COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Rental Commitments and Contingencies

The Company rents primarily real estate, which includes retail, warehouse, distribution center, and office spaces, under operating leases expiring at various dates through 2033. Rent expense for leases with escalations or rent holidays is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term beginning on the lease inception date. Certain leases also provide for contingent rents, which are generally determined as a percent of sales in excess of specified amounts. A contingent rent liability is recognized together with the corresponding rent expense when specified amounts have been achieved or when the Company determines that achieving the specified amounts during the period is probable.

Future minimum lease payments under operating leases were:



	As of December 31, 2018
	(in thousands)
2019	$	42,455
2020	36,299
2021	29,714
2022	20,721
2023	15,334
Thereafter	54,149
Total minimum lease payments ⁽¹⁾	$	198,672

⁽¹⁾ Includes future minimum lease payments of $25.4 million related to the new distribution center in Dayton, Ohio.

Rent expense under operating leases was as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2018		2017		2016
	(in thousands)
Minimum rentals⁽¹⁾	$	66,049	$	78,779	$	87,995
Contingent rentals	14,297		14,294		14,596
Total rent expense	$	80,346	$	93,073	$	102,591

⁽¹⁾ Minimum rentals include all lease payments as well as fixed and variable common area maintenance, parking, and storage fees, which were approximately $9.3 million, $10.0 million, and $10.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

Purchase Commitments

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had purchase commitments to its third-party manufacturers, primarily for materials and supplies used in the manufacture of the Company’s products, for an aggregate of $165.3 million and $122.7 million, respectively.

Other

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had commitments of $23.1 million related to its investment in the new distribution center in Dayton, Ohio, in addition to the related future minimum lease payments disclosed above.

In January 2019, the Company entered into a lease for its new corporate headquarters and regional office in Broomfield, Colorado. The contractual commitment related to this lease, with payments beginning in March 2020 and continuing through August 2030, is approximately $20.4 million.

The Company is regularly subject to, and is currently undergoing, audits by various tax authorities in the U.S. and several foreign jurisdictions, including customs duties, import and other taxes for prior tax years.

During its normal course of business, the Company may make certain indemnities, commitments, and guarantees under which it may be required to make payments in relation to certain matters. The Company cannot determine a range of estimated future payments and has not recorded any liability for such payments in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

See Note 16 — Legal Proceedings for further details regarding potential loss contingencies related to government tax audits and other current legal proceedings.