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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Note 13 – Commitments and Contingencies

Environmental Matters

The Company is subject to various federal, state, local, and foreign laws and regulations governing environmental matters, including the use, discharge, and disposal of hazardous materials. The Company’s manufacturing facilities are believed to be in substantial compliance with current laws and regulations. Complying with current laws and regulations has not had a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition.

The Company has engaged environmental consultants and attorneys to assist management in evaluating potential liabilities related to environmental matters. Management assesses the input from these consultants along with other information known to the Company in its effort to continually monitor these potential liabilities. Management assesses its environmental exposure on a site-by-site basis, including those sites where the Company has been named as a “potentially responsible party.” Such assessments include the Company’s share of remediation costs, information known to the Company concerning the size of the hazardous waste sites, their years of operation, and the number of past users and their financial viability.

The Company has accrued environmental liabilities of $12,126, of which $6,346 is included in other accrued liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, and $5,780 is included in other noncurrent liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

While the ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined, management does not believe that the final disposition of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.  The Company’s present and past facilities have been in operation for many years. These facilities have used substances and have generated and disposed of wastes which are or might be considered hazardous. Therefore, it is possible that additional environmental issues may arise in the future, which the Company cannot now predict.

Litigation

The Company is a party to various claims and lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. The Company is of the opinion that these litigations or claims will not have a material negative effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Semiconductor Foundry Agreements

The Company’s Siliconix subsidiary maintains long-term foundry agreements with subcontractors to ensure access to external front-end capacity.

Since 2004, Siliconix has maintained long-term foundry arrangements for semiconductor manufacturing with Tower Semiconductor, pursuant to which Siliconix transferred certain technology to Tower Semiconductor and committed to purchase a minimum amount of semiconductor wafers.  The Company has minimum purchase commitments pursuant to its current arrangements with Tower Semiconductor and other foundry partners of $38,945, $17,383, $1,560, and $1,560 for the years 2020 through 2024, respectively.  The minimum purchase commitments with Tower Semiconductor are based on a 18-month rolling forecast and, accordingly, the 2021 through 2024 minimum purchase commitments will likely increase.  The Company has the option to purchase wafers in addition to the minimum commitment and, accordingly, actual purchases may be different than the amounts disclosed above.  The Company's 2019 purchases pursuant to its arrangements were less than the minimum purchase commitment and it paid an immaterial penalty.

Product Quality Claims

The Company is a party to various product quality claims in the normal course of business.  See Note 1 for further information on the Company's warranty obligations.

Executive Employment Agreements

The Company has employment agreements with certain of its senior executives.  These employment agreements provide incremental compensation in the event of termination.  The Company does not provide any severance or other benefits specifically upon a change in control.