Income Tax Expense

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Income Tax Expense [Abstract]

Income Tax Expense

9.     INCOME TAX EXPENSE

The second quarter 2012 effective income tax rate was 38.6% compared to 37.2% in the second quarter of 2011. The effective income tax rate in the first six months of 2012 was 38.2% compared to 34.7% in the prior year period. The income tax expense in the second quarter and first six months of 2012 was unfavorably impacted by a $0.5 million write-down of a purchase accounting deferred asset increasing the second quarter and year-to-date effective tax rate by 3.2% and 2.1%, respectively. The income tax expense in the first six months of 2011 was favorably impacted by net research tax credits of $0.4 million, reducing the rate for the first six months of 2011 by 1.2%, as a result of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. The Company estimates the annual effective income tax rate for fiscal 2012 will be approximately 35%.

        There was no material change in the unrecognized tax benefits of the Company during the three-month period ended  

        March 31, 2012.  The Company anticipates a $1.8 million reduction in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits in the

        next twelve months as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations.