Derivatives and Hedging Activities

9 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2013

Text Block [Abstract]

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

The Company utilizes forward foreign exchange currency contracts to reduce the exchange rate risk of specific foreign currency denominated transactions. These contracts typically require the exchange of a foreign currency for U.S. dollars at a fixed rate at a future date, with maturities of less than 18 months, which qualify as cash flow hedges or net investment hedges under the accounting guidance for derivative instruments and hedging activities. The primary objective of the Company’s foreign currency exchange risk management is to minimize the impact of currency movements due to transactions in other than the respective subsidiaries’ functional currency and to minimize the impact of currency movements on the Company’s net investment denominated in a currency other than the U.S. Dollar. To achieve this objective, the Company hedges a portion of known exposures using forward foreign exchange currency contracts. As of April 30, 2013 and July 31, 2012, the notional amount of outstanding forward exchange contracts was $170,641 and $61,169, respectively.

The Company hedges a portion of known exposure using forward exchange contracts. Main exposures are related to transactions denominated in the British Pound, the Euro, Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar, Malaysian Ringgit and Singapore Dollar. Generally, these risk management transactions will involve the use of foreign currency derivatives to minimize the impact of currency movements on non-functional currency transactions.

Hedge effectiveness is determined by how closely the changes in fair value of the hedging instrument offset the changes in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. Hedge accounting is permitted only if the hedging relationship is expected to be highly effective at the inception of the hedge and on an on-going basis. Gains or losses on the derivative related to hedge ineffectiveness are recognized in current earnings.

Cash Flow Hedges

The Company has designated a portion of its foreign exchange contracts as cash flow hedges and recorded these contracts at fair value on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. For these instruments, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. At April 30, 2013, unrealized gains of $132 have been included in OCI. As of April 30, 2012, unrealized gains of $46 were included in OCI. These balances are expected to be reclassified from OCI to earnings during the next twelve months when the hedged transactions impact earnings. For the three months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company reclassified losses of $9 and gains $382 from OCI into earnings, respectively. For the nine months ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company reclassified gains of $548 and losses of $252 from OCI into earnings, respectively. At April 30, 2013 and July 31, 2012, the U.S. dollar equivalent of these outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts totaled $11,632 and $39,458, respectively, including contracts to sell Euros, Canadian Dollars, Australian Dollars, British Pounds and U.S. Dollars.

Net Investment Hedges

The Company has also designated intercompany and third party foreign currency denominated debt instruments as net investment hedges. At April 30, 2013, the Company designated £25,036 of intercompany loans as net investment hedges to hedge portions of its net investment in British foreign operations. At July 31, 2012, the Company designated €4,581 of intercompany loans as net investment hedges to hedge portions of its net investment in European foreign operations. On May 13, 2010, the Company completed the private placement of €75.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes to accredited institutional investors. This Euro-denominated debt obligation was designated as a net investment hedge to selectively hedge portions of its net investment in European foreign operations. The Company’s foreign denominated debt obligations are valued under a market approach using publicized spot prices.

Additionally, the Company utilizes forward foreign exchange currency contracts designated as hedge instruments to hedge portions of the Company’s net investments in foreign operations. The net gains or losses attributable to changes in spot exchange rates are recorded in other comprehensive income. Recognition in earnings of amounts previously recorded in cumulative translation is limited to circumstances such as complete or substantially complete liquidation of the net investment in the hedged foreign operation. At April 30, 2013 and July 31, 2012, the U.S dollar equivalent of these outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts totaled $7,399 and $10,650, respectively. As of April 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company recognized in OCI gains of $24 and $3,228, respectively, on its net investment hedges.

Non-Designated Hedges

For the three and nine months ended April 30, 2013, the Company recognized losses of $520 and $478, respectively, in “Investment and other income” on the condensed consolidated statements of earnings related to non-designated hedges. For the three and nine months ended April 30, 2012, the Company recognized a loss of $227 and a gain of $188, respectively.

Fair values of derivative instruments in the condensed consolidated balance sheets were as follows:

	Asset Derivatives						Liability Derivatives
	April 30, 2013			July 31, 2012			April 30, 2013			July 31, 2012
	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Cash flow hedges
Foreign exchange contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	149	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	1,156	Other current liabilities	$	57	Other current liabilities	$	210
Net investment hedges
Foreign exchange contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	—	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	—	Other current liabilities	$	26	Other current liabilities	$	71
Foreign currency denominated debt	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	—	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	—	Long term obligations, less current maturities	$	98,228	Long term obligations, less current maturities	$	99,081
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments		$	149		$	1,156		$	98,311		$	99,362
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Foreign exchange contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	1,093	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	78	Other current liabilities	$	355	Other current liabilities	$	—
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	1,093		$	78		$	355		$	—