Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Income Taxes	9. Income Taxes The Company's effective tax rate for income from continuing operations was 25.8% and 38.6% for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The difference in the Company’s effective tax rate for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 compared to statutory federal income tax rates was due to the reversal of valuation allowance against foreign tax credit carryovers in the Company’s estimated effective tax rate for 2012. The anticipated use of foreign tax credit carryovers to offset 2012 U.S. federal income taxes is based on estimates concerning 2012 income generated from domestic and foreign sources. The Company maintains valuation allowances against certain deferred tax assets where realization is not reasonably assured. The Company evaluates the likelihood of the realization of deferred tax assets and reduces the carrying amount to the extent it believes a portion will not be realized. The Company’s effective tax rates in future periods could be affected by earnings being lower or higher than anticipated in countries where tax rates differ from the United States federal rate, the relative impact of permanent tax adjustments on higher or lower earnings from domestic operations, changes in net deferred tax asset valuation allowances, completion of acquisitions or divestitures, changes in tax rates or tax laws and the completion of tax audits. The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return, as well as returns required by various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities, including such major jurisdictions as the United States, France, Germany and the Netherlands. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal examinations for years before 2006, state and local examinations for years before 2002, and non-U.S. income tax examinations for years before 2007.

Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

9. Income Taxes

The Company's effective tax rate for income from continuing operations was 25.8% and 38.6% for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The difference in the Company’s effective tax rate for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 compared to statutory federal income tax rates was due to the reversal of valuation allowance against foreign tax credit carryovers in the Company’s estimated effective tax rate for 2012. The anticipated use of foreign tax credit carryovers to offset 2012 U.S. federal income taxes is based on estimates concerning 2012 income generated from domestic and foreign sources.

The Company maintains valuation allowances against certain deferred tax assets where realization is not reasonably assured. The Company evaluates the likelihood of the realization of deferred tax assets and reduces the carrying amount to the extent it believes a portion will not be realized. The Company’s effective tax rates in future periods could be affected by earnings being lower or higher than anticipated in countries where tax rates differ from the United States federal rate, the relative impact of permanent tax adjustments on higher or lower earnings from domestic operations, changes in net deferred tax asset valuation allowances, completion of acquisitions or divestitures, changes in tax rates or tax laws and the completion of tax audits.

The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return, as well as returns required by various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities, including such major jurisdictions as the United States, France, Germany and the Netherlands. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal examinations for years before 2006, state and local examinations for years before 2002, and non-U.S. income tax examinations for years before 2007.