Note 17 Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments

Leases

Nabors and its subsidiaries occupy various facilities and lease certain equipment under various lease agreements.

The minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases, with lease terms in excess of one year subsequent to December 31, 2015, were as follows:

	(In thousands)
2016	$	10,642
2017	5,640
2018	3,054
2019	1,884
2020	1,090
Thereafter	6,830

	$	29,140

The above amounts do not include property taxes, insurance or normal maintenance that the lessees are required to pay. Rental expense relating to operating leases with terms greater than 30 days amounted to $24.6 million, $39.2 million and $40.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Minimum Volume Commitment

We have contracts with pipeline companies to pay specified fees based on committed volumes for gas transport and processing. Our pipeline contractual commitments as of December 31, 2015 were as follows:

	(In thousands)
2016	$	6,568
2017	6,727
2018	6,996
2019	3,011
2020	—
Thereafter (1)	—

	$	23,302

(1)

Final commitment period is for the period ending October 2029. See Note 4—Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations for additional discussion.

Employment Contracts

We have entered into employment contracts with certain of our employees. Our minimum salary and bonus obligations under these contracts as of December 31, 2015 were as follows:

	(In thousands)
2016	$	5,999
2017	4,227
2018	1,200
2019	300
2020	—
Thereafter	—

	$	11,726

Mr. Petrello has an employment agreement which was amended and restated effective January 1, 2013. The employment agreement provides for an initial term of five years, with automatic one-year extensions at the end of each term, subject to a 90-day notice of termination provided within the agreement.

The employment agreement provides for an annual cash bonus targeted at base salary, with a cap of twice that amount, based on the achievement of certain financial and operational performance metrics and defined performance criteria.

The employment agreement provides for long-term equity incentive awards. Mr. Petrello may receive restricted stock that may or may not vest depending upon the Company’s performance relative to a Performance Peer Group (as defined) over a three-year period (“TSR Shares”). The agreement provides that the target number of TSR Shares that will vest is valued at 150% of base salary, with a maximum number of TSR Shares valued at twice that amount.

The employment agreement provides for long-term equity incentive awards in the form of restricted stock based upon the achievement of specific financial or operational objectives (“Performance Shares”). Once earned, Performance Shares are then subject to three-year vesting requirements. Performance Shares are targeted at 200% of base salary, with a maximum award of twice that amount, and are also subject to a minimum threshold before any amount can be earned.

In the event of Mr. Petrello’s Termination Without Cause (including in the event of a change of control), or his death or disability, either he or his estate would be entitled to receive, within 30 days thereafter, 2.99 times the average of his base salary and annual cash bonus during the three fiscal years preceding the termination.

During 2015, Mr. Petrello’s annual compensation package pursuant to his employment agreement, as amended, included $1.575 million in base salary and $1.6 million in cash bonus. The employment agreement also provides a quarterly deferred bonus of $0.3 million to his account under Nabors’ executive deferred compensation plan.

Mr. Petrello is also eligible for awards under Nabors’ equity plans, may participate in annual long-term incentive programs and pension and welfare plans on the same basis as other executives, and may receive special bonuses from time to time as determined by the Board.

Effective March 3, 2014, we entered into an employment agreement with William Restrepo, our Chief Financial Officer. This employment agreement provides for an initial term through December 2017, with automatic one-year extensions at the end of each term, subject to a 365-day notice of termination provided within the agreement. Mr. Restrepo’s annual base salary was set at $0.65 million. In addition, the employment agreement provides for an annual bonus targeted at base salary, with a cap of twice that amount, based on the achievement of one or more annual financial and operational performance goals, as determined by the Compensation Committee of our Board.

Mr. Restrepo’s employment agreement also provides for long-term equity incentive awards. Mr. Restrepo will receive awards of TSR Shares. The employment agreement provides that the target number of TSR Shares that will vest is valued at 100% of base salary, with a maximum number of TSR Shares valued at twice that amount. In addition, the employment agreement provides for long-term equity incentive awards in the form of restricted stock based upon the achievement of specific financial or operational objectives (“Performance Shares”). Once earned, Performance Shares are then subject to three-year vesting requirements. Performance Shares are targeted at 100% of base salary, with a maximum award of twice that amount, and are also subject to a minimum threshold before any amount can be earned.

