EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1138639
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 1138639_10-K_2021_0001138639-21-000026.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Overview
Infinera Corporation (“we,” “us,” “our”, “Infinera” or the "Company") is a global supplier of networking solutions comprised of networking equipment, software and services. Our portfolio of solutions includes optical transport platforms, converged packet-optical transport platforms, compact modular platforms, optical line systems, disaggregated router platforms, a suite of networking and automation software offerings, and support and professional services.
Our customers include telecommunications service providers, internet content providers (“ICPs”), cable providers, wholesale carriers, research and education institutions, large enterprises and government entities. Our networking solutions enable our customers to deliver high-bandwidth business and consumer communications services. Our comprehensive portfolio of networking solutions also enables our customers to scale their transport networks as end-user services and applications continue to drive growth in demand for network bandwidth. These end-user services and applications include, but are not limited to, high-speed internet access, business Ethernet services, 4G/5G mobile broadband, cloud-based services, high-definition video streaming services, virtual and augmented reality and the Internet of Things (“IoT”).
Our systems are highly scalable, flexible and designed with open networking principles for ease of deployment. We build our systems using a combination of internally manufactured and third-party components. Our portfolio includes systems that leverage our innovative, vertically integrated optical engine technology, comprised of large-scale photonic integrated circuits (“PICs”) and digital signal processors (“DSPs”). We optimize the manufacturing process by using indium phosphide to build our PICs, which enables the integration of hundreds of optical functions onto a set of semiconductor chips. This large-scale integration of our PICs and advanced DSPs allows us to deliver high-performance transport networking platforms with features that customers care about the most, including cost per bit, low power consumption and space savings. In addition, we design our optical engines to increase the capacity and reach performance of our products by leveraging coherent optical transmission. We believe our vertical integration strategy becomes increasingly more valuable as our customers transition to 800 gigabits per second (“Gb/s”) per wavelength transmission speeds and beyond, as the combination of our optical integration, DSP, and tightly integrated packaging enables leading optical performance at higher optical speeds with increased spectral efficiency.
Over the past several years, we expanded our portfolio of solutions, evolving from our initial focus on the long-haul and subsea optical transport markets to offer packet-optical networking solutions that address multiple market segments within the end-to-end transport infrastructure. These markets include metro access, metro aggregation and switching, data center interconnect (“DCI”), and long-haul and subsea transport.
We have grown our solutions portfolio through internal development as well as acquisitions. In 2014, we introduced the Infinera Cloud Xpress to address the emerging DCI market opportunity. In 2015, we entered the metro market with the acquisition of Transmode AB (“Transmode”), a leader in metro packet-optical applications. In October 2018, we expanded our product portfolio and customer base through the acquisition of Telecom Holding Parent LLC (“Coriant”), a privately held global supplier of open network solutions for the largest global network operators (the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition has helped position us as one of the largest providers of vertically integrated transport networking solutions in the world and enhanced our ability to serve a global customer base and accelerate the delivery of the innovative solutions our customers demand. The Acquisition has also enabled us to expand the breadth of customer applications we can address, including 600 Gb/s coherent optical transport, metro aggregation and switching, disaggregated routing, and software-enabled multi-layer network management and control.
Our high-speed optical transport platforms are differentiated by our Infinite Capacity Engine (ICE) coherent optical engine technology. ICE enables different subsystems that can be customized for a variety of network applications in different transport markets, including metro, DCI, long-haul and subsea. Our latest generation of coherent optical engine technology delivers multi-terabit opto-electronic subsystems powered by our fifth-generation PIC and latest generation FlexCoherent DSP (the combination of which we market as “ICE6”). ICE6 is capable of delivering 800 Gb/s over a single wavelength. ICE6 will be integrated into various networking platforms in our product portfolio.
Our products are designed to be managed by a suite of software solutions that enable simplified network management, multi-layer service orchestration, and automated operations. We also provide software-
enabled programmability that offers differentiated capabilities such as Instant Bandwidth. Combined with our differentiated hardware solutions, Instant Bandwidth enables our customers to purchase and activate bandwidth as needed through our unique software licensing feature set. This, in turn, allows our customers to accomplish two key objectives: (1) limit their initial network startup costs and investments; and (2) instantly activate new bandwidth as their customers’ and their own network capacity needs evolve.
We believe our portfolio of solutions benefits our customers by providing a unique combination of highly scalable capacity and features that address various transport network applications and ultimately simplify and automate network operations. Our high-performance optical transport solutions leverage the industry shift to open optical network architectures and enable our customers to efficiently and cost-effectively meet bandwidth demand, which continues to grow 30%-35% year over year.
We were incorporated in December 2000 and originally operated under the name “Zepton Networks.” We are incorporated in the State of Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 6373 San Ignacio Avenue, San Jose, CA 95119. Our telephone number is (408) 572-5200. “Infinera,” “Infinera DTN-X,” “FlexCoherent,” “Infinera Groove,” “Infinera mTera,” “Infinera DRX,” “Infinera Transcend” and the Infinera logo, are trademarks or service marks of Infinera Corporation in the United States, certain other countries and/or the European Union. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Industry Background
Optical transport networking equipment carries digital information using light waves over fiber optic cables. With the advent of wavelength division multiplexing (“WDM”) systems, data is transmitted by using multiple wavelengths of light using different frequencies or colors over a single optical fiber. Customers deploy WDM systems to carry information between continents, across countries, between cities and within metropolitan areas, and in some cases all the way to the end-user. Fiber optic networks are generally capable of carrying most types of communications traffic. We believe that a number of trends in the communications industry are driving demand for large amounts of network bandwidth and ultimately will increase demand for packet-optical transport networking systems and software. These trends include:
•growth of cloud services;
•growth of over-the-top services and high-definition video streaming;
•growth of mobile broadband services, including 4G and emerging 5G services;
•increasing use of connected virtual and augmented reality devices; and
•the IoT, which continues to drive massive growth in the number of network-connected devices.
As network traffic grows, customers add transmission capacity to existing optical networks or deploy new systems to address bandwidth demands and offer expanded services to end-users.
We believe we are in the midst of an important shift in transport network architectures that impact the markets we serve. The shift to open and disaggregated networks is increasingly being embraced by the communications industry. Examples of this trend include separation of compute, storage, and networking in data centers, the separation of hardware, operating system and apps in smart phones, hardware/software separation in network function virtualization (NFV) and hardware and software routing stack routers, and open RAN initiatives for 5G. Industry evolution is now enabling optical networking to leverage these same principles of openness and disaggregation.
Optical networking technology has evolved to enable open networks at the physical and management layer. These technologies allow network operators to move from a traditional vendor locked-in model to a more flexible model where they can choose from a collection of modular, best-of-breed solutions from different suppliers for each network function. Open and standards-based interfaces ease the integration into a unified network architecture.
The shift to open optical networking provides network operators with key benefits that include:
•Accelerated innovation cycles: By leveraging the full innovation capabilities of the optical ecosystem, network operators are able to select best-in-class technologies and vendors independently throughout the network lifecycle. And solution providers can develop innovative technologies for specific network functions without having to supply end-to-end networking solutions significantly broadening the innovation ecosystem.
•Optimized network architectures: By selecting the ideal products and technologies for each layer and domain of the network independently, network operators are able to optimize their optical network for specific applications and services and avoid the constraints of a single-vendor for one-size-fits-all solutions.
•Improved network economics: Open optical networks enables cost-per-bit reducing innovations to be quickly deployed throughout the network lifecycle, with customized multi-vendor network designs providing additional scope for cost-optimization as capacity and service demands evolve.
A second shift is happening at the edge of the network, where fiber continues to be deployed closer to the end-user to deliver an improved, low latency customer experience. This trend is frequently referred to as “Fiber Deep,” and primarily occurs in two types of access networks: 4G/5G mobile transport networks and next-generation cable and multiple system operator (“MSO”) networks. As end-user bandwidth demand continues to grow exponentially, this trend is driving the need for high-performance coherent optics at the edge of the network.
We believe both of these trends require cost-efficient scalability, higher density and lower power per bit networking solutions with open network capabilities and high-performance optical engine technology.
Strategy
Our goal is to be the preeminent provider of high-performance transport technologies and solutions that enable customers to cost-efficiently scale network capacity and launch new services in response to increasing end-user bandwidth demand. Key aspects of our strategy include:
•Leveraging our vertically integrated solutions to deliver lowest total cost network solutions. We will continue to provide our customers differentiated value by leveraging our vertically integrated optical engine. This value includes significant cost advantages that our innovative PIC and DSP technology enable, including service agility, spectral efficiency, optical performance leadership and reliability, industry-leading optical scalability, and high-density and ultra-power efficient platforms. Our strategy is to continue to evolve our unique optical technology with higher speed and increasingly efficient capabilities, integrating our vertically integrated optical engines across a broad range of our open optical networking platforms.
•Driving cost structure optimization and achieving cost advantages of scale. Leveraging scale as part of our vertical integration strategy, which includes integration of our optical engine across a broader set of platforms, enables us to achieve cost advantages and cost structure efficiencies that enhance our ability to continue to invest in research and development in our optical engine and end-to-end portfolio, as well as drive profitability. In particular, we believe our vertically integrated in-house manufacturing capabilities serve as a competitive advantage from a technology and supply chain perspective, and enable a lower cost structure and thus, higher profitability. To further drive cost structure optimization, we are transforming our supply chain to enable us to move from a fixed cost structure to an increasingly outsourced model that will allow for enhanced flexibility in our delivery capabilities to better support customers, while optimizing our cost leverage.
•Building open optical networking solutions. Our strategy is focused on leveraging open optical networking principles, including disaggregated networking solutions and industry-leading optical technology with open APIs and standardized data models to offer our customers best-in-class solutions and create insertion opportunities to gain market share. Open optical networking provides benefits for both network operators and innovative solution providers. These benefits include accelerating innovation cycles, enabling optimized and differentiated networking solutions, and the ability to transform network economics.
•Delivering a superior customer experience. Our success will continue to be driven by our commitment to providing a superior experience to all customers. In addition to product delivery capability that efficiently and predictably delivers innovative technology and high-quality products to market, we bring value to our customers by providing end-to-end solutions with differentiation that includes usage-based bandwidth provisioning, service agility and ease-of-use that accelerates time-to-revenue. Additionally, our global customer services team is committed to making our
customers successful by providing the highest quality support services that help our customers deploy, operate and maintain their networks. We believe our technology leadership combined with our ability to provide the most reliable products and a differentiated customer experience contribute to customer success and represent major differentiators.
•Utilizing software-driven automation to deliver differentiated solutions. We believe we lead the industry in ease of use and automation, both integrated into our system design and facilitated by our software capabilities. We continue to invest in our differentiated technologies, including enhancing capabilities of Instant Bandwidth offerings and introducing automation and programmability capabilities. We are extending management and control capabilities across our entire product portfolio with the addition of a new orchestration solution. This new solution enables customers to utilize end-to-end network resources and the automation of multi-layer, multi-domain and multi-vendor networks. Additionally, based on our customers’ desire for more programmable networks, we have added open application programming interfaces (“APIs”) to our solutions to enable our customers to create more agile and customized automated operations.
Customers, Products and Services
Our customer verticals include:
•Tier 1 carriers for domestic and international networks;
•Tier 2 and Tier 3 carriers;
•ICP and cloud providers;
•cable providers and MSOs;
•wholesale carriers;
•submarine network operators;
•large enterprise customers;
•research and education institutions; and
•government entities.
In the markets we serve, we believe our customers seek the following solutions to meet growing bandwidth needs, increase their revenue, expand their service offerings and lower the total cost of their operations:
•high-bandwidth solutions that scale optical transmission capacity to meet increasing bandwidth demand while providing efficiency through service granularity;
•flexible, efficient and easy to deploy solutions that optimize performance and increase reliability while reducing physical space and power consumption, leading to lower operational and capital expenses;
•easy-to-use solutions that are highly programmable, open, and automated, which help reduce the time and complexity of deploying new transmission bandwidth; and
•strong encryption at the transport layer.
We sell our products directly to our end-user customers and to channel partners that sell on our behalf. We do not have long-term sales commitments from our customers. One customer accounted for approximately 11%, 13% & 13% of the Company's revenue in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. One other customer accounted for approximately 15% of the Company's revenue in 2018. No other customers accounted for over 10% of the Company's revenue in 2020, 2019 or 2018.
We have focused our efforts and capital on developing high-performance, vertically integrated transport technologies and solutions that enable customers to cost-efficiently scale network capacity and launch new services in response increasing end-user bandwidth demand. Our products feature industry-leading optical
performance for capacity-reach, high service port density, a low power profile, and multi-layer, application-aware software that allows fast and simple provisioning of network services.
We believe one of our key differentiating capabilities is our deep vertical integration of high-end optical technology. Our Optical Innovation Center (OIC), which comprises a world-class team of scientists and engineers, is responsible for driving the opto-electronic innovations that are integrated into many of our coherent transport systems. Core OIC disciplines include coherent ASIC/DSP design, PIC design and manufacture, analog ASIC design, advanced packaging design and manufacture, and holistic co-design, including the RF interconnect. The Infinera OIC has been responsible for many industry firsts, including the first large-scale PIC, the first coherent PIC, the first commercial super-channels, the first Nyquist subcarriers, and the first point-to-multipoint coherent technology. Additional OIC innovation highlights include soft-decision forward error correction gain sharing techniques and long-codeword probabilistic constellation shaping. These innovations enabled the fourth-generation Infinite Capacity Engine (ICE4) optical engine to set multiple subsea spectral efficiency records, and they are also behind the superior reach performance of our 800 Gb/s capable ICE6 optical engine and our industry-first point-to-multipoint XR optics technology.
Financially, we believe our in-house developed technology approach enables improved manufacturing economics for optical networking, allowing future optical transport cost reductions to be viably sustained on a cost curve defined by volume manufacturing efficiencies and greater functional integration. These advantages also allow us to develop new technologies and solutions that offer our customers innovative ways to solve their business needs.
In 2020, we introduced our sixth-generation Infinite Capacity Engine (“ICE6”) to the market. ICE6, which is designed to support high-capacity optical transmission with dual-channel 800 Gb/s and leading optical performance, builds on the market success of ICE4 and Instant Bandwidth with a 1.6 terabits per second ("Tb/s") optical engine, providing a path for network operators to meet the ongoing growth of bandwidth and increasingly dynamic, unpredictable traffic flows. ICE6 combines our sixth-generation PIC with our internally developed 7 nanometer DSP technology.
Product Portfolio
Our hardware product portfolio consists of compact modular platforms, optical line systems, packet-optical platforms and network routers. Software products include the Infinera Transcend Software Suite, which includes SDN and network management software, and our CNOS routing software. These products address multiple market segments in the end-to-end transport infrastructure, including metro, long-haul and subsea. DCI is a subset of these markets. We also provide customer support services, including professional service offerings designed to help customers optimize their network assets and migrate legacy services.
The high-speed transport network infrastructure is comprised of multiple technology layers that require intelligent interworking and coordination between layers to ensure efficient delivery of end-user services. These technology layers include Layer 0 (WDM), Layer 1 (optical transport network (“OTN”), SONET/SDH), Layer 2 (Carrier Ethernet), Layer 2.5 (MPLS-TP) and Layer 3 (Internet Protocol). Our product portfolio includes solutions that span all of these transport network layers. Our product portfolio also includes multi-layer network management and automation software that helps simplify operational tasks and accelerate provisioning of end-user services across multiple transport market domains, including metro, long-haul and subsea.
Compact Modular Platforms
Infinera Cloud Xpress Family
The Infinera Cloud Xpress Family is designed to meet the varying needs of ICPs, communication service providers, internet exchange service providers, enterprises and other large-scale data center operators. The first generation of the Cloud Xpress has a 500 Gb/s WDM super-channel output in 2RUs. Our second generation, the Cloud Xpress 2, released in June 2017, leverages the ICE4 optical engine, and has a 1.2 Tb/s super-channel output in 1RU. These platforms are designed with a rack-and-stack form factor and utilize a software approach that enables them to easily plug into existing cloud provisioning systems using open SDN APIs, an approach similar to the server and storage infrastructure deployed in the cloud.
Infinera Groove (GX) Series
The Infinera Groove (GX) Series of highly compact, modular, and sled-based platforms includes integrated muxponder capabilities optimized to support a variety of transport network applications. With a
compact and flexible architectural design, the GX Series supports up to 800 Gb/s per wavelength to deliver cost-optimized optical reach in metro and long-haul applications, enabling rapid capacity increases as network traffic grows. The GX muxponder solution supports deployment over virtually any optical line system, enabling network operators to easily introduce our best-of-breed, high-performance transmission capabilities over existing infrastructure.
Infinera XT Series
The Infinera XT Series of compact, open and disaggregated platforms, powered by our ICE4, delivers up to 2.4 Tb/s of line-side capacity for metro, DCI, regional and long-haul networks in compact 1RU and 4RU form factors, with ultra-long-haul and submarine reach. These platforms are designed to power cloud scale network services over metro, DCI, long-haul and subsea networks.
Optical Line Systems
Infinera Groove (GX) Series
The Infinera Groove (GX) Series of modular, sled-based platforms includes integrated optical line system capabilities optimized to support a variety of transport network applications. With a compact and flexible architectural design, the GX solution supports up to 600 Gb/s per wavelength to deliver cost-optimized optical reach in metro and long-haul applications, enabling rapid capacity increases as network traffic grows. Introduced in 2020, the latest generation of GX platforms support 800 Gb/s per wavelength enabled by our ICE6 optical engine.
Infinera 7300 Series
The Infinera 7300 Series is an SDN-ready coherent optical transport system. Supporting the latest optical technology, the 7300 Series addresses the needs of regional, long-haul, and ultra-long-haul optical networking, including long, unrepeatered single-span and festoon subsea networks. The 7300 enables network operators to achieve the highest network resiliency with fast optical protection switching and the use of autonomous and SDN-controlled restoration capabilities.
Infinera FlexILS Open Optical Line System
The Infinera FlexILS open optical line system connects various Infinera and third-party terminal equipment platforms over long-distance fiber optic cable while providing switching, multiplexing, amplification and management channels. The FlexILS solution is designed to support over 50 Tb/s of fiber capacity when used with the Infinera platforms over extended C-band and L-band. The FlexILS also supports reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (“ROADM”) functionality with a flexible grid architecture and provides unconstrained optical switching by eliminating the restrictions of fixed wavelengths by port or direction. This platform is designed to provide open APIs interfacing with SDN control for multi-layer switching when combined with other platforms featuring WDM, OTN and packet switching.
Packet-Optical Platforms
Infinera 7090 Series
The Infinera 7090 Packet Transport Platforms provide both Multiprotocol Label Switching ("MPLS")-Transport Profile ("MPLS-TP") and Carrier Ethernet-based options, addressing applications including business Ethernet services, migration from TDM to packet, and residential and mobile backhaul. The 7090 Series includes MPLS-TP platforms with capacities ranging from 5 Gb/s to 960 Gb/s and Carrier Ethernet-based platforms that provide a range of compact gigabit Ethernet (“GbE”) and 10 GbE Ethernet access devices.
Infinera XTM Series
The Infinera XTM Series packet-optical transport platform enables high-performance metro connectivity solutions with service-aware capabilities optimized for 5G, Fiber Deep, business services and other metro transport applications. The XTM Series offers superior density, lower power consumption and higher scalability for multi-service metro access and aggregation networks, including integrated Layer 1 and Layer 2 support and Time Sensitive Networking features required for 5G mobile x-haul applications. The platform is designed for application-rich packet-optical metro networks providing cable, mobile, broadband and business services that require 10 Gb/s, 100 Gb/s or 200 Gb/s wavelengths with differentiated performance. This offering includes Auto-Lambda, a feature that provides a unique solution for deploying access and aggregation networks. Auto-Lambda
enables network operators to simply plug DWDM optics into aggregation and access nodes, which allows the packet-optical network element to automatically tune each of the optical signals to the appropriate wavelength.
Infinera 7100 Series
Infinera 7100 Series of packet-optical transport platforms are right-sized and support a flexible mix of transponders, muxponders, packet switching, OTN switching, SONET/SDH switching, and ROADM-based optical line systems, providing compact and flexible transport for metro networks. The 7100 Series includes the 7100 Nano, a 5RU platform optimized for metro transport and the 7100 Pico, a 2RU platform that extends services to the metro edge and enables metro access applications. The 7100 Series also includes the PSX-3S, a 1RU 376 Gb/s packet switch optimized for aggregation and access applications.
Infinera mTera Series
The Infinera mTera Universal Transport Platform is a flexible and efficient network transport solution supporting scalable grooming and an innovative protocol-agnostic switch fabric in which each and every port on virtually every card can be software-configured between OTN and Ethernet. The mTera Series includes a compact 8-slot, 4 Tb/s shelf and a higher capacity 14-slot, 7 Tb/s shelf, with paired 14-slot shelves able to deliver 12 Tb/s of electrical switching. The mTera Series combines SDN-ready, advanced ROADM capabilities and support for the universal switching of OTN, packet and SONET/SDH traffic at the electrical layer.
Infinera XTC Series
The Infinera XTC Series includes multi-terabit packet optical transport platforms that integrate digital OTN switching and optical WDM transmission. The XTC Series delivers converged packet, OTN, and WDM for metro core, regional, long-haul, and subsea applications. The XTC Series features ICE4, Instant Bandwidth, and massively simple operations to drive cost reduction and speed time to revenue. These platforms also support a broad range of Ethernet and OTN client interfaces for flexibility and are designed for metro, long-haul and subsea networks.
