Commitments and contingencies	6 Months Ended
Commitments and contingencies	Jun. 30, 2017
Commitments and contingencies
Commitments and contingencies	8. Commitments and contingencies Employment agreements Pursuant to employment agreements with certain employees, the Company had a commitment to pay severance of approximately $1.2 million as of June 30, 2017 and as of December 31, 2016, in the event of an involuntary termination, as defined in the employment agreements. Additionally, in the event of termination upon a change of control, as defined in the agreements, the Company had a commitment to pay severance of approximately $1.5 million as of June 30, 2017 and $1.4 million as of December 31, 2016. Contingent liabilities In instances where the Company is acting as the merchant acquirer, the Company bears a risk that a merchant may engage in fraud by submitting for payment certain credit card transactions that may have been manipulated, are fictitious, or are otherwise not bona fide. Similarly, the Company bears the risk that a merchant becomes insolvent, owing money to cardholders. To the extent that such fraud or insolvency occurs in circumstances where the Company is liable to make good on any resultant losses, this could affect the Company’s operating results and cash flows. The Company has required certain merchants to post cash reserves of approximately $1.0 million with the sponsoring bank against such liabilities and has itself paid the acquirer a reserve of $0.3 million in connection therewith, which is included in long-term “Restricted cash” on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. In addition, the Company holds merchant reserves of approximately $2.2 million. This reserve amount is included in “Restricted cash” with an offset in “Due to merchants.” Under FASB ASC 460, Guarantees, the Company evaluates its ultimate risk and records an estimate of potential loss for chargeback’s related to merchant fraud and processing errors based upon an assessment of actual historical fraud rates and errors in processing compared to recent bank card processing volume levels. No contingent liability has been recorded as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, as the risk of material loss is considered remote. The Company monitors these contingent liabilities on a quarterly basis and will provide for a reserve if deemed necessary. Outstanding litigation From time to time, the Company’s operating entities may be involved in legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. While any litigation contains an element of uncertainty, the Company has no reason to believe that the outcome of such proceedings or claims will have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. Acquiring bank sponsorship agreement In order to offer merchant acquiring services for Visa and MasterCard transactions, the Company must be sponsored by a financial institution that is a principal member of the Visa and MasterCard networks. The Company entered into a five-year agreement with a sponsoring bank effective September 1, 2013. The Company was required to pay minimum annual sponsorship transaction fees of $0.3 million in year one. The minimum fees escalate each subsequent year with minimum fees of $0.5 million due in year five for total minimum fees of $1.8 million to be paid over the term of the agreement. Sponsorship fees are recorded to payment processing service fees cost of sales with the total agreement minimum of $1.8 million recognized on a straight line basis over the term of the agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company is liable for all losses incurred by the sponsoring bank with respect to the activities of its merchants sponsored under the agreement. No contingent liability has been recorded as of June 30, 2017 as the risk of material loss is considered remote based on historical information. The Company monitors this contingent liability on a quarterly basis and will provide for a reserve if deemed necessary.

Planet Payment Inc 10-Q