Derivative Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Derivative Instruments [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments

5. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

Beginning in the second quarter of 2011, the Company uses forward foreign currency contracts to manage its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates associated with its foreign currency denominated accounts receivable and cash. The U.S. operating company invoices most of its foreign customers in foreign currencies, which results in cash and receivables held at the end of the reporting period denominated in these foreign currencies. Since the U.S. operating company's functional currency is the U.S. dollar, the Company recognizes a foreign currency transaction gain or (loss) on the foreign currency denominated cash and accounts receivable held by the U.S. operating company in its consolidated statements of operations when there are changes in the foreign currency exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar. The Company is primarily exposed to changes in the value of the Euro and British pound relative to the U.S. dollar. The forward foreign currency contracts utilized by the Company are not designated as hedging instruments and as a result, the Company records the fair value of these contracts at the end of each reporting period in its consolidated balance sheet as other current assets for unrealized gains and accrued expenses for unrealized losses, with any fluctuations in the value of these contracts recognized in other income, net, in its consolidated statement of operations. However, the fluctuations in the value of these forward foreign currency contracts partially offset the gains and losses from the remeasurement or settlement of the foreign currency denominated accounts receivable and cash held by the U.S. operating company, thus partly mitigating the volatility. Generally, the Company enters into forward foreign currency contracts with terms of 60 days or less.

During 2011, the Company entered into and settled forward foreign currency contracts to sell 28.5 million Euros and 19.5 million British pounds and to receive $71.4 million. As of December 31, 2011, the Company did not have any forward foreign currency contracts outstanding. During 2011, the change in the fair value of the Company's forward foreign currency contracts recorded in other income, net, was a net gain of $0.8 million.