PROPERTY PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

PROPERTY PLANT AND EQUIPMENT [ABSTRACT]

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

(5)PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2017		2016
Land and buildings	$	38,858	$	38,868
Computer equipment and software		390,899		364,854
Telephone equipment		46,521		42,858
Furniture and fixtures		76,856		68,248
Leasehold improvements		176,467		162,232
Motor vehicles		158		143
Construction-in-progress and other		220		115
Property, plant and equipment, gross		729,979		677,318
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(566,682)		(526,281)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	163,297	$	151,037

Depreciation and amortization expense for property, plant and equipment was $57.0 million,  $59.1 million and $54.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2017,  2016 and 2015, respectively.

Included in the computer equipment and software is internally developed software of $8.5 million net and $10.1 million net as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.