13)	Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was 29.3% and 29.1%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to the geographic mix of income and profits earned by the Company’s international subsidiaries being taxed at rates lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate and the deduction for domestic production activities. The Company’s effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was (2.0)% and 16.3%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to the discrete release of income tax reserves related to the effective settlement of foreign tax examinations in the first and third quarters of 2014. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 also benefited from a third quarter discrete release of income tax reserves related to the expiration of the statute of limitations for a previously open tax year and a third quarter discrete benefit resulting from foreign tax credits recognized on the payment of a dividend from a foreign subsidiary. The geographic mix of income and profits earned by the Company’s international subsidiaries being taxed at rates lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate and the deduction for domestic production activities also had an impact in reducing the effective tax rate in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

As of September 30, 2015, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits, which excludes interest and penalties, was approximately $19,699. At December 31, 2014, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits, which excludes interest and penalties, was approximately $19,610. The net increase from December 31, 2014 was primarily attributable to an increase in the reserve for domestic production activities. As of September 30, 2015, if these benefits were recognized in a future period, the timing of which is not estimable, the net unrecognized tax benefit of $11,714, excluding interest and penalties, would impact the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company accrues interest expense, and if applicable, penalties, for any uncertain tax positions. Interest and penalties are classified as a component of income tax expense. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had accrued interest on unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $763 and $578, respectively.

Over the next 12 months it is reasonably possible that the Company may recognize approximately $950 of previously net unrecognized tax benefits related to various U.S. federal, state and foreign tax positions primarily as a result of the expiration of certain statutes of limitations.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to examination by federal, state and foreign tax authorities. The Internal Revenue Service commenced an examination of the Company’s U.S. federal tax filings for tax years 2011 through 2013 during the quarter ended March 31, 2015. As a result, the U.S. statute of limitations remains open between tax years 2011 through present. However, carryforward amounts from prior years may still be adjusted upon examination by tax authorities if they are used in a future period. The statute of limitations for the Company’s tax filings in other jurisdictions varies between fiscal years 2008 through the present.