(15)  Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

Qurate Retail leases business offices, has entered into satellite transponder lease agreements and uses certain equipment under lease arrangements. Rental expense under such arrangements amounted to $80 million, $45 million and $46 million for the years ended December 31, 2018,  2017 and 2016, respectively.

A summary of future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2018 follows (amounts in millions):

It is expected that in the normal course of business, leases that expire generally will be renewed or replaced by leases on other properties; thus, it is anticipated that future lease commitments will not be less than the amount shown for 2018.

Distribution Center Lease

On July 2, 2015, QVC entered into a lease (the “Lease”) for a west coast distribution center. Pursuant to the Lease, the landlord built an approximately one million square foot rental building in Ontario, California (the “Premises”), and thereafter leased the Premises to QVC as its new west coast distribution center for an initial term of 15 years. Under the Lease, QVC was required to pay an initial base rent of approximately $6 million per year, increasing to approximately $8 million per year by the final year of the initial term, as well as all real estate taxes and other building operating costs. QVC also had an option to extend the term of the Lease for up to two consecutive terms of 10 years each.

In August 2018, QVC exercised the right to purchase the Premises and related land from the landlord by entering into an amended and restated agreement (“New Lease”). QVC made an initial payment of $10 million and will make annual payments of $12 million over a term of 13 years.  QVC treats the New Lease within capital lease obligations and lease payments are attributed to: (1) a reduction of the principal obligation and (2) imputed interest expense. In connection with the New Lease, QVC capitalized the related land at fair market value while the building asset is currently being depreciated over its estimated useful life of 20 years.

On October 5, 2018, QVC entered into a lease (“ECDC Lease”) for an East Coast distribution center as part of the QRG Initiatives. The 1.7 million square foot rental building is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and will be leased to QVC for an initial term of 15 years. QVC expects the ECDC Lease to commence in the third quarter of 2019, at which point the discounted value of the ECDC Lease will be recorded as an asset and a liability in the consolidated balance sheets in accordance with ASU 2016-02, which the Company will adopt on January 1, 2019. Under the ECDC Lease, QVC will be required to pay an initial base rent of approximately $10 million per year, increasing to approximately $14 million per year, as well as all real estate taxes and other building operating costs. QVC also has the option to extend the term of the ECDC Lease for up to two consecutive terms of 5 years each and one final term of 4 years.

Litigation

Qurate Retail has contingent liabilities related to legal and tax proceedings and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business. Although it is reasonably possible Qurate Retail may incur losses upon conclusion of such matters, an estimate of any loss or range of loss cannot be made. In the opinion of management, it is expected that amounts, if any, which may be required to satisfy such contingencies will not be material in relation to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.