Note 5. Cash and Cash Equivalents

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2011

Cash and Cash Equivalents Disclosure [Text Block]

5. CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND INVESTMENTS

Cash and Cash Equivalents - consist of demand deposits and corporate money market funds with maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition and are reported at fair value.

The following table summarizes the Company’s cash and cash equivalents at November 30, 2011 (in thousands):

	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gain		Fair Value
Cash on hand	$	23,133	$	0	$	23,133
Corporate money market funds		170,621		0		170,621
Total cash and cash equivalents	$	193,754	$	0	$	193,754

The following table summarizes the Company’s cash and cash equivalents at August 31, 2011 (in thousands):

	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gain		Fair Value
Cash on hand	$	20,517	$	0	$	20,517
Corporate money market funds		161,168		0		161,168
Total cash and cash equivalents	$	181,685	$	0	$	181,685

Investments - during the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company purchased $15.0 million of certificates of deposit with maturity dates ranging from nine months to twelve months from purchase date. These certificates of deposit are held for investment and are not debt securities. Interest income from the certificates of deposit was $0.1 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2012. The fair value of the certificates of deposit at November 30, 2011 was $13.8 million and reported as investments (short-term) in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The reason for the change in fair value during the quarter was from the impact of foreign currency as these investments are not held in U.S. dollars.

The Company’s cash, cash equivalents and investments portfolio did not experience any realized or unrealized losses as a result of counterparty credit risk or ratings change during fiscal 2012 and 2011.