@VENTURES INVESTMENTS	9 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2012
@VENTURES INVESTMENTS	(17) @VENTURES INVESTMENTS The Company maintains interests in several privately held companies primarily through its interests in two venture capital funds which invest as “@Ventures.” The Company invests in early stage technology companies. These investments are generally made in connection with a round of financing with other third-party investors. During the three and nine months ended April 30, 2012, approximately $1.6 million and $2.6 million, respectively, was invested by @Ventures in privately held companies. During the three and nine months ended April 30, 2011, approximately $1.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively, was invested by @Ventures in privately held companies. At April 30, 2012 and July 31, 2011, the Company’s carrying value of investments in privately held companies was approximately $10.8 million and $12.0 million, respectively. During the nine months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded $2.9 million and $1.2 million (restated), respectively, of impairment charges related to certain investments in the @Ventures portfolio of companies. During the nine months ended April 30, 2012 and April 30, 2011, @Ventures did not receive any material distributions from its investments. During the three months ended April 30, 2012, the Company became aware that there may be indicators of impairment for a certain investment in the @Ventures portfolio of companies. The Company completed its evaluation for impairment in connection with the preparation of the financial statements for the quarter ended April 30, 2012 and determined that the investment was impaired. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $2.8 million, during the quarter ended April 30, 2012. Investments in which the Company’s interest is less than 20% and which are not classified as available-for-sale securities are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value unless it is determined that the Company exercises significant influence over the investee company, in which case the equity method of accounting is used. For those investments in which the Company’s voting interest is between 20% and 50%, the equity method of accounting is generally used. Under this method, the investment balance, originally recorded at cost, is adjusted to recognize the Company’s share of net earnings or losses of the investee company as they occur, limited to the extent of the Company’s investment in, advances to and commitments for the investee. These adjustments are reflected in “Equity in losses of affiliates and impairments” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company assesses the need to record impairment losses on its investments and records such losses when the impairment of an investment is determined to be other than temporary in nature. The process of assessing whether a particular investment’s net realizable value is less than its carrying cost requires a significant amount of subjective judgment. In making this judgment, the Company carefully considers the investee’s cash position, projected cash flows (both short and long-term), financing needs, recent financing rounds, most recent valuation data, the current investing environment, management/ownership changes and competition. The valuation process is based primarily on information that the Company requests from these privately held companies and is not subject to the same disclosure and audit requirements as the reports required of U.S. public companies. As such, the reliability and the accuracy of the data may vary.

@VENTURES INVESTMENTS

9 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

(17) @VENTURES INVESTMENTS

The Company maintains interests in several privately held companies primarily through its interests in two venture capital funds which invest as “@Ventures.” The Company invests in early stage technology companies. These investments are generally made in connection with a round of financing with other third-party investors.

During the three and nine months ended April 30, 2012, approximately $1.6 million and $2.6 million, respectively, was invested by @Ventures in privately held companies. During the three and nine months ended April 30, 2011, approximately $1.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively, was invested by @Ventures in privately held companies. At April 30, 2012 and July 31, 2011, the Company’s carrying value of investments in privately held companies was approximately $10.8 million and $12.0 million, respectively. During the nine months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded $2.9 million and $1.2 million (restated), respectively, of impairment charges related to certain investments in the @Ventures portfolio of companies. During the nine months ended April 30, 2012 and April 30, 2011, @Ventures did not receive any material distributions from its investments.

During the three months ended April 30, 2012, the Company became aware that there may be indicators of impairment for a certain investment in the @Ventures portfolio of companies. The Company completed its evaluation for impairment in connection with the preparation of the financial statements for the quarter ended April 30, 2012 and determined that the investment was impaired. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $2.8 million, during the quarter ended April 30, 2012.

Investments in which the Company’s interest is less than 20% and which are not classified as available-for-sale securities are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value unless it is determined that the Company exercises significant influence over the investee company, in which case the equity method of accounting is used. For those investments in which the Company’s voting interest is between 20% and 50%, the equity method of accounting is generally used. Under this method, the investment balance, originally recorded at cost, is adjusted to recognize the Company’s share of net earnings or losses of the investee company as they occur, limited to the extent of the Company’s investment in, advances to and commitments for the investee. These adjustments are reflected in “Equity in losses of affiliates and impairments” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company assesses the need to record impairment losses on its investments and records such losses when the impairment of an investment is determined to be other than temporary in nature. The process of assessing whether a particular investment’s net realizable value is less than its carrying cost requires a significant amount of subjective judgment. In making this judgment, the Company carefully considers the investee’s cash position, projected cash flows (both short and long-term), financing needs, recent financing rounds, most recent valuation data, the current investing environment, management/ownership changes and competition. The valuation process is based primarily on information that the Company requests from these privately held companies and is not subject to the same disclosure and audit requirements as the reports required of U.S. public companies. As such, the reliability and the accuracy of the data may vary.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for equity method investments and joint ventures. Equity method investments are investments that give the investor the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an investee. Joint ventures are entities owned and operated by a small group of businesses as a separate and specific business or project for the mutual benefit of the members of the group.

+ References+ Details