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OTHER ASSETS | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
OTHER ASSETS DISCLOSURE [Abstract] |
OTHER ASSETS |
5. | OTHER ASSETS
At December 31, 2011, the Company has obligations of $9.3 million associated with its supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”). As a means of informally funding these obligations, the Company has invested in life insurance policies related to certain employees and marketable securities held in a rabbi trust. At December 31, 2011, these assets had a combined fair value of $10.5 million. Company-Owned Life Insurance Investments in company-owned life insurance policies (“COLI”) were made with the intention of utilizing them as a long-term funding source for the Company's SERP obligations. However, the cash surrender value of the COLI does not represent a committed funding source for these obligations. Any proceeds from these policies are subject to claims from creditors. During 2011, the Company purchased $2.4 million of additional COLI policies. The fair market value of the COLI of $4.7 million and $2.4 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, is included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The volatility in global equity markets in recent years has had a significant effect on the cash surrender value of the COLI policies. As a result, the Company recorded (expense) income to account for the (decrease) increase in cash surrender value in the amount of $(0.1) million and $0.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. These fluctuations in the cash surrender value were allocated between cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. The allocation is consistent with the costs associated with the long-term employee benefit obligations that the COLI is intended to fund. Other Investments At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company held, in the aforementioned rabbi trust, available-for-sale investments at a cost of $5.6 million. Together with the COLI described above, these investments are intended to fund the Company's SERP obligations and are classified as other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company monitors these investments for impairment on an ongoing basis. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the fair market value of these investments was $5.8 million and $5.9 million, respectively. The gross unrealized gain of $0.2 million and $0.3 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, has been included, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

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