Note 6 - Income Taxes
We conduct operations, earn income and are subject to tax in the U.S. and numerous international countries. In many of the international jurisdictions where we operate, tax laws relating to the offshore drilling industry are not well developed and change frequently. Furthermore, in most of the tax jurisdictions where we operate we enter into transactions with affiliates or employ other tax planning strategies that generally are subject to complex tax regulations. As a result of the foregoing, the tax liabilities and benefits we recognize in our financial statements may differ from the tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, in our tax returns. On January 1, 2007, we adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109" ("FIN 48"). Under FIN 48, tax positions are evaluated for recognition using a more-likely-than-not threshold, and those tax positions requiring recognition are measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. As a result of adopting FIN 48, we reported a $5.8 million increase to our January 1, 2007, balance of retained earnings. On January 1, 2007, we had $19.3 million of unrecognized tax benefits, of which $16.0 million would impact our effective tax rate if recognized. Interest and penalties relating to income taxes are included in current income tax expense. Accrued interest and penalties at January 1, 2007, were $9.6 million and $6.3 million, respectively. Our U.S. tax returns for 2004 and subsequent years remain subject to examination by tax authorities. In our international tax jurisdictions, numerous tax years remain subject to examination by tax authorities, including tax returns for at least 2002 and subsequent years in all of our major international tax jurisdictions. During the second quarter of 2007, the taxing authority in an international jurisdiction in which we operate issued a draft interpretation of certain tax laws that is inconsistent with a tax position we have taken and previously recognized approximately $38.0 million of aggregate tax benefits during the current and previous years. We have evaluated the draft interpretation, considering the technical arguments supporting its conclusion, the circumstances of its issuance, its consistency with existing tax code and case law, professional guidance and other available qualitative information and concluded that our uncertain tax position in this jurisdiction continues to meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold of FASB Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109". However, it is reasonably possible that within the next twelve months the taxing authority's interpretation will be revised and re-issued, relevant legislation will be enacted or other related events will take place that cause us to re-evaluate our tax position. Note 7 - Discontinued Operations On December 27, 2006, we sold the ENSCO 25 platform rig for $13.7 million and recognized a pre-tax gain of $5.0 million. The operating results of ENSCO 25 have been reclassified as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006. The ENSCO 29 platform rig sustained substantial damage as a consequence of Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. On January 5, 2006, beneficial ownership of ENSCO 29 effectively transferred to our insurance underwriters when the rig was declared a constructive total loss under the terms of our insurance policies. Accordingly, we received the rig's net insured value of $10.0 million and recognized a pre-tax gain of $7.5 million, which is included in "Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net" in the condensed consolidated statement of income for the six-month period ended June 30, 2006. The operating results of ENSCO 29 have been reclassified as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statement of income for the six-month period ended June 30, 2006. |