Note 14 - Income taxes:

	Years ended December 31,
	2014			2015			2016
	(In millions)
Pre-tax income (loss):
U.S.	$	59.2		$	5.5		$	11.5
Non-U.S.		74.5			(36.3	)		49.7
Total	$	133.7		$	(30.8	)	$	61.2

Expected tax expense (benefit), at U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 35%	$	46.8		$	(10.8	)	$	21.4
Non-U.S. tax rates		(4.2	)		.5			(4.3	)
Incremental net tax (benefit) on earnings and losses of non-U.S. companies		(3.7	)		(8.7	)		2.2
Valuation allowance		-			159.0			(2.2	)
U.S. - Canada APA		-			-			(3.4	)
Adjustment to the reserve for uncertain tax positions, net		(5.1	)		.7			2.4
Nondeductible expenses		1.9			2.1			1.5
U.S. state income taxes and other, net		(1.2	)		-			.3
Provision for income taxes	$	34.5		$	142.8		$	17.9

Components of income tax expense:
Currently payable:
U.S. federal and state	$	1.9		$	.3		$	-
Non-U.S.		15.2			3.3			9.5
		17.1			3.6			9.5

Deferred income taxes (benefit):
U.S. federal and state		10.0			(6.4	)		4.3
Non-U.S.		7.4			145.6			4.1
		17.4			139.2			8.4
Provision for income taxes	$	34.5		$	142.8		$	17.9

	Years ended December 31,
	2014			2015			2016
	(In millions)
Comprehensive provision for income taxes (benefit) allocable to:
Net income	$	34.5		$	142.8		$	17.9
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Currency translation		(16.9	)		-			-
Marketable securities		(6.7	)		1.1			1.3
Pension plans		(30.1	)		1.5			(.8	)
OPEB plans		(.4	)		(.1	)		(.2	)
Interest rate swap		-			(1.3	)		.2
Total	$	(19.6	)	$	144.0		$	18.4

The amount shown in the above table of our income tax rate reconciliation for non-U.S. tax rates represents the result determined by multiplying the pre-tax earnings or losses of each of our non-U.S. subsidiaries by the difference between the applicable statutory income tax rate for each non-U.S. jurisdiction and the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35%. The amount shown on such table for incremental net tax expense (benefit) on earnings and losses on non-U.S. companies includes, as applicable, (i) current income taxes (including withholding taxes, if applicable), if any, associated with any current-year earnings of our non-U.S. subsidiaries to the extent such current-year earnings were distributed to us in the current year, (ii) deferred income taxes (or deferred income tax benefit) associated with the current-year change in the aggregate amount of undistributed earnings of our Canadian subsidiary, which earnings are not subject to a permanent reinvestment plan, in an amount representing the current-year change in the aggregate current income tax that would be generated (including withholding taxes, if applicable) when such aggregate undistributed earnings are distributed to us, and (iii) current U.S. income taxes (or current income tax benefit), including U.S. personal holding company tax, as applicable, attributable to current-year income (losses) of one of our non-U.S. subsidiaries, which subsidiary is treated as a dual resident for U.S. income tax purposes, to the extent the current-year income (losses) of such subsidiary is subject to U.S. income tax under the U.S. dual-resident provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

The components of our net deferred income taxes at December 31, 2015 and 2016 are summarized in the following table.

	December 31,
	2015						2016
	Assets			Liabilities			Assets			Liabilities
	(In millions)
Tax effect of temporary differences related to:
Inventories	$	3.2		$	(3.5	)	$	3.7		$	(3.7	)
Property and equipment		-			(59.3	)		-			(58.1	)
Accrued OPEB costs		2.0			-			2.0			-
Accrued pension cost		39.4			-			48.3			-
Currency revaluation on intercompany debt		18.6			-			24.0			-
Other accrued liabilities and deductible differences		19.4			-			12.6			-
Other taxable differences		-			(.5	)		-			(.4	)
Tax on unremitted earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries		-			(1.9	)		-			(2.9	)
Tax loss and tax credit carryforwards		157.4			-			145.5			-
Valuation allowance		(168.9	)		-			(173.4	)		-
Adjusted gross deferred tax assets (liabilities)		71.1			(65.2	)		62.7			(65.1	)
Netting by tax jurisdiction		(57.1	)		57.1			(54.6	)		54.6
Net noncurrent deferred tax asset (liability)	$	14.0		$	(8.1	)	$	8.1		$	(10.5	)

We have substantial net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards in Germany (the equivalent of $638 million and $71 million for German corporate and trade tax purposes, respectively, at December 31, 2016) and in Belgium (the equivalent of $93 million for Belgian corporate tax purposes at December 31, 2016), all of which have an indefinite carryforward period. As a result, we have net deferred income tax assets recognized with respect to these two jurisdictions, primarily related to these NOL carryforwards. The German corporate tax is similar to the U.S. federal income tax, and the German trade tax is similar to the U.S. state income tax. Prior to June 30, 2015, and using all available evidence, we had concluded no deferred income tax asset valuation allowance was required to be recognized with respect to these net deferred income tax assets under the more-likely-than-not recognition criteria, primarily because (i) the carryforwards have an indefinite carryforward period, (ii) we utilized a portion of such carryforwards during the most recent three-year period, and (iii) we expect to utilize the remainder of the carryforwards over the long term. We had also previously indicated that facts and circumstances could change, which might in the future result in the recognition of a valuation allowance against some or all of such deferred income tax assets. However, as of June 30, 2015, and given our operating results during the second quarter of 2015 and our expectations at that time for our operating results for the remainder of 2015, we did not have sufficient positive evidence to overcome the significant negative evidence of having cumulative losses in the most recent twelve consecutive quarters in both our German and Belgian jurisdictions at June 30, 2015 (even considering that the carryforward period of our German and Belgian NOL carryforwards is indefinite, one piece of positive evidence). Accordingly, at June 30, 2015, we concluded that we were required to recognize a non-cash deferred income tax asset valuation allowance under the more-likely-than-not recognition criteria with respect to our German and Belgian net deferred income tax assets. Such valuation allowance aggregated $150.3 million at June 30, 2015. We recognized an additional $8.7 million non-cash deferred income tax asset valuation allowance under the more-likely-than-not recognition criteria during the third and fourth quarters of 2015. During 2016, we recognized an aggregate $2.2 million non-cash tax benefit as the result of a net decrease in such deferred income tax valuation allowance, as the impact of utilizing a portion of our German NOLs during such period more than offset the impact of additional losses recognized by our Belgian operations during such period. In addition to the aggregate $159.0 million increase and $2.2 million decrease in the deferred income tax asset valuation allowance recognized as part of the provision for income taxes in 2015 and 2016, respectively, the deferred income tax asset valuation allowance also increased by an aggregate of $9.8 million in 2015 and $6.7 million in 2016 due to amounts recognized in other comprehensive income.

