Note 5. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2012

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 original 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, 2012 (in thousands):

	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gain		Fair Value
Cash on hand	$	40,490	$	0	$	40,490
Corporate money market funds		170,222		0		170,222
Total cash and cash equivalents	$	210,712	$	0	$	210,712

The following table summarizes the Company’s cash and cash equivalents at August 31, 2012 (in thousands):

	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gain		Fair Value
Cash on hand	$	28,875	$	0	$	28,875
Corporate money market funds		160,169		0		160,169
Total cash and cash equivalents	$	189,044	$	0	$	189,044

Investments – consist of certificates of deposit with original 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 of $0.3 million was earned from the certificates of deposit during the first quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to $0.1 million in the year ago quarter.

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 the three months ended November 30, 2012 and 2011.