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Fair Values
3 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2011
Fair Values [Abstract]  
Fair Values

Note L – Fair Values

          It is the Company's policy to enter into derivative transactions only to the extent true exposures exist; the Company does not enter into derivative transactions for speculative or trading purposes. The Company enters into derivative transactions only with counterparties with high credit ratings. These transactions may expose the Company to credit risk to the extent that the instruments have a positive fair value, but the Company has not experienced any losses, nor does the Company anticipate any material losses.

          The following summarizes the Company's fair value of outstanding derivatives at October 31, 2011 and July 31, 2011, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (thousands of dollars):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 31,
2011

 

July 31,
2011

 

Asset derivatives recorded under the caption Prepaids and other current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

$

1,596

 

$

945

 

 

Liability derivatives recorded under the caption Other current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

$

1,409

 

$

1,470

 

          The Company's derivative financial instruments present certain market and counterparty risks. However, concentration of counterparty risk is mitigated as the Company deals with a variety of major banks worldwide. In addition, only conventional derivative financial instruments are utilized. The Company would not be materially impacted if any of the counterparties to the derivative financial instruments outstanding failed to perform according to the terms of its agreement. At this time, the Company does not require collateral or any other form of securitization to be furnished by the counterparties to its derivative instruments.

          The fair values of the Company's financial assets and financial liabilities listed below reflect the amounts that would be received to sell the assets or paid to transfer the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The fair values are based on inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. These inputs include foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The financial assets and financial liabilities are primarily valued using standard calculations and models that use as their basis readily observable market parameters. Industry standard data providers are the primary source for forward and spot rate information for both interest rates and currency rates.