Commitments and Contingencies

We lease buildings, machinery and equipment, computer hardware and furniture and fixtures. All contractual increases and rent-free periods included in the lease contract are taken into account when calculating the minimum lease payment and are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Certain leases have renewal periods and contingent rentals, which are not included in the table below. The minimum annual payments under operating leases are as follows:



(in millions of U.S. dollars)
2019	$	51.6
2020	$	42.9
2021	$	36.2
2022	$	29.2
2023	$	23.4
Thereafter	$	106.9

Operating lease expenses were:



(in millions of U.S. dollars)
Year ended December 29, 2018	$	63.2
Year ended December 30, 2017	54.3
Year ended December 31, 2016	32.3
	$	149.8

Operating lease expenses are shown net of sublease income of $0.9 million for 2018. As of December 29, 2018, we had commitments for capital expenditures of approximately $0.3 million.

We are subject to various claims and legal proceedings with respect to matters such as governmental regulations, and other actions arising out of the normal course of business. Management believes that the resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flow. In addition, the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection (the “Ministry”) has alleged that a non-profit recycling corporation, which collects and recycles bottles sold by manufacturers, including Eden, failed to meet recycling quotas in 2016, in violation of Israeli law. The law imposes liability directly on manufacturers, and the Ministry has asserted that the manufacturers involved with the corporation owe a fine. Eden received a notice from the Ministry on June 21, 2018. Although we cannot predict the outcome of any potential proceedings at this early stage, Eden may be subject to a fine in excess of $0.1 million. Management believes, however, that the resolution of this matter will not be material to our financial position, results of operations, or cash flow.

We had $46.1 million in standby letters of credit outstanding as of December 29, 2018 ($46.0 million—December 30, 2017; $42.4 million—December 31, 2016).

We have future purchase obligations of $157.0 million that consist of commitments for the purchase of inventory, energy transactions, and payments related to professional fees and information technology outsourcing agreements. These obligations represent the minimum contractual obligations expected under the normal course of business.

Guarantees

After completion of the Transaction, the Company continues to provide contractual payment guarantees to three third-party lessors of certain real property used in the Traditional Business. The leases were conveyed to Refresco as part of the Transaction, but the Company’s guarantee was not released by the landlord. The three lease agreements mature in 2027, 2028 and 2029. The maximum potential amount of undiscounted future payments under the guarantee of approximately $32.2 million as of December 29, 2018 ($42.0 million - December 30, 2017) was calculated based on the minimum lease payments of the leases over the remaining term of the agreements. The Transaction documents require Refresco to pay all post-closing obligations under these conveyed leases, and to reimburse the Company if the landlord calls on a guarantee. Refresco has also agreed to a covenant to negotiate with the landlords for a release of the Company’s guarantees; discussions are ongoing. The Company currently believes it is unlikely that we will be required to perform under any of these guarantees or any of the underlying obligations.