Fair Value Measurements Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures

Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820-10, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, requires that for any assets and liabilities stated at fair value on a recurring basis in the Company’s financial statements, the fair value of such assets and liabilities be measured based on the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Level 1 asset and liability values are derived from quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities and Level 2 asset and liability values are derived from quoted prices in inactive markets or based on other observable inputs. The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are categorized in the table below based upon their level within the fair value hierarchy as of June 30, 2012.

Income Taxes - Interim Reporting

Under ASC 740-270, Income Taxes – Interim Reporting, the Company is required to evaluate and make any necessary adjustments to its effective tax rate each quarter as new information is obtained that may affect the assumptions used to estimate its annual effective tax rate. The Company’s assumptions relate to factors such as the projected level and mix of pre-tax earnings in the various tax jurisdictions in which it operates, valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, the recognition or derecognition of tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions, expected utilization of tax credits and changes in or the interpretation of tax laws in jurisdictions in which the Company conducts business. In addition, jurisdictions for which the Company has projected losses for the year, or a year-to-date loss, where no tax benefit can be recognized, are excluded from the calculation of the estimated annual effective tax rate. Changes in the assumptions and the inclusion or exclusion of certain jurisdictions could result in a higher or lower effective tax rate during a particular quarter.

Deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences using enacted statutory tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Temporary differences include the difference between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred taxes is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. In accordance with the provisions of ASC 740, a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is recorded to the extent the Company cannot determine that the ultimate realization of the net deferred tax assets is more likely than not. Realization of deferred tax assets is principally dependent upon the achievement of future taxable income, the estimation of which requires significant management judgment. During the first quarter of 2012, the Company released $1.4 million of its valuation allowance related to certain deferred tax assets due to the expected recovery of certain investments and capital loss carryovers. As of June 30, 2012, the Company could not determine that it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets related to domestic unrealized losses, certain foreign net operating loss carryforwards and other miscellaneous foreign deferred tax assets would be realized. Therefore, the Company has maintained a valuation allowance of $1.5 million against its domestic and certain foreign subsidiaries’ deferred tax assets.

The Company utilizes ASC 740-10-25, Income Taxes – Recognition, which requires income tax positions to meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold to be recognized in the financial statements. Under ASC 740-10-25, tax positions that previously failed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold should be recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more-likely-than-not threshold should be derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met. As a multi-national corporation, the Company is subject to taxation in many jurisdictions, and the calculation of its tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations in various taxing jurisdictions. If the Company ultimately determines that the payment of these liabilities will be unnecessary, it reverses the liability and recognizes a tax benefit during the period in which it determines the liability no longer applies. Conversely, the Company records additional tax charges in a period in which it determines that a recorded tax liability is less than it expects the ultimate assessment to be. As a result of these adjustments, the Company’s effective tax rate in a given financial statement period could be materially affected. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had $16.4 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits and a total of $13.3 million of net unrecognized tax benefits, which, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were not significant as of June 30, 2012.