LEASE COMMITMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

18.	LEASE COMMITMENTS

Leases

The Company leases office, manufacturing, and warehouse facilities and certain equipment under various non-cancelable agreements, which expire at various dates through 2018. These agreements contain various renewal options and provide for minimum annual rentals plus the payment of real estate taxes, insurance, and normal maintenance on the properties.

At December 31, 2011, future minimum lease payments for continuing operations required under facility and equipment operating leases that have initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year, are as follows:

(thousands)	Facility Leases		Equipment Leases
2012	$	2,557	$	989
2013		1,824		677
2014		1,610		596
2015		988		497
2016		776		404
Thereafter		970		462
Total minimum lease payments	$	8,725	$	3,625

The total rent expense (in thousands) included in the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 is $3,111, $3,415, and $3,841, respectively. Rent expense in 2011 and 2010 was reduced by $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively, for the recognition of the portion of the deferred gain that is being amortized and offset against lease payments related to the sale of the California facility in the first quarter of 2010. In addition, rent expense in these same periods was also reduced by $0.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for lease payments received from a third party that is currently leasing the Company's owned building in New London, NC. See Note 6 for further details.

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of a lessee's leasing arrangements including: (1) the basis on which contingent rental payments are determined, (2) the existence and terms of renewal or purchase options and escalation clauses, (3) restrictions imposed by lease arrangements, such as those concerning dividends, additional debt, and further leasing, (4) rent holidays, rent concessions, or leasehold improvement incentives and unusual provisions or conditions. Disclosure may also include the specific period used to amortize material leasehold improvements made at the inception of the lease or during the lease term. Additionally, for operating leases having initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year: (a) future minimum rental payments required as of the date of the latest balance sheet presented, in the aggregate and for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) the total of minimum rentals to be received in the future under noncancelable subleases as of the date of the latest balance sheet presented, and (c) for all operating leases, rental expense for each period for which an income statement is presented, with separate amounts for minimum rentals, contingent rentals, and sublease rentals. Rental payments under leases with terms of a month or less that were not renewed need not be included.

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