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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Commitements and Contingencies [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies
Legal and Regulatory Contingencies
In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in various pending and threatened litigation matters related to our title operations, some of which include claims for punitive or exemplary damages. This customary litigation includes but is not limited to a wide variety of cases arising out of or related to title and escrow claims, for which we make provisions through our loss reserves. Additionally, like other insurance companies, our ordinary course litigation includes a number of class action and purported class action lawsuits, which make allegations related to aspects of our insurance operations. We believe that no actions depart from customary litigation incidental to our insurance business.
Remy is a defendant from time to time in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, including claims relating to commercial transactions, product liability, safety, health, taxes, environmental and other matters.
Our Restaurant Group companies are a defendant from time to time in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, including claims relating to injury or wrongful death under “dram shop” laws that allow a person to sue us based on any injury caused by an intoxicated person who was wrongfully served alcoholic beverages at one of the restaurants and claims from guests or employees alleging illness, injury or other food quality, health or operational concerns.
We review lawsuits and other legal and regulatory matters (collectively “legal proceedings”) on an ongoing basis when making accrual and disclosure decisions. When assessing reasonably possible and probable outcomes, management bases its decision on its assessment of the ultimate outcome assuming all appeals have been exhausted. For legal proceedings where it has been determined that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable, a liability based on known facts and which represents our best estimate has been recorded. None of the amounts we have currently recorded is considered to be individually or in the aggregate material to our financial condition. Actual losses may materially differ from the amounts recorded and the ultimate outcome of our pending cases is generally not yet determinable. While some of these matters could be material to our operating results or cash flows for any particular period if an unfavorable outcome results, at present we do not believe that the ultimate resolution of currently pending legal proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
From time to time we receive inquiries and requests for information from state insurance departments, attorneys general and other regulatory agencies about various matters relating to our business. Sometimes these take the form of civil investigative demands or subpoenas. We cooperate with all such inquiries and we have responded to or are currently responding to inquiries from multiple governmental agencies. Also, regulators and courts have been dealing with issues arising from foreclosures and related processes and documentation. Various governmental entities are studying the title insurance product, market, pricing, and business practices, and potential regulatory and legislative changes, which may materially affect our business and operations. From time to time, we are assessed fines for violations of regulations or other matters or enter into settlements with such authorities which may require us to pay fines or claims or take other actions.
Escrow Balances
In conducting our operations, we routinely hold customers’ assets in escrow, pending completion of real estate transactions. Certain of these amounts are maintained in segregated bank accounts and have not been included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. We have a contingent liability relating to proper disposition of these balances for our customers, which amounted to $7.5 billion at December 31, 2012. As a result of holding these customers’ assets in escrow, we have ongoing programs for realizing economic benefits during the year through favorable borrowing and vendor arrangements with various banks. There were no investments or loans outstanding as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 related to these arrangements.
Operating Leases
      Future minimum operating lease payments are as follows (in millions):
 
2013
$
180.2

2014
153.4

2015
124.1

2016
170.3

2017
80.8

Thereafter
353.9

Total future minimum operating lease payments
$
1,062.7



Rent expense incurred under operating leases during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $159.3 million, $123.4 million, and $135.4 million, respectively. Rent expense in 2012, 2011, and 2010 includes abandoned lease charges related to office closures of $2.1 million, $1.4 million, and $11.7 million, respectively.
On June 29, 2004 we entered into an off-balance sheet financing arrangement (commonly referred to as a “synthetic lease”). The owner/lessor in this arrangement acquired land and various real property improvements associated with new construction of an office building in Jacksonville, Florida, that are part of FNF’s corporate campus and headquarters. The lessor financed the acquisition of the facilities through funding provided by third-party financial institutions. On June 27, 2011, we renewed and amended the synthetic lease for the facilities. The amended lease provides for a five year term ending June 27, 2016 and had an outstanding balance as of December 31, 2012 of $71.3 million. The amended lease includes guarantees by us of up to 83.0% of the outstanding lease balance, and options to purchase the facilities at the outstanding lease balance. The guarantee becomes effective if we decline to purchase the facilities at the end of the lease and also decline to renew the lease. The lessor is a third-party company and we have no affiliation or relationship with the lessor or any of its employees, directors or affiliates, and transactions with the lessor are limited to the operating lease agreements and the associated rent expense that have been included in Other operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. We do not believe the lessor is a variable interest entity, as defined in the FASB standard on consolidation of variable interest entities.
Restaurant Group Purchase Obligations
The Restaurant Group has unconditional purchase obligations with various vendors. These purchase obligations are primarily food obligations with fixed commitments in regards to the time period of the contract with annual price adjustments that can fluctuate and a fixed beverage contract with an annual price adjustment. In situations where the price is based on market prices, we used the existing market prices at December 31, 2012 to determine the amount of the obligation.
Purchase obligations of the Restaurant Group as of December 31, 2012 are as follows (in millions):
2013
$
204.2

2014
48.4

2015
21.1

2016
5.0

2017

Thereafter

Total purchase commitments
$
278.7