolving line of credit.

On June 28, 2021, the Company amended and restated the Credit Facility with the Second Amendment, extending the maturity date to June 28, 2026, and increasing the capacity of the revolving credit facility from $800.0 million to $1.3 billion and the-then remaining term loan outstanding from $620.0 million to $650.0 million. The Second Amendment also removed the anti-cash hoarding mandatory prepayment requirement under the First Amendment as well as other restrictions that limited our ability to make acquisitions, share repurchases, and other defined restricted payments. Additionally, the Second Amendment modified certain financial covenants, terms, interest rates, interest margins, and commitment fees applicable to loans and commitments under the prior Credit Facility. The Amended Credit Facility provides for the issuance of up to $350.0 million for standby letters of credit and the issuance of up to $75.0 million in swingline advances. The obligations under the Amended Credit Facility are secured on a first-priority basis by a lien on substantially all of our assets and properties, subject to certain exceptions. Additionally, we may repay amounts borrowed under the Amended Credit Facility at any time without penalty.

Under the Amended Credit Facility, the term loan and U.S.-dollar-denominated borrowings under the revolver bear interest at a rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus a spread based upon our leverage ratio. Euro- and sterling-denominated borrowings under the revolver bear at a rate equal to the EURIBOR and the SONIA reference rates, respectively, plus a spread that is based upon our leverage ratio. The spread ranges from 1.375% to 2.250% for Eurocurrency loans and 0.375% to 1.250% for base rate loans. At October 31, 2021, the weighted average interest rate on our outstanding borrowings was 1.59%. We also pay a commitment fee, based on our leverage ratio and payable quarterly in arrears, ranging from 0.20% to 0.40% on the average daily unused portion of the line of credit. For purposes of this calculation, irrevocable standby letters of credit, which are issued primarily in conjunction with our insurance programs, and cash borrowings are included as outstanding under the line of credit.

The Amended Credit Facility contains certain covenants, including a maximum total net leverage ratio of 5.00 to 1.00, a maximum secured net leverage ratio of 4.00 to 1.00, and a minimum interest coverage ratio of 1.50 to 1.00, as well as other financial and non-financial covenants. In the event of a material acquisition, as defined in the Amended Credit Facility, we may elect to increase the maximum total net leverage ratio to 5.50 to 1.00 for a total of four fiscal quarters and increase the maximum secured net leverage ratio to 4.50 to 1.00 for a total of four fiscal quarters. We did not make this election for the Able Acquisition. Our borrowing capacity is subject to, and limited by, compliance with the covenants described above. At October 31, 2021, we were in compliance with these covenants.

The Amended Credit Facility also includes customary events of default, including: failure to pay principal, interest, or fees when due, failure to comply with covenants; the occurrence of certain material judgments; and a change in control of the Company. If certain events of default occur, including certain cross-defaults, insolvency, change in control, or violation of specific covenants, then the lenders can terminate or suspend our access to the

Amended Credit Facility, declare all amounts outstanding (including all accrued interest and unpaid fees) to be immediately due and payable, and require that we cash collateralize the outstanding standby letters of credit.

We incurred deferred financing costs of $6.4 million in conjunction with the Second Amendment and carried over $6.2 million of unamortized deferred financing from the initial execution, First Amendment, and previous amendments of the Credit Facility. Total deferred financing costs of $12.6 million, consisting of $4.9 million related to the term loan and $7.7 million related to the revolver, are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the Amended Credit Facility.

Credit Facility Information


(in millions)	October 31, 2021		October 31, 2020
Current portion of long-term debt
Gross term loan	$	32.5	$	120.0
Unamortized deferred financing costs	(1.1)		(3.3)
Current portion of term loan	$	31.4	$	116.7

Long-term debt
Gross term loan	$	601.3	$	560.0
Unamortized deferred financing costs	(3.5)		(2.3)
Total noncurrent portion of term loan	597.8		557.7
Revolving line of credit(1)(2)	255.0		45.3
Long-term debt	$	852.8	$	603.0

(1) Standby letters of credit amounted to $167.7 million at October 31, 2021.

(2) At October 31, 2021, we had borrowing capacity of $875.0 million.

Term Loan Maturities

During 2021, we made principal payments under the term loan of $76.3 million. As of October 31, 2021, the following principal payments are required under the term loan.


(in millions)	2022		2023		2024		2025		2026
Debt maturities	$	32.5	$	32.5	$	32.5	$	32.5	$	503.8

Interest Rate Swaps

We enter into interest rate swaps to manage the interest rate risk associated with our floating-rate, LIBOR-based borrowings. Under these arrangements, we typically pay a fixed interest rate in exchange for LIBOR-based variable interest throughout the life of the agreement. We initially report the mark-to-market gain or loss on a derivative as a component of AOCL and subsequently reclassify the gain or loss into earnings when the hedged transactions occur and affect earnings. Interest payables and receivables under the swap agreements are accrued and recorded as adjustments to interest expense. All of our interest rate swaps have been designated and accounted for as cash flow hedges from inception. See Note 7, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” regarding the valuation of our interest rate swaps.

Notional Amount

Fixed Interest Rate

Effective Date

Maturity Date

$ 130.0 million

2.86%

November 1, 2018

April 30, 2022

$ 130.0 million

2.84%

November 1, 2018

September 1, 2022

At October 31, 2021 and 2020, amounts recorded in AOCL for interest rate swaps were a loss of $0.2 million, net of taxes of $0.3 million, and a loss of $3.3 million, net of taxes of $0.9 million, respectively. These amounts included the gain associated with the interest rate swaps we terminated in 2018, which is being amortized to interest expense as interest payments are made over the original term of our Credit Facility. During 2021, we amortized $4.7 million, net of taxes of $1.7 million, of that gain and we amortized $4.9 million, net of taxes of $1.8 million, during 2020. At October 31, 2021, the total amount expected to be reclassified from AOCL to earnings during the next 12 months was $0.1 million, net of a taxes of $0.1 million.

Employee Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Defined Benefit Plans

We provide benefits to certain employees under various defined benefit and postretirement benefit plans (collectively, the “Plans”). The Plans were previously amended to preclude new participants. All but one of the Plans are unfunded.

Information for the Plans


	As of October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Net obligations	$	7.5	$	9.6
Projected benefit obligations(1)	15.9		17.0
Fair value of assets	8.4		7.4

(1) At October 31, 2021, total projected benefit obligations related to unfunded plans was $8.2 million. At October 31, 2020, all plans were either unfunded or underfunded.

At October 31, 2021, assets of the Plans were invested 30% in equities and 70% in fixed income. The expected return on assets was $0.3 million in 2021 and $0.4 million in 2020 and 2019. The aggregate net periodic benefit cost for all Plans was $0.3 million, $0.2 million, and $0.6 million for 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Future benefit payments in the aggregate are expected to be $13.5 million.

Deferred Compensation Plans

We maintain deferred compensation plans that permit eligible employees and directors to defer a portion of their compensation. At October 31, 2021 and 2020, the total liability of all deferred compensation was $32.1 million (including $18.0 million assumed from the Able Acquisition) and $13.6 million, respectively, and these amounts are included in “Other accrued liabilities” and “Other noncurrent liabilities” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Under one of our deferred compensation plans, a Rabbi trust was created to fund the obligations, and we are required to contribute a portion of the deferred compensation contributions for eligible participants. The assets held in the Rabbi trust are not available for general corporate purposes. At October 31, 2021 and 2020, the fair value of these assets was $4.9 million and $2.6 million, respectively, and these amounts are included in “Other noncurrent assets” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Aggregate expense recognized under these deferred compensation plans was $0.2 million, $0.2 million, and $0.3 million for 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

Defined Contribution Plans

We sponsor four defined contribution plans covering certain employees that are subject to the applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). Certain plans permit a company match of a portion of the participant’s contributions or a discretionary contribution after the participant has met the eligibility requirements set forth in the plan. During 2021, 2020, and 2019, we made matching contributions required by the plans of $21.6 million, $18.2 million, and $24.3 million, respectively.

Multiemployer Pension and Postretirement Plans

We participate in various multiemployer pension plans under union and industry-wide agreements that provide defined pension benefits to employees covered by collective bargaining agreements. Because of the nature of multiemployer plans, there are risks associated with participation in these plans that differ from single-employer plans. Assets contributed by an employer to a multiemployer plan are not segregated into a separate account and are not restricted to provide benefits only to employees of that contributing employer. In the event another participating employer in a multiemployer plan no longer contributes to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers, including us. In the event of the termination of a multiemployer pension plan or a withdrawal from a multiemployer pension plan, we could incur material liabilities under applicable law.

Key Information for Individually Significant Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans(1)

($ in millions)

Pension Protection Act

Zone Status(3)

FIP/RP

Status(4)

Contributions by ABM

Surcharge

Imposed(5)

Expiration Dates of Collective Bargaining Agreements

Pension Fund

EIN/PN(2)

2021

2020

Pending/
Implemented

2021

2020

2019

Building Service 32BJ Pension Fund

13-1879376 / 001

Red

6/30/2020

Red 6/30/2019

Implemented

18.8

16.8

19.3

10/15/2023 – 12/31/2023

S.E.I.U. National Industry Pension Fund

52-6148540 /

001

Red

12/31/2020

Red 12/31/2019

Implemented

10.9

11.1

10.6

Yes

7/31/2022 –
10/31/2023

IUOE Stationary Engineers Local 39 Pension Plan

94-6118939 /

001

Green

12/31/2020

Green 12/31/2019

N/A*

6.6

4.3

4.6

N/A*

8/31/2023 –

10/31/2024

Central Pension Fund of the IUOE & Participating Employers

36-6052390 /

001

Green

1/31/2021

Green 1/31/2020

N/A*

5.3

7.1

11.7

N/A*

12/31/2022

SEIU Local 1 & Participating Employers Pension Trust

36-6486542 /

001

Green

9/30/2020

Green 9/30/2019

N/A*

3.9

4.3

5.1

N/A*

4/7/2024

Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan

91-6145047 /

001

Green

12/31/2020

Green 12/31/2019

N/A*

2.0

2.5

3.1

N/A*

12/31/2021 –
11/30/2022

All Other Plans:

9.3

9.5

12.2

Total Contributions(6)

56.8

55.5

66.6

*Not applicable

(1) To determine individually significant plans, we evaluated several factors, including our total contributions to the plan, our significance to the plan in terms of participating employees and contributions, and the funded status of the plan.

(2) The “EIN/PN” column provides the Employer Identification Number and the three-digit plan number assigned to the plan by the IRS.

(3) The Pension Protection Act Zone Status columns provide the two most recently available Pension Protection Act zone statuses from each plan. The zone status is based on information provided to us and other participating employers and is certified by each plan’s actuary. Among other factors, plans in the red zone are generally less than 65% funded, plans in the yellow zone are less than 80% funded, and plans in the green zone are at least 80% funded.

(4) Indicates whether a Financial Improvement Plan (“FIP”) for yellow zone plans or a Rehabilitation Plan (“RP”) for red zone plans is pending or implemented.

(5) Indicates whether our contribution in 2021 included an amount as imposed by a plan in the red zone in addition to the contribution rate specified in the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

(6) The total contributions for fiscal year 2021 includes $4.6 million contributed by Able since the acquisition.

Multiemployer Pension Plans for which ABM is a Significant Contributor


Pension Fund						Contributions to the plan exceeded more than 5% of total contributions per most currently available Forms 5500 (as of the plan’s year end)
Arizona Sheet Metal Pension Trust Fund*						6/30/2020, 6/30/2019 and 6/30/2018
Building Service 32BJ Pension Fund						6/30/2020, 6/30/2019, and 6/30/2018
Building Service Pension Plan*						4/30/2020, 4/30/2019, and 4/30/2018
Contract Cleaners Service Employees’ Pension Plan*						12/31/20, 12/31/2019, and 12/31/2018
Firemen & Oilers Pension Plan of SEIU Local 1*						7/31/2020, 7/31/2019, and 7/31/2018
IUOE Stationary Engineers Local 39 Pension Trust Fund						12/31/2020, 12/13/2019, and 12/31/2018
Massachusetts Service Employees Pension Plan*						12/31/2020, 12/31/2019, and 12/31/2018
SEIU Local 1 & Participating Employers Pension Trust						9/30/2020, 9/30/2019, and 9/30/2018
S.E.I.U. National Industry Pension Fund						12/31/2020, 12/31/2019, and 12/31/2018
Service Employees International Union Local 1 Cleveland Pension Plan*						12/31/2020, 12/31/2019, and 12/31/2018
Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, District 36 Building Operators Pension Trust Fund*						12/31/2020, 12/31/2019, and 12/31/2018
Teamsters Local 617 Pension Fund*						2/28/2021, 2/29/2020, and 2/28/2019
Teamsters Local Union No. 727 Pension Plan*						2/28/2021, 2/29/2020, and 2/28/2019

* These plans are not separately listed in our multiemployer table as they represent an insignificant portion of our total multiemployer pension plan contributions.

Multiemployer Defined Contribution Plans

In addition to contributions noted above, we also make contributions to multiemployer defined contribution plans. During 2021, 2020, and 2019, our contributions to the defined contribution plans were $21.2 million, $15.5 million, and $9.0 million, respectively.

Other Multiemployer Benefit Plans

We also contribute to several multiemployer postretirement health and welfare plans based on obligations arising under collective bargaining agreements covering union-represented employees. These plans may provide medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, mental health, and other benefits to employees as determined by the trustees of each plan. The majority of our contributions benefit active employees and, as such, may not constitute contributions to a postretirement benefit plan. However, since we are unable to separate contribution amounts to postretirement benefit plans from contribution amounts paid to benefit active employees, we categorize all such amounts as contributions to postretirement benefit plans. During 2021, 2020, and 2019, our contributions to such plans were $270.8 million, $264.8 million, and $269.8 million, respectively. There have been no significant changes that affect the comparability of total contributions for any of the periods presented.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for retirement benefits.

+ References

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+ Details

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies	Oct. 31, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Letters of Credit and Surety Bonds We use letters of credit and surety bonds to secure certain commitments related to insurance programs and for other purposes. As of October 31, 2021, these letters of credit and surety bonds totaled $167.7 million and $687.3 million, respectively. Guarantees In some instances, we offer clients guaranteed energy savings under certain energy savings contracts. At October 31, 2021 and 2020, total guarantees were $254.3 million and $182.8 million, respectively, and these guarantees extend through 2041 and 2039, respectively. We accrue for the estimated cost of guarantees when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Historically, we have not incurred any material losses in connection with these guarantees. Indemnifications We are party to a variety of agreements under which we may be obligated to indemnify the other party for certain matters. These agreements are primarily standard indemnification arrangements entered into in our ordinary course of business. Pursuant to these arrangements, we may agree to indemnify, hold harmless, and reimburse the indemnified parties for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party, generally our clients, in connection with any claims arising out of the services that we provide. We also incur costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification arrangements, and in most cases these costs are paid from our insurance program. Although we attempt to place limits on such indemnification arrangements related to the size of the contract, the maximum obligation may not be explicitly stated and, as a result, we are unable to determine the maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make under these arrangements. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may require us to indemnify our directors and officers for certain liabilities that were incurred as a result of their status or service to ABM as a director or officer. The amount of these obligations cannot be reasonably estimated. Unclaimed Property Audits We routinely remit escheat payments to states in compliance with applicable escheat laws, and we are subject to unclaimed property audits by states in the ordinary course of business. The property subject to review in the audit process may include unclaimed wages, vendor payments, or customer refunds. State escheat laws generally require entities to report and remit abandoned or unclaimed property to the state, and failure to do so can result in assessments that could include interest and penalties in addition to the payment of the escheat liability. Legal Matters We are a party to a number of lawsuits, claims, and proceedings incident to the operation of our business, including those pertaining to labor and employment, contracts, personal injury, and other matters, some of which allege substantial monetary damages. Some of these actions may be brought as class actions on behalf of a class or purported class of employees. At October 31, 2021, the total amount accrued for probable litigation losses where a reasonable estimate of the loss could be made was $18.5 million. We do not accrue for contingent losses that, in our judgment, are considered to be reasonably possible but not probable. The estimation of reasonably possible losses also requires the analysis of multiple possible outcomes that often depend on judgments about potential actions by third parties. Our management currently estimates the range of loss for reasonably possible losses for which a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made is between zero and $6 million. Factors underlying this estimated range of loss may change from time to time, and actual results may vary significantly from this estimate. The amounts above do not include any accrual or loss estimates with respect to the Bucio case described below. Litigation outcomes are difficult to predict and the estimation of probable losses requires the analysis of multiple possible outcomes that often depend on judgments about potential actions by third parties. If one or more matters are resolved in a particular period in an amount in excess of, or in a manner different than, what we anticipated, this could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In some cases, although a loss is probable or reasonably possible, we cannot reasonably estimate the maximum potential losses for probable matters or the range of losses for reasonably possible matters. Therefore, our accrual for probable losses and our estimated range of loss for reasonably possible losses do not represent our maximum possible exposure. Certain Legal Proceedings In determining whether to include any particular lawsuit or other proceeding in our disclosure below, we consider both quantitative and qualitative factors. These factors include, but are not limited to: the amount of damages and the nature of any other relief sought in the proceeding; if such damages and other relief are specified, our view of the merits of the claims; whether the action is or purports to be a class action, and our view of the likelihood that a class will be certified by the court; the jurisdiction in which the proceeding is pending; and the potential impact of the proceeding on our reputation. The Consolidated Cases of Bucio and Martinez v. ABM Janitorial Services filed on April 7, 2006, pending in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco (the “Bucio case”) The Bucio case is a class action pending in San Francisco Superior Court that alleges we failed to provide legally required meal periods and make additional premium payments for such meal periods, pay split shift premiums when owed, and reimburse janitors for travel expenses. There is also a claim for penalties under the California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”). On April 19, 2011, the trial court held a hearing on plaintiffs’ motion to certify the class. At the conclusion of that hearing, the trial court denied plaintiffs’ motion to certify the class. On May 11, 2011, the plaintiffs filed a motion to reconsider, which was denied. The plaintiffs appealed the class certification issues. The trial court stayed the underlying lawsuit pending the decision in the appeal. The Court of Appeal of the State of California, First Appellate District (the “Court of Appeal”), heard oral arguments on November 7, 2017. On December 11, 2017, the Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s order denying class certification and remanded the matter for certification of a meal period, travel expense reimbursement, and split shift class. The case was remitted to the trial court for further proceedings on class certification, discovery, dispositive motions, and trial. On September 20, 2018, the trial court entered an order defining four certified subclasses of janitors who were employed by the legacy ABM janitorial companies in California at any time between April 7, 2002, and April 30, 2013, on claims based on alleged previous automatic deduction practices for meal breaks, unpaid meal premiums, unpaid split shift premiums, and unreimbursed business expenses, such as mileage reimbursement for use of personal vehicles to travel between worksites. On February 1, 2019, the trial court held that the discovery related to PAGA claims allegedly arising after April 30, 2013, would be stayed until after the class and PAGA claims accruing prior to April 30, 2013, had been tried. The parties engaged in mediation in July 2019, which did not result in settlement of the case. On October 17, 2019, the plaintiffs filed a motion asking the trial court to certify additional classes based on an alleged failure to maintain time records, an alleged failure to provide accurate wage statements, and an alleged practice of combining meal and rest breaks. The trial court denied the plaintiffs’ motion to certify additional classes on December 26, 2019. The case was reassigned to a new judge on January 6, 2020. ABM filed motions for summary adjudication as to certain of plaintiffs’ class claims, and the trial court denied those motions in November 2020. The parties engaged in another mediation in January 2021, which did not result in a settlement of the case. Plaintiffs filed motions for summary adjudication and/or summary judgment on some claims in December 2020. In February and March 2021, the parties engaged in expert discovery that provided detailed information regarding the plaintiffs’ damage calculations on the class claims. On February 25, 2021, the California Supreme Court issued an opinion in Donohue v. AMN Services, which addresses the standard for adjudicating meal period claims under California law and we believe is supportive of ABM’s legal position in the Bucio case. On May 5, 2021, the trial court denied all of the plaintiffs’ December 2020 motions for summary adjudication and/or summary judgment, and the case was assigned to a new judge. On May 5, 2021, the trial court ordered the parties to attend a mandatory settlement conference before a separate judge on June 11, 2021. The trial date was scheduled for July 12, 2021. On July 7, 2021, the Company entered into a class action settlement and release agreement to settle the Bucio case for $140 million and to obtain a release of the certified class claims that were asserted in the Bucio case. The settlement will also resolve the PAGA claim. The release of the certified class claims covers the time period from April 7, 2002, through April 30, 2013. The release of the PAGA claim covers the time period from November 15, 2005, through July 18, 2021. Any attorneys’ fees awarded by the trial court and all costs of notice and claims administration will be paid from the $140 million settlement fund. Employees who will be a part of the settlement will receive payments based on the number of pay periods they worked. The settlement agreement is contingent upon the approval of the trial court. On August 11, 2021, the plaintiffs filed the motion for preliminary approval of class action settlement with the trial court. On December 7, 2021, the trial court issued its order granting preliminary approval of the class action settlement. Members of the class will receive notice of the settlement, and there will be an opportunity for them to object to the settlement before the trial court grants final approval of the settlement. The final approval hearing with the trial court is currently scheduled to take place on March 16, 2022. No payments will be made to employees until after the settlement is finally approved by the trial court. The Company has recorded a $142.9 million settlement accrual, which includes an accrual of $2.9 million of related payroll taxes, for the Bucio case within “Other current liabilities” on the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 31, 2021, and $142.9 million of related expense in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in our unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the year ended October 31, 2021.

Preferred and Common Stock

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Preferred and Common Stock

PREFERRED AND COMMON STOCK

Preferred Stock

We are authorized to issue 500,000 shares of preferred stock. None of these preferred shares are issued.

Common Stock

Effective December 18, 2019, our Board of Directors replaced our then-existing share repurchase program with a new share repurchase program under which we may repurchase up to $150.0 million of our common stock. These purchases may take place on the open market or otherwise, and all or part of the repurchases may be made pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 plans or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing of repurchases is at our discretion and will depend upon several factors, including market and business conditions, future cash flows, share price, share availability, and other factors at our discretion. Repurchased shares are retired and returned to an authorized but unissued status. The repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time without prior notice.

Repurchase Activity

We repurchased shares under the 2019 Share Repurchase Program during the second quarter of 2020, as summarized below. However, due to the market and business conditions arising from the Pandemic, in March 2020 we suspended further repurchases of our common stock. At October 31, 2021, authorization for $144.9 million of repurchases remained under the 2019 Share Repurchase Program. There were no share repurchases during 2021.


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions, except per share amounts)	2021		2020
Total number of shares purchased	—		0.2
Average price paid per share	N/A		$	36.16
Total cash paid for share repurchases	$	—	$	5.1

- Definition

The entire disclosure for shareholders' equity comprised of portions attributable to the parent entity and noncontrolling interest, including other comprehensive income. Includes, but is not limited to, balances of common stock, preferred stock, additional paid-in capital, other capital and retained earnings, accumulated balance for each classification of other comprehensive income and amount of comprehensive income.

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+ Details

Share-Based Compensation Plans

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Share-Based Compensation Plans

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

We use various share-based compensation plans to provide incentives for our key employees and directors. Currently, these incentives primarily consist of RSUs and performance shares.

On May 2, 2006, our stockholders approved the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, which was last amended and restated on March 7, 2018 (as amended and restated, the “2006 Equity Plan”). The 2006 Equity Plan is an omnibus plan that provides for a variety of equity and equity-based award vehicles, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, RSUs, performance shares, and other share-based awards. Shares subject to awards that terminate without vesting or exercise are available for future awards under the 2006 Equity Plan. Certain of the awards under the 2006 Equity Plan may qualify as “performance-based” compensation under the IRC.

On March 24, 2021, our stockholders approved the 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2021 Equity Plan”). The 2021 Equity Plan is an omnibus plan that provides for a variety of equity and equity-based award vehicles, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, RSUs, performance shares, and other share-based awards. Shares subject to awards that terminate without vesting or exercise are available for future awards under the 2021 Equity Plan. Certain of the awards under the 2021 Equity Plan may qualify as “performance-based” compensation under the IRC.

No further shares are authorized for issuance under the 2006 Equity Plan. There are 3,975,000 total shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2021 Equity Plan, and at October 31, 2021, there were 5,406,414 shares of common stock available for grant for future equity-based compensation awards. In addition, there are certain plans under which we can no longer issue awards, such as the 2006 Equity Plan, although awards outstanding under such plans may still vest and be exercised.

We also maintain an employee stock purchase plan, which our stockholders approved on March 9, 2004 (the “2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan”). As amended, there are 4,000,000 total shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Effective May 1, 2006, the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is no longer considered compensatory and the values of the awards are no longer treated as share-based compensation expense. Additionally, as of that date, the purchase price became 95% of the fair value of our common stock price on the last trading day of the month. Employees may designate up to 10% of their compensation for the purchase of stock, subject to a $25,000 annual limit. Employees are required to hold their shares for a minimum of six months from the date of purchase. At October 31, 2021, there were 518,881 remaining unissued shares under the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Compensation Expense by Type of Award and Related Income Tax Benefit


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
RSUs	$	17.6	$	11.5	$	9.5
Performance shares	15.8		8.8		8.0

Share-based compensation expense before income taxes	33.5		20.3		17.5
Income tax benefit	(9.4)		(5.7)		(4.9)
Share-based compensation expense, net of taxes	$	24.1	$	14.6	$	12.5

RSUs and Dividend Equivalent Rights

We award RSUs to eligible employees and our directors (each, a “Grantee”) that entitle the Grantee to receive shares of our common stock as the units vest. RSUs granted to eligible employees in 2020 and 2021 generally vest ratably over three years. RSUs granted to eligible employees prior to 2020 generally vest with respect to 50% of the underlying award on the second and fourth anniversary of the award. RSUs granted to non-employee directors vest on the first anniversary date of the grant date. In general, the receipt of RSUs is subject to the Grantee’s continuing employment or service as a director.

RSUs are credited with dividend equivalent rights that are converted to RSUs at the fair market value of our common stock on the dates the dividend payments are made and are subject to the same terms and conditions as the underlying award.

RSU Activity


	Number of Shares (in millions)	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
Outstanding at October 31, 2020	1.1	$	36.32
Granted	0.4	40.22
Vested (including 0.2 shares withheld for income taxes)	(0.5)	36.34
Forfeited	(0.2)	36.56
Outstanding at October 31, 2021	1.0	$	38.06

At October 31, 2021, total unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to RSUs was $21.4 million, which is expected to be recognized ratably over a weighted-average vesting period of 1.7 years. In 2021, 2020, and 2019, the weighted-average grant date fair value per share of awards granted was $40.22, $36.11, and $34.48, respectively. In 2021, 2020, and 2019, the total grant date fair value of RSUs vested and converted to shares of ABM common stock was $16.9 million, $6.1 million, and $10.7 million, respectively

Performance Shares, Including TSR Performance Shares

Performance shares consist of a contingent right to receive shares of our common stock based on performance targets adopted by our Compensation Committee. Performance shares are credited with dividend equivalent rights that will be converted to performance shares at the fair market value of our common stock beginning after the performance targets have been satisfied and are subject to the same terms and conditions as the underlying award.

For certain performance share awards, the number of performance shares that will vest is based on pre-established internal financial performance targets and typically a three-year service and performance period. The number of TSR-modified awards that will vest over the respective three-year performance period is based on our total shareholder return relative to the S&P 1500 Composite Commercial Services & Supplies Index. Vesting of 0% to 150% of the awards originally granted may occur depending on the respective performance metrics.

Performance Share Activity


	Number of Shares (in millions)	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
Outstanding at October 31, 2020	0.8	$	37.35
Granted	0.3	39.97
Vested (including 0.1 shares withheld for income taxes)	(0.2)	36.53
Performance adjustments	0.2	37.63
Forfeited	(0.1)	39.22
Outstanding at October 31, 2021	1.0	$	38.25

At October 31, 2021, total unrecognized compensation cost related to performance share awards was $15.4 million, which is expected to be recognized ratably over a weighted-average vesting period of 1.7 years. Except for TSR performance shares, these costs are based on estimated achievement of performance targets and estimated costs are periodically reevaluated. For our TSR performance shares, these costs are based on the fair value of awards at the grant date and are recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period of three years.

In 2021, 2020, and 2019, the weighted-average grant date fair value per share of awards granted was $39.97, $35.92, and $35.44, respectively. In 2021, 2020, and 2019, the total grant date fair value of performance shares vested and converted to shares of ABM common stock was $9.0 million, $6.1 million, and $6.8 million, respectively.

In 2021, 2020, and 2019, we used the Monte Carlo simulation valuation technique to estimate the fair value of TSR performance share grants, which used the assumptions in the table below.

Monte Carlo Assumptions


	2021			2020			2019
Expected life(1)	2.81 years			2.81 years			2.81 years
Expected stock price volatility(2)	42.9		%	28.7		%	27.7		%

Risk-free interest rate(3)	0.2		%	1.5		%	2.5		%
Stock price(4)	$	40.75		$	37.99		$	34.92

(1) The expected life represents the remaining performance period of the awards.

(2) The expected volatility for each grant is determined based on the historical volatility of our common stock over a period equal to the remaining term of the performance period from the date of grant for all awards.

(3) The risk-free interest rate is based on the continuous compounded yield on U.S. Treasury Constant Maturity Rates with varying remaining terms; the yield is determined over a time period commensurate with the performance period from the grant date.

(4) The stock price is the closing price of our common stock on the valuation date.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions, except per share amounts)	2021		2020		2019
Weighted-average fair value of granted purchase rights per share	$	2.17	$	1.75	$	1.77
Common stock issued	0.1		0.1		0.1
Fair value of common stock issued per share	$	41.18	$	33.18	$	33.60
Aggregate purchases	$	3.3	$	3.5	$	4.1

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

INCOME TAXES

Geographic Sources of Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
United States	$	152.8	$	45.2	$	137.1
Foreign	27.0		8.1		23.1
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	179.8	$	53.3	$	160.2

Components of Income Tax (Provision) Benefit


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Current:
Federal	$	(66.3)	$	(59.3)	$	(6.4)
State	(27.4)		(28.6)		(10.7)
Foreign	(7.8)		(1.7)		(5.9)
Deferred:
Federal	34.9		23.2		(8.5)
State	13.2		12.5		(1.6)
Foreign	(0.1)		0.9		0.4
Income tax provision	$	(53.5)	$	(53.1)	$	(32.7)

Reconciliation of the U.S. Statutory Tax Rate to Annual Effective Tax Rate


	Years Ended October 31,
	2021		2020		2019
U.S. statutory rate	21.0	%	21.0	%	21.0	%
State and local income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	6.8		(0.6)		5.9
Federal and state tax credits	(2.6)		(4.7)		(3.9)
Impact of foreign operations	0.3		1.3		(1.0)
Changes in uncertain tax positions	1.5		(2.0)		(0.8)
Incremental tax benefit from share-based compensation awards	(0.4)		(1.6)		(0.7)
Energy efficiency incentives	(0.7)		(3.8)		—
Impact from goodwill impairment	—		81.7		—
Transition tax on foreign earnings	—		—		(1.1)
Remeasurement of U.S. deferred taxes	—		—		(0.3)
Nondeductible expenses	2.9		4.4		2.1
Other, net	1.0		3.9		(0.8)
Effective tax rate	29.8	%	99.6	%	20.4	%

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Act”) was enacted into law. Among other provisions, it reduced the federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% and required companies to pay a one-time transition tax on the deemed repatriation of indefinitely reinvested earnings of international subsidiaries. Our U.S. statutory federal tax rate for fiscal 2019 and future years was reduced to 21%. Other provisions under the Tax Act became effective for us in fiscal 2019, including limitations on deductibility of interest and executive compensation, as well as a new minimum tax on Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”), which we have elected to account for as a period cost. While U.S. federal tax expense has been recognized as a result of the Tax Act, no deferred tax liabilities with respect to federal and state income taxes or foreign withholding taxes have been recognized.

During 2021 and 2020, we had effective tax rates of 29.8% and 99.6%, respectively, resulting in a provision for tax of $53.5 million and $53.1 million, respectively. Our effective tax rate for 2021 was impacted by the following discrete items: a $3.0 million provision for nondeductible transaction costs; a $2.6 million provision for change in tax reserves; a $1.4 million provision for true-ups; and a $1.2 million benefit for energy efficiency incentives. Our effective tax rate for 2020 was also impacted by the following discrete items: a $5.7 million benefit from true-ups; a $2.3 million provision related to WOTC; a $2.1 million benefit from energy efficiency incentives; and a $1.1 million benefit from change of tax reserves. The effective tax rate for the year ended October 31, 2020, excluding a nondeductible impairment loss of $163.8 million, was 24.4%.

In response to the Pandemic, Congress enacted the CARES Act on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provides various tax provisions, including payroll tax provisions, which we have evaluated for applicability. Through December 31, 2020, we deferred approximately $132 million of payroll tax, which the CARES Act requires to be remitted in equal parts by December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2022. The CARES Act did not have a material impact on our income tax provision.

Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities


	As of October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Deferred tax assets attributable to:
Self-insurance claims (net of recoverables)	$	92.0	$	74.7
Deferred and other compensation	34.4		28.6
Accounts receivable allowances	8.2		8.8
Settlement liabilities	44.2		5.0
Other accruals	6.6		1.5
Other comprehensive income	1.3		2.7
State taxes	0.7		1.4
State net operating loss carryforwards	4.0		5.9
Tax credits	2.9		3.7
Unrecognized tax benefits	3.3		3.2
Deferred payroll taxes	35.1		26.9
Operating lease liabilities	33.5		38.2
Gross deferred tax assets	266.2		200.6
Valuation allowance	(2.2)		(4.1)
Total deferred tax assets	264.0		196.5

Deferred tax liabilities attributable to:
Property, plant and equipment	(4.1)		(1.2)
Goodwill and other acquired intangibles	(222.2)		(159.4)
Right-of-use assets	(33.8)		(38.2)
Tax accounting method change	(15.8)		—
Other	(10.6)		(8.5)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(286.5)		(207.3)

Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(22.5)	$	(10.8)

Net Operating Loss Carryforwards and Credits

State net operating loss carryforwards totaling $74.2 million at October 31, 2021, are being carried forward in several state jurisdictions where we are permitted to use net operating losses from prior periods to reduce future taxable income. These losses will expire between 2022 and 2041. Federal net operating loss carryforwards were fully utilized during 2020. Federal and state tax credit carryforwards totaling $3.4 million are available to reduce future cash taxes and will expire between 2022 and 2041.

The valuation allowance represents the amount of tax benefits related to state net operating loss carryforwards that are not likely to be realized. We believe the remaining deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realizable based on estimates of future taxable income.

Changes to the Valuation Allowance


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Valuation allowance at beginning of year	$	4.1	$	8.4	$	12.0
Other, net	(1.9)		(4.3)		(3.6)
Valuation allowance at end of year	$	2.2	$	4.1	$	8.4

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

At October 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, there were $30.4 million, $35.5 million, and $35.3 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits that if recognized in the future would impact our effective tax rate. We estimate that a decrease in unrecognized tax benefits of up to approximately $8.3 million is reasonably possible over the next 12 months due to lapses of applicable statutes of limitations. At October 31, 2021 and 2020, accrued interest and penalties were $1.6 million and $1.5 million, respectively. For interest and penalties, we recognized an expense of $0.1 million and $0.4 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively, and a benefit of $0.2 million in 2019.

Reconciliation of Total Unrecognized Tax Benefits


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Balance at beginning of year	$	35.5	$	35.3	$	35.8
Additions for tax positions related to the current year	3.7		2.1		—
Additions for tax positions related to prior years	0.3		1.6		3.6
Reductions for tax positions related to prior years	(5.3)		—		—
Reductions for lapse of statute of limitations	(2.5)		(3.0)		(3.9)
Settlements	(1.3)		(0.5)		(0.3)
Balance at end of year	$	30.4	$	35.5	$	35.3

Jurisdictions

We conduct business in all 50 states, significantly in California, Texas, and New York, as well as in various foreign jurisdictions. Our most significant income tax jurisdiction is the United States. Due to expired statutes and closed audits, our federal income tax returns for years prior to fiscal 2018 are no longer subject to examination by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Generally, for the majority of state and foreign jurisdictions where we do business, periods prior to fiscal 2018 are no longer subject to examination. We are currently being examined by the IRS and tax authorities of California, New York City, and Montana.

- 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/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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+ Details

Segment and Geographic Information

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment and Geographic Information

SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Segment Information

Our current reportable segments consist of B&I, T&M, Education, Aviation, and Technical Solutions, as further described below. The newly acquired Able is integrated within our B&I reportable segment.


REPORTABLE SEGMENTS AND DESCRIPTIONS
B&I			B&I, our largest reportable segment, encompasses janitorial, facilities services, and parking services for commercial real estate properties, sports and entertainment venues, and traditional hospitals and non-acute healthcare facilities. B&I also provides vehicle maintenance and other services to rental car providers.
T&M			T&M provides janitorial, facilities services, and parking services to industrial and high-tech manufacturing facilities.
Education			Education delivers janitorial, custodial, landscaping and grounds, facilities engineering, and parking services for public school districts, private schools, colleges, and universities.
Aviation			Aviation supports airlines and airports with services ranging from parking and janitorial to passenger assistance, catering logistics, air cabin maintenance, and transportation.
Technical Solutions			Technical Solutions specializes in mechanical and electrical services. These services can also be leveraged for cross-selling across all of our industry groups, both domestically and internationally.

The accounting policies for our segments are the same as those disclosed within our significant accounting policies in Note 2, “Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies.” Our management evaluates the performance of each reportable segment based on its respective operating profit results, which include the allocation of certain centrally incurred costs. Corporate expenses not allocated to segments include certain CEO and other finance and human resource departmental expenses, certain information technology costs, share-based compensation, certain legal costs and settlements, restructuring and related costs, certain actuarial adjustments to self-insurance reserves, and direct acquisition costs. Management does not review asset information by segment, therefore we do not present assets in this note.

Financial Information by Reportable Segment


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Revenues
Business & Industry	$	3,346.5	$	3,157.8	$	3,251.4
Technology & Manufacturing	987.1		956.0		917.0
Education	836.4		808.8		847.4
Aviation	668.8		680.9		1,017.3
Technical Solutions	534.0		506.6		593.2

Elimination of inter-segment revenues	(144.2)		(122.4)		(127.7)
	$	6,228.6	$	5,987.6	$	6,498.6
Operating profit
Business & Industry	$	337.8	$	253.7	$	182.3
Technology & Manufacturing	103.8		84.4		72.5
Education(1)	60.5		(41.1)		39.0
Aviation(2)	32.5		(59.6)		21.1
Technical Solutions(3)	49.8		9.5		55.4
Government Services	(0.2)		(0.1)		(0.1)
Corporate(4)	(374.6)		(146.9)		(159.0)
Adjustment for income from unconsolidated affiliates, included in Aviation	(2.1)		(2.2)		(3.0)
Adjustment for tax deductions for energy efficient government buildings, included in Technical Solutions	(1.2)		(2.1)		0.1
	206.3		95.7		208.3
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	2.1		2.2		3.0
Interest expense	(28.6)		(44.6)		(51.1)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	179.8	$	53.3	$	160.2

Depreciation and amortization
Business & Industry	$	20.4	$	18.9	$	21.3
Technology & Manufacturing	11.3		12.5		14.3
Education	30.6		33.8		37.3
Aviation	9.1		10.6		11.9
Technical Solutions	5.9		7.2		8.6

Corporate	12.7		13.5		13.9
	$	89.9	$	96.4	$	107.4

(1) Reflects impairment charges totaling $99.3 million on goodwill during the year ended October 31, 2020.

(2) Reflects impairment charges totaling $61.1 million on goodwill and intangible assets during the year ended October 31, 2020.

(3) Reflects impairment charges totaling $12.4 million on goodwill and intangible assets during the year ended October 31, 2020.

(4) Reflects accrued litigation settlement reserve totaling $142.9 million for the Bucio case during the year ended October 31, 2021

Geographic Information Based on the Country in Which the Sale Originated(1)


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Revenues
United States	$	5,847.8	$	5,625.1	$	6,025.2
All other countries	380.8		362.5		473.3
	$	6,228.6	$	5,987.6	$	6,498.6

(1) Substantially all of our long-lived assets are related to United States operations.

- 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/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123359005&loc=d3e8924-108599

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+ Details

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Subsequent Events	Oct. 31, 2021
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	SUBSEQUENT EVENTSOur strategic transformation under ELEVATE will result in changes to our reportable segments in fiscal year 2022. To align the Company’s operations with the new strategic initiative, the Manufacturing & Distribution (“M&D”) industry group will be created, replacing T&M. As part of our focus to better serve our manufacturing and distribution clients, M&D will maintain our large manufacturing clients and add clients in the distribution sector from B&I. In addition, technology clients served by T&M will shift into B&I. This organizational structure change was effective as of November 1, 2021. We will begin reporting our results under the new reportable segment of M&D beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022.

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS


(in millions)	Balance Beginning of Year		Additions from Able Acquisition	Charges to Costs and Expenses	Write-offs(1)/ Allowance Taken	Balance End of Year
Accounts receivable and sales allowances
2021	$	35.5	1.3	44.3	(48.4)	$	32.7
2020	22.4		—	96.3	(83.2)	35.5
2019	19.2		—	87.7	(84.6)	22.4

(1) Write-offs are net of recoveries.

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation

Use of Estimates

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash EquivalentsWe consider all highly liquid securities with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents. As part of our cash management system, we use “zero balance” accounts to fund our disbursements. Under this system, at the end of each day the bank balance is zero, while the book balance is usually a negative amount due to reconciling items, such as outstanding checks. We report the changes in these book cash overdrafts as cash flows from financing activities.

Trade Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade Accounts Receivable and Costs Incurred in Excess of Amounts Billed

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Sales Allowance

Sales AllowanceIn connection with our service contracts, we periodically issue credit memos to our clients that are recorded as a reduction in revenues and an increase to the allowance for billing adjustments. These credits can result from client vacancy discounts, job cancellations, property damage, and other items. We estimate our potential future losses on these client receivables based on an analysis of the historical rate of sales adjustments (credit memos, net of re-bills) and known or expected trends.

Other Current Assets

Other Current AssetsAt October 31, 2021 and 2020, other current assets primarily consisted of other receivables, short-term insurance recoverables, and capitalized commissions.

Other Investments

At October 31, 2021 and 2020, other investments primarily consisted of investments in unconsolidated affiliates.

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

Investments in Unconsolidated AffiliatesWe own non-controlling interests (generally 20% to 50%) in certain affiliated entities that predominantly provide facility solutions to governmental and commercial clients, primarily in the United States and the Middle East. We account for such investments under the equity method of accounting. We evaluate our equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the estimated fair value of the investment is less than its carrying amount and we determine that the impairment is other than temporary.