As an inducement to join the Company and to make him whole for certain foregone amounts at his prior employer, Mr. Restrepo received an award of restricted stock with a grant-date fair value of $4.9 million. The award vests over four years.

Mr. Restrepo’s employment agreement provides for severance payments in the event the agreement is terminated, including in connection with a change in control (as defined in the employment agreement), (i) by the Company prior to the expiration date of the agreement for any reason other than for cause, or (ii) by Mr. Restrepo for constructive termination without cause, each as defined in the employment agreement. Mr. Restrepo would have the right to receive within 30 days of a termination without cause or constructive termination without cause, 2.99 times the sum of the average of his base salary and annual bonus during the three fiscal years preceding the termination (or, if employed less than three completed fiscal years, his then-current base salary and target annual bonus would be used for the years not employed).

Mr. Restrepo’s employment agreement also provides that, upon death, disability, termination without cause, or constructive termination without cause, he would receive (a) any unvested stock options and restricted stock outstanding (except for TSR Shares), which will immediately and fully vest; (b) any amounts earned, accrued or owing to him but not yet paid (including executive benefits, life insurance, disability benefits and reimbursement of expenses and perquisites); (c) continued participation in medical, dental and life insurance coverage; and (d) certain perquisites and other or additional benefits in accordance with applicable plans and programs of Nabors. In addition, under the employment agreement, any unvested TSR Shares at the time of termination for these reasons will vest at target levels.

On December 31, 2015, we entered into a third amendment to extend (1) Mr. Petrello’s amendment to his employment agreement to provide for a reduction in the annual rate of base salary to $1.575 million per year through June 30, 2016, and (2) Mr. Restrepo’s amendment to his employment agreement to provide for a reduction of his annual rate of base salary to $585,000 per year through June 30, 2016.

The reduction in base salaries of Messrs. Petrello and Restrepo was initially implemented in December 2014 for an interim 6-month period commencing January 1, 2015 and ending June 30, 2015 pursuant to a first amendment to the employment agreements, and was further extended for an additional 6-month period ending December 31, 2015 pursuant to a second amendment to the employment agreements, as part of an initiative to reduce costs in light of the decline in industry conditions and does not affect the calculation or payment of any ancillary benefits.

Other Obligations. In addition to salary and bonus, Mr. Petrello receives group life insurance at an amount at least equal to three times his base salary, various split-dollar life insurance policies, reimbursement of expenses, various perquisites and a personal umbrella insurance policy in the amount of $5 million. Premiums payable under the split-dollar life insurance policies were suspended as a result of the adoption of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Contingencies

Income Tax Contingencies

Income tax returns that we file are subject to review and examination. We do not recognize the benefit of income tax positions we believe are more likely than not to be disallowed upon challenge by a tax authority. If any tax authority successfully challenges our operational structure, intercompany pricing policies or the taxable presence of our subsidiaries in certain countries, if the terms of certain income tax treaties are interpreted in a manner that is adverse to our structure, or if we lose a material tax dispute in any country, our effective tax rate on our worldwide earnings could change substantially.

We have received an assessment from the Mexico federal tax authority in connection with our 2007 income tax return. The assessment relates to the denial of depreciation expense deductions related to drilling rigs. Similar deductions were taken for tax years 2008 - 2010. Although Nabors and its tax advisors believe these deductions are defensible, a partial reserve has been recorded. The total amounts assessed or expected to be assessed range from $25 million to $30 million. We have not changed our position to defend this issue, as we are confident that we will prevail in court. If we ultimately do not prevail, we would be required to recognize additional tax expense for any amount in excess of the current reserve.

Self-Insurance

We estimate the level of our liability related to insurance and record reserves for these amounts in our consolidated financial statements. Our estimates are based on the facts and circumstances specific to existing claims and our past experience with similar claims. These loss estimates and accruals recorded in our financial statements for claims have historically been reasonable in light of the actual amount of claims paid and are actuarially supported. Although we believe our insurance coverage and reserve estimates are reasonable, a significant accident or other event that is not fully covered by insurance or contractual indemnity could occur and could materially affect our financial position and results of operations for a particular period.

We self-insure for certain losses relating to workers’ compensation, employers’ liability, general liability, automobile liability and property damage. Effective April 1, 2015, some of our workers’ compensation claims, employers’ liability and marine employers’ liability claims are subject to a $3.0 million per-occurrence deductible; additionally, some of our automobile liability claims are subject to a $2.5 million deductible. General liability claims remain subject to a $5.0 million per-occurrence deductible.

