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Commitments And Contingencies
6 Months Ended12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Commitments And Contingencies  
Commitments And Contingencies

Note 7: Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is involved in various legal proceedings. Accruals have been made with respect to these matters, where appropriate, which are reflected in the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company may enter into discussions regarding settlement of these matters, and may enter into settlement agreements, if it believes settlement is in the best interest of the Company. The matters discussed below, if decided adversely to or settled by the Company, individually or in the aggregate, may result in liability material to the Company's financial condition and/or results of operations.

Legal

On July 2, 2004, a class action complaint was filed against the Company, its subsidiary Concord EFS, Inc., and various financial institutions. Plaintiffs claim that the defendants violated antitrust laws by conspiring to artificially inflate foreign ATM fees that were ultimately charged to ATM cardholders. Plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, attorneys' fees, costs and such other relief as the nature of the case may require or as may seem just and proper to the court. Five similar suits were filed and served in July, August and October 2004 (referred to collectively as the "ATM Fee Antitrust Litigation"). The Court granted judgment in favor of the defendants, dismissing the case on September 17, 2010. On October 14, 2010, the plaintiffs appealed the summary judgment. The Company continues to believe the complaints are without merit and intends to vigorously defend them.

There are asserted claims against the Company where an unfavorable outcome is considered to be reasonably possible. These claims can generally be categorized in the following three areas: (1) patent infringement which results from claims that the Company is using technology that has been patented by another party; (2) Merchant customer matters often associated with alleged processing errors or disclosure issues and claims that one of the subsidiaries of the Company has violated a federal or state requirement regarding credit reporting or collection in connection with its check verification guarantee, and collection activities; and (3) other matters which may include issues such as employment. The Company's estimates of the possible ranges of losses in excess of any amounts accrued are $0 to $2 million for patent infringement, $0 to $20 million for merchant customer matters and $0 to $4 million for other matters, resulting in a total estimated range of possible losses of $0 to $26 million for all of the matters described above.

The estimated range of reasonably possible losses is based on currently available information and involves elements of judgment and significant uncertainties. As additional information becomes available and the resolution of the uncertainties become more apparent, it is possible that actual losses may exceed even the high end of the estimated range.

Other

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to claims and litigation, including indemnification obligations to purchasers of former subsidiaries. Management of the Company believes that such matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

Note 11: Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

The Company leases certain of its facilities and equipment under operating lease agreements, substantially all of which contain renewal options and escalation provisions. The following table presents the amounts associated with total rent expense for operating leases (in millions):

 

Year ended December 31,

   Amount  

2010

   $ 83.7   

2009

     80.5   

2008

     77.2   

Future minimum aggregate rental commitments as of December 31, 2010 under all noncancelable operating leases, net of sublease income, were $267.1 million and are due in the following years (in millions):

 

Year ended December 31,

   Amount  

2011

   $ 58.3   

2012

     44.9   

2013

     35.7   

2014

     21.4   

2015

     16.5   

Thereafter

     90.3   

Sublease income is earned from leased space which FDC concurrently subleases to third parties with comparable time periods. As of December 31, 2010, sublease amounts totaled $0.3 million in FDC obligations. In addition, the Company has certain guarantees imbedded in leases and other agreements wherein the Company is required to relieve the counterparty in the event of changes in the tax code or rates. The Company believes the fair value of such guarantees is insignificant due to the likelihood and extent of the potential changes.

Letters of Credit

The Company has $51.9 million in outstanding letters of credit as of December 31, 2010, all of which were issued under the Company's senior secured revolving credit facility and expire prior to December 10, 2011 with a one-year renewal option. The letters of credit are held in connection with certain business combinations, lease arrangements, bankcard association agreements and other security agreements. The Company expects to renew most of the letters of credit prior to expiration.

Contingencies

On July 2, 2004, a class action complaint was filed against the Company, its subsidiary Concord EFS, Inc., and various financial institutions. Plaintiffs claim that the defendants violated antitrust laws by conspiring to artificially inflate foreign ATM fees that were ultimately charged to ATM cardholders. Plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, attorneys' fees, costs and such other relief as the nature of the case may require or as may seem just and proper to the court. Five similar suits were filed and served in July, August and October 2004 (referred to collectively as the "ATM Fee Antitrust Litigation"). The Court granted judgment in favor of the defendants, dismissing the case on September 17, 2010. On October 14, 2010, the plaintiffs appealed the summary judgment. The Company continues to believe the complaints are without merit and intends to vigorously defend them.

There are asserted claims against the Company where an unfavorable outcome is considered to be reasonably possible. These claims can generally be categorized in the following three areas: (1) patent infringement which results from claims that the Company is using technology that has been patented by another party; (2) Merchant customer matters often associated with alleged processing errors or disclosure issues and claims that one of the subsidiaries of the Company has violated a federal or state requirement regarding credit reporting or collection in connection with its check verification guarantee, and collection activities; and (3) other matters which may include issues such as employment. The Company's estimates of the possible ranges of losses in excess of any amounts accrued are $0 to $2 million for patent infringement, $0 to $20 million for merchant customer matters and $0 to $4 million for other matters, resulting in a total estimated range of possible losses of $0 to $26 million for all of the matters described above.

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to claims and litigation, including indemnification obligations to purchasers of former subsidiaries. Management of the Company believes that such matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.