Summary By Business Segment

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Segment Reporting, Measurement Disclosures [Abstract]

Summary By Business Segment

SUMMARY BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

Business segment information for the Company’s Distribution and All Other Operations business segments is presented below for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. Certain reclassifications were made to the presentation of business segment operating results for the prior year to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications were primarily the result of changes made to the allocation of corporate operating expenses. Although corporate operating expenses are generally allocated to each business segment based on sales dollars, the Company reports expenses (excluding depreciation) related to the implementation of its SAP system under selling, distribution and administrative expenses in the eliminations and other column below. Previously, these costs were allocated to each business segment based on sales dollars. Costs associated with the Company's withdrawal from various MEPPs, which were previously allocated to each business segment based on the respective segment incurring the costs, are also reported under selling, distribution and administrative expenses in the eliminations and other column below. Consolidated operating income and net earnings for the prior periods were not impacted by these reclassifications. Additionally, the legal, professional and other fees incurred as a result of the Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. (“Air Products”) unsolicited takeover attempt (see Note 19), the restructuring charges and other related costs associated with the Company’s divisional realignment (see Note 17), and the impairment charge (see Note 18) were not allocated to the Company’s business segments, and are reflected in the eliminations and other column below.

	Three Months Ended										Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
(In thousands)	Distribution		All Other Ops.		Eliminations and Other			Total			Distribution		All Other Ops.		Eliminations and Other			Total
Gas and rent	$	611,005	$	119,409	$	(8,959	)	$	721,455		$	564,134	$	104,277	$	(7,808	)	$	660,603
Hardgoods	430,724		1,578		(6		)	432,296			372,570		1,298		(7		)	373,861
Total net sales	1,041,729		120,987		(8,965		)	1,153,751			936,704		105,575		(7,815		)	1,034,464
Cost of products sold (excluding depreciation)	467,999		61,782		(8,965		)	520,816			411,057		54,975		(7,815		)	458,217
Selling, distribution and administrative expenses	379,894		40,002		13,154			433,050			352,238		33,653		2,071			387,962
Restructuring and other special charges	—		—		2,431			2,431			—		—		—			—
Costs (benefits) related to unsolicited takeover attempt	—		—		(1,170		)	(1,170		)	—		—		17,558			17,558
Depreciation	56,695		4,880		—			61,575			52,249		3,882		—			56,131
Amortization	5,171		1,266		—			6,437			5,069		1,161		—			6,230
Operating income	$	131,970	$	13,057	$	(14,415	)	$	130,612		$	116,091	$	11,904	$	(19,629	)	$	108,366
	Nine Months Ended										Nine Months Ended
	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
(In thousands)	Distribution		All Other Ops.		Eliminations and Other			Total			Distribution		All Other Ops.		Eliminations and Other			Total
Gas and rent	$	1,827,302	$	404,554	$	(28,584	)	$	2,203,272		$	1,683,551	$	354,969	$	(23,436	)	$	2,015,084
Hardgoods	1,297,343		4,533		(14		)	1,301,862			1,129,278		4,439		(18		)	1,133,699
Total net sales	3,124,645		409,087		(28,598		)	3,505,134			2,812,829		359,408		(23,454		)	3,148,783
Cost of products sold (excluding depreciation)	1,414,059		218,716		(28,598		)	1,604,177			1,245,419		187,526		(23,454		)	1,409,491
Selling, distribution and administrative expenses	1,131,263		120,258		28,412			1,279,933			1,059,037		100,070		16,018			1,175,125
Restructuring and other special charges	—		—		18,261			18,261			—		—		—			—
Costs (benefits) related to unsolicited takeover attempt	—		—		(7,870		)	(7,870		)	—		—		26,032			26,032
Depreciation	168,026		14,198		—			182,224			155,169		11,441		—			166,610
Amortization	15,075		3,766		—			18,841			15,158		3,485		—			18,643
Operating income	$	396,222	$	52,149	$	(38,803	)	$	409,568		$	338,046	$	56,886	$	(42,050	)	$	352,882