NOTE 5 INCOME TAXES

Income before income taxes consists of:




Years Ended December 31,	2013		2012		2011

United States	$	28,968	$	58,250	$	54,161
International		235,415		183,123		220,781

Total	$	264,383	$	241,373	$	274,942

The provision (benefit) for income taxes is comprised of:

Years Ended December 31,	2013			2012			2011

Current:
U.S. Federal	$	7,174		$	17,027		$	21,974
State/Local		(631	)		491			1,008
International		79,070			70,450			66,326

	$	85,613		$	87,968		$	89,308

Deferred:
U.S. Federal/State	$	9,575		$	8,757		$	2,976
International		(2,731	)		(17,772	)		(972	)

	$	6,844		$	(9,015	)	$	2,004

Total	$	92,457		$	78,953		$	91,312

The difference between the actual income tax provision and the tax provision computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 35.0% in 2013, 2012 and 2011 to income before income taxes is as follows:




Years Ended December 31,	2013			2012			2011

Income tax at statutory rate	$	92,534		$	84,481		$	96,230
State income taxes (benefits), net of federal benefit (tax)		(610	)		717			1,074
Provision for distribution of current foreign earnings		11,388			9,552			10,325
Rate differential on earnings of foreign operations		(10,167	)		(14,865	)		(14,497	)
Other items, net		(688	)		(932	)		(1,820	)

Actual income tax provision	$	92,457		$	78,953		$	91,312


Effective income tax rate		35.0	%		32.7	%		33.2	%

The tax provision for 2013 reflects an increase of $6.7 million due to tax law changes in France. These changes were enacted on December 31, 2013 but retroactive to January 1, 2013. An additional $2.3 million of tax was incurred as a result of new French distribution taxes effective for distributions after August 17, 2012. The increases were partially offset by a benefit of $3.6 million from the expected use of net operating losses in Brazil and a benefit of $1.4 million from a tax law change in Italy.

The tax provision for 2012 reflects the benefit of $0.7 million in Brazil related to claims filed under a program to encourage equity funding of Brazilian entities and deferred tax benefits of $1.8 million, due in part to the merger of some of the company's Indian operations. These benefits were partially offset by $0.7 million of additional expense created by tax law changes enacted in 2012 in France.

The tax provision for 2011 reflects the benefit of $0.7 million in Brazil related to claims filed under a program to encourage equity funding of Brazilian entities. An income tax surcharge enacted in France in December 2011 resulted in additional tax expense of $1.2 million in 2011.

Significant deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are comprised of the following temporary differences:

	2013			2012

Deferred Tax Assets:
Pension liabilities	$	21,106		$	36,376
Stock options		10,785			15,700
Net operating loss carryforwards		6,675			7,084
U.S. state tax credits		6,192			3,441
Vacation		6,109			5,325
Workers compensation		4,180			4,511
Inventory		3,866			4,567
Accruals		2,084			2,502
Other		9,759			8,213

Total gross deferred tax assets		70,756			87,719
Less valuation allowance		(4,840	)		(7,033	)

Net deferred tax assets		65,916			80,686

Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Depreciation, amortization and leases		61,316			58,587
Acquisition related intangibles		20,100			19,346

Total gross deferred tax liabilities		81,416			77,933

Net deferred tax assets	$	(15,500	)	$	2,753

There is no expiration date on $5.3 million of the tax-effected net operating loss carryforwards and $1.4 million (tax effected) will expire in the years 2014 to 2028. The U.S. state tax credit carryforwards of $6.2 million (tax effected) will expire in the years 2014 to 2028. The total amount of both net operating losses and state tax credit carryforwards that will expire in 2014 is $0.1 million. This amount is not expected to be used.

The Company evaluates the deferred tax assets and records a valuation allowance when it is believed it is more likely than not that the benefit will not be realized. The Company has established a valuation allowance of $1.4 million of the $6.7 million of tax effected net operating loss carry forwards. These losses are in start-up jurisdictions or locations that have not produced an operating profit to date. A valuation allowance of $2.9 million has been established against the $6.2 million of U.S. state tax credit carry forwards. A valuation allowance of $0.5 million has been established related to other future tax deductions in non-U.S. jurisdictions, the benefit of which management believes will not be realized.

The Company repatriated a portion of non-U.S. subsidiary earnings in 2013, 2012, and 2011 in the amounts of $79 million, $79 million, and $82 million, respectively. All of these amounts were received from our European operations except for $1.3 million from Canada in 2012. All repatriations from Europe were from current year earnings and not from funds previously considered permanently reinvested. The $1.3 million of Canadian funds were distributed as the result of the completion of our 2009 restructuring activities within Canada. The tax effects related to these repatriations were recorded in the period the repatriation decision was made.

As of December 31, 2013, the Company had $1.1 billion of undistributed earnings from non-U.S. subsidiaries which have been designated as permanently reinvested. The Company has not made a provision for U.S. or additional foreign taxes on this amount as it is not practical to estimate the amount of additional tax that might be payable on these undistributed non-U.S. earnings. These earnings will continue to be reinvested indefinitely and could become subject to additional tax if they were remitted as dividends or lent to a U.S. affiliate, or if the Company should sell its stock in the subsidiaries.

The Company has not provided for taxes on certain tax-deferred income of a foreign operation. The income arose predominately from government grants. Taxes of approximately $2.4 million would become payable in the event the terms of the grant are not fulfilled.

INCOME TAX UNCERTAINTIES

The Company provides a liability for the amount of tax benefits realized from uncertain tax positions. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of income tax uncertainties is as follows:

	2013			2012			2011


Balance at January 1	$	8,464		$	9,071		$	10,893
Increases based on tax positions for the current year		110			245			150
Increases based on tax positions of prior years		381			107			128
Decreases based on tax positions of prior years		(92	)		(257	)		(1,090	)
Settlements		(515	)		(21	)		(457	)
Lapse of statute of limitations		(360	)		(681	)		(553	)

Balance at December 31	$	7,988		$	8,464		$	9,071

The amount of income tax uncertainties that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate is $7.8 million. The Company estimates that it is reasonably possible that the liability for uncertain tax positions will decrease no more than $5 million in the next twelve months from the resolution of various uncertain positions as a result of the completion of tax audits, litigation and the expiration of the statute of limitations in various jurisdictions.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income taxes. As of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company had approximately $0.9 million, $1.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively, accrued for the payment of interest and penalties, of which approximately ($0.4) million, ($0.1) million and ($0.2) million was recognized in income tax expense in the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The Company or its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The major tax jurisdictions the Company files in, with the years still subject to income tax examinations, are listed below:

	Major Tax Jurisdiction		Tax Years Subject to Examination

	United States — Federal		2009 – 2013
	United States — State		2004 – 2013
	France		2011 – 2013
	Germany		2011 – 2013
	Italy		2009 – 2013
	Switzerland		2004 – 2013