Note 9: Income Taxes

The Company's effective tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were 19.6% and 23.1%, respectively. The tax provision was reduced by:

·	realization of certain tax benefits totaling $18.4 million associated with tax planning strategies put in place in prior years,

·	the recognition of certain historical tax benefits totaling $12.2 million as prior uncertainty regarding those benefits has been resolved during the first nine months of 2011, and

·	a reduction in the tax provision of $4.8 million from the finalization of prior year tax returns.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded income tax benefits of $75.0 million, with a corresponding increase in its unrecognized tax benefits accrual, which resulted in no net impact to capital in excess of par value or earnings.