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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

11.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Regulatory and Litigation Matters

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to certain regulatory and legal proceedings and other claims arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which involve claims for damages and taxes that are substantial in amount. The Company believes that, except for the items discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, for which the Company is currently unable to predict the final outcome, the disposition of proceedings currently pending will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

Historically, the Company has been subject to litigation proceedings and other disputes in Guyana that while not conclusively resolved, to its knowledge have not been the subject of discussions or other significant activity in the last five years. It is possible, but not likely, that these disputes may be revived. The Company believes that none of these additional proceedings would, in the event of an adverse outcome, have a material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operation or liquidity.  For all of the regulatory, litigation, or related matters listed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company believes some adverse outcome is probable and has accordingly accrued $5.0 million as of March 31, 2012.