Fair Value Accounting

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Fair Value Accounting [Abstract]

Fair Value Accounting

Note 3. Fair Value Accounting

     Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

	Fair Value Measurement as of September 30, 2011
	(in millions)
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	162.0	$	—	$	—	$	162.0
Restricted cash		229.4		—		—		229.4
Equity call agreement with TRIP Holdings equity investor (3)		—		—		0.7		0.7
Total assets	$	391.4	$	—	$	0.7	$	392.1
Liabilities:
Interest rate hedges (1)
Wholly-owned subsidiary	$	—	$	52.4	$	—	$	52.4
TRIP Holdings		—		4.7		—		4.7
Equity put agreement with TRIP Holdings equity investor (2)		—		—		3.1		3.1
Total liabilities	$	—	$	57.1	$	3.1	$	60.2

	Fair Value Measurement as of December 31, 2010
	(in millions)
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	286.0	$	—	$	—	$	286.0
Short-term marketable securities		158.0		—		—		158.0
Restricted cash		207.1		—		—		207.1
Fuel derivative instruments (3)		—		0.1		—		0.1
Total assets	$	651.1	$	0.1	$	—	$	651.2
Liabilities:
Interest rate hedges (1)
Wholly-owned subsidiary	$	—	$	45.7	$	—	$	45.7
TRIP Holdings		—		48.3		—		48.3
Total liabilities	$	—	$	94.0	$	—	$	94.0

(1)	Included in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.
(2)	Included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.
(3)	Included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.

     The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our long-term debt were as follows:

	September 30, 2011					December 31, 2010
	Carrying Value			Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Value			Estimated Fair Value
				(in millions)
Recourse:
Convertible subordinated notes	$	450.0		$	416.3	$	450.0		$	448.3
Less: unamortized discount		(102.7	)				(111.1	)
		347.3					338.9
Capital lease obligations		49.2			49.2		51.2			51.2
Term loan		55.4			56.4		57.4			54.2
Other		4.4			4.4		2.8			2.8
		456.3			526.3		450.3			556.5
Non-recourse:
2006 secured railcar equipment notes		271.7			281.2		283.2			302.8
Promissory notes		471.5			456.4		493.8			482.2
2009 secured railcar equipment notes		220.9			231.9		229.2			256.1
2010 secured railcar equipment notes		357.5			335.8		367.1			345.5
TILC warehouse facility		280.7			280.7		80.2			80.2
TRIP Holdings senior secured notes		63.0			63.0		—			—
TRIP Master Funding secured railcar equipment notes		850.3			844.9		—			—
TRIP Holdings warehouse loan		—			—		1,003.9			994.0
		2,515.6			2,493.9		2,457.4			2,460.8
Total	$	2,971.9		$	3,020.2	$	2,907.7		$	3,017.3

     The estimated fair value of our convertible subordinated notes was based on a quoted market price as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. The estimated fair values of our 2006, 2009, and 2010 secured railcar equipment notes, promissory notes, TRIP Master Funding secured railcar equipment notes, TRIP Holdings warehouse loan, and term loan are based on our estimate of their fair value as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. These values were determined by discounting their future cash flows at the current market interest rate. The carrying value of our Trinity Industries Leasing Company (“TILC”) warehouse facility approximates fair value because the interest rate adjusts to the market interest rate and the Company’s credit rating has not changed since the loan agreement was renewed in February 2011. The fair values of all other financial instruments are estimated to approximate carrying value.

     Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market to that asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. An entity is required to establish a fair value hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values are listed below:

     Level 1 — This level is defined as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The Company’s cash equivalents, short-term marketable securities, and restricted cash are instruments of the United States Treasury, fully-insured certificates of deposit or highly-rated money market mutual funds.

     Level 2 — This level is defined as observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. The Company’s fuel derivative instruments, which are commodity options, are valued using energy and commodity market data. Interest rate hedges are valued at exit prices obtained from each counterparty. See Note 7 Derivative Instruments and Note 11 Debt.

     Level 3 — This level is defined as unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. The equity put and call agreements with the TRIP equity investor are valued based on cash flow projections and certain assumptions regarding the likelihood of exercising the option under the related agreement. See Note 6 Investment in TRIP Holdings.