NOTE 7 – INCOME TAXES

A roll-forward of unrecognized tax benefits and associated accrued interest and penalties is as follows:


(in millions)	Unrecognized Tax Benefits		Interest and Penalties		Total

Opening balance at January 1, 2017	$	2.2	$	0.1	$	2.3
Decrease for prior period tax positions		0.0		0.0		0.0

Closing balance at March 31, 2017		2.2		0.1		2.3
Current		0.0		0.0		0.0

Non-current	$	2.2	$	0.1	$	2.3

All of the unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties, would impact our effective tax rate if recognized.

We recognize accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as part of income taxes in our consolidated statements of income.

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns with the U.S. federal government, and various state and foreign jurisdictions. As previously disclosed, one of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries is currently subject to a state tax examination in respect of 2012 through to 2014 inclusive. The Company currently anticipates that adjustments, if any, arising out of this tax audit would not result in a material change to the Company’s financial position as at March 31, 2017.

The Company and its U.S. subsidiaries remain open to examination by the IRS for years 2013 onwards. The Company’s subsidiaries in foreign tax jurisdictions are open to examination including France (2013 onwards), Germany (2015 onwards), Switzerland (2015 onwards) and the United Kingdom (2015 onwards).

The Company is in a position to control whether or not to repatriate foreign earnings and we currently do not expect to make a repatriation in the foreseeable future. No taxes have been provided for on the unremitted earnings of our overseas subsidiaries as any tax basis differences relating to investments in these overseas subsidiaries are considered to be indefinite in duration. The amount of unremitted earnings at December 31, 2016 was approximately $788 million. If these earnings are remitted, additional taxes could result after offsetting foreign income taxes paid although the calculation of the additional taxes is not practicable to compute at this time.