H.	Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2014 is 66.6%, which is higher than the prior year's 46.6%. The fiscal 2014 rate reflects the impact of the valuation allowance on a continued reduced earnings base and increased net foreign earnings. Decreased domestic sales were offset by a reduced Section 199 benefit and reduced research and development tax credit resulting from the expiration of the credit.

The Company maintains valuation allowances when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Changes in valuation allowances from period to period are included in the tax provision in the period of change. In determining whether a valuation allowance is required, the Company takes into account such factors as prior earnings history, expected future earnings, carry-back and carry-forward periods, and tax strategies that could potentially enhance the likelihood of realization of a deferred tax asset. Due to recent operating losses in a certain foreign jurisdiction, the Company has evaluated the realizability of the net deferred tax assets related to this jurisdiction. This evaluation concluded that, based primarily upon recent losses in this jurisdiction and failure to achieve targeted levels of improvement, a full valuation allowance continues to be necessary.

The Company has not provided additional U.S. income taxes on cumulative earnings of consolidated foreign subsidiaries that are considered to be reinvested indefinitely. The Company reaffirms its position that these earnings remain permanently invested, and has no plans to repatriate funds to the U.S. for the foreseeable future. Such earnings could become taxable upon the sale or liquidation of these foreign subsidiaries or upon dividend repatriation. It is not practicable to estimate the amount of unrecognized withholding taxes and deferred tax liability on such earnings. The Company's intent is for such earnings to be reinvested by the subsidiaries or to be repatriated only when it would be tax effective through the utilization of foreign tax credits.

Accounting policies for interim reporting require the Company to adjust its effective tax rate each quarter to be consistent with the estimated annual effective tax rate. Under this effective tax rate methodology, the Company applies an estimated annual income tax rate to its year-to-date ordinary earnings to derive its income tax provision each quarter. The impact of the Company's operations in certain foreign locations is removed from the overall effective tax rate methodology and recorded directly based upon year-to-date results as these operations anticipate net operating losses for the year for which no tax benefit can be recognized.

The Company has approximately $1,900,000 of unrecognized tax benefits, including related interest and penalties, as of March 28, 2014, which if recognized, would favorably impact the effective tax rate. There was no significant change in the total unrecognized tax benefits due to the settlement of audits or the expiration of statutes of limitations during the quarter ended March 28, 2014. It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could change in the next twelve months due to on-going audit activity.

Annually, the Company files income tax returns in various taxing jurisdictions inside and outside the United States. In general, the tax years that remain subject to examination are 2009 through 2013 for the major operations in Italy, Belgium and Japan. The tax years open to federal examination in the U.S. are for the years subsequent to fiscal 2011. The state of Wisconsin income tax audit remains ongoing for fiscal years 2001 through 2009. It is reasonably possible that at least one of these audit cycles will be completed during fiscal 2014.