Shareholders' Equity

6 Months Ended

Jan. 27, 2012

Shareholders Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders Equity

6.         Shareholders' Equity

During the six-month period ended January 27, 2012, the Company received proceeds of $2,137 from the exercise of share-based compensation awards and the corresponding issuance of 151,209 shares of its common stock and did not make any share repurchases.

During the six-month period ended January 27, 2012, the Company paid dividends of $0.47 per share of its common stock.  In addition, the Company declared a regular dividend of $0.25 per share of its common stock that was paid on February 6, 2012 and is recorded in other current liabilities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

During the six-month period ended January 27, 2012, the unrealized loss, net of tax, on the Company's interest rate swaps decreased by $6,362 to $31,670 and is recorded in AOCL (see Notes 2, 5 and 7).

During the six-month period ended January 27, 2012, total share-based compensation expense was $5,946.  The excess tax benefit realized upon exercise of share-based compensation awards was $155.

On September 22, 2011, the Company's Board of Directors adopted a shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”) and designated 300,000 shares of the Company's previously authorized 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Rights”).  Additionally, on that date, the Company declared a dividend distribution of the Rights to shareholders of record on October 3, 2011 (see Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2011 Form 10-K for additional information regarding the Rights Plan and the Rights).  The Rights Plan was not approved by the Company's shareholders at its annual shareholders' meeting on December 20, 2011.  As a result, the Rights Plan was terminated and the Rights expired on December 28, 2011, following the certification of voting results at the annual shareholders' meeting.  No Rights are issued or outstanding.