Derivatives and Hedging Activities

9 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2017

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, 2017 and July 31, 2016, the notional amount of outstanding forward exchange contracts was $131,051 and $186,093, respectively.

The Company hedges a portion of known exposures using forward exchange contracts. Main exposures are related to transactions denominated in the British Pound, the Euro, Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar, Mexican Peso, 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, 2017 and 2016, unrealized gains of $171 and losses of $605 have been included in OCI, respectively. Balances are reclassified from OCI to earnings when the hedged transactions impact earnings. For the three months ended April 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company reclassified losses of $114 and $169 from OCI into earnings, respectively. For the nine months ended April 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company reclassified losses of $530 and gains of $174 from OCI into earnings, respectively. At April 30, 2017, the U.S. dollar equivalent of these outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts totaled $38,662, including contracts to sell Euros, Canadian Dollars, Australian Dollars, 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. As of April 30, 2017, £25,036 of intercompany loans were designated as net investment hedges to hedge portions of the Company's net investment in British foreign operations. As of April 30, 2017, €45 million of Euro-denominated senior unsecured notes were designated as net investment hedges to 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.

Non-Designated Hedges

For the three and nine months ended April 30, 2017, the Company recognized gains of $1,725 and losses of $3,321 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, 2016, the Company recognized gains of $1,410 and $897, respectively.

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

	Asset Derivatives						Liability Derivatives
	April 30, 2017			July 31, 2016			April 30, 2017			July 31, 2016
	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	$	419	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	265	Other current liabilities	$	276	Other current liabilities	$	670
Net investment hedges
Foreign currency denominated debt	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	—		Prepaid expenses and other current assets	—		Long term obligations, less current maturities	81,225		Long term obligations, less current maturities	116,888
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments		$	419		$	265		$	81,501		$	117,558
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Foreign exchange contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	481	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	1,873	Other current liabilities	$	32	Other current liabilities	$	68
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	481		$	1,873		$	32		$	68