- Definition

Cash includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the customer may deposit additional funds at any time and effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid Investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Short-term investments, exclusive of cash equivalents, generally consist of marketable securities intended to be sold within one year (or the normal operating cycle if longer) and may include trading securities, available-for-sale securities, or held-to-maturity securities (if maturing within one year), as applicable.

+ References+ Details

Basis of presentation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Basis of presentation (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Foreign Currency Translation [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 995,800,000	$ 776,100,000	$ 2,888,400,000	$ 2,240,900,000
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
Foreign Currency Translation [Line Items]
Revenues			178,500,000
Revenues as a percentage of total revenues			6.00%
Exchange rate range from Bolivar Fuertes to the US Dollar	5.3		5.3
Approved transactions limit per entity per month			350,000,000
Brinks investments in Venzuelan Operations on an equity-method basis	67,200,000		67,200,000
Maximum [Member]
Foreign Currency Translation [Line Items]
Exchange rate range from Bolivar Fuertes to the US Dollar	5.3		5.3
Minimum [Member]
Foreign Currency Translation [Line Items]
Exchange rate range from Bolivar Fuertes to the US Dollar	4.3		4.3
US Dollar Denominated [Member]
Foreign Currency Translation [Line Items]
Cash and short-term investments	2,800,000		2,800,000
Bolivar Fuertes Denominated [Member]
Foreign Currency Translation [Line Items]
Net monetary assets	44,200,000		44,200,000
Cash and short-term investments	$ 13,100,000		$ 13,100,000