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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 28, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Facility and Equipment Leases

We lease certain facilities under non-cancellable operating leases from third parties. We also lease certain buildings under non-cancellable capital leases. Operating leases are subject to renewal options for periods ranging from (1 year to 10 years).

We have disclosed quantitative information related to the lease contracts we have entered into as a lessee by aggregating the information based on the nature of asset such that the assets of similar characteristics and lease terms are shown within one single financial statement line item.

The table below presents the summarized quantitative information with regard to lease contracts we have entered into:
Three Months EndedSix Months Ended
(In thousands)June 28, 2020June 30, 2019June 28, 2020June 30, 2019
Operating leases:
Operating lease expense$4,324  $3,365  $8,641  $8,253  
Sublease income (expense) (20) 24  (55) (310) 
Rent expense$4,304  $3,389  $8,586  $7,943  
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows for operating leases$2,341  $3,558  $7,919  $8,068  
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations1
$963  $13,280  $13,424  $94,805  
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years) - operating leases6.57.86.57.8
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases%%%%
1Amounts for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 include the transition adjustment for the adoption of ASC 842.
The future minimum lease payments to be paid under non-cancellable leases in effect at June 28, 2020, are as follows (in thousands):

As of June 28, 2020Operating Leases
2020 (remaining six months)$8,458  
202116,971  
202215,674  
202312,717  
20249,096  
Thereafter23,781  
Total lease payments86,697  
Less: imputed interest(23,791) 
Total$62,906  

As of June 28, 2020, we have additional operating leases that have not yet commenced with future minimum lease payments amounting to $24.0 million. These operating leases will commence in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 with lease terms of 17 years.

Purchase Commitments
 
We purchase raw materials for inventory and manufacturing equipment from a variety of vendors. During the normal course of business, in order to manage manufacturing lead times and help assure adequate supply, we enter into agreements with contract manufacturers and suppliers that either allow them to procure goods and services based on specifications defined by us, or that establish parameters defining our requirements. In certain instances, these agreements allow us the option to cancel, reschedule or adjust our requirements based on our business needs before firm orders are placed. Consequently, purchase commitments arising from these agreements are excluded from our disclosed future obligations under non-cancellable and unconditional commitments.

We also have agreements with several suppliers, including some of our unconsolidated investees, for the procurement of polysilicon, ingots, and wafers, as well as certain module-level power electronics and related equipment, which specify future quantities and pricing of products to be supplied by two vendors for periods of up to 2 years and provide for certain consequences, such as forfeiture of advanced deposits and liquidated damages relating to previous purchases, in the event that we terminate the arrangements or fail to satisfy our obligations under the agreements.

Future purchase obligations under non-cancellable purchase orders and long-term supply agreements as of June 28, 2020 are as follows:
(In thousands)Fiscal 2020
(remaining six months)
Fiscal 2021Fiscal 2022Fiscal 2023Fiscal 2024Thereafter
Total1
Future purchase obligations$421,666  $79,225  $37,706  $33,148  $710  $6,082  $578,537  
1Total future purchase obligations were composed of $149.3 million related to non-cancellable purchase orders and $429.2 million related to long-term supply agreements.
We expect that all obligations related to non-cancellable purchase orders for manufacturing equipment will be recovered through future cash flows of the solar cell manufacturing lines and solar panel assembly lines when such long-lived assets are placed in service. Factors considered important that could result in an impairment review include significant under-performance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner of use of acquired assets, and significant negative industry or economic trends. Obligations related to non-cancellable purchase orders for inventories match current and forecasted sales orders that will consume these ordered materials and actual consumption of these ordered materials is regularly compared to expected demand. We anticipate total obligations related to long-term supply agreements for inventories, some of which (in the case of polysilicon) are at purchase prices significantly above current prices for similar materials available in the market, will be recovered because the quantities required to be purchased are expected to be utilized in the manufacture and profitable sale of solar power products in the future based on our long-term operating plans. Additionally, in order to reduce inventory and improve working capital, we have periodically elected to sell polysilicon inventory in the marketplace at prices below our purchase price, thereby incurring a loss. The terms of the long-term supply agreements are reviewed annually by us and we assess the need for any accruals for estimated losses on adverse purchase commitments, such as lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments that will not be recovered by future sales prices, forfeiture of advanced deposits and liquidated damages, as necessary.

Advances to Suppliers

As noted above, we have entered into agreements with various vendors and such agreements with one of our vendors is structured as a "take or pay" contract, that specifies future quantities and pricing of products to be supplied. Certain agreements also provide for penalties or forfeiture of advanced deposits in the event we terminate the arrangements. Under certain agreements, we are required to make prepayments to the vendors over the terms of the arrangements. As of June 28, 2020 and December 29, 2019, advances to suppliers totaled $109.4 million and $121.4 million, respectively, of which $108.5 million and $107.4 million, respectively, is classified as "Advances to suppliers, current portion" on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. One supplier accounted for 100% of total advances to suppliers as of June 28, 2020 and December 29, 2019.

Advances from Customers

We have entered into agreements with customers who have made advance payments for solar power systems. These advances are applied as shipments of product occur or upon completion of certain project milestones.

The estimated utilization of advances from customers included within "Contract liabilities, current portion" and "Contract liabilities, net of current portion" on our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 28, 2020 is as follows:
(In thousands)Fiscal 2020
(remaining six months)
Fiscal 2021Fiscal 2022Fiscal 2023Fiscal 2024ThereafterTotal
Estimated utilization of advances from customers$16,074  $29,042  $22,087  $—  $—  $—  $67,203  

Product Warranties

The following table summarizes accrued warranty activities for the three months and six months ended June 28, 2020 and June 30, 2019:
Three Months EndedSix Months Ended
(In thousands)June 28, 2020June 30, 2019June 28, 2020June 30, 2019
Balance at the beginning of the period$133,219  $163,204  $138,445  $172,266  
Accruals for warranties issued during the period4,028  13,427  11,411  18,048  
Settlements and adjustments during the period(10,810) (17,707) (23,419) (31,390) 
Balance at the end of the period$126,437  $158,924  $126,437  $158,924  
In some cases, we may offer customers the option to purchase extended warranties to ensure protection beyond the standard warranty period. In those circumstances, the warranty is considered a distinct service and we account for the extended warranty as a performance obligation and allocate a portion of the transaction price to that performance obligation. More frequently, customers do not purchase a warranty separately. In those situations, we account for the warranty as an assurance-type warranty, which provides customers with assurance that the product complies with agreed-upon specifications, and this does not represent a separate performance obligation. Such warranties are recorded separately as liabilities and presented within "accrued liabilities" and "other long-term liabilities" on our condensed consolidated balance sheets (see Note 5. Balance Sheet Components).

Project Agreements with Customers

Project agreements entered into with our commercial and power plant customers often require us to undertake obligations including: (i) system output performance warranties, (ii) penalty payments or customer termination rights if the system we are constructing is not commissioned within specified time frames or other milestones are not achieved, and (iii) system put-rights whereby we could be required to buy back a customer's system at fair value on specified future dates if certain minimum performance thresholds are not met for specified periods. Historically, our systems have performed significantly above their performance warranty thresholds, and there have been no cases in which we have had to buy back a system. As of June 28, 2020 and December 29, 2019, we had $7.2 million and $7.5 million, respectively, classified as "accrued liabilities," and $0.6 million and $2.8 million, respectively, classified as "other long-term liabilities" on our condensed consolidated balance sheets for such obligations.

Future Financing Commitments

We are required to provide certain funding under agreements with unconsolidated investees, subject to certain conditions. As of June 28, 2020, we have $2.9 million of future financing obligations related to these agreements. These financing obligations are due in 2020.

Liabilities Associated with Uncertain Tax Positions
 
Total liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions were $19.7 million and $20.1 million as of June 28, 2020 and December 29, 2019, respectively. These amounts are included within "other long-term liabilities" on our condensed consolidated balance sheets in their respective periods as they are not expected to be paid within the next 12 months. Due to the complexity and uncertainty associated with our tax positions, we cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the period in which cash settlement, if any, would be made for our liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions in Other long-term liabilities.

