Shareholders' Equity

9 Months Ended

Apr. 27, 2012

Shareholders Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders Equity

6.  Shareholders' Equity

During the nine-month period ended April 27, 2012, the Company received proceeds of $16,729 from the exercise of share-based compensation awards and the corresponding issuance of 605,193 shares of the Company's common stock.  During the nine-month period ended April 27, 2012, the Company repurchased 220,400 shares of its common stock in the open market at an aggregate cost of $12,279.

During the nine-month period ended April 27, 2012, the Company paid dividends of $0.72 per share of its common stock.  During the third quarter of 2012, the Company declared a regular dividend of $0.25 per share of its common stock that was paid on May 7, 2012.  Additionally, during the third quarter of 2012, the Company declared a regular dividend of $0.40 per share of its common stock payable on August 6, 2012 to shareholders of record on July 20, 2012.

During the nine-month period ended April 27, 2012, the unrealized loss, net of tax, on the Company's interest rate swaps decreased by $10,902 to $27,130 and is recorded in AOCL (see Notes 2, 5 and 8).

During the nine-month period ended April 27, 2012, total share-based compensation expense was $9,430.  The excess tax benefit realized upon exercise of share-based compensation awards was $1,921.

On September 22, 2011, the Company's Board of Directors designated 300,000 shares of the Company's previously authorized 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.  No shares of preferred stock have been issued.