Property, Plant and Equipment


Category			Years
Computer equipment and software			3–5
Machinery and other equipment			3–5
Transportation equipment			1.5–10
Buildings			10–40
Furniture and fixtures			5

Leases

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Other Noncurrent Assets

Federal Energy Savings Performance Contract Receivables

Federal Energy Savings Performance Contract ReceivablesAs part of our Technical Solutions business, we enter into ESPCs with the federal government pursuant to which we agree to develop, design, engineer, and construct a project and to guarantee that the project will satisfy agreed-upon performance standards. ESPC receivables represent the amount to be paid by various federal government agencies for work we have satisfactorily performed under specific ESPCs. We assign certain of our rights to receive those payments to unaffiliated third parties that provide construction financing, which we record as a liability, for such contracts. This construction financing is recorded as cash flows from financing activities, while the use of the cash received to pay project costs under these arrangements is classified as operating cash flows. The ESPC receivable is recognized as revenue as each project is constructed. Upon completion and acceptance of the project by the government and upon satisfaction of true sale criteria, the assigned ESPC receivable from the government and corresponding ESPC liability are eliminated from our consolidated financial statements.

Remaining Performance Obligations

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;

Level 3 – Significant inputs to the valuation model are unobservable.

Insurance Reserves

We use a combination of insured and self-insurance programs to cover workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile liability, property damage, and other insurable risks. Insurance claim liabilities represent our estimate of retained risks without regard to insurance coverage. We retain a substantial portion of the risk related to certain workers’ compensation and medical claims. Liabilities associated with these losses include estimates of both filed claims and IBNR Claims.

Other Accrued Liabilities

Other Noncurrent Liabilities

Other Noncurrent LiabilitiesAt October 31, 2021 and 2020, other noncurrent liabilities primarily consisted of noncurrent deferred payroll taxes, deferred compensation, ESPC liabilities, retirement plan liabilities, long-term finance leases, and warranty reserves.

Contracts with Customers

Contract Types

We have arrangements under various contract types, as described below.

Monthly Fixed-Price

Square-Foot

Cost-Plus

Work Orders

Transaction-Price

Hourly

Management Reimbursement

Leased Location

Rental expense and certain other expenses under contracts that meet the definition of service concession arrangements are recorded as a reduction of revenue.

Allowance

Energy Savings Contracts and Fixed-Price Repair and Refurbishment

Franchise

considered symbolic intellectual property, and revenue related to the sale of this right is recognized at the agreed-upon contractual amount over the term of the initial franchise agreement.

Costs to Obtain a Contract With a Customer

Contract Balances

Restructuring and Related Expenses and Severance

Restructuring and Related Expenses

Restructuring and related expenses include employee severance, external support fees, lease exit costs, and other costs. Our methodology to record these costs is described below.

Severance

Advertising

AdvertisingAdvertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based CompensationOur current share-based awards principally consist of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and various performance share awards. We recognize compensation costs associated with these awards in selling, general and administrative expenses. For RSUs and certain performance share awards, the amount of compensation cost is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments issued. Since our total shareholder return (“TSR”) performance share awards are performance awards with a market condition, the compensation costs associated with these awards are determined using a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model. For RSUs and TSR awards, compensation cost is recognized over the period that an employee provides service in exchange for the award. We recognize compensation cost associated with other performance share awards over the requisite service period based on the probability of achievement of performance criteria.

Taxes Collected from Clients and Remitted to Governmental Agencies

We record taxes on client transactions due to governmental agencies as receivables and liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Net Income Per Common Share

Net Income Per Common ShareBasic net income per common share is net income divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted to include the potential dilution from the conversion of RSUs, vesting of performance shares, and exercise of stock options.

Contingencies and Litigation

Contingencies and LitigationWe are a party to a number of lawsuits, claims, and proceedings incident to the operation of our business, including those pertaining to labor and employment, contracts, personal injury, and other matters, some of which allege substantial monetary damages. Some of these actions may be brought as class actions on behalf of a class or purported class of employees. We accrue 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, then the minimum amount of the range is recorded as a liability. We recognize legal costs as an expense in the period incurred.

Income Taxes

Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

No other recently adopted accounting standards have had a significant impact on our fiscal 2021 consolidated financial statements

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

We do not expect any recently issued accounting pronouncements to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of Estimated Useful Lives of Property, Plant and Equipment

We determine depreciation for financial reporting purposes using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:


Category			Years
Computer equipment and software			3–5
Machinery and other equipment			3–5
Transportation equipment			1.5–10
Buildings			10–40
Furniture and fixtures			5

Schedule of Management Reimbursement Revenue by Segment

Management Reimbursement Revenue by Segment


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Business & Industry	$	185.8	$	221.4	$	283.1
Aviation	54.5		74.3		95.5
Total	$	240.3	$	295.6	$	378.7

Revenues (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenue from External Customers by Major Service Lines and Segments


	Year Ended October 31, 2021
(in millions)	B&I		T&M		Education		Aviation		Technical Solutions		Total
Major Service Line
Janitorial(1)	$	2,651.7	$	790.5	$	730.8	$	117.2	$	—	$	4,290.3
Parking(2)	296.9		39.8		0.9		261.8		—		599.4
Facility Services(3)	397.4		156.8		104.7		28.9		—		687.8
Building & Energy Solutions(4)	—		—		—		—		534.0		534.0
Airline Services(5)	0.5		—		—		260.9		—		261.4
	$	3,346.5	$	987.1	$	836.4	$	668.8	$	534.0	$	6,372.9
Elimination of inter-segment revenues											(144.2)
Total											$	6,228.6


	Year Ended October 31, 2020
(in millions)	B&I		T&M		Education		Aviation		Technical Solutions		Total
Major Service Line
Janitorial(1)	$	2,420.4	$	770.9	$	716.5	$	121.2	$	—	$	4,029.0
Parking(2)	362.8		33.5		1.8		255.9		—		654.0
Facility Services(3)	374.1		151.6		90.5		31.6		—		647.9
Building & Energy Solutions(4)	—		—		—		—		506.6		506.6
Airline Services(5)	0.4		—		—		272.2		—		272.6
	$	3,157.8	$	956.0	$	808.8	$	680.9	$	506.6	$	6,110.0
Elimination of inter-segment revenues											(122.4)
Total											$	5,987.6

Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability

The following tables present the balances in our contract assets and contract liabilities:


(in millions)	October 31, 2021		October 31, 2020
Contract assets
Billed trade receivables(1)	$	1,057.6	$	835.8
Unbilled trade receivables(1)	112.1		53.9
Costs incurred in excess of amounts billed(2)	52.5		52.2
Capitalized commissions(3)	27.8		25.2

(2) Fluctuation is primarily due to the timing of payments on our contracts measured using the cost-to-cost method of revenue recognition.


(in millions)	Year Ended October 31, 2021
Contract liabilities(1)
Balance at beginning of year	$	36.4
Additional contract liabilities	248.9
Recognition of deferred revenue	(226.8)
Balance at end of year	$	58.5

(1) Included in other accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Acquisitions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Business Combination and Asset Acquisition [Abstract]

Schedule of Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation

The following table summarizes the preliminary acquisition accounting based on currently available information:


(in millions)


Cash and cash equivalents	$	31.5
Trade accounts receivable(1)	159.3
Other assets	24.9
Customer relationships(2)	220.0
Trade names(2)	10.0
Goodwill(3)	554.0
Trade accounts payable	(27.0)
Accrued compensation	(38.2)
Insurance claims	(91.6)
Other liabilities	(41.7)
Deferred income tax liability, net	(59.5)
Net assets acquired	$	741.7

(1) The gross amount of trade accounts receivable was $160.6 million, of which $1.4 million was deemed uncollectible at October 31, 2021.

(2) The amortization periods for the acquired intangible assets are 15 years for customer relationships and 2 years for trade names.

Schedule of Pro Forma Financial Information


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Pro forma revenue	$	7,223.2	$	7,078.2
Pro forma income (loss) from continuing operations(1)	139.1		(7.9)

Leases (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Leases [Abstract]

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

The components of lease assets and liabilities and their classification on our Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows:


(in millions)	Classification	October 31, 2021		October 31, 2020
Lease assets
Operating leases	Right-of-use assets	$	126.5	$	143.1
Finance leases	Property, plant and equipment, net(1)	3.7		6.1
Total lease assets		$	130.2	$	149.2

Lease liabilities
Current liabilities
Operating leases	Current portion of lease liabilities	$	31.8	$	35.0
Finance leases	Other accrued liabilities	0.4		2.3
Noncurrent liabilities
Operating leases	Long-term lease liabilities	116.6		131.4
Finance leases	Other noncurrent liabilities	2.0		2.8
Total lease liabilities		$	150.8	$	171.4

(1) Finance lease assets are recorded net of accumulated amortization of $16.3 million and $13.6 million as of October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, respectively.

The following table includes the weighted-average remaining lease terms, in years, and the weighted-average discount rate used to calculate the present value of operating lease liabilities:


	Year Ended October 31, 2021		Year Ended October 31, 2020
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
Operating leases	5.7		6.1
Finance leases	1.5		2.0
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases	4.11	%	4.14	%
Finance leases	4.78	%	4.55	%

Lease, Cost

The components of lease costs and classification within the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) were as follows:


(in millions)	Year Ended October 31, 2021		Years Ended October 31, 2020
Operating lease costs:
Operating expenses(1)(2)	$	51.9	$	67.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses(3)	25.3		28.5
Finance lease costs:
Operating expenses(4)	2.5		3.5

Interest expense(5)	0.5		0.5
Total lease costs	$	80.2	$	100.4

(1) Related to certain parking arrangements.

(2) Includes short-term lease costs and variable lease costs.

(3) Includes short-term lease costs.

(4) Represents amortization of leased assets.

(5) Interest on lease liabilities.

The following table presents information on short-term and variable lease costs:


(in millions)	Year Ended October 31, 2021		Year Ended October 31, 2020
Short-term lease costs	$	34.8	$	47.0
Variable lease costs	3.7		3.5
Total short-term and variable lease costs	$	38.5	$	50.5

The following table includes supplemental cash and non-cash information related to operating leases:


(in millions)	Year Ended October 31, 2021		Year Ended October 31, 2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	38.9	$	44.8
Operating cash flows from finance leases	0.5		0.5
Financing cash flows from finance leases	2.8		3.4
Lease assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities(1)	20.6		15.7

(1) Excludes the amount initially capitalized in 2020 in conjunction with the adoption of Topic 842.

Maturities of Operating Lease Liabilities


(in millions)	Operating Lease Liabilities		Finance Lease Liabilities		Total
Fiscal 2022	$	37.2	$	1.7	$	38.9
Fiscal 2023	32.1		0.9		33.0
Fiscal 2024	27.2		—		27.2
Fiscal 2025	21.1		—		21.1
Fiscal 2026	18.7		—		18.7
Thereafter	31.6		—		31.6
Total lease payments	168.0		2.6		170.6
Less: imputed interest	19.6		0.2		19.8
Present value of lease liabilities	$	148.4	$	2.4	$	150.8

Maturities of Finance Lease Liabilities


(in millions)	Operating Lease Liabilities		Finance Lease Liabilities		Total
Fiscal 2022	$	37.2	$	1.7	$	38.9
Fiscal 2023	32.1		0.9		33.0
Fiscal 2024	27.2		—		27.2
Fiscal 2025	21.1		—		21.1
Fiscal 2026	18.7		—		18.7
Thereafter	31.6		—		31.6
Total lease payments	168.0		2.6		170.6
Less: imputed interest	19.6		0.2		19.8
Present value of lease liabilities	$	148.4	$	2.4	$	150.8

Net Income Per Common Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Share Calculations

Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Share Calculations


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions, except per share amounts)	2021		2020		2019
Income from continuing operations	$	126.3	$	0.2	$	127.5
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	—		0.1		(0.1)
Net income	$	126.3	$	0.3	$	127.4

Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding — Basic	67.4		66.9		66.6
Effect of dilutive securities
RSUs	0.3		0.1		0.2
Stock options	—		0.1		0.1
Performance shares	0.2		0.1		0.1
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding — Diluted	68.0		67.3		66.9

Net income per common share — Basic
Income from continuing operations	$	1.87	$	0.00	$	1.92
Income from discontinued operations	—		—		—
Net income	$	1.87	$	0.00	$	1.91

Net income per common share — Diluted
Income from continuing operations	$	1.86	$	0.00	$	1.91
Income from discontinued operations	—		—		—
Net income	$	1.86	$	0.00	$	1.90

Schedule of Anti-Dilutive Outstanding Stock Awards Issued Under Share-Based Compensation Plans

Anti-Dilutive Outstanding Stock Awards Issued Under Share-Based Compensation Plans


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021	2020	2019
Anti-dilutive	—	0.4	0.3

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis


		As of October 31,
(in millions)	Fair Value Hierarchy	2021		2020
Cash and cash equivalents(1)	1	$	62.8	$	394.2
Insurance deposits(2)	1	0.7		0.7
Assets held in funded deferred compensation plan(3)	1	4.9		2.6
Credit facility(4)	2	888.8		725.3
Interest rate swap liabilities(5)	2	4.6		15.5

(1) Cash and cash equivalents are stated at nominal value, which equals fair value.

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment


	As of October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Machinery and other equipment	$	148.9	$	137.0
Computer equipment and software	97.2		101.2
Transportation equipment	57.9		57.7
Leasehold improvements	59.6		57.1
Furniture and fixtures	14.6		13.7
Buildings	7.7		7.6
Land	0.7		0.7
	386.6		375.0
Less: Accumulated depreciation(1)	274.7		241.3
Total	$	111.9	$	133.7

(1) For 2021, 2020, and 2019, depreciation expense was $45.0 million, $48.0 million, and $48.9 million, respectively.

Schedule of Finance Leases Included in Property, Plant and Equipment

Finance Leases Included in Property, Plant and Equipment


	As of October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Transportation equipment	$	19.8	$	19.4
Furniture and fixtures	0.2		0.2


	20.0		19.7
Less: Accumulated depreciation	16.3		13.6
Total	$	3.7	$	6.1

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Goodwill Activity and Carrying Amount by Segment

Goodwill


(in millions)	Business & Industry		Technology & Manufacturing		Education		Aviation		Technical Solutions		Total
Balance at October 31, 2019	$	573.9	$	407.2	$	558.6	$	125.0	$	170.7	$	1,835.4

Foreign currency translation	0.1		—		—		—		(0.3)		(0.2)
Impairment(1)	—		—		(99.3)		(55.5)		(9.0)		(163.8)
Balance at October 31, 2020	$	574.0	$	407.2	$	459.3	$	69.5	$	161.5	$	1,671.4
Acquisition(2)	554.0		—		—		—		—		554.0
Foreign currency translation	1.8		—		—		0.4		1.2		3.4
Balance at October 31, 2021	$	1,129.8	$	407.2	$	459.3	$	69.9	$	162.7	$	2,228.9

(1) The impairment charge is included in “Impairment loss” on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the year ended October 31, 2020, and is not tax deductible.

