RESTRICTED CASH

Restricted cash and cash equivalents consists of the following (in thousands):



	December 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
Cash in escrow for surety bonds ^(a)	$	2,453	$	2,453
Cash in escrow for corporate purchasing card program	—		100
Cash in escrow from sale of LendingTree Loans ^(b)	4,028		16,106
Other	60		57
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents	$	6,541	$	18,716


(a)	See Note 11—Commitments for a discussion of surety bonds. In February 2016, all funds were released from restriction due to a reduction in collateral requirements.

(b)

HLC, a subsidiary of the Company, continues to be liable for certain indemnification obligations, repurchase obligations and premium repayment obligations following the sale of substantially all of the operating assets of its LendingTree Loans business in the second quarter of 2012. As a result of a settlement agreement in 2014 with a secondary market purchaser of loans, $12.1 million of cash held in escrow was released in December 2015.