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Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes

The Company's provision for income taxes is based upon an estimated annual tax rate for the year applied to federal, state and foreign income. On a quarterly basis, the annual effective tax rate is adjusted, as appropriate, based upon changed facts and circumstances, if any, as compared to those forecasted at the beginning of the fiscal year and each interim period thereafter.

At March 31, 2012, the Company's annual effective tax rate is estimated to be 26%. The Company's annual effective tax rate was estimated to be 24% at March 31, 2011. These rates differ from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to foreign rates which differ from those in the U.S., the realization of certain business tax credits, including foreign tax credits, and favorable permanent differences between book and tax treatment for certain items, including equity in affiliates' earnings. The estimated annual effective tax rate for 2012 is higher than the estimated annual effective tax rate for 2011 primarily due to the Company's increased profitability in higher taxed jurisdictions.