Derivatives and Hedging Activities

9 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2015

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [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 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 currency contracts. As of April 30, 2015 and July 31, 2014, the notional amount of outstanding forward exchange contracts was $76,083 and $104,000, 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 OCI and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. As of April 30, 2015 and 2014, unrealized gains of $813 and unrealized losses of $5 have been included in OCI, respectively. Balances are reclassified from OCI to earnings during the next twelve months when the hedged transactions impact earnings. For the three months ended April 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company reclassified gains of $457 and $43 from OCI into earnings, respectively. For the nine months ended April 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company reclassified gains of $552 and $135 from OCI into earnings. At April 30, 2015, the U.S. dollar equivalent of these outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts totaled $21,943, including contracts to sell Euros, Canadian Dollars, Australian Dollars, Mexican Pesos, 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, 2015, the Company designated £25,036 of intercompany loans as net investment hedges to hedge portions of its net investment in British foreign operations. On May 13, 2010, the Company completed the private placement of €75 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 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 OCI. 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, 2015 and July 31, 2014, the U.S dollar equivalent of these outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts totaled $2,600 and $5,300, respectively. As of April 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company recognized OCI losses of $143 and $370, respectively, on its outstanding net investment hedges.

Non-Designated Hedges

For the three and nine months ended April 30, 2015, the Company recognized losses of $667 and $1,287 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, 2014, the Company recognized gains of $403 and gains of $2,268, respectively.

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

	Asset Derivatives						Liability Derivatives
	April 30, 2015			July 31, 2014			April 30, 2015			July 31, 2014
	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	$	679	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	—	Other current liabilities	$	518	Other current liabilities	$	—
Net investment hedges
Foreign exchange contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	—		Prepaid expenses and other current assets	—		Other current liabilities	15		Other current liabilities	14
Foreign currency denominated debt	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	—		Prepaid expenses and other current assets	—		Long term obligations, less current maturities	122,113		Long term obligations, less current maturities	100,410
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments		$	679		$	—		$	122,646		$	100,424
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Foreign exchange contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	296	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	166	Other current liabilities	$	209	Other current liabilities	$	375
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	296		$	166		$	209		$	375