Guarantees

12 Months Ended

Jul. 02, 2021

Indemnifications of Officers and Directors

Seagate Technology, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Seagate-Cayman”) and wholly-owned subsidiary of STX, from time to time enters into indemnification agreements with the directors, officers, employees and agents of STX or any of its subsidiaries (each, an “Indemnitee”). The indemnification agreements provide indemnification in addition to any of Indemnitee’s indemnification rights under any relevant Articles of Association (or similar constitutional document), applicable law or otherwise, and indemnifies an Indemnitee for certain expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in any action or proceeding, including any action by or in the right of STX or any of its subsidiaries, arising out of his or her service as a director, officer, employee or agent of STX or any of its subsidiaries or of any other entity to which he or she provides services at the Company’s request. However, Indemnitees are not indemnified under the indemnification agreements for (i) any fraud or dishonesty in the performance of Indemnitee’s duty to STX or the applicable subsidiary or (ii) Indemnitee’s conscious, intentional or willful failure to act honestly, lawfully and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company. In addition, the indemnification agreements provide that Seagate-Cayman will advance expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in connection with enforcement of the indemnification agreement or with the investigation, settlement or appeal of any action or proceeding against him or her as to which he or she could be indemnified.

The nature of these indemnification obligations prevents the Company from making a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential amount it could be required to pay on behalf of its officers and directors. Historically, the Company has not made any significant indemnification payments under such indemnification agreements and no amount has been accrued in the Company’s consolidated financial statements with respect to these indemnification obligations.

Indemnification Obligations

The Company from time to time enters into agreements with customers, suppliers, partners and others in the ordinary course of business that provide indemnification for certain matters including, but not limited to, intellectual property infringement claims, environmental claims and breach of agreement claims. The nature of the Company’s indemnification obligations prevents the Company from making a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential amount it could be required to pay. Historically, the Company has not made any significant indemnification payments under such agreements and no amount has been accrued in the Company’s consolidated financial statements with respect to these indemnification obligations.

Product Warranty

The Company estimates probable product warranty costs at the time revenue is recognized. The Company generally warrants its products for a period of 1 to 5 years. The Company uses estimated repair or replacement costs and uses statistical modeling to estimate product return rates in order to determine its warranty obligation. As of July 2, 2021, the Company’s reserve for product warranty was $136 million compared to $151 million as of July 3, 2020. This decrease of $15 million was primarily driven by a continued decline in total number of units under warranty and a decrease in the Company’s warranty return rate as compared to prior year.

Changes in the Company’s product warranty liability during the fiscal years ended July 2, 2021, July 3, 2020 and June 28, 2019 were as follows:


	Fiscal Years Ended
(Dollars in millions)	July 2, 2021		July 3, 2020		June 28, 2019
Balance, beginning of period	$	151	$	195	$	237
Warranties issued	76		86		112
Repairs and replacements	(81)		(85)		(99)
Changes in liability for pre-existing warranties, including expirations	(10)		(45)		(55)
Balance, end of period	$	136	$	151	$	195