Note 12 – Income taxes:


	Nine months ended September 30,
	2011			2012
	(In millions)
Expected tax expense, at U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 35%	$	121.4		$	106.8
Incremental tax on earnings of non – U.S. companies		22.9			(5.7	)
Non-U.S. tax rates		(13.0	)		(13.2	)
Adjustment to the reserve for uncertain tax positions, net		(6.7	)		1.7
French dividend surtax		—			.1
U.S. state income taxes and other, net		3.1			2.4

Income tax expense	$	127.7		$	92.1

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.

In the first quarter of 2011, our Component Products Segment recognized a $2.1 million provision for deferred income taxes related to the undistributed earnings of its Canadian subsidiary attributable to the 2011 $7.5 million patent litigation settlement gain.

Our provision for income taxes in the third quarter of 2011 includes $13.2 million for U.S. incremental income taxes on current earnings repatriated from our Chemicals Segment’s German subsidiary, which earnings were used to fund a portion of the repurchases of Kronos’ Senior Secured Notes discussed in Note 9. Our income tax benefit in the third quarter of 2012 includes an incremental tax benefit of $11.1 million associated with the partial reversal of the 2011 incremental tax , as we determined in the third quarter that due to global changes in our Chemicals Segment’s business, we would not remit certain dividends from our Chemicals Segment’s foreign jurisdictions. As a result, certain current year tax attributes are available for carryback to offset prior year tax expense. In addition, we accrue U.S. incremental income taxes on the earnings of our Chemicals Segment’s Canadian subsidiary and the earnings of our Component Products Segment’s Canadian and Taiwanese subsidiaries, which earnings we previously determined are not permanently reinvested.

In the third quarter of 2012, France enacted certain changes in their income tax laws, including a 3% nondeductible surtax on all dividend distributions which is assessed at the time of the distribution against the company making such distribution. Consequently, our Chemicals Segment’s French subsidiary will be required to pay an additional 3% tax on all future dividend distributions. Our undistributed earnings in France are deemed to be permanently reinvested and such tax will be recognized as part of our income tax expense in the period during which the dividend is declared and will be remitted to the French government in accordance with the applicable tax law. During the third quarter, our French subsidiary distributed a $1.8 million dividend. At September 30, 2012, our French subsidiary has undistributed earnings of approximately $18.1 million that, if distributed, would be subject to the 3% surtax.

In 2011 and 2012, our Chemicals Segment received notices of re-assessment from the Canadian federal and provincial tax authorities related to the years 2002 through 2004. We object to the re-assessments and believe the position is without merit. Accordingly, we are appealing the re-assessments and in connection with such appeal we were required to post letters of credit aggregating Cdn. $7.5 million (see Note 9). If the full amount of the proposed adjustment were ultimately to be assessed against us, the cash tax liability would be approximately $15.9 million.

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 currently estimate we will reverse $1.6 million of unrecognized tax benefits during the next twelve months.