13. COMMITMENTS:

The Company is obligated under certain lease arrangements for its executive and administrative offices in New York, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Ontario, Canada. Rent expense for the three years ended December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998 was $2.9 million, and $1.5 million, and $0.7 million, respectively. The minimum rental commitments, subject to escalation clauses, at December 31, 2000 under non-cancelable operating leases are as follows:

                                                 (In thousands)
2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $  1,795
2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     1,730
2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     1,372
2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       843
2005 and thereafter  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     1,830
Totals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $  7,570