Stockholders' Equity

9 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity

(19)Stockholders' Equity

Stock Repurchase Program

Pursuant to a September 27, 2011 authorization from our Board of Directors, we can repurchase up to $250,000,000 of our common stock. There is no time restriction on this authorization and repurchases may be made in open-market or privately negotiated transactions and may be made pursuant to SEC Rule10b5-1 trading plans.

During the nine months ended April 30, 2012, we repurchased 6,054,022 shares in open-market transactions for an aggregate cost of $188,061,000 (including transaction costs), with an average price per share of $31.06. In addition, during the nine months ended April 30, 2012, we paid $2,001,000 for repurchases of our common stock which was accrued as of July 31, 2011. As of April 30, 2012, we can repurchase an additional $40,560,000 of our common stock pursuant to our current $250,000,000 authorization.

During the nine months ended April 30, 2011, we repurchased 2,365,870 shares in open-market transactions for an aggregate cost of $68,071,000 (including transaction costs), with an average price per share of $28.77. These repurchases were made pursuant to a $100,000,000 repurchase plan which was ultimately completed in July 2011.

Dividends

In September 2011, our Board of Directors raised our annual targeted dividend from $1.00 per common share to $1.10 per common share. During the nine months ended April 30, 2012, our Board of Directors declared quarterly dividends of $0.275 per common share on September 27, 2011, December 8, 2011 and March 8, 2012 which were paid on November 22, 2011, February 22, 2012 and May 22, 2012, respectively.

On June 7, 2012, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.275 per common share to be paid on August 20, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 20, 2012.

While future dividends will be subject to Board approval, our Board of Directors is currently targeting annual cash dividend payments aggregating $1.10 per common share.