(2) During 2021, goodwill increased as a result of the Able Acquisition. See Note 4, “Acquisitions,” for additional information.

Schedule of Other Intangible Assets

Other Intangible Assets


	October 31, 2021						October 31, 2020
(in millions)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Total		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Total
Customer contracts and relationships(1)(2)	$	793.8	$	(378.5)	$	415.3	$	573.1	$	(333.6)	$	239.6
Trademarks and trade names(2)	19.8		(10.4)		9.5		9.8		(9.8)		—
Contract rights and other	0.5		(0.4)		0.1		0.5		(0.4)		0.1
Total(3)	$	814.1	$	(389.3)	$	424.8	$	583.5	$	(343.8)	$	239.7

(2) Reflects additions from the Able Acquisition in 2021. See Note 4, “Acquisitions,” for additional information.

(3) These intangible assets are being amortized over the expected period of benefit, with a weighted average life of approximately 12 years.

Schedule of Estimated Annual Amortization Expense

Estimated Annual Amortization Expense for Each of the Next Five Years


(in millions)	2022		2023		2024		2025		2026
Estimated amortization expense(1)	$	69.1	$	62.3	$	51.7	$	45.7	$	40.2

(1) These amounts could vary as acquisitions of additional intangible assets occur in the future and as purchase price allocations are finalized for existing acquisitions.

Insurance (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Insurance [Abstract]

Schedule of Insurance Related Balances and Activity

Insurance-Related Balances and Activity


(in millions)	October 31, 2021		October 31, 2020
Insurance claim reserves, excluding medical and dental	$	574.8	$	504.9
Medical and dental claim reserves	9.9		16.6
Insurance recoverables	66.5		70.1

Schedule of Casualty Program Insurance Reserves Rollforward

Casualty Program Insurance Reserves Rollforward


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Net balance at beginning of year	$	434.8	$	443.3	$	427.7
Change in case reserves plus IBNR Claims — current year	117.9		128.5		137.9
Change in case reserves plus IBNR Claims — prior years	(36.0)		(30.2)		(3.4)
Claims paid	(99.8)		(106.8)		(119.1)
Acquisition(1)	91.6		0.2		—
Net balance, October 31(2)	508.3		434.8		443.3
Recoverables	66.5		70.1		64.5
Gross balance, October 31	$	574.8	$	504.9	$	507.8

(1) During 2021, insurance reserves increased as a result of the Able Acquisition. See Note 4, “Acquisitions,” for additional information.

(2) Includes reserves related to discontinued operations of approximately $0.3 million for 2021, $0.5 million for 2020, and $1.0 million for 2019.

Schedule of Instruments Used to Collateralize Insurance Obligations

Instruments Used to Collateralize Our Insurance Obligations


	As of October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Standby letters of credit	$	157.9	$	143.6
Surety bonds	83.8		82.6
Restricted insurance deposits	0.7		0.7
Total	$	242.3	$	226.9

Credit Facility (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Credit Facility Information

Credit Facility Information


(in millions)	October 31, 2021		October 31, 2020
Current portion of long-term debt
Gross term loan	$	32.5	$	120.0
Unamortized deferred financing costs	(1.1)		(3.3)
Current portion of term loan	$	31.4	$	116.7

Long-term debt
Gross term loan	$	601.3	$	560.0
Unamortized deferred financing costs	(3.5)		(2.3)
Total noncurrent portion of term loan	597.8		557.7
Revolving line of credit(1)(2)	255.0		45.3
Long-term debt	$	852.8	$	603.0

(1) Standby letters of credit amounted to $167.7 million at October 31, 2021.

(2) At October 31, 2021, we had borrowing capacity of $875.0 million.

Schedule of Term Loan Maturities

As of October 31, 2021, the following principal payments are required under the term loan.


(in millions)	2022		2023		2024		2025		2026
Debt maturities	$	32.5	$	32.5	$	32.5	$	32.5	$	503.8

Schedule of Interest Rate Information

Notional Amount

Fixed Interest Rate

Effective Date

Maturity Date

$ 130.0 million

2.86%

November 1, 2018

April 30, 2022

$ 130.0 million

2.84%

November 1, 2018

September 1, 2022

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of long-debt instruments or arrangements, including identification, terms, features, collateral requirements and other information necessary to a fair presentation. These are debt arrangements that originally required repayment more than twelve months after issuance or greater than the normal operating cycle of the entity, if longer.

+ References

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+ Details

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Schedule of Information for the Plans

Information for the Plans


	As of October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Net obligations	$	7.5	$	9.6
Projected benefit obligations(1)	15.9		17.0
Fair value of assets	8.4		7.4

(1) At October 31, 2021, total projected benefit obligations related to unfunded plans was $8.2 million. At October 31, 2020, all plans were either unfunded or underfunded.

Schedule of Multiemployer Pension Plans

Key Information for Individually Significant Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans(1)

($ in millions)

Pension Protection Act

Zone Status(3)

FIP/RP

Status(4)

Contributions by ABM

Surcharge

Imposed(5)

Expiration Dates of Collective Bargaining Agreements

Pension Fund

EIN/PN(2)

2021

2020

Pending/
Implemented

2021

2020

2019

Building Service 32BJ Pension Fund

13-1879376 / 001

Red

6/30/2020

Red 6/30/2019

Implemented

18.8

16.8

19.3

10/15/2023 – 12/31/2023

S.E.I.U. National Industry Pension Fund

52-6148540 /

001

Red

12/31/2020

Red 12/31/2019

Implemented

10.9

11.1

10.6

Yes

7/31/2022 –
10/31/2023

IUOE Stationary Engineers Local 39 Pension Plan

94-6118939 /

001

Green

12/31/2020

Green 12/31/2019

N/A*

6.6

4.3

4.6

N/A*

8/31/2023 –

10/31/2024

Central Pension Fund of the IUOE & Participating Employers

36-6052390 /

001

Green

1/31/2021

Green 1/31/2020

N/A*

5.3

7.1

11.7

N/A*

12/31/2022

SEIU Local 1 & Participating Employers Pension Trust

36-6486542 /

001

Green

9/30/2020

Green 9/30/2019

N/A*

3.9

4.3

5.1

N/A*

4/7/2024

Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan

91-6145047 /

001

Green

12/31/2020

Green 12/31/2019

N/A*

2.0

2.5

3.1

N/A*

12/31/2021 –
11/30/2022

All Other Plans:

9.3

9.5

12.2

Total Contributions(6)

56.8

55.5

66.6

*Not applicable

(2) The “EIN/PN” column provides the Employer Identification Number and the three-digit plan number assigned to the plan by the IRS.

(4) Indicates whether a Financial Improvement Plan (“FIP”) for yellow zone plans or a Rehabilitation Plan (“RP”) for red zone plans is pending or implemented.

(6) The total contributions for fiscal year 2021 includes $4.6 million contributed by Able since the acquisition.

Multiemployer Pension Plans for which ABM is a Significant Contributor


Pension Fund						Contributions to the plan exceeded more than 5% of total contributions per most currently available Forms 5500 (as of the plan’s year end)
Arizona Sheet Metal Pension Trust Fund*						6/30/2020, 6/30/2019 and 6/30/2018
Building Service 32BJ Pension Fund						6/30/2020, 6/30/2019, and 6/30/2018
Building Service Pension Plan*						4/30/2020, 4/30/2019, and 4/30/2018
Contract Cleaners Service Employees’ Pension Plan*						12/31/20, 12/31/2019, and 12/31/2018
Firemen & Oilers Pension Plan of SEIU Local 1*						7/31/2020, 7/31/2019, and 7/31/2018
IUOE Stationary Engineers Local 39 Pension Trust Fund						12/31/2020, 12/13/2019, and 12/31/2018
Massachusetts Service Employees Pension Plan*						12/31/2020, 12/31/2019, and 12/31/2018
SEIU Local 1 & Participating Employers Pension Trust						9/30/2020, 9/30/2019, and 9/30/2018
S.E.I.U. National Industry Pension Fund						12/31/2020, 12/31/2019, and 12/31/2018
Service Employees International Union Local 1 Cleveland Pension Plan*						12/31/2020, 12/31/2019, and 12/31/2018
Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, District 36 Building Operators Pension Trust Fund*						12/31/2020, 12/31/2019, and 12/31/2018
Teamsters Local 617 Pension Fund*						2/28/2021, 2/29/2020, and 2/28/2019
Teamsters Local Union No. 727 Pension Plan*						2/28/2021, 2/29/2020, and 2/28/2019

* These plans are not separately listed in our multiemployer table as they represent an insignificant portion of our total multiemployer pension plan contributions.

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of information about multiemployer plan.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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+ Details

Preferred and Common Stock (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Schedule of Share Repurchase Activity


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions, except per share amounts)	2021		2020
Total number of shares purchased	—		0.2
Average price paid per share	N/A		$	36.16
Total cash paid for share repurchases	$	—	$	5.1

Share-Based Compensation Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Schedule of Compensation Expense by Type of Award and Related Income Tax Benefit

Compensation Expense by Type of Award and Related Income Tax Benefit


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
RSUs	$	17.6	$	11.5	$	9.5
Performance shares	15.8		8.8		8.0

Share-based compensation expense before income taxes	33.5		20.3		17.5
Income tax benefit	(9.4)		(5.7)		(4.9)
Share-based compensation expense, net of taxes	$	24.1	$	14.6	$	12.5

Schedule of RSU Activity

RSU Activity


	Number of Shares (in millions)	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
Outstanding at October 31, 2020	1.1	$	36.32
Granted	0.4	40.22
Vested (including 0.2 shares withheld for income taxes)	(0.5)	36.34
Forfeited	(0.2)	36.56
Outstanding at October 31, 2021	1.0	$	38.06

Schedule of Performance Share Activity

Performance Share Activity


	Number of Shares (in millions)	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
Outstanding at October 31, 2020	0.8	$	37.35
Granted	0.3	39.97
Vested (including 0.1 shares withheld for income taxes)	(0.2)	36.53
Performance adjustments	0.2	37.63
Forfeited	(0.1)	39.22
Outstanding at October 31, 2021	1.0	$	38.25

Schedule of Monte Carlo Assumptions

Monte Carlo Assumptions


	2021			2020			2019
Expected life(1)	2.81 years			2.81 years			2.81 years
Expected stock price volatility(2)	42.9		%	28.7		%	27.7		%

Risk-free interest rate(3)	0.2		%	1.5		%	2.5		%
Stock price(4)	$	40.75		$	37.99		$	34.92

(1) The expected life represents the remaining performance period of the awards.

(4) The stock price is the closing price of our common stock on the valuation date.

Schedule of Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions, except per share amounts)	2021		2020		2019
Weighted-average fair value of granted purchase rights per share	$	2.17	$	1.75	$	1.77
Common stock issued	0.1		0.1		0.1
Fair value of common stock issued per share	$	41.18	$	33.18	$	33.60
Aggregate purchases	$	3.3	$	3.5	$	4.1

Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Geographic Sources of Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes

Geographic Sources of Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
United States	$	152.8	$	45.2	$	137.1
Foreign	27.0		8.1		23.1
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	179.8	$	53.3	$	160.2

Schedule of Components of Income Tax (Provision) Benefit

Components of Income Tax (Provision) Benefit


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Current:
Federal	$	(66.3)	$	(59.3)	$	(6.4)
State	(27.4)		(28.6)		(10.7)
Foreign	(7.8)		(1.7)		(5.9)
Deferred:
Federal	34.9		23.2		(8.5)
State	13.2		12.5		(1.6)
Foreign	(0.1)		0.9		0.4
Income tax provision	$	(53.5)	$	(53.1)	$	(32.7)

Reconciliation of U.S. Statutory Tax Rate to Annual Effective Tax Rate

Reconciliation of the U.S. Statutory Tax Rate to Annual Effective Tax Rate


	Years Ended October 31,
	2021		2020		2019
U.S. statutory rate	21.0	%	21.0	%	21.0	%
State and local income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	6.8		(0.6)		5.9
Federal and state tax credits	(2.6)		(4.7)		(3.9)
Impact of foreign operations	0.3		1.3		(1.0)
Changes in uncertain tax positions	1.5		(2.0)		(0.8)
Incremental tax benefit from share-based compensation awards	(0.4)		(1.6)		(0.7)
Energy efficiency incentives	(0.7)		(3.8)		—
Impact from goodwill impairment	—		81.7		—
Transition tax on foreign earnings	—		—		(1.1)
Remeasurement of U.S. deferred taxes	—		—		(0.3)
Nondeductible expenses	2.9		4.4		2.1
Other, net	1.0		3.9		(0.8)
Effective tax rate	29.8	%	99.6	%	20.4	%

Schedule of Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities


	As of October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020
Deferred tax assets attributable to:
Self-insurance claims (net of recoverables)	$	92.0	$	74.7
Deferred and other compensation	34.4		28.6
Accounts receivable allowances	8.2		8.8
Settlement liabilities	44.2		5.0
Other accruals	6.6		1.5
Other comprehensive income	1.3		2.7
State taxes	0.7		1.4
State net operating loss carryforwards	4.0		5.9
Tax credits	2.9		3.7
Unrecognized tax benefits	3.3		3.2
Deferred payroll taxes	35.1		26.9
Operating lease liabilities	33.5		38.2
Gross deferred tax assets	266.2		200.6
Valuation allowance	(2.2)		(4.1)
Total deferred tax assets	264.0		196.5

Deferred tax liabilities attributable to:
Property, plant and equipment	(4.1)		(1.2)
Goodwill and other acquired intangibles	(222.2)		(159.4)
Right-of-use assets	(33.8)		(38.2)
Tax accounting method change	(15.8)		—
Other	(10.6)		(8.5)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(286.5)		(207.3)

Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(22.5)	$	(10.8)

Schedule of Changes to the Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance

Changes to the Valuation Allowance


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Valuation allowance at beginning of year	$	4.1	$	8.4	$	12.0
Other, net	(1.9)		(4.3)		(3.6)
Valuation allowance at end of year	$	2.2	$	4.1	$	8.4

Reconciliation of Total Unrecognized Tax Benefits


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Balance at beginning of year	$	35.5	$	35.3	$	35.8
Additions for tax positions related to the current year	3.7		2.1		—
Additions for tax positions related to prior years	0.3		1.6		3.6
Reductions for tax positions related to prior years	(5.3)		—		—
Reductions for lapse of statute of limitations	(2.5)		(3.0)		(3.9)
Settlements	(1.3)		(0.5)		(0.3)
Balance at end of year	$	30.4	$	35.5	$	35.3

Segment and Geographic Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Financial Information by Reportable Segment

Financial Information by Reportable Segment


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Revenues
Business & Industry	$	3,346.5	$	3,157.8	$	3,251.4
Technology & Manufacturing	987.1		956.0		917.0
Education	836.4		808.8		847.4
Aviation	668.8		680.9		1,017.3
Technical Solutions	534.0		506.6		593.2

Elimination of inter-segment revenues	(144.2)		(122.4)		(127.7)
	$	6,228.6	$	5,987.6	$	6,498.6
Operating profit
Business & Industry	$	337.8	$	253.7	$	182.3
Technology & Manufacturing	103.8		84.4		72.5
Education(1)	60.5		(41.1)		39.0
Aviation(2)	32.5		(59.6)		21.1
Technical Solutions(3)	49.8		9.5		55.4
Government Services	(0.2)		(0.1)		(0.1)
Corporate(4)	(374.6)		(146.9)		(159.0)
Adjustment for income from unconsolidated affiliates, included in Aviation	(2.1)		(2.2)		(3.0)
Adjustment for tax deductions for energy efficient government buildings, included in Technical Solutions	(1.2)		(2.1)		0.1
	206.3		95.7		208.3
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	2.1		2.2		3.0
Interest expense	(28.6)		(44.6)		(51.1)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	179.8	$	53.3	$	160.2

Depreciation and amortization
Business & Industry	$	20.4	$	18.9	$	21.3
Technology & Manufacturing	11.3		12.5		14.3
Education	30.6		33.8		37.3
Aviation	9.1		10.6		11.9
Technical Solutions	5.9		7.2		8.6

Corporate	12.7		13.5		13.9
	$	89.9	$	96.4	$	107.4

(1) Reflects impairment charges totaling $99.3 million on goodwill during the year ended October 31, 2020.

