2.2.0.25falsefalse0202 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurementtruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Jan-01-2011_Mar-31-2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000721683duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0tss_FairValueMeasurementAbstracttssfalsenadurationFair value measurement.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringFair value measurement.falsefalseFair Value Measurement [Abstract]3false0us-gaap_FairValueDisclosuresTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00  <div align="left" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><b>Note 2 — Fair Value Measurement</b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     ASC 820, <i>“Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure,” </i>requires disclosure about how fair value is determined for assets and liabilities and establishes a hierarchy for which these assets and liabilities must be grouped, based on significant level of inputs. The three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies, is as follows: </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 2%"><b>Level 1 </b>– Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 2%"><b>Level 2 </b>– Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 2%"><b>Level 3 </b>– Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued authoritative guidance under ASC 825, <i>“Financial Instruments.” </i>ASC 825 permits the Company to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. Upon adoption of the guidance on January 1, 2008, TSYS did not elect the fair value option for any financial instrument it did not currently report at fair value. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     Goodwill and certain intangible assets not subject to amortization are assessed annually for impairment in the second quarter of each year using fair value measurement techniques. Specifically, goodwill impairment is determined using a two-step test. The first step of the goodwill impairment test is used to identify potential impairment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its book value, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its book value, goodwill is considered not impaired and the second step of the impairment test is unnecessary. If the book value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. The second step of the goodwill impairment test compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the book value of that goodwill. If the book value of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the fair value of the reporting unit was the purchase price paid to acquire the reporting unit. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The estimate of fair value of the Company’s reporting units is determined using various valuation techniques, including using the combination of the market approach and the income approach. The market approach, which contains Level 2 inputs, utilizes readily available market valuation multiples to estimate fair value. The income approach is a valuation technique that utilizes the discounted cash flow (DCF) method, which includes Level 3 inputs. Under the DCF method, the fair value of the asset reflects the present value of the projected earnings that will be generated by each asset after taking into account the revenues and expenses associated with the asset, the relative risk that the cash flows will occur, the contribution of other assets, and an appropriate discount rate to reflect the value of the invested capital. Cash flows are estimated for future periods based upon historical data and projections by management. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     At March 31, 2011, the Company had recorded goodwill in the amount of $322.0 million. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt and obligations under capital leases is not significantly different from its carrying value. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged NotefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringThis item represents the complete disclosure regarding the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments, assets, and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the Company is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risk is are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 15B -Subparagraph a, b Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 3, 10, 14, 15 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44A, 44B Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32, 33, 34 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 15C, 15D Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph a-d Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 159 -Paragraph 17-22, 27, 28 falsefalseFair Value Measurement12Fair Value MeasurementUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue