Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
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Our principal exposures to financial market risk are interest rate risk, foreign currency risk and translation risk.
Interest Income Risk
The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal while secondarily maximizing yields without significantly increasing risk. To achieve this objective in the current uncertain global financial markets, as of July 31, 2012, all of our total cash and cash equivalents were held in bank deposits and money market funds. As the interest rates on a material portion of our cash and cash equivalents are variable, a change in interest rates earned on our investment portfolio would impact interest income along with cash flows, but would not materially impact the fair market value of the related underlying instruments. As of July 31, 2012, we held no direct investments in auction rate securities, collateralized debt obligations, structured investment vehicles or mortgaged-backed securities. Based on the average cash balance held during the twelve months ended July 31, 2012, a 10% change in our interest yield would not materially affect our operating results.
Interest Expense Risk
Our total borrowings under the Credit Facility were $443.8 million as of July 31, 2012. Amounts borrowed under the Credit Facility bear interest, subject to certain restrictions, at a fluctuating rate based on (i) the Eurocurrency Rate, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate or (iii) the Prime Rate as described in the Credit Facility. A default interest rate applies on all obligations during an event of default under the Credit Facility, at a rate per annum equal to 2.0% above the otherwise applicable interest rate.
We have entered into two interest rate swaps to exchange our variable interest rate payments commitment for fixed interest rate payments on the Term Loan balance.
Foreign Currency and Translation Exposure
Fluctuations in the foreign currencies create volatility in our reported results of operations because we are required to consolidate the results of operations of our foreign currency denominated subsidiaries. International net revenues result from transactions by our Canadian and U.K. operations and are typically denominated in the local currency of each country. These operations also incur a majority of their expenses in the local currency, the Canadian dollar and the British pound. Our international operations are subject to risks associated with foreign exchange rate volatility. Accordingly, our future results could be materially adversely impacted by changes in these or other factors. A hypothetical uniform 10% strengthening or weakening in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar and British pound in which our revenues and profits are denominated would result in a decrease/increase to revenue of $19.9 million for the twelve months ended July 31, 2012.
Fluctuations in the foreign currencies create volatility in our reported consolidated financial position because we are required to remeasure substantially all assets and liabilities held by our foreign subsidiaries at the current exchange rate at the close of the accounting period. At July 31, 2012, the cumulative effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on our consolidated financial position was a net translation loss of $34.9 million. This loss is recognized as an adjustment to stockholders’ equity through accumulated other comprehensive income. A 10% strengthening or weakening in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar or the British pound will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position.
We do not hedge our exposure to translation risks arising from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
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