Note 4 — Income Taxes

The deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities and related valuation allowance were comprised of the following:

	December 31,
	2015			2014
Deferred tax assets:
Derivative financial instruments	$	267		$	2,461
Net operating losses		5,525			7,075
Research and development credits		21,494			26,204
Depreciation		3,886			3,456
Valuation reserves and accrued liabilities		5,553			4,788
Foreign tax credit		1,654			823
Stock compensation		3,129			2,006
Inventory		1,622			1,443
Patents		156			138
Defined benefit obligation		2,011			1,479
Other credits		639			593
Other		10			144
		45,946			50,610
Valuation allowance		(13,418	)		(18,037	)
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangible assets		(10,161	)		(14,593	)
Unrealized foreign currency exchange gains		(3,797	)		(2,855	)
Undistributed profits of subsidiary		(3,254	)		(293	)
Property and equipment		(696	)		(162	)
Other		(342	)		(384	)
		(18,250	)		(18,287	)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$	14,278		$	14,286

Reconciliations between the statutory Federal income tax rate of 34% and the effective rate of income tax expense for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 are as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
Statutory Federal income tax rate		34.0	%		34.0	%		34.0	%
Increase (Decrease) resulting from:
U.S. Taxes on foreign income, net of taxes paid credit		1.0	%		0.3	%		(1.7	%)
Change in valuation allowance		(1.9	%)		(0.8	%)		—
Foreign, state and local tax, net of Federal benefit		1.6	%		1.9	%		3.6	%
Nondeductible expenses		1.8	%		1.8	%		1.4	%
Stock option compensation		(0.1	%)		(0.1	%)		(0.5	%)
Research and development credits		(0.9	%)		(0.5	%)		(2.3	%)
Effect of different tax rates of foreign jurisdictions		(12.1	%)		(10.0	%)		(10.8	%)
Undistributed profits of subsidiaries		2.4	%		—			—
Other tax exempt income		(0.1	%)		(0.9	%)		—
Other		0.3	%		(0.1	%)		0.3	%
Effective rate		26.0	%		25.6	%		24.0	%

Note 4 — Income Taxes (Continued)

The Company has Net Operating Loss (“NOL”) carryforwards as follows:

Jurisdiction	Amount as of December 31, 2015		Years of Expiration
U.S. Federal and state income tax	$	47,869		2018- 2034
Foreign	$	5,719		2018-2020
Foreign	$	5,000		Indefinite

On April 1, 2014, we acquired all of the stock of GPT in an all cash transaction. The deferred tax assets in 2015 and 2014 related to research and development credits and the offsetting valuation allowance is primarily a result of the GPT acquisition.

A portion of the U.S. Federal NOLs were incurred prior to the June 8, 1999 Preferred Financing, which qualified as a change in ownership under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). Due to this change in ownership, the NOL accumulated prior to the change in control can only be utilized against current earnings up to a maximum annual limitation of approximately $591. As a result of the annual limitation, approximately $6,025 remaining of these carryforwards are expected to expire before ultimately becoming available to reduce future tax liabilities in addition to $13,324 in NOLs generated prior to the change in control which have already expired without being utilized.

In 2013 through 2015, we incurred NOLs in China and Vietnam associated with the startup activities of new production facilities. In 2015, we incurred a loss in Ukraine associated with foreign currency losses. These NOLs are expected to be utilized in 2016 through 2018 as the locations become profitable. We also incur NOLs in Luxembourg associated with our global holding company structure. Management has concluded that it is more likely than not these NOLs will not be utilized, and thus has not recognized the benefit of these NOLs.

We recognize the tax benefit of stock option exercises in excess of compensation expense recorded for financial reporting purposes directly to paid-in capital only when this excess tax benefit provides a reduction to current taxes payable. In certain tax years, our U.S. Federal NOLs completely offset our current Federal tax liability and, therefore, we did not recognize the benefit of tax deductions allowed for stock option exercises in excess of compensation expense recognized for financial reporting purposes. As such, our deferred tax asset related to NOLs is less than the actual NOL available. We recorded this benefit, which totaled $6,681 and $1,831 for 2015 and 2014, respectively, directly to paid-in capital related to stock compensation tax deductions. The U.S. Federal NOL carryforwards include $22,343 relating to deductions taken with respect to stock option exercises in excess of amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes. This portion of the NOL carryforwards is not included as a component of the Company’s deferred tax asset.

The earnings before for income taxes and our tax provision are comprised of the following:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2013
Income before income taxes:
Domestic	$	25,508	$	11,170	$	6,891
Foreign		103,430		83,051		39,339
Total income before income taxes	$	128,938	$	94,221	$	46,230

Note 4 — Income Taxes (Continued)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
Current income tax expense:
Federal	$	8,428		$	4,005		$	690
State and local		606			(15	)		495
Foreign		24,622			24,737			9,959
Total current income tax expense	$	33,656		$	28,727		$	11,144
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	$	(3,051	)	$	(576	)	$	12
State and local		(183	)		9			(95	)
Foreign		3,123			(4,058	)		36
Total deferred income tax expense	$	(111	)	$	(4,625	)	$	(47	)
Total tax expense	$	33,545		$	24,102		$	11,097

The Company has recognized deferred taxes related to earnings from foreign subsidiaries, except for certain foreign subsidiaries for which the earnings are permanently reinvested. Quantification of the deferred tax liability, if any, associated with permanently reinvested basis differences is not practicable.

The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and various state and foreign jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2015, the Company’s tax years from 2008 through 2015 are subject to examination by the various tax authorities. With limited exceptions, as of December 31, 2015, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal, state, local, or foreign examinations by tax authorities for years before 2008. A U.S. Federal tax audit is currently ongoing for the 2013 tax year, as well as a Michigan state tax audit for the 2011 tax year. Tax audits are currently ongoing in Germany for tax years 2008 through 2011, and Hungary for tax years 2013 and 2014.

In 2015, the Company received a tax holiday related to its new operating facility in Macedonia. The benefits under this holiday will expire no later than 2025.

At December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company had total unrecognized tax benefits of $4,443, $4,651 and $2,241, respectively, all of which, if recognized, would affect the effective income tax rates. The reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
Balance at beginning of year	$	4,651		$	2,241		$	2,191
Additions based on tax position related to current year		—			43			2
Additions based on tax positions related to prior year		262			2,991			580
Reductions from settlements and statute of limitation expiration		(19	)		(432	)		(599	)
Effect of foreign currency translation		(451	)		(192	)		67
Balance at end of year	$	4,443		$	4,651		$	2,241

The Company classifies income tax-related penalties and net interest as income tax expense. In the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 income tax related interest and penalties were insignificant. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that there may be a decrease to its unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months due to audit settlements and statute expirations, but the amount expected to reverse is insignificant.