Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Stock Based Compensation
Stock options are granted under various stock compensation programs to employees and independent directors (see Note 12). The Company accounts for stock option grants in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" ("APB 25"). For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options is amortized to expense over the options' vesting period. The Company's pro forma information is as follows:

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" and issued its amendments, SFAS No. 137 and 138, in June 1999 and June 2000, respectively. SFAS No. 133, and its subsequent amendments, required the Company to recognize all derivatives on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value beginning January 1, 2001. Derivatives that are not hedges must be adjusted to fair value through income. If the derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of derivatives are either offset against the change in fair value of assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative's change in fair value must be recognized currently in earnings. In 2001, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements, which are deemed to be effective hedges in accordance with SFAS No. 133 (see Note 8). Adoption of Recently Issued Accounting Standards In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations." SFAS No. 141 requires all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 to be accounted for using the purchase method of accounting. SFAS No. 141 also specifies criteria for the recognition of identifiable intangible assets separately from goodwill. We will apply the provisions of SFAS No. 141 to all future business combinations. The adoption of SFAS No. 141 on July 1, 2001 did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets are no longer amortized but will be reviewed at least annually for impairment. Separable intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite life will continue to be amortized over their useful lives.

The nonamortization of goodwill has increased the Company's net income and earnings per share beginning in 2002. Following are pro forma results assuming goodwill had not been amortized prior to January 1, 2002:

 

 

 

 
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