INCOME TAXES

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

6. INCOME TAXES

As of April 30, 2012, the Company’s liability for gross unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions was $2.0 million of which $1.6 million would decrease the Company’s income tax expense and effective income tax rate if the tax benefits were recognized. A reconciliation of the activity related to the liability for gross unrecognized tax benefits for the six months ended April 30, 2012 is as follows (in thousands):

Balance as of October 31, 2011	$	1,834
Increases related to current year tax positions		196
Lapse of statutes of limitations		(45	)
Balance as of April 30, 2012	$	1,985

There were no material changes in the liability for unrecognized tax positions resulting from tax positions taken during the current or a prior year, settlements with other taxing authorities or a lapse of applicable statutes of limitations. The accrual of interest and penalties related to the unrecognized tax benefits was not material for the six months ended April 30, 2012. Further, the Company does not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to materially change in the next twelve months.

The Company’s effective tax rate in the first six months of fiscal 2012 increased to 34.5% from 31.7% in the first six months of fiscal 2011. The increase is principally due to an income tax credit for qualified research and development activities for the last ten months of fiscal 2010 that was recognized in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 resulting from the retroactive extension of Section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code, “Credit for Increasing Research Activities,” to cover the period from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011. The increase also reflects a higher effective state income tax rate attributable to a fiscal 2012 acquisition and changes in certain state tax laws which impacted state apportionment factors. During fiscal 2011 and 2012, the Company purchased certain noncontrolling interests that also contributed to the increase in the effective tax rate for the six months ended April 30, 2012.

The Company’s effective tax rate in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 increased to 34.7% from 33.0% in the second quarter of fiscal 2011. The increase principally reflects a higher effective state income tax rate attributable to a fiscal 2012 acquisition and changes in certain state tax laws which impacted state apportionment factors. During fiscal 2011 and 2012, the Company purchased certain noncontrolling interests that also contributed to the increase in the effective tax rate for the three months ended April 30, 2012.