Note N – Fair Values

The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to changes in the fair value of its fixed-rate debt resulting from interest rate fluctuations. It is the Company's policy to enter into derivative transactions only to the extent true exposures exist; the Company does not enter into derivative transactions for speculative or trading purposes. The Company enters into derivative transactions only with counterparties with high credit ratings. These transactions may expose the Company to credit risk to the extent that the instruments have a positive fair value, but the Company has not experienced any losses, nor does the Company anticipate any material losses.

The following summarizes the Company's fair value of outstanding derivatives at April 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (thousands of dollars):


	April 30, 2011		July 31, 2010
Asset derivatives recorded under the caption Prepaids and other current assets
Foreign exchange contracts	$	694	$	807
Asset derivatives recorded under the caption Other assets
Interest rate swap asset	$	1,297	$	4,590
Liability derivatives recorded under the caption Other current liabilities
Foreign exchange contracts	$	2,089	$	2,127

The Company's derivative financial instruments present certain market and counterparty risks. However, concentration of counterparty risk is mitigated as the Company deals with a variety of major banks worldwide. In addition, only conventional derivative financial instruments are utilized. The Company would not be materially impacted if any of the counterparties to the derivative financial instruments outstanding failed to perform according to the terms of its agreement. At this time, the Company does not require collateral or any other form of securitization to be furnished by the counterparties to its derivative instruments.

The fair values of the Company's financial assets and financial liabilities listed below reflect the amounts that would be received to sell the assets or paid to transfer the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The fair values are based on inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. These inputs include foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The financial assets and financial liabilities are primarily valued using standard calculations and models that use as their basis readily observable market parameters. Industry standard data providers are the primary source for forward and spot rate information for both interest rates and currency rates.


	Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)*
	April 30, 2011			July 31, 2010
Forward exchange contracts - net liability position	$	(1,394	)	$	(1,320	)
Interest rate swaps - net asset position		1,297			4,590


*	Inputs to the valuation methodology of level 2 assets include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.