Commitments and contingent liabilities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

40	Commitments and contingent liabilities

Several companies of the Group lease manufacturing facilities and stores under non-cancellable operating lease agreements with expiry dates through 2023. Rental expense recorded for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was 17,218 and 16,707, respectively. As at December 31, 2018, the minimum annual rental commitments are as follows:


2019			13,503
2020			12,823
2021			11,673
2022			11,090
2023			9,848
Thereafter			21,803

Total			80,740

Certain banks have provided guarantees as at December 31, 2018 to secure payments to third parties amounting to 1,620 (1,737 as at December 31, 2017). These guarantees are unsecured and have various maturities extending through December 31, 2019.

The Group is involved in a number of certain and probable claims (including tax claims) and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters, after the provision accrued, will not have a material adverse effect on the Group’s consolidated financial position or results of operations (see note 21).