Fair Value Measurement

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Note 9. Fair Value Measurement

The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity's pricing based upon their own market assumptions. The fair value hierarchy consists of the following three levels:

· Level I - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

· Level II - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.

· Level III - Instruments whose significant value drivers are unobservable.

The following table presents for each of these hierarchy levels, the Company's financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:


	Level I		Level II		Level III	Total
At March 31, 2012:
Assets:
Cash equivalents ^(a)	$	198,396	$	-	$	- $	198,396

Liabilities:
Interest rate swap contracts	$	-	$	19,911	$	- $	19,911

At December 31, 2011:
Assets:
Cash equivalents ^(a)	$	202,276	$	-	$	- $	202,276
Liabilities:
Interest rate swap contracts	$	-	$	19,091	$	- $	19,091

(a) Represents the Company's investment in money market funds.

The Company's cash equivalents are classified within Level I of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices.

The Company's interest rate swap contracts (Note 6) are classified within Level II of the fair value hierarchy and their fair values are determined based on a market approach valuation technique that uses readily observable market parameters and the consideration of counterparty risk.

Credit Facility Debt and Senior Notes

The fair values of each of the Company's debt instruments are based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for instruments of the same remaining maturities.

The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments, excluding those that are carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets are summarized as follows:


	March 31, 2012
	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
Debt instruments:
Credit facility debt	$	1,554,097	$	1,526,685
Senior notes		686,671		780,500
	$	2,240,768	$	2,307,185


	December 31, 2011
	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
Debt instruments:
Credit facility debt	$	1,604,846	$	1,550,960
Senior notes		686,434		761,250
	$	2,291,280	$	2,312,210

Fair value estimates related to the Company's debt instruments presented above are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgments and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

Note 9. Fair Value Measurement

· Level I - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

· Level III - Instruments whose significant value drivers are unobservable.

The following table presents for each of these hierarchy levels, the Company's financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010:


		Level I		Level II		Level III		Total
At December 31, 2011:
Assets:
Cash equivalents ^(a)	$	202,276	$	-	$		- $	202,276

Liabilities:
Interest rate swap contracts	$	-	$	19,091	$		- $	19,091

At December 31, 2010:
Assets:
Cash equivalents ^(a)	$	78,908	$	-	$		- $	78,908

(a) Represents the Company's investment in funds that invest primarily in money market securities.

The Company's cash equivalents at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 are classified within

Level I of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices.

The Company's interest rate swap contracts (discussed in Note 10 below) at December 31, 2011 are classified within Level II of the fair value hierarchy and their fair values are determined based on a market approach valuation technique that uses readily observable market parameters and the consideration of counterparty risk.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value:

Credit Facility Debt, Senior Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes

The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments, excluding those that are carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets are summarized as follows:


		December 31, 2011
		Carrying		Estimated
		Amount		Fair Value
Debt instruments:
Credit facility debt	$	1,604,846	$	1,550,960
Senior notes		686,434		761,250
	$	2,291,280	$	2,312,210


		December 31, 2010
		Carrying		Estimated
		Amount		Fair Value
Debt instruments:
Credit facility debt ^(a)	$	475,000	$	475,000
Senior notes		299,552		300,750
Senior subordinated notes		324,071		337,188
	$	1,098,623	$	1,112,938

(a) The carrying value of the Company's credit facility debt at December 31, 2010, which bore interest at variable rates, approximated its fair value.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References

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