2.2.0.25falsefalse006120 - Disclosure - STOCK-BASED COMPENSATIONtruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$c00032http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000072020duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00u000Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170u001Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0u002Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0gas_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstractgasfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse| 1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse | Otherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse
3false0us-gaap_DisclosureOfCompensationRelatedCostsShareBasedPaymentsTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse| 1falsefalsefalse00<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><table style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" align="center" border="0"><tr style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="top"><td style="WIDTH: 18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">11.</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Nicor has a long-term incentive compensation plan that permits the granting of restricted stock units and  performance units to key executives and managerial employees, as well as a stock deferral plan, an employee stock purchase plan and directors’ stock-based compensation plans.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">At December 31, 2010, there was $3.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to all nonvested share-based compensation arrangements.  That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately two years.  The company recognized compensation cost and related tax effects for all share-based compensation arrangements for the years ended December 31 as follows (in millions):</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" align="center"><table style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tr style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="33%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2010</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2009</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2008</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="33%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="33%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Operating and maintenance expense</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">8.6</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">5.2</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2.9</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="33%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Income tax benefits</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 11.85pt"></font>3.4</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 11.85pt"></font>2.1</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 11.85pt"></font>1.2</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr></table></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Cash flows related to stock options for the years ended December 31 were as follows (in millions):</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" align="center"><table style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tr style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="33%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2010</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2009</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2008</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="33%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="33%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Proceeds from the exercise of stock options</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">9.8</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">.3</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">1.7</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="33%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Associated income tax benefits realized</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 18.7pt"></font>.8</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 19.75pt"></font>-</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 18.5pt"></font>.1</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr></table></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The difference between the proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the par value of the stock is recorded within Paid-in capital on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Restricted stock units.</font>  Restricted stock units represent shares of common stock that generally vest based on continued employment at the end of a four-year period.  Vesting can be accelerated due to certain events such as retirement eligibility, change in control, death or disability.  The fair value of restricted stock units is determined using the company’s closing stock price on the grant date.  Compensation cost, measured using the grant date fair value adjusted for a historical forfeiture rate, is recognized over the requisite service period.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">A summary of the status of the company’s restricted stock units and changes during the year ended December 31, 2010 is as follows:</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"> </div><div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" align="center"><table style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tr><td valign="bottom" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="9%" colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="9%" colspan="2"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Weighted-</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="9%" colspan="2"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Number</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="9%" colspan="2"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">average grant-</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid" valign="bottom" width="9%" colspan="2"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">of shares</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid" valign="bottom" width="9%" colspan="2"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">date fair value</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="9%" colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="9%" colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="36%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Nonvested at January 1, 2010</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">205,195</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">37.86</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="36%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Granted</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">57,280</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 5.35pt"></font>42.64</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="36%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Vested</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(115,680</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 5.35pt"></font>38.81</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="36%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Forfeited</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(3,620</font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 5.35pt"></font>39.44</font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="36%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Nonvested at December 31, 2010</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">143,175</font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 5.35pt"></font>38.97</font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr></table></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Performance units.</font>  Performance units represent cash payments which are paid out based on a measure of relative total shareholder return.  Performance units are earned at the end of a three-year performance period depending on Nicor’s three-year total shareholder return relative to the performance of other </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">companies in a predetermined utility industry peer group.  Units vest over approximately three years and can be accelerated due to certain events such as retirement, change in control, death or disability.  The liability for the performance units is adjusted to fair value each quarter-end, and compensation cost is ultimately measured as the settlement date fair value (or cash payment).  Interim fair values are estimated by discounting probability-weighted expected cash flows.  The company paid $1.0 million, $1.0 million and $0.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, to settle performance unit obligations.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Other.  </font>Among the company’s<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> </font>other stock-based compensation plans are liability awards that are re-measured to fair value at the end of each period.  Such re-measurements can cause fluctuations in the amount of recognized compensation expense.  The company’s other stock-based compensation plans had an immaterial impact on net income for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.</font></div>11.STOCK-BASED COMPENSATIONNicor has a long-term incentive compensation plan that permits the granting of restricted stock units and  performancefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse | Otherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringDisclosure of compensation-related costs for share-based compensation which may include disclosure of policies, compensation plan details, allocation of stock compensation, incentive distributions, share-based arrangements to obtain goods and services, deferred compensation arrangements, employee stock ownership plan details and employee stock purchase plan details.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph 64, 65, A240
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Number 93-6
-Paragraph 53
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 14
falsefalse
12STOCK-BASED COMPENSATIONUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue