Investments	12 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2014
Investments	(5) INVESTMENTS Trading securities Near the end of the quarter ended July 31, 2014, the Company acquired $12.9 million in 4.0625% convertible debentures of a publicly traded entity. At this time the Company is uncertain to the holding period of these securities, therefore these securities are classified at trading. These securities offer higher yields than currently being achieved in money market securities or other equivalent investments. As of July 31, 2014, the trades associates with these securities had not settled and, as such, the payment associated with the acquisition of these securities had not been made. The liability associated with this payment is classified under other current liabilities on our balance sheet. Near the end of the quarter ended July 31, 2014 the Company acquired $9.9 million in common stock of a publicly traded entity. As of July 31, 2014, most of the trades associated with these securities had not settled and, as such, $9.4 million of the payment associated with the acquisition of these securities had not been made. The liability associated with this payment is classified under other current liabilities on our balance sheet. Unrealized gains and losses associated with these securities were immaterial for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2014. Subsequent to July 31, 2014 the Company continued its investing activities and acquired additional 4.0625% convertible debentures of a publicly traded entity and acquired additional common stock of a publicly traded entity. As of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K the Company had acquired 4.0625% convertible debentures for a cost basis of $34.0 million and common stock at a cost basis of $35.5 million. @Ventures 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 fiscal years ended July 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, $0.8 million, $1.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively, was invested by @Ventures in privately held companies. At July 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s carrying value of investments in privately held companies was $7.2 million and $8.0 million, respectively. During the fiscal years ended July 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, the Company recorded $1.4 million, $2.8 million and $2.9 million, respectively, of impairment charges related to certain investments in the @Ventures portfolio of companies. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2014, @Ventures did not receive any distributions from its investments. During the fiscal years ended July 31, 2013, @Ventures received distributions of approximately $0.2 million. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, @Ventures did not receive any distributions from its investments. 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, net of tax” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the fiscal years ended July 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, the Company recorded its proportionate share of the affiliates’ losses of $0.1 million, $1.6 million and $1.2 million, respectively. 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 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. During the year ended July 31, 2014, the Company became aware in various quarters that there may be indicators of impairment for a certain investment in the @Ventures portfolio of companies. The Company completed evaluations for impairment in connection with the preparation of the financial statements for those periods and determined that the investment was impaired. As a result, the Company recorded impairment charges of $1.4 million during the year ended July 31, 2014. During the year ended July 31, 2013, the Company became aware in various quarters that there may be indicators of impairment for a certain investment in the @Ventures portfolio of companies. The Company completed evaluations for impairment in connection with the preparation of the financial statements for those periods and determined that the investment was impaired. As a result, the Company recorded impairment charges of $2.8 million during the year ended July 31, 2013. During the year ended July 31, 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 and determined that the investment was impaired. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $2.9 million during the year ended July 31, 2012. As of July 31, 2014, the Company, through @Ventures, held investments in four portfolio companies, although investments in these companies are individually nominal. From time to time, the Company may make new and follow-on venture capital investments and may from time to time receive distributions from investee companies. As of July 31, 2014, the Company is not committed to fund any follow-on investments in any of the @Ventures portfolio companies.

(5) INVESTMENTS

Trading securities

Near the end of the quarter ended July 31, 2014, the Company acquired $12.9 million in 4.0625% convertible debentures of a publicly traded entity. At this time the Company is uncertain to the holding period of these securities, therefore these securities are classified at trading. These securities offer higher yields than currently being achieved in money market securities or other equivalent investments. As of July 31, 2014, the trades associates with these securities had not settled and, as such, the payment associated with the acquisition of these securities had not been made. The liability associated with this payment is classified under other current liabilities on our balance sheet. Near the end of the quarter ended July 31, 2014 the Company acquired $9.9 million in common stock of a publicly traded entity. As of July 31, 2014, most of the trades associated with these securities had not settled and, as such, $9.4 million of the payment associated with the acquisition of these securities had not been made. The liability associated with this payment is classified under other current liabilities on our balance sheet. Unrealized gains and losses associated with these securities were immaterial for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2014.

Subsequent to July 31, 2014 the Company continued its investing activities and acquired additional 4.0625% convertible debentures of a publicly traded entity and acquired additional common stock of a publicly traded entity. As of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K the Company had acquired 4.0625% convertible debentures for a cost basis of $34.0 million and common stock at a cost basis of $35.5 million.

@Ventures

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 fiscal years ended July 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, $0.8 million, $1.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively, was invested by @Ventures in privately held companies. At July 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s carrying value of investments in privately held companies was $7.2 million and $8.0 million, respectively. During the fiscal years ended July 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, the Company recorded $1.4 million, $2.8 million and $2.9 million, respectively, of impairment charges related to certain investments in the @Ventures portfolio of companies. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2014, @Ventures did not receive any distributions from its investments. During the fiscal years ended July 31, 2013, @Ventures received distributions of approximately $0.2 million. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, @Ventures did not receive any distributions from its investments.

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, net of tax” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the fiscal years ended July 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, the Company recorded its proportionate share of the affiliates’ losses of $0.1 million, $1.6 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

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 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.

During the year ended July 31, 2014, the Company became aware in various quarters that there may be indicators of impairment for a certain investment in the @Ventures portfolio of companies. The Company completed evaluations for impairment in connection with the preparation of the financial statements for those periods and determined that the investment was impaired. As a result, the Company recorded impairment charges of $1.4 million during the year ended July 31, 2014.

During the year ended July 31, 2013, the Company became aware in various quarters that there may be indicators of impairment for a certain investment in the @Ventures portfolio of companies. The Company completed evaluations for impairment in connection with the preparation of the financial statements for those periods and determined that the investment was impaired. As a result, the Company recorded impairment charges of $2.8 million during the year ended July 31, 2013.

During the year ended July 31, 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 and determined that the investment was impaired. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $2.9 million during the year ended July 31, 2012.

As of July 31, 2014, the Company, through @Ventures, held investments in four portfolio companies, although investments in these companies are individually nominal. From time to time, the Company may make new and follow-on venture capital investments and may from time to time receive distributions from investee companies. As of July 31, 2014, the Company is not committed to fund any follow-on investments in any of the @Ventures portfolio companies.