Tax authorities are examining certain of our U.S. and non-U.S. tax returns and have or may propose tax deficiencies, including penalties and interest. Because of the inherent uncertainties involved in settlement initiatives and court and tax proceedings, we cannot guarantee that these tax matters will be resolved in our favor, and therefore our potential exposure, if any, is also uncertain.

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In 2011 and 2012 we received notices of re-assessment from the Canadian federal and provincial tax authorities related to the years 2002 through 2004. We objected to the re-assessments and believed the position was without merit. Accordingly, we appealed the re-assessments and in connection with such appeal we were required to post letters of credit aggregating Cdn. $7.9 million. In 2014, the Appeals Division of the Canadian Revenue Authority ruled in our favor and reversed in their entirety such notices of re-assessment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash income tax benefit of $3.0 million related to the release of a portion of our reserve for uncertain tax positions in 2014 related to the completion of this Canadian income tax audit. In addition, the related letters of credit have been cancelled.

•

Also during 2014, we recognized a non-cash income tax benefit of $3.1 million related to the release of a portion of our reserve for uncertain tax positions in conjunction with the completion of an audit of our U.S. income tax return for 2009.

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As a result of ongoing audits in certain jurisdictions, in 2008 we filed Advance Pricing Agreement Requests with the tax authorities in the U.S., Canada and Germany. These requests have been under review with the respective tax authorities since 2008 and prior to 2016, it was uncertain whether an agreement would be reached between the tax authorities and whether we would agree to execute and finalize such agreements. During 2016, Contran, as the ultimate parent of our U.S. Consolidated income tax group, executed and finalized an Advance Pricing Agreement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and our Canadian subsidiary executed and finalized an Advance Pricing Agreement with the Competent Authority for Canada (collectively, the “U.S.-Canada APA”) effective for tax years 2005 – 2015. Pursuant to the terms of the U.S.-Canada APA, the U.S. and Canadian tax authorities agreed to certain prior year changes to taxable income of our U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries. As a result of such agreed-upon changes, we recognized a $3.4 million current U.S. income tax benefit in 2016. In addition, our Canadian subsidiary will incur a cash income tax payment of approximately CAD $3 million (USD $2.3 million) as a result of the U.S.-Canada APA, but such payment was fully offset by previously provided accruals (such USD $2.3 million has not been paid as of December 31, 2016, and is classified as part of income taxes payable at such date). We currently expect the Advance Pricing Agreement between Canada and Germany (collectively, the “Canada-Germany APA”) to be executed and finalized within the next twelve months. We believe we have adequate accruals to cover any cash income tax payment which might result from the finalization of the Canada-Germany APA, and accordingly we do not expect the execution of such APA to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

We believe we have adequate accruals for additional taxes and related interest expense which could ultimately result from tax examinations. We believe the ultimate disposition of tax examinations should not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

We accrue interest and penalties on our uncertain tax positions as a component of our provision for income taxes. The amount of interest and penalties we accrued during 2014, 2015 and 2016 was not material, and at December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, we had $2.8 million, $2.3 million and $2.5 million, respectively, accrued for interest and penalties for our uncertain tax positions.

The following table shows the changes in the amount of our uncertain tax positions (exclusive of the effect of interest and penalties discussed above) during 2014, 2015 and 2016:

	Years ended December 31,
	2014			2015			2016
	(In millions)
Changes in unrecognized tax benefits:
Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of year	$	15.9		$	10.4		$	9.7
Net increase (decrease):
Tax positions taken in prior periods		(5.4	)		(.3	)		(.1	)
Tax positions taken in current period		1.1			1.1			2.5
Lapse due to applicable statute of limitations		-			(.2	)		(.2	)
Settlements with taxing authorities		-			-			(2.3	)
Change in currency exchange rates		(1.2	)		(1.3	)		.3
Unrecognized tax benefits at end of year	$	10.4		$	9.7		$	9.9

If our uncertain tax positions were recognized, a benefit of $8.8 million, $7.8 million and $10.6 million would affect our effective income tax rates for 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. At December 31, 2016, we currently estimate that our unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by $6.3 million excluding interest during the next twelve months related to certain adjustments to our prior year returns and the expiration of certain statutes of limitations.

We and Contran file income tax returns in U.S. federal and various state and local jurisdictions. We also file income tax returns in various non-U.S. jurisdictions, principally in Germany, Canada, Belgium and Norway. Our U.S. income tax returns prior to 2013 are generally considered closed to examination by applicable tax authorities. Our non-U.S. income tax returns are generally considered closed to examination for years prior to 2012 for Germany, 2013 for Belgium, 2011 for Canada and 2007 for Norway.