In addition, we are subject to a $5.0 million deductible for land rigs and for offshore rigs. This applies to all kinds of risks of physical damage except for named windstorms in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico for which we are self-insured.

Political risk insurance is procured for select operations in South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Losses are subject to a $0.25 million deductible, except for Colombia, which is subject to a $0.5 million deductible. There is no assurance that such coverage will adequately protect Nabors against liability from all potential consequences.

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, our self-insurance accruals totaled $165.9 million and $198.1 million, respectively, and our related insurance recoveries/receivables were $25.9 million and $39.9 million, respectively.

Litigation

Nabors and its subsidiaries are defendants or otherwise involved in a number of lawsuits in the ordinary course of business. We estimate the range of our liability related to pending litigation when we believe the amount and range of loss can be estimated. We record our best estimate of a loss when the loss is considered probable. When a liability is probable and there is a range of estimated loss with no best estimate in the range, we record the minimum estimated liability related to the lawsuits or claims. As additional information becomes available, we assess the potential liability related to our pending litigation and claims and revise our estimates. Due to uncertainties related to the resolution of lawsuits and claims, the ultimate outcome may differ from our estimates. For matters where an unfavorable outcome is reasonably possible and significant, we disclose the nature of the matter and a range of potential exposure, unless an estimate cannot be made at the time of disclosure. In the opinion of management and based on liability accruals provided, our ultimate exposure with respect to these pending lawsuits and claims is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or cash flows, although they could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for a particular reporting period.

In 2009, the Court of Ouargla entered a judgment of approximately $13.6 million (at December 31, 2015 exchange rates) against us relating to alleged customs infractions in Algeria. We believe we did not receive proper notice of the judicial proceedings, and that the amount of the judgment was excessive in any case. We asserted the lack of legally required notice as a basis for challenging the judgment on appeal to the Algeria Supreme Court (the “Supreme Court”). In May 2012, that court reversed the lower court and remanded the case to the Ouargla Court of Appeals for treatment consistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling. In January 2013, the Ouargla Court of Appeals reinstated the judgment. We again lodged an appeal to the Supreme Court, asserting the same challenges as before. While the appeal was pending, the Hassi Messaoud customs office initiated efforts to collect the judgment prior to the Supreme Court’s decision in the case. As a result, we paid approximately $3.1 million and posted security of approximately $1.33 million to suspend those collection efforts and to enter into a formal negotiations process with the customs authority. The customs authority demanded 50% of the total fine as a final settlement and seized additional funds of approximately $3.6 million. We have recorded a reserve in the amount of the posted security. The matter was heard by the Supreme Court on February 26, 2015, and on March 26, 2015, that court set aside the judgment of the Ouargla Court of Appeals and remanded the case to that court for further proceedings. A hearing was held on October 28, 2015 in the Ouargla Court of Appeals and on November 4, 2015, the court affirmed the Supreme Court’s decision that we were not guilty. We have filed an application to the Conseil d’Etat in an effort to recover amounts previously paid by us. A portion of those amounts has been returned, and our efforts to recover the additional $4.4 million continue.

In March 2011, the Court of Ouargla entered a judgment of approximately $26.7 million (at December 31, 2015 exchange rates) against us relating to alleged violations of Algeria’s foreign currency exchange controls, which require that goods and services provided locally be invoiced and paid in local currency. The case relates to certain foreign currency payments made to us by CEPSA, a Spanish operator, for wells drilled in 2006. Approximately $7.5 million of the total contract amount was paid offshore in foreign currency, and approximately $3.2 million was paid in local currency. The judgment includes fines and penalties of approximately four times the amount at issue. We have appealed the ruling based on our understanding that the law in question applies only to resident entities incorporated under Algerian law. An intermediate court of appeals upheld the lower court’s ruling, and we appealed the matter to the Supreme Court. On September 25, 2014, the Supreme Court overturned the verdict against us, and the case was reheard by the Ouargla Court of Appeals on March 22, 2015 in light of the Supreme Court’s opinion. On March 29, 2015, the Ouargla Court of Appeals reinstated the initial judgment against us. We have appealed this decision again to the Supreme Court. While our payments were consistent with our historical operations in the country, and, we believe, those of other multinational corporations there, as well as interpretations of the law by the Central Bank of Algeria, the ultimate resolution of this matter could result in a loss of up to $18.7 million in excess of amounts accrued.

