Stockholders' Equity

6 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2013

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity

(19)    Stockholders’ Equity

Stock Repurchase Program

During the six months ended January 31, 2013, we repurchased 397,798 shares of our common stock in open-market transactions with an average price per share of $26.34 and at an aggregate cost of $10,477,000 (including transaction costs). As of January 31, 2013, we were authorized to repurchase up to an additional $50,798,000 of our common stock, pursuant to a $250,000,000 and a $50,000,000 stock repurchase program that were authorized by our Board of Directors in September 2011 and December 2012, respectively. In February 2013, we completed our $250,000,000 stock repurchase program; and as of March 6, 2013, we can repurchase an additional $45,054,000 pursuant to our $50,000,000 stock repurchase program. The $50,000,000 stock repurchase program has no time restrictions and repurchases may be made in open-market or privately negotiated transactions and may be made pursuant to SEC Rule 10b5-1 trading plans.

During the six months ended January 31, 2012, we repurchased 5,066,292 shares in open-market transactions for an aggregate cost of $155,744,000 (including transaction costs), with an average price per share of $30.74. In addition, during the six months ended January 31, 2012, we paid $2,001,000 for repurchases of our common stock which was accrued as of July 31, 2011.

Dividends

In September 2011, our Board of Directors raised our annual targeted dividend from $1.00 per common share, to $1.10 per common share.

During the six months ended January 31, 2013, our Board of Directors declared quarterly dividends of $0.275 per common share on September 26, 2012 and December 6, 2012, which were paid to shareholders on November 20, 2012 and December 27, 2012, respectively.

On March 7, 2013, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.275 per common share, payable on May 21, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 19, 2013.