EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2018

Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

16.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Substantially all non-highly compensated employees are eligible to participate in a 401(k) plan. The Company may make discretionary contributions to the 401(k) plan according to a matching formula determined by each operating subsidiary. Total expense for the plan was $2,689 in fiscal 2018, $1,797 in fiscal 2017 and $917 in fiscal 2016.

The Company has established a deferred compensation plan for highly compensated employees who are not eligible to participate in a 401(k) plan. This plan allows participants to defer a portion of their compensation and to direct the Company to invest the funds in mutual fund investments held by the Company. Participant benefits are limited to the value of the investments held on their behalf. Investments held by the Company are accounted for at fair value and reported as Other long-term assets, and the equal and offsetting obligation to the participants is reported as Other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the fair value of the plan assets and the related deferred liability are both recorded through the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. The Company does not make contributions to the plan. The balance of investments held in this plan, and the equal and offsetting long-term liability to the participants, was $43,316 at July 31, 2018 and $28,095 at July 31, 2017.