14. Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments

The Company leases offices and equipment under noncancelable leases, subject to certain provisions for renewal options and escalation clauses. Future minimum payments (including those allocated to an affiliate) under these leases and commitments, net of payments under sublease agreements, are as follows (in thousands):


	Rent Payments		Sublease Receipts		Total Cash Outflows
Year ending December 31:
2018	$	8,669	$	(847)	$	7,822
2019		8,783		(1,087)		7,696
2020		9,039		(873)		8,166
2021		8,868		(775)		8,093
2022		8,757		(804)		7,953
Thereafter		50,695		(2,209)		48,486
	$	94,811	$	(6,595)	$	88,216

Minimum rent payments under noncancelable operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases. Rent expense, excluding amounts related to gain or loss on sublease, was $7.8 million, $7.5 million and $10.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, net of amounts recorded under sublease agreements of $1.0 million, $1.1 million and $1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

In April 2010, the Company entered into an 18-year lease for its corporate headquarters office building (the “Master Lease”). The Company may, at its option, extend the Master Lease for two renewal periods of 10 years. Under the terms of the Master Lease, the Company pays an annual base rent, which escalates 3% each year, including the first optional renewal period. The first year of the second optional renewal period is at a fair market rental value, and the rent escalates 3% each year until expiration. The Company pays for operating expenses in connection with the ownership, maintenance, operation, upkeep and repair of the leased space. The Company may assign or sublet an interest in the Master Lease only with the approval of the landlord.

Upon entering into the Master Lease, the Company became the primary lessee for all facilities located on the headquarters property. The following subleases resulted in a gain (loss) on sublease during the year ended December 31, 2017:


Execution Date	End Date	2017 (Loss) Gain on Sublease (in thousands)
May 2017	April 2028	$	(173)
August 2017	January 2025		(3,725)
September 2017	August 2024		294	(a)
		$	(3,604)

(a)

During the year ended December 31, 2013 the Company entered into a sublease agreement with a tenant and recognized a loss related to the subleased office space of $1.2 million. In September 2017 the Company amended this sublease agreement and the existing liability was reduced, resulting in a net gain of $0.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2017.

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the liability related to the aforementioned sublease agreements was approximately $3.9 million and $0.8 million, respectively, and is included in “Other liabilities, net of current portion” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Contingencies

In connection with the Purchase of Full House, as described in Note 5, Acquisitions and Dispositions the Company entered into an arrangement to pay additional purchase consideration based on Motto’s future gross revenues, excluding certain fees, for each year beginning October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2026. As of December 31, 2017, the short term portion of this liability was estimated to be $0.3 million and is recorded in “Accrued liabilities” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The long-term portion of this liability was estimated to be $6.3 million and is recorded in “Other liabilities, net of current portion” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In connection with the sale of the assets and liabilities related to the Company’s owned brokerage offices as described in Note 5, Acquisitions and Dispositions the Company entered into three Assignment and Assumption of Leases Agreements (the “Assignment Agreements”) pursuant to which the Company assigned its obligations under and rights, title and interest in 21 leases to the respective purchasers. For certain leases, the Company remains secondarily liable for future lease payments through July 2021 under the respective lease agreements and accordingly, as of December 31, 2017, the Company has outstanding lease guarantees of $3.7 million. This amount represents the maximum potential amount of future payments under the respective lease guarantees.

In addition, the Company maintains a self-insurance program for health benefits. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded a liability of $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively, related to this program.

Litigation

The Company is subject to litigation claims arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes that it has adequately accrued for legal matters as appropriate. The Company records litigation accruals for legal matters which are both probable and estimable and for related legal costs as incurred.

On October 7, 2013, RE/MAX Holdings acquired the net assets, excluding cash, of Tails for consideration paid of $20.2 million. Following earlier litigation that was dismissed, several shareholders of Tails filed a complaint entitled Robert B. Fisher, Carla L. Fisher, Bradley G. Rhodes and James D. Schwartz v. Gail Liniger, Dave Liniger, Bruce Benham, RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. and Tails Holdco, Inc. in Denver District Court ("Tails II"). On February 13, 2018, the parties signed a formal Settlement Agreement and Mutual General Release resulting in the Company recording a charge of $2.6 million in “Selling, operating and administrative expenses” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income during the year ended December 31, 2017. On February 27, 2018 the Company received $1.9 million from its insurance carriers as reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and a portion of the settlement. On February 28, 2018, the Company paid $4.5 million to satisfy the terms of the Settlement Agreement. As a result of the settlement, the litigation was dismissed with prejudice on March 1, 2018.

The Company believes other such litigation matters involving a reasonably possible chance of loss will not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.