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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies |
19. | Commitments and Contingencies
Total rent expense for the three years ended December 31, 2015 was as follows (in thousands):
|  | Total |  |  | Real Estate |  |  | Other |
2015 |  | $ | 9,756 |  |  | $ | 7,218 |  |  | $ | 2,538 |
2014 |  |  | 9,702 |  |  |  | 7,355 |  |  |  | 2,347 |
2013 |  |  | 9,814 |  |  |  | 7,331 |  |  |  | 2,483 |
At December 31, 2015, we are obligated to make minimum rental payments through 2024, under operating leases, which are as follows (in thousands):
2016 |  | $ | 7,393 |
2017 |  |  | 6,278 |
2018 |  |  | 4,421 |
2019 |  |  | 2,645 |
2020 |  |  | 2,303 |
Thereafter |  |  | 6,269 |
Total |  | $ | 29,309 |
Warranties We generally warrant our products against certain manufacturing and other defects. These product warranties are provided for specific periods of time depending on the nature of the product. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, we have accrued $23.4 million and $19.3 million, respectively, for estimated product warranty claims included in accrued customer returns. The accrued product warranty costs are based primarily on historical experience of actual warranty claims. Warranty expense for each of the years 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $94.6 million, $84.5 million and $78.1 million, respectively. The following table provides the changes in our product warranties:
|  | December 31, |
|  | 2015 |  |  | 2014 |
|  | (In thousands) |
Balance, beginning of period |  | $ | 19,328 |  |  | $ | 18,041 |
Liabilities accrued for current year sales |  |  | 94,593 |  |  |  | 84,480 |
Settlements of warranty claims |  |  | (90,526 | ) |  |  | (83,193 | )
Balance, end of period |  | $ | 23,395 |  |  | $ | 19,328 |
Letters of Credit At December 31, 2015, we had outstanding letters of credit with certain vendors aggregating approximately $3.9 million. These letters of credit are being maintained as security for reimbursements to insurance companies and as security to the landlord of our administrative offices in Long Island City, New York. The contract amount of the letters of credit is a reasonable estimate of their value as the value for each is fixed over the life of the commitment. Change of Control Arrangements We entered into change in control arrangements with two key officers. In the event of a change of control (as defined in the agreement), each executive will receive severance payments and certain other benefits as provided in their respective agreement. Asbestos In 1986, we acquired a brake business, which we subsequently sold in March 1998 and which is accounted for as a discontinued operation. When we originally acquired this brake business, we assumed future liabilities relating to any alleged exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured by the seller of the acquired brake business. In accordance with the related purchase agreement, we agreed to assume the liabilities for all new claims filed on or after September 2001. Our ultimate exposure will depend upon the number of claims filed against us on or after September 2001 and the amounts paid for indemnity and defense thereof. At December 31, 2015, approximately 2,110 cases were outstanding for which we may be responsible for any related liabilities. Since inception in September 2001 through December 31, 2015, the amounts paid for settled claims are approximately $18.9 million. In evaluating our potential asbestos-related liability, we have considered various factors including, among other things, an actuarial study of the asbestos related liabilities performed by an independent actuarial firm, our settlement amounts and whether there are any co-defendants, the jurisdiction in which lawsuits are filed, and the status and results of settlement discussions. As is our accounting policy, we consider the advice of actuarial consultants with experience in assessing asbestos-related liabilities to estimate our potential claim liability. The methodology used to project asbestos-related liabilities and costs in our actuarial study considered: (1) historical data available from publicly available studies; (2) an analysis of our recent claims history to estimate likely filing rates into the future; (3) an analysis of our currently pending claims; and (4) an analysis of our settlements to date in order to develop average settlement values. The most recent actuarial study was performed as of August 31, 2015. The updated study has estimated an undiscounted liability for settlement payments, excluding legal costs and any potential recovery from insurance carriers, ranging from $33.3 million to $51.1 million for the period through 2058. The change from the prior year study was a $2.8 million decrease for the low end of the range and a $4.3 million decrease for the high end of the range. The decrease in the estimated undiscounted liability from the prior year study at both the low end and high end of the range reflects our actual experience over the prior twelve months, our historical data and certain assumptions with respect to events that may occur in the future. Based on the information contained in the actuarial study and all other available information considered by us, we have concluded that no amount within the range of settlement payments was more likely than any other and, therefore, in assessing our asbestos liability we compare the low end of the range to our recorded liability to determine if an adjustment is required. Based upon the results of the August 31, 2015 actuarial study, a favorable adjustment to the asbestos liability was not recorded in our consolidated financial statements as the difference between our recorded liability and the liability in the actuarial report at the low end of the range was not material. Future legal costs, which are expensed as incurred and reported in loss from discontinued operations in the accompanying statement of operations, are estimated, according to the updated study, to range from $40 million to $75.5 million for the period through 2058. We plan to perform an annual actuarial evaluation during the third quarter of each year for the foreseeable future. Given the uncertainties associated with projecting such matters into the future and other factors outside our control, we can give no assurance that additional provisions will not be required. We will continue to monitor the circumstances surrounding these potential liabilities in determining whether additional provisions may be necessary. At the present time, however, we do not believe that any additional provisions would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our liquidity or consolidated financial position. Litigation Charge During the second quarter of 2014, we reached a settlement in a legal proceeding with a third party for $10.6 million. The legal proceeding resulted from the default of a loan by a former supplier and its related businesses and our subsequent purchases of product from a third party that was alleged to be a controlled company of the original supplier. Since the inception of the legal proceeding against us, we vigorously opposed all such allegations and believed that we had meritorious defenses. Prior to reaching the settlement, we considered that the incurrence of a loss contingency related to the lawsuit was not reasonably possible. Accordingly, we did not record any provisions in our financial statements since our potential liability was not considered probable and reasonably estimable. During the second quarter of 2014, at the time of the settlement, we recorded the settlement amount of $10.6 million. The settlement agreement was approved by the court in August 2014 and payment of the settlement amount was made in September 2014. The settlement amount was funded from cash on hand and available credit under our revolving credit facility. Other Litigation We are currently involved in various other legal claims and legal proceedings (some of which may involve substantial amounts), including claims related to commercial disputes, product liability, employment, and environmental. Although these legal claims and legal proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainties, based on our understanding and evaluation of the relevant facts and circumstances, we believe that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We may at any time determine that settling any of these matters is in our best interests, which settlement may include substantial payments. Although we cannot currently predict the specific amount of any liability that may ultimately arise with respect to any of these matters, we will record provisions when the liability is considered probable and reasonably estimable. Significant judgment is required in both the determination of probability and the determination as to whether an exposure can be reasonably estimated. As additional information becomes available, we reassess our potential liability related to these matters. Such revisions of the potential liabilities could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

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