Derivatives

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2011

Derivatives

Derivatives

Note 11. Derivatives

The Company used derivative financial instruments, in particular, interest rate swaps, to reduce the Company’s exposure to certain previously outstanding variable rate debt. The primary objective of the interest rate swaps was to eliminate the variability of cash flows and interest rate risk for payments made on variable rate debt, the sole source of which is due to changes in the benchmark three month LIBOR interest rate. Changes in the cash flows of the interest rate swap were expected to exactly offset the changes in cash flows (i.e., changes in interest rate payments) attributable to fluctuations in the three month LIBOR on certain previously outstanding variable-rate debt.

The Company records derivatives at their fair value. The classification of gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair values of derivatives is dependent on the Company’s intended use of the derivative and its resulting designation as effective or ineffective. Adjustments to reflect changes in fair values of derivatives that the Company considers highly effective hedges are either reflected in earnings and largely offset by corresponding adjustments to the hedged items, or reflected net of income taxes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged transaction is recognized in earnings, to the extent these derivatives are effective hedges. Changes in the fair value of these derivatives that are attributable to the ineffective portion of the hedges, or of derivatives that are not considered to be highly effective hedges, if any, are immediately recognized in earnings. There were no interest rate swaps outstanding as of and for the period ended September 25, 2011.

The Company’s derivative financial instruments, which are cash flow hedges, were considered ineffective as a result of the interest rate floor that occurred with the first amendment of the First Credit Facility in March 2008. The effect of marking the derivative instruments to market for the nine months ended September 26, 2010 was income of $0.8 million. The fair value of the Company’s derivative liabilities as of December 26, 2010 and September 25, 2011 was $0.3 million and zero, respectively, and is carried in other current liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. See Note 10 for further discussion of the fair value measurements related to the Company’s derivative instruments.