Shareholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2013

Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

NOTE I  Shareholders’ Equity

Stock Rights On January 27, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the extension of the benefits afforded by the Company’s existing rights plan by adopting a new shareholder rights plan.  Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2006 by and between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent, one right was issued on March 3, 2006 for each outstanding share of common stock of the Company upon the expiration of the Company’s existing rights.  Each of the new rights entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, without par value, at a price of $143.00 per one one-thousandth of a share.  The rights, however, will not become exercisable unless and until, among other things, any person acquires 15 percent or more of the outstanding common stock of the Company.  If a person acquires 15 percent or more of the outstanding common stock of the Company (subject to certain conditions and exceptions more fully described in the Rights Agreement), each right will entitle the holder (other than the person who acquired 15 percent or more of the outstanding common stock) to purchase common stock of the Company having a market value equal to twice the exercise price of a right.  The rights are redeemable under certain circumstances at $.001 per right and will expire, unless earlier redeemed, on March 2, 2016.

Stock Compensation Plans The Stock Compensation Plans in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity consist of the balance of amounts payable to eligible participants for stock compensation that was deferred to a Rabbi Trust pursuant to the provisions of the 2010 Master Stock Incentive Plan, as well as performance awards payable in common stock discussed further in Note J.

Treasury Stock The Company believes that the share repurchase program is a way of providing return to its shareholders.  The Board of Directors authorized the repurchase, at the Company’s discretion, of up to 16.0 million shares of common stock under the stock repurchase plan dated March 26, 2010.  As of July 31, 2013, the Company had remaining authorization to repurchase 2.6 million shares under this plan.  Following is a summary of treasury stock share activity for Fiscal 2013 and 2012:

	2013	2012
Beginning balance at August 1, 2012	3,980,832	13,245,864
Stock repurchases	2,986,794	4,503,587
Net issuance upon exercise of stock options	(1,288,560)	(1,270,526)
Issuance under compensation plans	(174,408)	(89,528)
Stock split and other activity	(13,933)	(12,408,565)
Ending balance at July 31, 2013	5,490,725	3,980,832