Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands):



	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
Unsecured notes	$	250,000		$	250,000
Unamortized issuance costs	(2,024		)	(2,139		)
	$	247,976		$	247,861

In August 2011, the Company issued $250 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.750% senior unsecured notes due September 1, 2016 (the “Notes”). The net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes were approximately $247.7 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses, which are being amortized over a period of five years. Interest is payable on the Notes semiannually in arrears on March 1 and September 1, which commenced March 1, 2012. The proceeds from the Notes are being used for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital and capital expenditure needs, business acquisitions and repurchases of the Company’s common stock.