INVESTMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2017

9. INVESTMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company assesses the inputs used to measure the fair value of certain assets and liabilities using a three level hierarchy, as prescribed in ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.” Level 1 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and are the most observable. Level 2 inputs include inputs other than Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable, such as quoted market prices for similar but not identical assets or liabilities, quoted prices in inactive markets or other inputs that can be corroborated by observable market data. Level 3 inputs are not observable, are supported by little or no market activity and include management’s judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

The financial assets that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis at July 31, 2017 and July 31, 2016, all using Level 1 inputs, are as follows:


	July 31, 2017		July 31, 2016
Cash equivalents	$	176,663	$	143,282
Deferred compensation plan assets	$	28,095	$	15,529

Cash equivalents represent investments in government and other money market funds traded in an active market, and are reported as a component of Cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Deferred compensation plan assets represent investments in securities (primarily mutual funds) traded in an active market held for the benefit of certain employees of the Company as part of a deferred compensation plan. Deferred compensation plan asset balances are recorded as components of Other long-term assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. An equal and offsetting liability is also recorded in regards to the deferred compensation plan as a component of Other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the fair value of the plan assets and the related liability are reflected in Other income, net and Selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively, in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

- 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.

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