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Derivative Instruments
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative Instruments [Abstract]  
Derivative Instruments
6. Derivative Instruments

The Company enters into cash flow hedges to reduce the exposure to variability in certain expected future cash flows. The type of cash flow hedges the Company enters into includes foreign currency contracts and interest rate exchange agreements that effectively convert a portion of floating-rate debt to fixed-rate debt and are designed to reduce the impact of interest rate changes on future interest expense.

The effective portion of gains or losses on interest rate exchange agreements is reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders' equity and reclassified into net income in the same period or periods in which the hedged transaction affects net income. The remaining gain or loss in excess of the cumulative change in the present value of future cash flows or the hedged item, if any, is recognized into net income during the period of change.

Fair values relating to derivative financial instruments reflect the estimated amounts that the Company would receive or pay to sell or buy the contracts based on quoted market prices of comparable contracts at each balance sheet date.

On April 15, 2010, the Company entered into a forward starting interest rate contract with a notional amount of $300.0 million with a settlement date in December 2010. This contract was entered into in anticipation of the issuance of the 4.5% Senior Notes and was designed to lock in the market interest rate as of April 15, 2010. In December 2010, the Company settled and paid this interest rate contract for $31.0 million. The $31.0 million is being amortized into interest expense over the 10 year term of the 4.5% Senior Notes, which results in an effective interest rate of 5.8%.

On July 12, 2011, the Company entered into a forward starting interest rate contract with a notional amount of $350.0 million and a settlement date of September 30, 2011. This contract was entered into in anticipation of the issuance of the 4.2% Senior Notes and was designed to lock in the market interest rate as of July 12, 2011. On September 29, 2011, the Company settled this interest rate contract for $34.7 million with a payment made on October 3, 2011. Simultaneously, the Company entered into a separate interest rate contract with a notional amount of $350.0 million and a settlement date of February 28, 2012. The contract was entered into in anticipation of the expected issuance of the 4.2% Senior Notes and was designed to maintain the market rate as of July 12, 2011. In December 2011, the Company settled and paid the September interest rate contract for $4.0 million, resulting in a total settlement of $38.7 million. Of the $38.7 million, $0.8 was recognized as other expense in 2011 and the balance of $37.9 million is being amortized into interest expense over the 10 year term of the 4.2% Senior Notes, which results in an effective interest rate of 5.3%.

At December 31, 2011, approximately $7.6 million of the amount included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders' equity at December 31, 2011 will be recognized to net income over the next 12 months as the underlying hedged transactions are realized.

On May 31, 2011, the Company settled foreign currency exchange contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $0.5 million; the impact of this settlement was immaterial.

The following table sets forth the fair value amounts of derivative instruments held by the Company as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

     Fair Value Assets (Liabilities)      
     December 31,
2011		      December 31,
2010		    

Balance Sheet Caption

     (In thousands)

Interest rate exchange agreement

    $ —       $ (2,328 )    Accrued expenses

Foreign exchange contracts

      —         176      Other current assets

 

The following table summarizes the gain (loss) recognized and the amounts and location of income (expense) and gain (loss) reclassified into income for interest rate contracts and foreign currency contracts for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

    Gain (Loss) Recognized  in
Other Comprehensive Income		     Income (Expense)
and Gain (Loss)
Reclassified into Income		    

Income

Statement

Caption

    Twelve Months Ended December 31,    
            2011                     2010                     2011                     2010            
    (In thousands)

Interest rate agreements

   $ (38,797 )    $ (31,792 )    $ (6,197 )    $ (8,805 )    Interest expense

Interest rate agreements

     —        —        (786 )      (440 )    Other expense

Foreign exchange contracts

     (55 )      126        227        126      Sales