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Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
(6) Income Taxes
 
We recorded an income tax expense at an effective rate of 50.7% for the three months ended June 30, 2012, as compared to an effective rate of 47.7% for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The 2012 rate was unfavorably impacted by a change in the overall mix of earnings, primarily a decrease to non-U.S. income. The 50.7% effective tax rate was higher than the U.S. Federal statutory rate of 35% and we currently expect the annual effective tax rate to be in the mid-forty percent range, due primarily to the impact of the mix of U.S. and non-U.S. earnings, valuation allowances, other permanent items, repatriations from non-U.S. entities, discrete items, which relate to reorganization costs described further in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the French business tax. Excluding the impact of the discrete items and the French business tax, our tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 would have been approximately 34% and 37%, respectively. The 2012 tax rate is lower than the 2011 rate due to the impact of tax benefits related to the restructuring of operations.

We recorded an income tax expense at an effective rate of 50.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2012, as compared to an effective rate of 49.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The 2012 rate was unfavorably impacted by a change in the overall mix of earnings, primarily a decrease to non-U.S. income. Excluding the impact of the discrete items and the French business tax, our tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 would have been approximately 35% and 37%, respectively.

As of June 30, 2012, we had gross unrecognized tax benefits related to various tax jurisdictions, including interest and penalties, of $30.6. We had related tax benefits of $3.6, and the net amount of $27.0 would favorably affect the effective tax rate if recognized. As of December 31, 2011, we had gross unrecognized tax benefits related to various tax jurisdictions, including interest and penalties, of $27.0. We had related tax benefits of $3.6 for a net amount of $23.4. We expect $5.0 to $6.0 of our unrecognized tax benefits to reverse due to statute of limitations expiring over the next 12 months.
 
We conduct business globally and, as a result, we are routinely audited by the various tax jurisdictions in which we operate. Generally, the tax years that remain subject to tax examination are 2009 through 2011 for our major operations in Germany, Italy, France, Japan, U.S. and United Kingdom. As of June 30, 2012, we are subject to tax audits in France, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Italy, Norway, Spain, and the U.S. We believe that the resolution of these audits will not have a material impact on earnings.