16. Commitments and Contingencies:

 

We have several leases, primarily for office facilities and computer equipment, which expire in various years through 2022. Certain of these leases contain renewal options. Rental expense amounted to $2.2 million, $2.3 million and $2.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.

 

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2015 are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

From time to time, assessments are levied on us by the guaranty association of the states where we offer our insurance products. Such assessments are made primarily to cover the losses of policyholders of insolvent or rehabilitated insurers. Since these assessments can generally be recovered through a reduction in future premium taxes paid, we capitalize the assessments that can be recovered as they are paid and amortize the capitalized balance against our premium tax expense. We did not receive an assessment during 2015 or 2014.

 

During the third quarter of 2015 we paid $1.2 million in fulfillment of the contingent purchase price with the sellers of TBIC Holding. The sellers have disputed the calculation of the amount paid and assert that an additional $1.8 million is due. We disagree with this assertion and believe that our calculation of the contingent purchase price was substantially correct.  Pursuant to the terms of the acquisition agreement, an independent actuary has been engaged to resolve this matter.

 

In November 2015, HSU was informed by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts that a surplus lines tax audit covering the period January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2013 was complete. HSU frequently acts as a managing general underwriter (“MGU”) authorized to underwrite policies on behalf of Republic Vanguard Insurance Company and HSIC, both Texas eligible surplus lines insurance carriers. In its role as the MGU, HSU underwrites policies on behalf of these carriers while other agencies located in Texas (generally referred to as “producing agents”) deliver the policies to the insureds and collect all premiums due from the insureds. During the period under audit, the producing agents also collected the surplus lines premium taxes due on the policies from the insureds, held them in trust, and timely remitted those taxes to the Comptroller. We believe this system for collecting and paying the required surplus lines premium taxes complies in all respects with the Texas Insurance Code and other regulations, which clearly require that the same party who delivers the policies and collects the premiums will also collect premium taxes, hold premium taxes in trust, and pay premium taxes to the Comptroller. It also complies with long standing industry practice. In addition, effective January 1, 2012 the Texas Legislators enacted House Bill 3410 (HB3410) which allows an MGU to contractually pass the collection, payment and administration of surplus lines taxes down to another Texas licensed surplus line agent.

 

The Comptroller asserts that HSU is liable for the surplus lines premium taxes related to policy transactions and premiums collected from surplus lines insureds during January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2011, the period prior to the passage of HB3410, and that HSU therefore owes $2.5 million in premium taxes, as well as $0.7 million in penalties and interest for the audit period.

 

We disagree with the Comptroller and intend to vigorously fight their assertion that HSU is liable for the surplus lines premium taxes. We are currently in negotiations with the Comptroller to settle the matter. However, we are presently unable to reasonably estimate the possible loss or legal costs that are likely to arise out of the surplus lines tax audit or any future proceedings relating to this matter. Therefore we have not accrued any amount as of December 31, 2015 related to this matter.

 

We are engaged in legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, none of which, either individually or in the aggregate, are believed likely to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations, in the opinion of management. The various legal proceedings to which we are a party are routine in nature and incidental to our business.