(2) Reflects impairment charges totaling $61.1 million on goodwill and intangible assets during the year ended October 31, 2020.

(3) Reflects impairment charges totaling $12.4 million on goodwill and intangible assets during the year ended October 31, 2020.

(4) Reflects accrued litigation settlement reserve totaling $142.9 million for the Bucio case during the year ended October 31, 2021

Schedule of Geographic Information Based on the Country in Which the Sale Originated

Geographic Information Based on the Country in Which the Sale Originated(1)


	Years Ended October 31,
(in millions)	2021		2020		2019
Revenues
United States	$	5,847.8	$	5,625.1	$	6,025.2
All other countries	380.8		362.5		473.3
	$	6,228.6	$	5,987.6	$	6,498.6

(1) Substantially all of our long-lived assets are related to United States operations.

The Company and Nature of Operations (Details)	12 Months Ended
The Company and Nature of Operations (Details)	Oct. 31, 2021 industryGroup segment
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Number of industry groups \| industryGroup	4
Number of technical solution segments \| segment	1

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	$ 11.7	$ 11.0	$ 8.9
Restructuring and related expenses	0.0	7.6	11.2
Advertising expense	$ 6.2	$ 1.8	$ 1.7
Minimum
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Ownership percentages	20.00%
Lease term	1 year
Maximum
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Ownership percentages	50.00%
Lease term	30 years

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Estimated Useful Lives of Property, Plant and Equipment (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021
Computer equipment and software \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful lives	3 years
Computer equipment and software \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful lives	5 years
Machinery and other equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful lives	3 years
Machinery and other equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful lives	5 years
Transportation equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful lives	1 year 6 months
Transportation equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful lives	10 years
Buildings \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful lives	10 years
Buildings \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful lives	40 years
Furniture and fixtures
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful lives	5 years

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Management Reimbursement Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 6,228.6	$ 5,987.6	$ 6,498.6
Management Reimbursement Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	240.3	295.6	378.7
Management Reimbursement Revenue \| Business & Industry
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	185.8	221.4	283.1
Management Reimbursement Revenue \| Aviation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 54.5	$ 74.3	$ 95.5

- Definition

Amount, excluding tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer. Tax collected from customer is tax assessed by governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transaction, including, but not limited to, sales, use, value added and excise.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 30
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123359005&loc=d3e8906-108599

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 40
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123359005&loc=d3e9031-108599

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 41
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123359005&loc=d3e9038-108599

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123359005&loc=d3e8933-108599

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123359005&loc=d3e8933-108599

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123351226&loc=SL49130543-203045

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123359005&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123359005&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 42
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123359005&loc=d3e9054-108599

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123351226&loc=SL49130545-203045

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 924
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 11.L)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6472922&loc=d3e499488-122856

+ Details

Revenues - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 6,228.6	$ 5,987.6	$ 6,498.6
Operating Segments
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	6,372.9	6,110.0
Operating Segments \| Business & Industry
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	3,346.5	3,157.8	3,251.4
Operating Segments \| Technology & Manufacturing
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	987.1	956.0	917.0
Operating Segments \| Education
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	836.4	808.8	847.4
Operating Segments \| Aviation
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	668.8	680.9	1,017.3
Operating Segments \| Technical Solutions
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	534.0	506.6	593.2
Operating Segments \| Janitorial
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	4,290.3	4,029.0
Operating Segments \| Janitorial \| Business & Industry
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	2,651.7	2,420.4
Operating Segments \| Janitorial \| Technology & Manufacturing
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	790.5	770.9
Operating Segments \| Janitorial \| Education
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	730.8	716.5
Operating Segments \| Janitorial \| Aviation
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	117.2	121.2
Operating Segments \| Janitorial \| Technical Solutions
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	0.0	0.0
Operating Segments \| Parking
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	599.4	654.0
Operating Segments \| Parking \| Business & Industry
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	296.9	362.8
Operating Segments \| Parking \| Technology & Manufacturing
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	39.8	33.5
Operating Segments \| Parking \| Education
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	0.9	1.8
Operating Segments \| Parking \| Aviation
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	261.8	255.9
Operating Segments \| Parking \| Technical Solutions
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	0.0	0.0
Operating Segments \| Facility Services
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	687.8	647.9
Operating Segments \| Facility Services \| Business & Industry
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	397.4	374.1
Operating Segments \| Facility Services \| Technology & Manufacturing
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	156.8	151.6
Operating Segments \| Facility Services \| Education
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	104.7	90.5
Operating Segments \| Facility Services \| Aviation
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	28.9	31.6
Operating Segments \| Facility Services \| Technical Solutions
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	0.0	0.0
Operating Segments \| Building & Energy Solutions
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	534.0	506.6
Operating Segments \| Building & Energy Solutions \| Business & Industry
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	0.0	0.0
Operating Segments \| Building & Energy Solutions \| Technology & Manufacturing
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	0.0	0.0
Operating Segments \| Building & Energy Solutions \| Education
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	0.0	0.0
Operating Segments \| Building & Energy Solutions \| Aviation
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	0.0	0.0
Operating Segments \| Building & Energy Solutions \| Technical Solutions
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	534.0	506.6
Operating Segments \| Airline Services
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	261.4	272.6
Operating Segments \| Airline Services \| Business & Industry
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	0.5	0.4
Operating Segments \| Airline Services \| Technology & Manufacturing
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	0.0	0.0
Operating Segments \| Airline Services \| Education
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	0.0	0.0
Operating Segments \| Airline Services \| Aviation
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	260.9	272.2
Operating Segments \| Airline Services \| Technical Solutions
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	0.0	0.0
Elimination of inter-segment revenues
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	$ (144.2)	$ (122.4)	$ (127.7)

Revenues - Narrative (Details) - Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2021-11-01 $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Revenue, remaining performance obligation, amount	$ 307.2
Revenue, remaining performance obligation, percentage	79.00%
Revenue, remaining performance obligation, period	12 months

Revenues - Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Billed trade receivables	$ 1,057,600,000	$ 835,800,000
Unbilled trade receivables	112,100,000	53,900,000
Costs incurred in excess of amounts billed	52,500,000	52,200,000
Capitalized commissions	27,800,000	$ 25,200,000
Capitalized contract price	16,300,000
Capitalized contract cost, amortization	13,700,000
Capitalized contract cost, impairment loss	0
Contract with Customer, Liabilities [Roll Forward]
Contract liabilities, balance at beginning of period	36,400,000
Additional contract liabilities	248,900,000
Recognition of deferred revenue	(226,800,000)
Contract liabilities, balance at end of period	$ 58,500,000

Acquisitions - Narrative (Details) - Able - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Oct. 31, 2021
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price	$ 741.7
Cash consideration placed in escrow	12.1
Cash consideration placed in escrow for indemnification asset	8.2
Revenues associated with acquisition		$ 101.1
Net income associated with acquisition		$ 4.4
Revolving Credit Facility
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from lines of credit	$ 325.0
Weighted average interest rate	1.58%

Acquisitions - Purchase Price Allocation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 2,228.9	$ 1,671.4	$ 1,835.4
Amortization period for acquired intangible assets		12 years	12 years
Able
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 31.5
Trade accounts receivable	159.3
Other assets	24.9
Goodwill	554.0
Trade accounts payable	(27.0)
Accrued compensation	(38.2)
Insurance claims	(91.6)
Other liabilities	(41.7)
Deferred income tax liability, net	(59.5)
Net assets acquired	741.7
Trade accounts receivable, gross		$ 160.6
Estimated uncollectible trade accounts receivable		$ 1.4
Able \| Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets	$ 220.0
Amortization period for acquired intangible assets	15 years
Able \| Trade names
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets	$ 10.0
Amortization period for acquired intangible assets	2 years

Acquisitions - Pro Forma Financial Information (Details) - Able - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Pro forma statutory tax rate (percent)	28.00%
Pro forma revenue		$ 7,223.2	$ 7,078.2
Pro forma income (loss) from continuing operations		139.1	$ (7.9)
Business combination, acquisition related costs		$ 17.3

Leases - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Lease assets
Operating leases	$ 126.5	$ 143.1
Finance leases	3.7	6.1
Total lease assets	$ 130.2	$ 149.2
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $274.7 and $241.3 at October 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively	Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $274.7 and $241.3 at October 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively
Current liabilities
Operating leases	$ 31.8	$ 35.0
Finance leases	$ 0.4	$ 2.3
Finance Lease, Liability, Current, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other accrued liabilities	Other accrued liabilities
Noncurrent liabilities
Operating leases	$ 116.6	$ 131.4
Finance leases	$ 2.0	$ 2.8
Finance Lease, Liability, Noncurrent, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other noncurrent liabilities	Other noncurrent liabilities
Total lease liabilities	$ 150.8	$ 171.4
Less: Accumulated depreciation	$ 16.3	$ 13.6

Leases - Lease Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Leases - Lease Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Finance lease costs:
Operating expenses	$ 2.5	$ 3.5
Interest expense	0.5	0.5
Total lease costs	80.2	100.4
Short-term lease costs	34.8	47.0
Variable lease costs	3.7	3.5
Total short-term and variable lease costs	38.5	50.5
Operating expenses
Operating lease costs:
Operating lease, cost	51.9	67.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Operating lease costs:
Operating lease, cost	$ 25.3	$ 28.5

Leases - Maturities of Operating and Finance Lease Liabilities (Details) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Operating Lease Liabilities
Fiscal 2022	$ 37.2
Fiscal 2023	32.1
Fiscal 2024	27.2
Fiscal 2025	21.1
Fiscal 2026	18.7
Thereafter	31.6
Total lease payments	168.0
Less: imputed interest	19.6
Present value of lease liabilities	148.4
Finance Lease Liabilities
Fiscal 2022	1.7
Fiscal 2023	0.9
Fiscal 2024	0.0
Fiscal 2025	0.0
Fiscal 2026	0.0
Thereafter	0.0
Total lease payments	2.6
Less: imputed interest	0.2
Present value of lease liabilities	2.4
Total
Fiscal 2022	38.9
Fiscal 2023	33.0
Fiscal 2024	27.2
Fiscal 2025	21.1
Fiscal 2026	18.7
Thereafter	31.6
Total lease payments	170.6
Less: imputed interest	19.8
Present value of lease liabilities	$ 150.8

Leases - Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term and Discount Rate (Details)	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
Operating leases	5 years 8 months 12 days	6 years 1 month 6 days
Finance leases	1 year 6 months	2 years
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases	4.11%	4.14%
Finance leases	4.78%	4.55%

Leases - Supplemental Cash and Non-cash Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$ 38.9	$ 44.8
Operating cash flows from finance leases	0.5	0.5
Financing cash flows from finance leases	2.8	3.4	$ 3.1
Lease assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	$ 20.6	$ 15.7

Net Income Per Common Share - Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Share Calculations (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations	$ 126.3	$ 0.2	$ 127.5
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0.0	0.1	(0.1)
Net income	$ 126.3	$ 0.3	$ 127.4
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding—Basic (in shares)	67.4	66.9	66.6
Effect of dilutive securities
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding—Diluted (in shares)	68.0	67.3	66.9
Net income per common share — Basic
Income from continuing operations (in USD per share)	$ 1.87	$ 0.00	$ 1.92
Income from discontinued operations (in USD per share)	0	0	0
Net income (in USD per share)	1.87	0.00	1.91
Net income per common share — Diluted
Income from continuing operations (in USD per share)	1.86	0.00	1.91
Income from discontinued operations (in USD per share)	0	0	0
Net income (in USD per share)	$ 1.86	$ 0.00	$ 1.90
RSUs
Effect of dilutive securities
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	0.3	0.1	0.2
Stock options
Effect of dilutive securities
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	0.0	0.1	0.1
Performance shares
Effect of dilutive securities
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	0.2	0.1	0.1

Net Income Per Common Share - Anti-Dilutive Outstanding Stock Awards Issued Under Share-Based Compensation Plans (Details) - shares shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Anti-dilutive (in shares)	0.0	0.4	0.3

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Details) - Fair Value Measurements, Recurring - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 62.8	$ 394.2
Insurance deposits	0.7	0.7
Assets held in funded deferred compensation plan	4.9	2.6
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Credit facility	888.8	725.3
Interest rate swaps liabilities	$ 4.6	$ 15.5

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment loss on fixed assets		$ 9,100,000	$ 0	$ 0
Carrying value of fixed assets		111,900,000	$ 133,700,000
Corporate \| Internal Use Software
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment loss on fixed assets	$ 9,100,000
Carrying value of fixed assets		$ 0

