Auction Rate Securities (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2012

Significant Assumptions Used to Determine the Fair Value of Auction Rate Securities

The following table presents the significant assumptions used to determine the fair value of the Company’s auction rate securities at January 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011:

Assumption	January 31, 2012	October 31, 2011
Discount rates	L + 0.78% - L + 7.64%	L + 3.21% - L + 17.50%
Yields	L + 2.0% - L + 3.5%	L + 2.0% - L + 3.5%
Average expected lives	4 - 10 years	4 - 10 years

L - London Interbank Offered Rate

Changes in Cost Basis and Fair Value of Auction Rate Securities

The following table presents the changes in the cost basis and fair value of the Company’s auction rate securities for the three months ended January 31, 2012:

		September 30,		September 30,
(in thousands)	Cost Basis		Fair Value (Level 3)
Balance at beginning of year	$	18,307	$	15,670
Unrealized gains		—		2,477
Balance at January 31, 2012	$	18,307	$	18,147