In 2012, Nabors Global Holdings II Limited (“NGH2L”) signed a contract with ERG Resources, LLC (“ERG”) relating to the sale of all of the Class A shares of NGH2L’s wholly owned subsidiary, Ramshorn International Limited, an oil and gas exploration company. When ERG failed to meet its closing obligations, NGH2L terminated the transaction on March 19, 2012 and, as contemplated in the agreement, retained ERG’s $3.0 million escrow deposit. ERG filed suit the following day in the 61st Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas, in a case styled ERG Resources, LLC v. Nabors Global Holdings II Limited, Ramshorn International Limited, and Parex Resources, Inc.; Cause No. 2012-16446, seeking injunctive relief to halt any sale of the shares to a third party, specifically naming as defendant Parex Resources, Inc. (“Parex”). The lawsuit also seeks monetary damages of up to $750.0 million based on an alleged breach of contract by NGH2L and alleged tortious interference with contractual relations by Parex. We successfully defeated ERG’s effort to obtain a temporary restraining order from the Texas court on March 20, 2012. We completed the sale of Ramshorn’s Class A shares to a Parex affiliate in April 2012, which mooted ERG’s application for a temporary injunction. The defendants made numerous jurisdictional challenges and on April 30, 2015, ERG filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Accordingly, the civil actions are currently subject to the bankruptcy stay and the claims in the suit are assets of the estate. Nabors is monitoring the bankruptcy proceeding closely to determine how it will affect the pending litigation. The lawsuit is stayed, pending further court actions, including appeals of the jurisdictional decisions. ERG retains its causes of action for monetary damages, but we believe the claims are foreclosed by the terms of the agreement and are without factual or legal merit. Although we are vigorously defending the lawsuit, its ultimate outcome cannot be determined at this time.

On July 30, 2014, we and Red Lion, along with C&J Energy and its board of directors, were sued in a putative shareholder class action filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”). The plaintiff alleges that the members of the C&J Energy board of directors breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the Merger, and that Red Lion and C&J Energy aided and abetted these alleged breaches. The plaintiff sought to enjoin the defendants from proceeding with or consummating the Merger and the C&J Energy stockholder meeting for approval of the Merger and, to the extent that the Merger was completed before any relief was granted, to have the Merger rescinded. On November 10, 2014, the plaintiff filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, and, on November 24, 2014, the Court of Chancery entered a bench ruling, followed by a written order on November 25, 2014, that (i) ordered certain members of the C&J Energy board of directors to solicit for a 30 day period alternative proposals to purchase C&J Energy (or a controlling stake in C&J Energy) that were superior to the Merger, and (ii) preliminarily enjoined C&J Energy from holding its stockholder meeting until it complied with the foregoing. C&J Energy complied with the order while it simultaneously pursued an expedited appeal of the Court of Chancery’s order to the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Supreme Court”). On December 19, 2014, the Delaware Supreme Court overturned the Court of Chancery’s judgment and vacated the order. This case remains pending.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements (Including Guarantees)

We are a party to some transactions, agreements or other contractual arrangements defined as “off-balance sheet arrangements” that could have a material future effect on our financial position, results of operations, liquidity and capital resources. The most significant of these off-balance sheet arrangements involve agreements and obligations under which we provide financial or performance assurance to third parties. Certain of these agreements serve as guarantees, including standby letters of credit issued on behalf of insurance carriers in conjunction with our workers’ compensation insurance program and other financial surety instruments such as bonds. In addition, we have provided indemnifications, which serve as guarantees, to some third parties. These guarantees include indemnification provided by Nabors to our share transfer agent and our insurance carriers. We are not able to estimate the potential future maximum payments that might be due under our indemnification guarantees.

Management believes the likelihood that we would be required to perform or otherwise incur any material losses associated with any of these guarantees is remote. The following table summarizes the total maximum amount of financial guarantees issued by Nabors:

	Maximum Amount
	2016		2017		2018		Thereafter		Total
	(In thousands)
Financial standby letters of credit and other financial surety instruments	$	237,484	$	19	$	—	$	—	$	237,503