The components of the Company’s income tax provision for the three years ended December 31, 2012 were as follows:

The Company has U.S. federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards for tax purposes, totaling $62,886 as of December 31, 2012, that are available to offset future taxable income. These carry forwards expire from 2023 to 2032. Management estimates that these losses will be fully utilized prior to the expiration date. No valuation allowance has been provided against the federal NOL. In addition, the Company’s foreign subsidiaries have NOL carryforwards aggregating $4,263 which expire from 2027 to 2032. Management has recorded a valuation reserve of $261 against the deferred tax assets recorded for the foreign subsidiary.

The Company has state net operating loss carryforwards with an aggregate tax benefit of $2,963 which expire from 2013 to 2032. Management estimates that the Company will not be able to utilize some of the loss carryforwards in certain states before they expire. A valuation allowance with a year-end balance of $368 has been recorded for these deferred tax assets. In 2012, the valuation allowance for state net operating loss carryforwards increased by $72. The increase was primarily a result of a change in the estimation of the utilization of the net operating losses in the carryforward years.

The Company has a federal capital loss carryforward of $1,015 as of December 31, 2012. This loss is available to offset future capital gains. This loss will expire from 2013 to 2014 if not utilized. Management has recorded a valuation allowance of $374 for this capital loss carryforward to fully offset the deferred tax asset in 2012. Management estimates that the utilization of this capital loss carryforward is uncertain due to the short carryforward period and the uncertainty of generating sufficient capital gains in the carryforward period. In 2012, the valuation allowance for the capital loss carryforward was decreased by $214 in the twelve month period. The decrease was attributed to utilization in the carryforward period. The Company has $232 of general business tax credit carryforwards which expire from 2017 to 2031. A valuation allowance of $149 has been established for these tax credits. The Company has $9 of foreign tax credit carryforwards which expire from 2020 to 2021. A valuation allowance of $9 has been established for these tax credits.

A deferred tax asset of $1,940 has been recorded for costs that were capitalized in connection with the 2010 Merger Transaction. Costs totaling $5,013 were capitalized in connection with the 2010 Merger Transaction including $1,138 of investment banking fees, $1,370 of consulting fees, $1,964 of legal and accounting fees, and $541 of other miscellaneous transaction costs. Certain of these capitalized costs are not amortized under the tax law and can only be recovered for tax purposes under certain circumstances. The Company has established a valuation allowance of $1,940 for the entire amount of the deferred tax asset related to these non-amortizable capitalized costs.

Deferred income taxes reflect the net effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.

The table below reflects the significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2012 and 2011:

The objective of accounting for income taxes is to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and the deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the entity’s financial statements. Hillman is subject to income taxes in the United States and in certain foreign jurisdictions. In general, it is the practice and intention of the Company to reinvest the earnings of its non-U.S. subsidiaries in those operations. As of December 31, 2012, the Company has not made a provision for U.S. or additional foreign withholding taxes on approximately $822 of the excess of the amount for financial reporting over the tax basis of investments in foreign subsidiaries that is indefinitely reinvested. Generally, such amounts become subject to U.S. taxation upon the remittance of dividends and under certain other circumstances. It is not practicable to estimate the amount of deferred tax liability related to investments in these foreign subsidiaries because of the complexities of the hypothetical calculation.

Realization of the net deferred tax assets is dependent on the reversal of deferred tax liabilities and generating sufficient taxable income prior to their expiration. Although realization is not assured, management estimates it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets will be realized. The amount of net deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward periods are reduced.

Below is a reconciliation of statutory income tax rates to the effective income tax rates for the periods indicated:

The Company has recorded a $1,438 decrease in the reserve for unrecognized tax benefits in the twelve month period ended December 31, 2012 related to the expiration of the statute of limitations for an earlier year. The unrecognized tax benefits are shown in the financial statements as a reduction of the deferred tax asset for the Company’s net operating loss carryforwards. A summary of the changes for the last three years follows:

The Company recognizes potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. In conjunction with the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”), an interpretation of FASB No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”, which was codified in ASC 740-10, the Company has not recognized any adjustment of interest or penalties in its consolidated financial statements due to its net operating loss position. The Company does not anticipate a decrease in the unrecognized tax benefits for the tax year ending December 31, 2013.

The Company files a consolidated income tax return in the U.S. and numerous consolidated and separate income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2012, with a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, and foreign tax examinations by tax authorities for the tax years prior to 2009. However, the IRS can make adjustments to losses carried forward by the Company from 2004 forward and utilized on its federal return.