13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Operating Leases—The Company has non-cancelable operating leases, principally for office space, that expire on various dates through 2027. At December 31, 2012, the future minimum rental commitments under such leases are as follows:

2013	$	14,850
2014	12,346
2015	11,212
2016	10,117
2017	9,704
Thereafter	83,054
Total	$	141,283

Many of the leases for office space contain escalation clauses that require payment of additional rent to the extent of increases in certain operating and other costs. In addition, certain of the Company’s leases grant a free rent period, which is amortized over the lease term. The accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations reflect all rent expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the leases. Rent expense under the leases for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $13,465, $15,252 and $13,797, respectively.

In connection with moving the Company’s headquarters in 2008, the Company terminated a portion of the former facility lease with respect to approximately 51,000 square feet, effective June 30, 2008. The Company remains liable for all of the obligations under the lease for the remaining approximately 37,000 square feet. In January 2009, the Company entered into a sublease for approximately 23,000 square feet of the remaining leased space. The Company will receive monthly payments of $55 until the sublease expires in September 2013. See Note 2 for discussion regarding the correction of an error in 2012 related to the Company’s estimated loss accrual for this sublease.

Purchase Obligations—The Company has various unconditional purchase obligations. These obligations are for the purchase of market data from a number of information service providers during the normal course of business. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had total purchase commitments for market data of approximately $22,879, with $19,589 due within the next twelve months and $3,290 due between one to three years. Additionally, the Company had other purchase commitments of $6,135, primarily related to network implementations in the U.S. and U.K., and $490, primarily related to hosting and software license agreements. Of these other purchase commitments, approximately $3,161 are due within the next twelve months.

In connection with the acquisition of 70% of the equity ownership interests in Kyte, the Company agreed to purchase the residual 30% equity interest in Kyte for an additional cash payment in an amount to be determined pursuant to a formula based on Kyte’s earnings, such payment to be made following June 30, 2013. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Contingencies—In the normal course of business, the Company and certain subsidiaries included in the consolidated financial statements are, and have been in the past, involved in various lawsuits and proceedings and are, and have been in the past, involved in certain regulatory examinations. These legal proceedings are at varying stages of adjudication, arbitration or investigation and involve a wide variety of claims. In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of such litigation and regulatory matters, particularly where the claimants seek very large or indeterminate damages or where the matters present novel legal theories, the Company generally cannot predict what the eventual outcome of the pending matters will be, what the timing of the ultimate resolution of these matters will be, or what the eventual loss, fines or penalties, if any, relating to each matter may be.

The Company is subject to the possibility of losses from these various contingencies. Considerable judgment is necessary to estimate the probability and amount of any loss from such contingencies. In accordance with applicable accounting guidelines, an accrual is made when it is probable that a liability has been incurred or an asset has been impaired and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Where a loss contingency is not both probable and estimable, the Company does not establish an accrued liability. Several of the Company’s European subsidiaries are currently defending a claim that they improperly hired a number of employees of a competitor over the course of several months. The claim was filed almost a year after the Company hired the employees and notwithstanding that none of the employees breached their employment agreements with the competitor. Although the case is in its preliminary stages, the claimant is seeking a multi-million dollar award. The Company intends to vigorously defend against this action and believes that it has substantial defenses to the claims asserted against it.

The Company is subject to regular examinations by various tax authorities in jurisdictions in which the Company has significant business operations. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of additional tax assessments that may result from these examinations in each of the tax jurisdictions. A tax accrual has been established, which the Company believes to be adequate in relation to the potential for additional tax assessments. Once established, the accrual may be adjusted based on new information or events. The imposition of additional tax assessments, penalties or fines by a tax authority could have a material impact on the Company’s effective tax rate.

Additionally, the Company has recorded reserves for certain contingencies to which it may have exposure, such as contingencies related to the employer portion of National Insurance Contributions in the U.K.

Based on currently available information, the outcome of the Company’s outstanding legal proceedings are not expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial statements. However, the outcome of any such matters may be material to the Company’s results of operations or cash flows in a given period. It is not presently possible to determine the Company’s ultimate exposure to these matters and there is no assurance that the resolution of the Company’s outstanding matters will not significantly exceed any reserves accrued by the Company.

Risks and Uncertainties—The Company primarily generates its revenues by executing and facilitating transactions for counterparties. Revenues for these services are transaction based. As a result, the Company’s revenues will likely vary based upon the trading volumes of the various securities, commodities, foreign exchange and other cash and derivative markets in which the Company provides its services.

Guarantees—The Company, through its subsidiaries, is a member of certain exchanges and clearing houses. Under the membership agreements, members are generally required to guarantee certain obligations. To mitigate the performance risks of its members, the exchanges and clearing houses may, from time to time, require members to post collateral, as well as meet certain minimum financial standards. The Company’s maximum potential liability under these arrangements cannot be quantified. However, management believes that the potential for the Company to be required to make payments under these arrangements is unlikely. Accordingly, no contingent liability is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition for these arrangements.