INVESTMENT SECURITIES

12 Months Ended

Feb. 25, 2012

INVESTMENT SECURITIES

INVESTMENT SECURITIES

5.INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The Company’s investment securities as of February 25, 2012 and February 26, 2011 are as follows:

(in millions)	February 25, 2012		February 26, 2011
Available-for-sale securities:
Short term	$	6.5	$	5.8
Long term	73.7		103.9
Trading securities:
Long term	22.1		17.6
Held-to-maturity securities:
Short term	749.9		599.8
Total investment securities	$	852.2	$	727.1

Auction Rate Securities

As of February 25, 2012 and February 26, 2011, the Company’s available-for-sale investment securities represented approximately $83.9 million and approximately $112.9 million par value of auction rate securities, respectively, less temporary valuation adjustments of approximately $3.7 million and $3.2 million, respectively. Since these valuation adjustments are deemed to be temporary, they are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of a related tax benefit, and did not affect the Company’s net earnings. These securities at par are invested in preferred shares of closed end municipal bond funds, which are required, pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, to maintain minimum asset coverage ratios of 200%. All of these available-for-sale investments carried triple-A credit ratings from one or more of the major credit rating agencies as of February 25, 2012 and February 26, 2011, and none of them are mortgage-backed debt obligations. As of February 25, 2012 and February 26, 2011, the Company’s available-for-sale investments have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for 12 months or more, however, the Company believes that the unrealized losses are temporary and reflect the investments’ current lack of liquidity. Due to their lack of liquidity, the Company classified approximately $73.7 million and $103.9 million of these investments as long term investment securities at February 25, 2012 and February 26, 2011, respectively. During fiscal 2011, approximately $29.0 million of these securities were redeemed at par.

Subsequent to the end of fiscal 2011 through April 13, 2012, the Company redeemed approximately $6.5 million of short term available-for-sale securities at par.

U.S. Treasury Securities

As of February 25, 2012 and February 26, 2011, the Company’s short term held-to-maturity securities included approximately $749.9 million and approximately $599.8 million, respectively, of U.S. Treasury Bills with remaining maturities of less than one year. These securities are stated at their amortized cost which approximates fair value.

Long Term Trading Investment Securities

The Company’s long term trading investment securities, which are provided as investment options to the participants of the nonqualified deferred compensation plan, are stated at fair market value. The values of these trading investment securities included in the table above are approximately $22.1 million and $17.6 million as of February 25, 2012 and February 26, 2011, respectively.