Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2013

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Note P – Income Taxes

          The effective tax rate for the three and six months ended January 31, 2013 was 28.3 percent and 28.9 percent, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three and six months ended January 31, 2012 was 29.6 percent and 27.3 percent, respectively. The decrease in our effective tax rate for the three months ended January 31, 2013 was primarily due to the retroactive reinstatement of the Research and Experimentation Credit in the United States. The prior year six month period included favorable settlements of tax audits of $4.3 million.

          The Company's uncertain tax positions are affected by the tax years that are under audit or remain subject to examination by the relevant taxing authorities. The following tax years, in addition to the current year, remain subject to examination, at least for certain issues, by the major tax jurisdictions indicated:

Major Jurisdictions	Open Tax Years
Belgium	2010 through 2012
China	2002 through 2012
France	2010 through 2012
Germany	2009 through 2012
Italy	2003 through 2012
Japan	2009 through 2012
Mexico	2007 through 2012
Thailand	2005 through 2012
United Kingdom	2011 through 2012
United States	2011 through 2012

          At January 31, 2013, the total unrecognized tax benefits were $18.5 million, and accrued interest and penalties on these unrecognized tax benefits were $1.2 million. The Company recognizes accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. If the Company were to prevail on all unrecognized tax benefits recorded, substantially all of the unrecognized tax benefits would benefit the effective tax rate. With an average statute of limitations of about 5 years, up to $1.1 million of the unrecognized tax benefits could potentially expire in the next 12 month period unless extended by an audit. It is possible that quicker than expected settlement of either current or future audits and disputes would cause additional reversals of previously recorded reserves in the next 12 month period. Currently, the Company has approximately $0.2 million of unrecognized tax benefits that are in formal dispute with various taxing authorities related to transfer pricing and deductibility of expenses. Quantification of an estimated range and timing of future audit settlements cannot be made at this time.