Stockholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity

8. Stockholders' Equity

The Company's board of directors has declared regular quarterly dividends to holders of its common stock aggregating $18,265, $16,014 and $14,510 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Common Stock

Each share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters on which holders are permitted to vote, including the election of directors. There are no cumulative voting rights.Accordingly, holders of a majority of the total votes entitled to vote in an election of directors will be able to elect all of the directors standing for election. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of the common stock will share equally on a per share basis any dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. If the Company is liquidated, dissolved or wound up, the holders of the Company's common stock will be entitled to a ratable share of any distribution to stockholders, after satisfaction of all the Company's liabilities and of the prior rights of any outstanding class of the Company's preferred stock. The Company's common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Company's common stock.

Preferred Stock

The Company's charter authorizes the issuance of shares of preferred stock. The Company's board of directors has the authority, without shareholder approval, to issue preferred shares from time to time in one or more series, and to fix the number of shares and terms of each such series. The board may determine the designations and other terms of each series including dividend rates, whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative, redemption rights, liquidation rights, sinking fund provisions, conversion or exchange rights and voting rights.