Property, Plant and Equipment - Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 386.6	$ 375.0
Less: Accumulated depreciation	274.7	241.3
Total	111.9	133.7
Depreciation expense	45.0	48.0	$ 48.9
Machinery and other equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	148.9	137.0
Computer equipment and software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	97.2	101.2
Transportation equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	57.9	57.7
Leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	59.6	57.1
Furniture and fixtures
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	14.6	13.7
Buildings
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	7.7	7.6
Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 0.7	$ 0.7

Property, Plant and Equipment - Finance Leases Included in Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Finance leased assets, gross	$ 20.0	$ 19.7
Less: Accumulated depreciation	16.3	13.6
Total	3.7	6.1
Transportation equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Finance leased assets, gross	19.8	19.4
Furniture and fixtures
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Finance leased assets, gross	$ 0.2	$ 0.2

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Changes in Carrying Amounts of Goodwill by Segment (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2020	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 1,671,400,000	$ 1,835,400,000
Acquisition		554,000,000.0
Foreign currency translation		3,400,000	(200,000)
Impairment loss	$ (163,800,000)	0	(163,800,000)
Ending balance		2,228,900,000	1,671,400,000
Business & Industry
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		574,000,000.0	573,900,000
Acquisition		554,000,000.0
Foreign currency translation		1,800,000	100,000
Impairment loss			0
Ending balance		1,129,800,000	574,000,000.0
Technology & Manufacturing
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		407,200,000	407,200,000
Acquisition		0
Foreign currency translation		0	0
Impairment loss			0
Ending balance		407,200,000	407,200,000
Education
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		459,300,000	558,600,000
Acquisition		0
Foreign currency translation		0	0
Impairment loss	(99,300,000)		(99,300,000)
Ending balance		459,300,000	459,300,000
Aviation
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		69,500,000	125,000,000.0
Acquisition		0
Foreign currency translation		400,000	0
Impairment loss	(55,500,000)		(55,500,000)
Ending balance		69,900,000	69,500,000
Technical Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		161,500,000	170,700,000
Acquisition		0
Foreign currency translation		1,200,000	(300,000)
Impairment loss	$ (9,000,000)		(9,000,000.0)
Ending balance		$ 162,700,000	$ 161,500,000

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2021 reportingUnit	Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, impairment loss		$ 163,800,000	$ 0	$ 163,800,000
Number of reporting units evaluated for impairment \| reportingUnit	3
Education
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, impairment loss		99,300,000		99,300,000
Aviation
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, impairment loss		55,500,000		55,500,000
Technical Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, impairment loss		$ 9,000,000		$ 9,000,000.0

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 814,100,000	$ 583,500,000
Accumulated Amortization	(389,300,000)	(343,800,000)
Total	424,800,000	239,700,000
Net impairment charge	$ 0	$ 9,000,000
Intangible assets weighted average life	12 years	12 years
Aviation
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net impairment charge		$ 5,600,000
Reduction in carrying amount		13,800,000
Amortization of intangible assets		8,200,000
Technical Solutions
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net impairment charge		3,400,000
Reduction in carrying amount		8,700,000
Amortization of intangible assets		5,300,000
Customer contracts and relationships
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 793,800,000	573,100,000
Accumulated Amortization	(378,500,000)	(333,600,000)
Total	415,300,000	239,600,000
Trademarks and trade names
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	19,800,000	9,800,000
Accumulated Amortization	(10,400,000)	(9,800,000)
Total	9,500,000	0
Contract rights and other
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	500,000	500,000
Accumulated Amortization	(400,000)	(400,000)
Total	$ 100,000	$ 100,000

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Estimated Annual Amortization Expense (Details) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Estimated amortization expense 2022	$ 69.1
Estimated amortization expense 2023	62.3
Estimated amortization expense 2024	51.7
Estimated amortization expense 2025	45.7
Estimated amortization expense 2026	$ 40.2

Insurance - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Insurance - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Schedule of Other Liabilities [Line Items]
Insurance policy coverage, general and automobile liability losses	$ 200,000,000
Insurance policy coverage, property damage	75,000,000
Change in reserves related to prior year claims	36,000,000	$ 30,200,000	$ 3,400,000
Minimum
Schedule of Other Liabilities [Line Items]
Self insurance retention amount per-claim	1,000,000
Primary policy limit	1,000,000
Maximum
Schedule of Other Liabilities [Line Items]
Self insurance retention amount per-claim	1,500,000
Primary policy limit	5,000,000
Self insurance retention amount per participant per year	$ 500,000

Insurance - Insurance Related Balances and Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Line Items]
Insurance recoverables	$ 66.5	$ 70.1
Insurance claim reserves, excluding medical and dental
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Line Items]
Insurance claims reserves	574.8	504.9
Medical and dental claim reserves
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Line Items]
Insurance claims reserves	$ 9.9	$ 16.6

Insurance - Casualty Program Insurance Reserves Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Roll Forward]
Net balance at beginning of year	$ 434.8	$ 443.3	$ 427.7
Change in case reserves plus IBNR Claims — current year	117.9	128.5	137.9
Change in case reserves plus IBNR Claims — prior years	(36.0)	(30.2)	(3.4)
Claims paid	(99.8)	(106.8)	(119.1)
Acquisition	91.6	0.2	0.0
Net balance at end of year	508.3	434.8	443.3
Recoverables	66.5	70.1	64.5
Gross balance at end of year	574.8	504.9	507.8
Provision related to discontinued operations	$ 0.3	$ 0.5	$ 1.0

Insurance - Instruments Used to Collateralize Insurance Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Letters Of Credit [Line Items]
Instruments used to collateralize insurance obligations	$ 242.3	$ 226.9
Standby letters of credit
Letters Of Credit [Line Items]
Instruments used to collateralize insurance obligations	157.9	143.6
Surety bonds
Letters Of Credit [Line Items]
Instruments used to collateralize insurance obligations	83.8	82.6
Restricted insurance deposits
Letters Of Credit [Line Items]
Instruments used to collateralize insurance obligations	$ 0.7	$ 0.7

Credit Facility - Narrative (Details)				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Credit Facility - Narrative (Details)	Jun. 28, 2021 USD ($)	May 28, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 27, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs	$ 12,600,000
Debt instrument, periodic payment, principal					$ 76,300,000
Interest expense					28,600,000	$ 44,600,000	$ 51,100,000
Interest rate cash flow hedge gain (loss) to be reclassified during next 12 months, net					100,000
Tax to be reclassified during the next 12 months					100,000
Accumulated Gain (Loss), Net, Cash Flow Hedge, Parent
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net loss from cash flow hedges recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax					(200,000)	(3,300,000)
Tax related to amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss					300,000	(900,000)
Interest expense					4,700,000	4,900,000
Interest expense, taxes					$ 1,700,000	$ 1,800,000
Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, term			5 years
Fixed charge coverage ratio		1.25
Debt instrument, covenant, liquidity required, minimum		$ 250,000,000
Debt instrument, covenant, cash and cash equivalents, maximum		$ 250,000,000
Deferred financing costs	$ 6,400,000
Credit Facility \| Covenant Period, Quarter Ended October 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net leverage ratio		6.50
Credit Facility \| Covenant Period, Quarter Ending October 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net leverage ratio		4.00
Amended Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net leverage ratio	5.00
Fixed charge coverage ratio	1.50
Weighted average interest rate					1.59%
Secured leverage ratio	4.00
Amended Credit Facility \| Scenario, Material Acquisition
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net leverage ratio	5.50
Secured leverage ratio	4.50
Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs	$ 7,700,000
Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs	4,900,000
Term Loan \| Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 800,000,000					$ 620,000,000
Deferred financing costs	6,200,000
Term Loan \| Amended Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 650,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility \| Credit Facility \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of commitment fee on the unused portion of the Facility		0.20%	0.20%
Revolving Credit Facility \| Credit Facility \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of commitment fee on the unused portion of the Facility		0.45%	0.35%
Revolving Credit Facility \| Amended Credit Facility \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of commitment fee on the unused portion of the Facility	0.20%
Revolving Credit Facility \| Amended Credit Facility \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of commitment fee on the unused portion of the Facility	0.40%
Revolving Credit Facility \| Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from lines of credit				$ 300,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility \| Line of Credit \| Prior Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, borrowing capacity										$ 800,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility \| Line of Credit \| Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, borrowing capacity			$ 900,000,000					$ 800,000,000	$ 800,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility \| Line of Credit \| Amended Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, borrowing capacity	$ 1,300,000,000
Standby letters of credit \| Amended Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, borrowing capacity	350,000,000
Swing Line Loan \| Amended Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, borrowing capacity	$ 75,000,000
Eurodollar \| Credit Facility \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable interest rate		1.00%	1.00%
Eurodollar \| Credit Facility \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable interest rate		2.75%	2.25%
Eurodollar \| Amended Credit Facility \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable interest rate	1.375%
Eurodollar \| Amended Credit Facility \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable interest rate	2.25%
Base Rate \| Credit Facility \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable interest rate		0.00%	0.00%
Base Rate \| Credit Facility \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable interest rate		1.75%	1.25%
Base Rate \| Amended Credit Facility \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable interest rate	0.375%
Base Rate \| Amended Credit Facility \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable interest rate	1.25%

Credit Facility - Credit Facility Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Current portion of long-term debt
Gross term loan	$ 32.5	$ 120.0
Unamortized deferred financing costs	(1.1)	(3.3)
Current portion of term loan	31.4	116.7
Long-term debt
Gross term loan	601.3	560.0
Unamortized deferred financing costs	(3.5)	(2.3)
Total noncurrent portion of term loan	597.8	557.7
Line of credit	255.0	45.3
Long-term debt	852.8	$ 603.0
Standby letters of credit	167.7
Borrowing capacity	$ 875.0

Credit Facility - Term Loan Maturities (Details) - Term Loan $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Term Loan Maturities
2022	$ 32.5
2023	32.5
2024	32.5
2025	32.5
2026	$ 503.8

Credit Facility - Interest Rate Swaps (Details)	Nov. 01, 2018 USD ($)
Interest Rate Swap, Maturity 4/30/2022
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 130,000,000.0
Fixed Interest Rate	2.86%
Interest Rate Swap, Maturity 9/1/2022
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 130,000,000.0
Fixed Interest Rate	2.84%

Employee Benefit Plans - Plan Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Net obligations	$ 7.5	$ 9.6
Projected benefit obligations	15.9	17.0
Fair value of assets	8.4	$ 7.4
Unfunded Plan
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Projected benefit obligations	$ 8.2

- Definition

Amount of asset segregated and restricted to provide benefit under defined benefit plan. Asset includes, but is not limited to, stock, bond, other investment, earning from investment, and contribution by employer and employee.

+ References + Details

Employee Benefit Plans - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Employee Benefit Plans - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($) plan	Oct. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Expected return on assets	$ 0.3	$ 0.4	$ 0.4
Net periodic benefit cost	0.3	0.2	0.6
Expected future benefit payments	$ 13.5
Number of defined contribution plans \| plan	4
Cost recognized	$ 21.6	18.2	24.3
Multiemployer Plans, Postretirement Benefit Plans
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Contributions by ABM	270.8	264.8	269.8
Defined Contribution Plans \| Multiemployer Plans, Pension Plans
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Cost recognized	21.2	15.5	9.0
Rabbi Trust
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value deferred compensation plan assets	4.9	2.6
Deferred Compensation Plans
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Total liability of deferred compensation	32.1	13.6
Compensation expense	$ 0.2	$ 0.2	$ 0.3
Deferred Compensation Plans \| Able
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Total liability of deferred compensation				$ 18.0
Equity Securities
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations	30.00%
Fixed Income Funds
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations	70.00%

Employee Benefit Plans - Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Building Service 32BJ Pension Fund
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Plan Number	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Red	Red
Pension Protection Act Zone Status, date	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Funding Improvement /Rehabilitation Plan Status	Implemented
Surcharge Imposed	No
Building Service 32BJ Pension Fund \| Minimum
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Expiration Dates of Collective Bargaining Agreements	Oct. 15, 2023
Building Service 32BJ Pension Fund \| Maximum
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Expiration Dates of Collective Bargaining Agreements	Dec. 31, 2023
S.E.I.U. National Industry Pension Fund
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Plan Number	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Red	Red
Pension Protection Act Zone Status, date	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Funding Improvement /Rehabilitation Plan Status	Implemented
Surcharge Imposed	Yes
S.E.I.U. National Industry Pension Fund \| Minimum
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Expiration Dates of Collective Bargaining Agreements	Jul. 31, 2022
S.E.I.U. National Industry Pension Fund \| Maximum
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Expiration Dates of Collective Bargaining Agreements	Oct. 31, 2023
IUOE Stationary Engineers Local 39 Pension Plan
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Plan Number	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Green	Green
Pension Protection Act Zone Status, date	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
IUOE Stationary Engineers Local 39 Pension Plan \| Minimum
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Expiration Dates of Collective Bargaining Agreements	Aug. 31, 2023
IUOE Stationary Engineers Local 39 Pension Plan \| Maximum
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Expiration Dates of Collective Bargaining Agreements	Oct. 31, 2024
Central Pension Fund of the IUOE & Participating Employers
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Plan Number	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Green	Green
Pension Protection Act Zone Status, date	Jan. 31, 2021	Jan. 31, 2020
Expiration Dates of Collective Bargaining Agreements	Dec. 31, 2022
SEIU Local 1 & Participating Employers Pension Trust
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Plan Number	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Green	Green
Pension Protection Act Zone Status, date	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Expiration Dates of Collective Bargaining Agreements	Apr. 07, 2024
Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Plan Number	001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status	Green	Green
Pension Protection Act Zone Status, date	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan \| Minimum
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Expiration Dates of Collective Bargaining Agreements	Dec. 31, 2021
Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan \| Maximum
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Expiration Dates of Collective Bargaining Agreements	Nov. 30, 2022
Multiemployer Plans, Pension Plans
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Total Contributions	$ 56.8	$ 55.5	$ 66.6
Multiemployer Plans, Pension Plans \| Able
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Total Contributions	$ 4.6
Multiemployer Plans, Pension Plans \| Minimum
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Green Zone funded percent - Minimum	80.00%	80.00%
Multiemployer Plans, Pension Plans \| Maximum
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Red Zone funded percent - Maximum	65.00%	65.00%
Yellow Zone funded percent - Maximum	80.00%	80.00%
Multiemployer Plans, Pension Plans \| Building Service 32BJ Pension Fund
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Employer Identification Number	131879376
Contributions by ABM, significant	$ 18.8	$ 16.8	19.3
Multiemployer Plans, Pension Plans \| S.E.I.U. National Industry Pension Fund
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Employer Identification Number	526148540
Contributions by ABM, significant	$ 10.9	11.1	10.6
Multiemployer Plans, Pension Plans \| IUOE Stationary Engineers Local 39 Pension Plan
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Employer Identification Number	946118939
Funding Improvement /Rehabilitation Plan Status	NA
Contributions by ABM, significant	$ 6.6	4.3	4.6
Surcharge Imposed	NA
Multiemployer Plans, Pension Plans \| Central Pension Fund of the IUOE & Participating Employers
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Employer Identification Number	366052390
Funding Improvement /Rehabilitation Plan Status	NA
Contributions by ABM, significant	$ 5.3	7.1	11.7
Surcharge Imposed	NA
Multiemployer Plans, Pension Plans \| SEIU Local 1 & Participating Employers Pension Trust
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Employer Identification Number	366486542
Funding Improvement /Rehabilitation Plan Status	NA
Contributions by ABM, significant	$ 3.9	4.3	5.1
Surcharge Imposed	NA
Multiemployer Plans, Pension Plans \| Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Employer Identification Number	916145047
Funding Improvement /Rehabilitation Plan Status	NA
Contributions by ABM, significant	$ 2.0	2.5	3.1
Surcharge Imposed	NA
Multiemployer Plans, Pension Plans \| All Other Plans
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Contributions by ABM, insignificant	$ 9.3	$ 9.5	$ 12.2

