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Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities [Abstract]  
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities

10. Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities

Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives. We are exposed to certain risks arising from both our business operations and economic conditions. We principally manage our exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of our core business activities. We manage economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity, and credit risk, primarily by managing the amount, sources, and duration of our debt funding and the use of derivative financial instruments. Specifically, we may enter into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures arising from business activities resulting in differences in the amount, timing, and duration of our known or expected cash payments principally related to our borrowings.

Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk. Our objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to interest expense and to manage our exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish these objectives, we primarily use interest rate swaps and caps as part of our interest rate risk management strategy. Interest rate swaps involve the receipt of variable rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for us making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount. Interest rate caps involve the receipt of variable rate amounts from a counterparty if interest rates rise above the strike rate on the contract in exchange for an upfront premium.

Designated Hedges. In August 2011, our interest rate swap, with a notional amount of $16.6 million, matured and settled. As a result of the settlement, we did not have any designated hedges as of December 31, 2011. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. During the years ending December 31, 2011 and 2010, such derivatives were used to hedge the variable cash flows associated with existing variable rate debt. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivatives, if any, is recognized directly in earnings. No portion of designated hedges was ineffective during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009.

Non-designated Hedges. Derivatives are not entered into for speculative purposes and are used to manage our exposure to interest rate movements and other identified risks. Our non-designated hedges are either specifically non-designated by management or do not meet strict hedge accounting requirements. Changes in the fair value of derivatives not designated in hedging relationships are recorded directly in earnings in other income or other expense.

In connection with the repayment of the $500 million term loan on June 6, 2011, we discontinued the hedging relationship on a $500 million interest rate swap used as a cash flow hedge as of May 31, 2011. Upon repayment of the loan, which eliminated the probable future variable monthly interest payments that were being hedged, we recognized a non-cash charge of approximately $29.8 million which included the accelerated reclassification of amounts previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to this swap. Subsequent changes in the market value of the interest rate swap, which matures in October 2012, will be recorded directly in earnings over the remaining life of the swap in interest and other income. Due to, among other matters, the relatively short remaining life of the swap (which matures in October 2012) and the low expectation of the swap becoming a significantly larger liability, management elected to leave this interest rate swap in place through its original maturity rather than cash settle the swap.

As of December 31, 2011, we had the following outstanding interest rate derivatives which were not designated as hedges of interest rate risk:

 

September 30, September 30,

Interest Rate Derivative

     Number of Instruments      Notional Amount

Interest Rate Cap

     1      $175.0 million

Interest Rate Swap

     1      $500.0 million

 

The table below presents the fair value of our derivative financial instruments as well as their classification in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31 (in millions):

 

September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
    Fair Values of Derivative Instruments                          
    Asset Derivatives     Liability Derivatives  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
    Balance
Sheet
Location
    Fair
Value
    Balance
Sheet
Location
    Fair
Value
    Balance
Sheet
Location
    Fair
Value
    Balance
Sheet
Location
    Fair
Value
 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments

               

Interest Rate Swaps

            Other Liabilities      $ —          Other Liabilities      $ 36.9   

Derivatives designated not as hedging instruments

               

Interest Rate Swap

            Other Liabilities      $ 16.6        Other Liabilities      $ —     

Interest Rate Cap

    Other Assets      $ 0.1        Other Assets      $ —             

The tables below present the effect of our derivative financial instruments in the consolidated statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income for the years ended December 31 (in millions).

 

Credit-risk-related Contingent Features. Derivative financial investments expose us to credit risk in the event of non-performance by the counterparties under the terms of the interest rate hedge agreements. We believe we minimize our credit risk on these transactions by transacting with major creditworthy financial institutions. As part of our on-going control procedures, we monitor the credit ratings of counterparties and our exposure to any single entity, which we believe minimizes credit risk concentration.

Our agreements with each of our derivative counterparties contain provisions which provide the counterparty the right to declare a default on our derivative obligations if we are in default on any of our indebtedness, subject to certain thresholds. For all instances, these provisions include a default even if there is no acceleration of the indebtedness. Our agreements with each of our derivative counterparties also provide if we consolidate with, merge with or into, or transfer all or substantially all our assets to another entity and the creditworthiness of the resulting, surviving, or transferee entity is materially weaker than ours, the counterparty has the right to terminate the derivative obligations.

At December 31, 2011, the fair value of derivatives in a net liability position, which includes accrued interest but excludes any adjustment for nonperformance risk (the "termination value"), related to these agreements was approximately $18.2 million. As of December 31, 2011, we had not posted any collateral related to these agreements. If we were in breach of any of these provisions at December 31, 2011, or terminated these agreements, we would have been required to settle our obligations at their aggregate termination value of approximately $18.2 million.