Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

(9)             Commitments and Contingencies

(a)             Lease Commitments

The Company and its subsidiaries lease office space and office related equipment under noncancelable operating leases with various expiration dates from 2014 through 2023.

Future minimum lease payments under the operating leases for the three months ended December 31, 2014 and in each of the years subsequent to December 31, 2014 are as follows (in thousands): 

	Amount
Three months ended December 31, 2014	$	3,481
Year ended December 31:
2015		13,626
2016		11,491
2017		9,160
2018		7,272
Thereafter		8,961
Total	$	53,991

Related rent expense was $3.1 million and $9.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. Related rent expense was $3.9 million and $11.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

(b)              Employee Benefit Plans

The Company and certain of its subsidiaries each sponsor separate voluntary defined contribution pension plans. The plans cover employees that meet specific age and length of service requirements. The Company and certain of its subsidiaries have various matching and vesting arrangements within their individual plans. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded $144,000 and $421,000, respectively, in compensation expense related to these plans. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $230,000 and $691,000, respectively, in compensation expense related to these plans.