Derivatives and Hedging Activities

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2014

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

The Company utilizes forward foreign exchange 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 program 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 contracts. As of July 31, 2014 and July 31, 2013, the notional amount of outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts was $104,000 and $157,500, respectively.

The Company hedges a portion of known exposures using forward foreign 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 forward foreign exchange contracts as cash flow hedges and recorded these contracts at fair value on the 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 July 31, 2014 and July 31, 2013, unrealized losses of $21 and unrealized gains of $118 have been included in OCI, respectively. These balances are expected to be reclassified from OCI to earnings during the next twelve months when the hedged transactions impact earnings. For the years ended July 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, the Company reclassified gains of $147 and $578, and losses of $494 from OCI into cost of goods sold, respectively.

The Company had no outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges at July 31, 2014 or July 31, 2013.

Net Investment Hedges

The Company has also designated intercompany and third party foreign currency denominated debt instruments as net investment hedges. During 2014, the Company designated certain British Pound intercompany loans as net investment hedges to hedge portions of its net investment in British foreign operations. At July 31, 2014, the Company had £25,000 of intercompany loans so designated. As of July 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized in OCI losses of $2,271 and gains of $2,121, respectively, on its intercompany loans designated as net investment hedges. 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. As of July 31, 2014 and 2013, the cumulative balance recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income were losses of $5,495 and $4,835, respectively, on the Euro-denominated debt obligation. The changes recognized in other comprehensive income during the years ended July 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were losses of $660 and $7,470 and gains of $15,705, respectively, on the Euro-denominated debt obligation. The Company’s foreign denominated debt obligations are valued under a market approach using publicized spot prices.

Additionally, the Company utilizes forward foreign exchange contracts designated as hedge instruments to hedge portions of its 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 July 31, 2014 and 2013, the U.S dollar equivalent of these outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts totaled $5,300 and $4,500, respectively. As of July 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized in OCI losses of $265 and $150, respectively, on its net investment hedges.

Non-Designated Hedges

During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2014, the Company recognized a gain of $1,147 in “Investment and other income” on the consolidated statements of earnings related to non-designated hedges. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2013, the Company recognized a loss of $1,594 in "Investment and other income" on the consolidated statement of earnings related to non-designated hedges.

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

	Asset Derivatives						Liability Derivatives
	July 31, 2014			July 31, 2013			July 31, 2014			July 31, 2013
	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
Net investment hedges
Foreign exchange contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	—	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	7	Other current liabilities	$	14	Other current liabilities	$	—
Foreign currency denominated debt	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	—	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	—	Long term obligations, less current maturities	$	100,410	Long term obligations, less current maturities	$	99,750
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments		$	—		$	7		$	100,424		$	99,750
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Foreign exchange contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	166	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	287	Other current liabilities	$	375	Other current liabilities	$	890
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	166		$	287		$	375		$	890