Commitments and Contingencies (Details)			12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies (Details)	Jul. 07, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 20, 2018 subclass	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Letters of credit			$ 167,700,000
Surety bonds			687,300,000
Minimum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of reasonably possible loss			0
Maximum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of reasonably possible loss			6,000,000
Bucio
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, number of certified subclasses \| subclass		4
Energy Savings Contracts
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Guarantee obligation			254,300,000	$ 182,800,000
Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency accrual			18,500,000
Settled Litigation \| Bucio
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency accrual			142,900,000
Settlement amount	$ 140,000,000
Settlement reserve			142,900,000
Settled Litigation \| Bucio \| Other Current Liabilities
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency accrual			$ 2,900,000

Preferred and Common Stock - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Dec. 18, 2019
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	500,000	500,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Total number of shares repurchased (in shares)	0	200,000
2019 Share Repurchase Program
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Share repurchase program, authorized amount			$ 150,000,000
Share repurchase program, remaining authorized amount	$ 144,900,000

Preferred and Common Stock - Repurchase Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Total number of shares repurchased (in shares)	0	200,000
Average price paid per share (in USD per share)		$ 36.16
Total cash paid for share repurchases	$ 0.0	$ 5.1

Share-Based Compensation Plans - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2016	May 01, 2006
RSUs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	3 years
Exercisable rate	50.00%
Total unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures	$ 21,400,000
Weighted-average vesting period	1 year 8 months 12 days
Fair value per share of awards granted (in USD per share)	$ 40.22	$ 36.11	$ 34.48
Total fair value of RSUs vested	$ 16,900,000	$ 6,100,000	$ 10,700,000
Performance shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	3 years
Total unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures	$ 15,400,000
Weighted-average vesting period	1 year 8 months 12 days
Fair value per share of awards granted (in USD per share)	$ 39.97	$ 35.92	$ 35.44
Total fair value of RSUs vested	$ 9,000,000	$ 6,100,000	$ 6,800,000
Service period	3 years
Performance shares \| Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercisable rate	0.00%
Performance shares \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercisable rate	150.00%
2021 Equity Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized (in shares)				3,975,000
Number of shares available for grant (in shares)	5,406,414
2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized (in shares)					4,000,000
Fair value percentage of common stock price						95.00%
Employee contribution percentage						10.00%
Maximum annual employee contribution						$ 25,000
Holding period for shares purchased in program	6 months
Number of shares unissued (in shares)	518,881

Share-Based Compensation Plans - Compensation Expense by Type of Award and Related Income Tax Benefit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense before income taxes	$ 33.5	$ 20.3	$ 17.5
Income tax benefit	(9.4)	(5.7)	(4.9)
Share-based compensation expense, net of taxes	24.1	14.6	12.5
RSUs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense before income taxes	17.6	11.5	9.5
Performance shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense before income taxes	$ 15.8	$ 8.8	$ 8.0

Share-Based Compensation Plans - RSU and Performance Share Activity (Details) - $ / shares shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
RSUs
Number of Shares
Beginning balance (in shares)	1.1
Granted (in shares)	0.4
Vested (in shares)	(0.5)
Forfeited (in shares)	(0.2)
Ending balance (in shares)	1.0	1.1
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
Beginning balance (in USD per share)	$ 36.32
Granted (in USD per share)	40.22	$ 36.11	$ 34.48
Vested (in USD per share)	36.34
Forfeited (in USD per share)	36.56
Ending balance (in USD per share)	$ 38.06	$ 36.32
Shares withheld for income taxes (in shares)	0.2
Performance shares
Number of Shares
Beginning balance (in shares)	0.8
Granted (in shares)	0.3
Vested (in shares)	(0.2)
Performance adjustments (in shares)	0.2
Forfeited (in shares)	(0.1)
Ending balance (in shares)	1.0	0.8
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
Beginning balance (in USD per share)	$ 37.35
Granted (in USD per share)	39.97	$ 35.92	$ 35.44
Vested (in USD per share)	36.53
Performance adjustments (in USD per share)	37.63
Forfeited (in USD per share)	39.22
Ending balance (in USD per share)	$ 38.25	$ 37.35
Shares withheld for income taxes (in shares)	0.1

Share-Based Compensation Plans - Monte Carlo Assumptions (Details) - Performance shares - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected life	2 years 9 months 21 days	2 years 9 months 21 days	2 years 9 months 21 days
Expected stock price volatility	42.90%	28.70%	27.70%
Risk-free interest rate	0.20%	1.50%	2.50%
Stock price (in USD per share)	$ 40.75	$ 37.99	$ 34.92

Share-Based Compensation Plans - Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Details) - Employee Stock Purchase Plan - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average fair value of granted purchase rights per share (in USD per share)	$ 2.17	$ 1.75	$ 1.77
Common stock issued (in shares)	0.1	0.1	0.1
Fair value of common stock issued per share (in USD per share)	$ 41.18	$ 33.18	$ 33.60
Aggregate purchases	$ 3.3	$ 3.5	$ 4.1

Income Taxes - Components of Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Provision for Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
United States	$ 152.8	$ 45.2	$ 137.1
Foreign	27.0	8.1	23.1
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	179.8	53.3	160.2
Current:
Federal	(66.3)	(59.3)	(6.4)
State	(27.4)	(28.6)	(10.7)
Foreign	(7.8)	(1.7)	(5.9)
Deferred:
Federal	34.9	23.2	(8.5)
State	13.2	12.5	(1.6)
Foreign	(0.1)	0.9	0.4
Income tax provision	$ (53.5)	$ (53.1)	$ (32.7)

Income Taxes - Reconciliation of U.S. Statutory Tax Rate to Effective Income Tax Rate (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
U.S. statutory rate	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
State and local income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	6.80%	(0.60%)	5.90%
Federal and state tax credits	(2.60%)	(4.70%)	(3.90%)
Impact of foreign operations	0.30%	1.30%	(1.00%)
Changes in uncertain tax positions	1.50%	(2.00%)	(0.80%)
Incremental tax benefit from share-based compensation awards	(0.40%)	(1.60%)	(0.70%)
Energy efficiency incentives	(0.70%)	(3.80%)	0.00%
Impact from goodwill impairment	0.00%	81.70%	0.00%
Transition tax on foreign earnings	0.00%	0.00%	(1.10%)
Remeasurement of U.S. deferred taxes	0.00%	0.00%	(0.30%)
Nondeductible expenses	2.90%	4.40%	2.10%
Other, net	1.00%	3.90%	(0.80%)
Effective tax rate	29.80%	99.60%	20.40%

Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($) state	Oct. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective tax rate		29.80%	99.60%	20.40%
Income tax provision		$ 53.5	$ 53.1	$ 32.7
Income tax expense related to nonreductive transaction costs		3.0
Income tax provision (benefit) related to change in tax reserves		2.6	(1.1)
State true-ups		1.4	(5.7)
Income tax benefit related to deduction for energy efficiency		1.2	2.1
Work opportunity tax credit, adjustment			2.3
Nondeductible impairment loss			$ 163.8
Effective tax rate , excluding nondeductible impairment loss			24.40%
Social security tax, employer, deferral, CARES Act	$ 132.0
Tax credits		3.4
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate		30.4	$ 35.5	35.3
Maximum decrease in unrecognized tax benefits that is reasonably possible		8.3
Uncertain tax positions, interest and penalties accrued		1.6	1.5
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties expense		$ 0.1	$ 0.4
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties benefit				$ 0.2
Number of states in which entity operates \| state		50
State and Local Jurisdiction
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards		$ 74.2

Income Taxes - Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020
Deferred tax assets attributable to:
Self-insurance claims (net of recoverables)	$ 92.0	$ 74.7
Deferred and other compensation	34.4	28.6
Accounts receivable allowances	8.2	8.8
Settlement liabilities	44.2	5.0
Other accruals	6.6	1.5
Other comprehensive income	1.3	2.7
State taxes	0.7	1.4
State net operating loss carryforwards	4.0	5.9
Tax credits	2.9	3.7
Unrecognized tax benefits	3.3	3.2
Deferred payroll taxes	35.1	26.9
Operating lease liabilities	33.5	38.2
Gross deferred tax assets	266.2	200.6
Valuation allowance	(2.2)	(4.1)
Total deferred tax assets	264.0	196.5
Deferred tax liabilities attributable to:
Property, plant and equipment	(4.1)	(1.2)
Goodwill and other acquired intangibles	(222.2)	(159.4)
Right-of-use assets	(33.8)	(38.2)
Tax accounting method change	(15.8)	0.0
Other	(10.6)	(8.5)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(286.5)	(207.3)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$ (22.5)	$ (10.8)

Income Taxes - Changes to Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Valuation Allowance Rollforward [Roll Forward]
Valuation allowance at beginning of year	$ 4.1	$ 8.4	$ 12.0
Other, net	(1.9)	(4.3)	(3.6)
Valuation allowance at end of year	$ 2.2	$ 4.1	$ 8.4

Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Total Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 35.5	$ 35.3	$ 35.8
Additions for tax positions related to the current year	3.7	2.1	0.0
Additions for tax positions related to prior years	0.3	1.6	3.6
Reductions for tax positions related to prior years	(5.3)	0.0	0.0
Reductions for lapse of statute of limitations	(2.5)	(3.0)	(3.9)
Settlements	(1.3)	(0.5)	(0.3)
Ending Balance	$ 30.4	$ 35.5	$ 35.3

Segment and Geographic Information - Financial Information by Reportable Segment (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2020	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Revenues
Revenues		$ 6,228,600,000	$ 5,987,600,000	$ 6,498,600,000
Operating profit
Operating profit		206,300,000	95,700,000	208,300,000
Income from unconsolidated affiliates		2,100,000	2,200,000	3,000,000.0
Interest expense		(28,600,000)	(44,600,000)	(51,100,000)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		179,800,000	53,300,000	160,200,000
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization		89,900,000	96,400,000	107,400,000
Goodwill, impairment loss	$ 163,800,000	0	163,800,000
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment		0	172,800,000	0
Bucio \| Settled Litigation
Depreciation and amortization
Settlement reserve		142,900,000
Operating Segments
Revenues
Revenues		6,372,900,000	6,110,000,000
Elimination of inter-segment revenues
Revenues
Revenues		(144,200,000)	(122,400,000)	(127,700,000)
Corporate
Operating profit
Operating profit		(374,600,000)	(146,900,000)	(159,000,000.0)
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization		12,700,000	13,500,000	13,900,000
Segment Reconciling Items
Operating profit
Income from unconsolidated affiliates		(2,100,000)	(2,200,000)	(3,000,000.0)
Adjustment for tax deductions for energy efficient government buildings, included in Technical Solutions		(1,200,000)	(2,100,000)	100,000
Business & Industry
Depreciation and amortization
Goodwill, impairment loss			0
Business & Industry \| Operating Segments
Revenues
Revenues		3,346,500,000	3,157,800,000	3,251,400,000
Operating profit
Operating profit		337,800,000	253,700,000	182,300,000
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization		20,400,000	18,900,000	21,300,000
Technology & Manufacturing
Depreciation and amortization
Goodwill, impairment loss			0
Technology & Manufacturing \| Operating Segments
Revenues
Revenues		987,100,000	956,000,000.0	917,000,000.0
Operating profit
Operating profit		103,800,000	84,400,000	72,500,000
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization		11,300,000	12,500,000	14,300,000
Education
Depreciation and amortization
Goodwill, impairment loss	99,300,000		99,300,000
Education \| Operating Segments
Revenues
Revenues		836,400,000	808,800,000	847,400,000
Operating profit
Operating profit		60,500,000	(41,100,000)	39,000,000.0
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization		30,600,000	33,800,000	37,300,000
Aviation
Depreciation and amortization
Goodwill, impairment loss	55,500,000		55,500,000
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment			61,100,000
Aviation \| Operating Segments
Revenues
Revenues		668,800,000	680,900,000	1,017,300,000
Operating profit
Operating profit		32,500,000	(59,600,000)	21,100,000
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization		9,100,000	10,600,000	11,900,000
Technical Solutions
Depreciation and amortization
Goodwill, impairment loss	$ 9,000,000		9,000,000.0
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment			12,400,000
Technical Solutions \| Operating Segments
Revenues
Revenues		534,000,000.0	506,600,000	593,200,000
Operating profit
Operating profit		49,800,000	9,500,000	55,400,000
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization		5,900,000	7,200,000	8,600,000
Government Services \| Operating Segments
Operating profit
Operating profit		$ (200,000)	$ (100,000)	$ (100,000)

Segment and Geographic Information - Revenues by Geographic Region (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
Revenues
Revenues	$ 6,228.6	$ 5,987.6	$ 6,498.6
United States
Revenues
Revenues	5,847.8	5,625.1	6,025.2
All other countries
Revenues
Revenues	$ 380.8	$ 362.5	$ 473.3

- Definition

+ References

+ Details

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) - Accounts receivable allowances - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance Beginning of Year	$ 35.5	$ 22.4	$ 19.2
Additions from Able Acquisition	1.3	0.0	0.0
Charges to Costs and Expenses	44.3	96.3	87.7
Write-offs/Allowance Taken	(48.4)	(83.2)	(84.6)
Balance End of Year	$ 32.7	$ 35.5	$ 22.4