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Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
INCOME TAXES
The Company’s effective tax rate from continuing operations for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 was 13.6% and 15.4%, respectively, as compared to 36.1% and 30.2% for the three and six-month periods ended July 1, 2016, respectively.
The Company’s effective tax rate for 2017 and 2016 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35.0% due principally to the Company’s earnings outside the United States that are indefinitely reinvested and taxed at rates lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate. The effective tax rate for the three-month period ended June 30, 2017 included a benefit from the release of reserves upon the expiration of statutes of limitations and audit settlements, as well as higher tax benefits from restructuring charges that are predominantly in the United States, which in aggregate decreased the reported tax rate by 6.9%. The effective tax rate for the six-month period ended June 30, 2017 reflects the aforementioned benefits recorded in the second quarter of 2017 and higher than expected benefits recorded in the first quarter of 2017 related to excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation, which in aggregate reduced the reported tax rate by 5.1%. The effective tax rate for the three-month period ended July 1, 2016 included charges related to repatriation of earnings and legal entity realignments associated with the Separation and other discrete items, which in aggregate increased the effective tax rate by 15.1%. The effective tax rate for the six-month period ended July 1, 2016 included these Separation charges in addition to the impact of a higher tax rate on the gain from the sale of marketable equity securities which in aggregate increased the effective tax rate by 9.6%.
Tax authorities in Denmark have raised significant issues related to interest accrued by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries. On December 10, 2013, the Company received assessments from the Danish tax authority (“SKAT”) totaling approximately DKK 1.4 billion including interest through June 30, 2017 (approximately $222 million based on the exchange rate as of June 30, 2017), imposing withholding tax relating to interest accrued in Denmark on borrowings from certain of the Company’s subsidiaries for the years 2004-2009. The Company is currently in discussions with SKAT and anticipates receiving an assessment for years 2010-2012 totaling approximately DKK 853 million including interest through June 30, 2017 (approximately $131 million based on the exchange rate as of June 30, 2017). Management believes the positions the Company has taken in Denmark are in accordance with the relevant tax laws and is vigorously defending its positions. The Company appealed these assessments with the National Tax Tribunal in 2014 and intends on pursuing this matter through the European Court of Justice should this appeal be unsuccessful. The ultimate resolution of this matter is uncertain, could take many years, and could result in a material adverse impact to the Company’s financial statements, including its effective tax rate.