Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company from time to time issues letters of credit and performance bonds, with their third-party lenders, to provide collateral.
The Company leases certain administrative offices. The leases are long-term noncancelable real estate lease agreements, expiring at various dates through fiscal 2025. The agreements generally provide for fixed minimum rental payments and the payment of utilities, real estate taxes, insurance and repairs. Rent and related expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $6,362, $6,147 and $6,070, respectively. 
The Company’s estimated minimum future lease obligations under operating leases are as follows: 
 
Operating Leases
Year ended December 31,
 

2018
$
5,549

2019
4,677

2020
3,864

2021
2,919

2022
2,711

Thereafter
7,166

Total minimum lease payments
$
26,886


Legal Proceedings
The Company also is involved in a variety of claims and other legal proceedings generally incidental to its normal business activities. While the outcome of any of these proceedings cannot be accurately predicted, the Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of any of these existing matters would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.
Solar Tariff Contingency
In October 2012, the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) announced its final determination in the anti-dumping (“AD”) and countervailing duty (“CVD”) investigations of imports of solar cells manufactured in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), including solar modules containing such cells. Commerce’s final determination confirmed its previously published AD duty of 249.96%, for manufacturers without a separate rate, and increased its CVD from 3.61% to 15.24%; both duties are applied to the value of imports of solar modules containing PRC cells. On November 7, 2012, the International Trade Commission announced its final determination upholding the duties. All shipments from May 25, 2012 until the Company suspended importing solar modules containing PRC cells in July 2012 (“covered shipments”) were subject to the CVD and were covered by a single continuous entry bond. Covered shipments also were subject to AD duty, for each of which the Company was required to post a single entry bond. In August 2014, U.S. Customs lifted suspension of liquidation of covered shipments. As a result of liquidation, during the third and fourth quarters of 2014, the Company paid CVD on covered shipments at the 3.61% rate. During the fourth quarter of 2014 through the first quarter of 2015, the Company paid AD duties on covered shipments at a 31.18% rate. During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company received the final bill from U.S. Customs for liquidation of one remaining covered shipment containing PRC cells and the matter was resolved in the first quarter of 2016.
Commitments as a Result of Acquisitions
Related to the Company's acquisition of EEX in the second quarter of 2014 (see Note 3), the former owners of EEX, who are now employees of the Company, may be entitled to receive up to 4,500 GBP ($6,071 converted as of December 31, 2017) in additional consideration, accounted for as compensation for post-combination services, if the acquired business meets certain financial performance milestones through December 31, 2018.
The Company has established a reserve reflecting its current estimate of its ultimate exposure to these assessments.