Leases Commitments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

6.	Lease Commitments

At December 31, 2017, the Company was obligated under a number of long-term operating leases, some of which contain renewal options with escalation clauses commensurate with local market fluctuations, however, generally limiting an annual increase to no more than 5.0% of the existing lease payment.

Minimum future obligations under such leases as of December 31, 2017 are summarized as follows:

(amounts in thousands)
2018	$	4,610
2019		2,719
2020		1,768
2021		1,129
2022		613
Later years		430
Minimum future obligations	$	11,269

The operating lease obligations relate to the rental of office space, office equipment, and automobiles leased in Europe. Total rental expense under such operating leases for 2017, 2016, and 2015 was approximately $5.9 million, $5.7 million, and $6.1 million, respectively.