Investments and Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2013

10.

Investments and Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The standard describes a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value which are the following:

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The only Company assets or liabilities carried at fair value in the financial statements are its investments in auction rate securities (“ARS”) - measured with Level 3 inputs, and in other securities (primarily in mutual funds) held for the benefit of certain employees of the Company as part of a deferred compensation plan - measured with Level 1 inputs. ARS balances of $0 and $666 and deferred compensation plan asset balances of $7,521 and $7,000 (excluding $3,570 and $3,407, respectively, related to discontinued operations) were recorded as of October 31, 2013 and July 31, 2013, respectively, as components of other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. An equal and offsetting accrued liability was also recorded in regards to the deferred compensation plan as a component of other accrued liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the fair value of the plan assets and the related deferred liability are both reflected in income.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance for the assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 financial assets):


	Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Balance at July 31, 2013	$	666
Net change in other comprehensive income		34
Sales		(700)

Balance at October 31, 2013	$	–

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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