INCOME TAXES:	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Income Taxes
Income Taxes	Note 3 — Income Taxes The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company remains subject to examination by U.S. federal and state and foreign tax authorities for the years 2012 through 2014. With few exceptions, including audit examinations of the Company’s amended U.S. income tax returns for 2009 and 2010, and its 2011 and 2012 U.S. income tax returns, the Company is no longer subject to examination by tax authorities for the year 2011 and prior. The consolidated effective tax rates were 31.5% and 27.9% in third quarter 2015 and 2014, respectively, and 30.2% and 32.8% in nine months 2015 and 2014, respectively. The effective tax rate in third quarter 2014 benefited from a release of a valuation allowance relating to capital loss carry-forwards and the filing of federal amended income tax returns. The lower effective tax rates in nine months 2015 principally reflect a $1,066 release of an uncertain income tax liability and resulting income tax benefit due to a decision by a foreign court issued in second quarter 2015, and the reversal of deferred tax assets of $2,350 in first quarter 2014 relating to the step acquisition of the Spanish companies as discussed in Note 10.

INCOME TAXES:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Note 3 — Income Taxes

The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company remains subject to examination by U.S. federal and state and foreign tax authorities for the years 2012 through 2014. With few exceptions, including audit examinations of the Company’s amended U.S. income tax returns for 2009 and 2010, and its 2011 and 2012 U.S. income tax returns, the Company is no longer subject to examination by tax authorities for the year 2011 and prior. The consolidated effective tax rates were 31.5% and 27.9% in third quarter 2015 and 2014, respectively, and 30.2% and 32.8% in nine months 2015 and 2014, respectively. The effective tax rate in third quarter 2014 benefited from a release of a valuation allowance relating to capital loss carry-forwards and the filing of federal amended income tax returns. The lower effective tax rates in nine months 2015 principally reflect a $1,066 release of an uncertain income tax liability and resulting income tax benefit due to a decision by a foreign court issued in second quarter 2015, and the reversal of deferred tax assets of $2,350 in first quarter 2014 relating to the step acquisition of the Spanish companies as discussed in Note 10.