Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Stockholders' Equity

v2.4.0.6
Stockholders' Equity
12 Months Ended
Feb. 29, 2012
Stockholders' Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]  
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
16. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

Common stock –

The Company has two classes of common stock, each with a material number of shares outstanding: Class A Common Stock and Class B Convertible Common Stock. Class B Convertible Common Stock shares are convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-to-one basis at any time at the option of the holder. Holders of Class B Convertible Common Stock are entitled to ten votes per share. Holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share and a cash dividend premium. If the Company pays a cash dividend on Class B Convertible Common Stock, each share of Class A Common Stock will receive an amount at least ten percent greater than the amount of the cash dividend per share paid on Class B Convertible Common Stock. In addition, the Board of Directors may declare and pay a dividend on Class A Common Stock without paying any dividend on Class B Convertible Common Stock. However, the Company’s senior credit facility limits the cash dividends that can be paid by the Company on its common stock to an amount determined in accordance with the terms of the 2006 Credit Agreement.

In addition, the Company has a class of common stock with an immaterial number of shares outstanding: Class 1 Common Stock. Shares of Class 1 Common Stock do not generally have voting rights. Class 1 Common Stock shares are convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-to-one basis at any time at the option of the holder, provided that the holder immediately sells the Class A Common Stock acquired upon conversion. Because shares of Class 1 Common Stock are convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock, for each share of Class 1 Common Stock issued, the Company must reserve one share of Class A Common Stock for issuance upon the conversion of the share of Class 1 Common Stock. Holders of Class 1 Common Stock do not have any preference as to dividends, but may participate in any dividend if and when declared by the Board of Directors. If the Company pays a cash dividend on Class 1 Common Stock, each share of Class A Common Stock will receive an amount at least ten percent greater than the amount of cash dividend per share paid on Class 1 Common Stock. In addition, the Board of Directors may declare and pay a dividend on Class A Common Stock without paying a dividend on Class 1 Common Stock. The cash dividends declared and paid on Class B Convertible Common Stock and Class 1 Common Stock must always be the same.

In July 2009, the stockholders of the Company approved an increase in the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock from 315,000,000 shares to 322,000,000 shares, and the number of authorized shares of Class 1 Common Stock from 15,000,000 shares to 25,000,000 shares, thereby increasing the aggregate number of authorized shares of the Company’s common and preferred stock to 378,000,000 shares.

At February 29, 2012, there were 170,736,356 shares of Class A Common Stock and 23,578,116 shares of Class B Convertible Common Stock outstanding, net of treasury stock. In addition, there were 11,549 shares of Class 1 Common Stock outstanding at February 29, 2012.

Stock repurchases –

In April 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $300.0 million of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Convertible Common Stock (the “2011 Authorization”). During the year ended February 28, 2011, the Company repurchased 17,223,404 shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the 2011 Authorization at an aggregate cost of $300.0 million, or an average cost of $17.42 per share, through a collared accelerated stock buyback (“ASB”) transaction that was announced in April 2010. The Company paid the purchase price under the ASB transaction in April 2010, at which time it received an initial installment of 11,016,451 shares of Class A Common Stock. In May 2010, the Company received an additional installment of 2,785,029 shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the early termination of the hedge period on May 10, 2010. In November 2010, the Company received the final installment of 3,421,924 shares of Class A Common Stock following the end of the calculation period on November 24, 2010. The Company used proceeds from revolver borrowings under the 2006 Credit Agreement to pay the purchase price for the repurchased shares. The repurchased shares have become treasury shares. No shares were repurchased during the year ended February 28, 2010.

 

In April 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $500.0 million of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Convertible Common Stock (the “2012 Authorization”). The Board of Directors did not specify a date upon which the 2012 Authorization would expire. Share repurchases under the 2012 Authorization are expected to be accomplished at management’s discretion from time to time based on market conditions, the Company’s cash and debt position, and other factors as determined by management. Shares may be repurchased through open market or privately negotiated transactions. The Company may fund share repurchases with cash generated from operations or proceeds of borrowings under its senior credit facility. Any repurchased shares will become treasury shares.

During the year ended February 29, 2012, the Company repurchased 21,234,266 shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the 2012 Authorization at an aggregate cost of $413.7 million, or an average cost of $19.48 per share, through open market transactions. Subsequent to February 29, 2012, the Company utilized the remaining $86.3 million outstanding under the 2012 Authorization to repurchase 3,970,481 shares of Class A Common Stock at an average cost of $21.74 per share, through open market transactions. In total, the Company has repurchased 25,204,747 shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the 2012 Authorization at an aggregate cost of $500.0 million, or an average cost of $19.84 per share. The Company used proceeds from revolver borrowings under the 2006 Credit Agreement and cash generated from operations to pay the purchase price for the repurchased shares. The repurchased shares have become treasury shares.

In April 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $1.0 billion of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Convertible Common Stock (the “2013 Authorization”). The Board of Directors did not specify a date upon which the 2013 Authorization would expire. Share repurchases under the 2013 Authorization are expected to be accomplished at management’s discretion from time to time based on market conditions, the Company’s cash and debt position, and other factors as determined by management. Shares may be repurchased through open market or privately negotiated transactions. The Company may fund share repurchases with cash generated from operations, proceeds from borrowings under its senior credit facility or proceeds from the April 2012 Senior Notes. Any repurchased shares will become treasury shares. Through April 30, 2012, the Company has repurchased 6,386,051 shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the 2013 Authorization at an aggregate cost of $137.1 million, or an average cost of $21.47 per share. The Company used proceeds from the April 2012 Senior Notes, revolver borrowings under the 2006 Credit Agreement and cash generated from operations to pay the purchase price for repurchased shares.