Indemnifications
 
We are a party to a variety of agreements under which we may be obligated to indemnify the counterparty with respect to certain matters. Typically, these obligations arise in connection with contracts and license agreements or the sale of assets, under which we customarily agree to hold the other party harmless against losses arising from a breach of warranties, representations and covenants related to such matters as title to assets sold, negligent acts, damage to property, validity of certain intellectual property rights, non-infringement of third-party rights, and certain tax related matters including indemnification to customers under Section 48(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, regarding solar commercial investment tax credits ("ITCs") and U.S. Treasury Department ("U.S. Treasury") cash grant payments under Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (each a "Cash Grant"). Further, in connection with our sale of residential lease assets in fiscal 2018 to SunStrong, we provide Hannon Armstrong indemnification related to cash flow losses arising from a recapture of California property taxes on account of a change in ownership, recapture of federal tax attributes and cash flow losses from leases that do not generate the promised savings to homeowners. The maximum exposure to loss arising from the indemnification for SunStrong is limited to the consideration received for the solar power systems. In each of these circumstances, payment by us is typically subject to the other party making a claim to us that is contemplated by and valid under the indemnification provisions of the particular contract, which provisions are typically contract-specific, as well as bringing the claim under the procedures specified in the particular contract. These procedures usually allow us to challenge the other party's claims or, in case of breach of intellectual property representations or covenants, to control the defense or settlement of any third-party claims brought against the other party. Further, our obligations under these agreements may be limited in terms of activity (typically to replace or correct the products or terminate the agreement with a refund to the other party), duration or amount. In some instances, we may have recourse against third parties or insurance covering certain payments made by us.
 
In certain circumstances, we have provided indemnification to customers and investors under which we are contractually obligated to compensate these parties for losses they may suffer as a result of reductions in benefits received under ITCs and U.S. Treasury Cash Grant programs. We apply for ITCs and Cash Grant incentives based on guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and the U.S. Treasury, which include assumptions regarding the fair value of the qualified solar power systems, among others. Certain of our development agreements, sale-leaseback arrangements, and financing arrangements with tax equity investors, incorporate assumptions regarding the future level of incentives to be received, which in some instances may be claimed directly by our customers and investors. Generally, such obligations would arise as a result of reductions to the value of the underlying solar power systems as assessed by the IRS. At each balance sheet date, we assess and recognize, when applicable, the potential exposure from these obligations based on all the information available at that time, including any audits undertaken by the IRS. The maximum potential future payments that we could have to make under this obligation would depend on the difference between the eligible basis claimed on the tax filing for the solar energy systems sold or transferred to indemnified parties and the values that the IRS may re-determine as the eligible basis for the systems for purposes of claiming ITCs or Cash Grants. We use the eligible basis for tax filing purposes determined with the assistance of independent third-party appraisals to determine the ITCs that are passed-through to and claimed by the indemnified parties. We continue to retain certain indemnities, specifically, around ITCs and Cash Grants and California property taxes, even after the underlying portfolio of assets is sold to a third party. For contracts that have such indemnification provisions, we recognize a liability under ASC 460, "Guarantees," for the estimated premium that would be required by a guarantor to issue the same guarantee in a standalone arm’s-length transaction with an unrelated party. We recognize such liabilities at the greater of the fair value of the indemnity or the contingent liability required to be recognized under ASC 450, "Contingencies." We initially estimate the fair value of any such indemnities provided based on the cost of insurance policies that cover the underlying risks being indemnified and may purchase such policies to mitigate our exposure to potential indemnification payments. After an indemnification liability is recorded, we derecognize such amount typically upon expiration or settlement of the arrangement.
As of June 28, 2020, and December 29, 2019, our provision was $9.0 million and $8.3 million primarily for tax related indemnifications.

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

We maintain defined benefit pension plans for certain of our non-U.S. employees. Benefits under these plans are generally based on an employee’s years of service and compensation. Funding requirements are determined on an individual country and plan basis and are subject to local country practices and market circumstances. The funded status of the pension plans, which represents the difference between the benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets, is calculated on a plan-by-plan basis. The benefit obligation and related funded status are determined using assumptions as of the end of each fiscal year. We recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of our pension plans as an asset or liability on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of June 28, 2020 and December 29, 2019, the underfunded status of our pension plans presented within "other long-term liabilities" on our condensed consolidated balance sheets was $6.6 million and $5.9 million. The impact of transition assets and obligations and actuarial gains and losses are recorded within "accumulated other comprehensive loss" and are generally amortized as a component of net periodic cost over the average remaining service period of participating employees. Total other comprehensive loss related to our benefit plans was zero for the six months ended June 28, 2020 and June 30, 2019, respectively.

Legal Matters

We are a party to various litigation matters and claims that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of our business. While we believe that the ultimate outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on us, their outcomes are not determinable and negative outcomes may adversely affect our financial position, liquidity, or results of operations.