Network Routers
Infinera DRX Series
The Infinera DRX Series of disaggregated routers is designed to help network operators reduce capital expenditures and accelerate innovation by minimizing vendor lock-in, while also reducing operating expenses with open SDN-enabled network automation. The DRX Series includes carrier-class 1RU and 2RU white boxes purpose-built for disaggregated router applications including 5G backhaul and Fiber Deep. As an open networking solution, the DRX Series leverages Infinera CNOS routing software as well as third-party hardware-independent network operating systems. While the capacity of individual DRX devices ranges from 300 Gb/s to 9.6 Tb/s, stacking and leaf-spine architectures enabled by CNOS provide for much larger node capacities. Carrier-class capabilities of the DRX Series include advanced synchronization, equipment redundancy and temperature hardened options.
Infinera 8600 Series
The Infinera 8600 Series of SDN-ready Internet Protocol/MPLS routers provides compact, cost-effective and power-efficient solutions for cell sites, metro core and aggregation applications. By boosting network performance, integrating advanced synchronization and enabling new fixed mobile services, the 8600 Series helps network operators ensure a high-quality user experience in 3G, 4G, fixed mobile convergence and emerging 5G networks.
Software and Services
Transcend Software Suite
Leveraging open architectures based on SDN principles, the Infinera Transcend Software Suite includes a multi-layer and multi-domain orchestrator, multi-vendor SDN domain controllers, network managers, and open, standards-based network management capabilities with granular control across network elements at micro and macro levels. The Transcend Software Suite provides a platform for automation that reduces operational costs, optimizes network assets, speeds time to revenue, and maximizes network and service availability. Intent-based automation translates service requests into optimized multi-layer (L0-L3) network configurations while closed loop automation proactively monitors network state and service performance and, when appropriate, takes actions to assure service quality. Additional highlights include DevOps-style programmability, open interfaces, and graphical user interface-based portals.
Infinera CNOS
Infinera CNOS is a hardware-independent network operating system that leverages field-proven 8600 Internet Protocol/MPLS software widely deployed by leading Tier 1 carriers. Infinera CNOS is designed to run on the Infinera DRX platform or on third-party packet switching white boxes to provide a scalable disaggregated router solution. This solution is designed to enable network operators to reduce capital expenses and accelerate innovation by minimizing vendor lock-in, while also reducing operational expenses with SDN-enabled automation and the ability to scale cost effectively with stacking and leaf-spine architectures.
System Software
Our networking platforms include system software designed to maximize reliability and streamline automation. This software controls all aspects of system operations, including command processing, system security, policy management, fault monitoring, and alarm reporting. our system software is designed to be field upgradable, with minimal impact on customer traffic.
Customer Support Services
In connection with our product offerings, we provide a comprehensive range of support services for all hardware and software products. These support services cover all phases of network ownership, from the initial installation through day-to-day maintenance activities and professional services, including migration of legacy transport services. From turnkey installation to standalone projects, our support services are designed to efficiently manage and maintain customer network operations in the face of today's ever-increasing demands for lower operational costs and minimized downtime.
Our support organization continues to scale and provide world-class services that successfully support customers around the world. In addition, we continue to expand our services portfolio to meet the evolving needs of our customers.
Competition
Our current technologies and platforms support the metro, DCI, long-haul and subsea markets. The packet-optical networking equipment market is highly competitive and competition in the markets we serve is based on any one or a combination of the following factors:
•price and other commercial terms;
•functionality;
•existing business and customer relationships;
•the ability of products and services to meet customers’ immediate and future network requirements;
•power consumption;
•heat dissipation;
•form factor or density;
•installation and operational simplicity;
•quality and reliability;
•service and support;
•security and encryption requirements;
•scalability and investment protection; and
•product lead times.
Competition in the packet-optical equipment market is intense, with consolidation and geopolitical market shifts creating new competitive dynamics. In the long-haul market, our main competitors include WDM systems suppliers such as Ciena, Huawei, Nokia and ZTE. In the metro market, we face the same competitors as in long-haul, plus Cisco, ADVA Optical Networking, Ribbon Communications, and Fujitsu among others. In the DCI market we also face competition from vendors that are selling optical components directly to customers as opposed to WDM systems. In addition to our current competitors, other companies have, or may in the future, develop products that are, or could be, competitive with our products. We also may encounter competitor consolidation in the markets in which we compete, which could lead to a changing competitive landscape, capabilities and market share, and could impact our results of operations.
Some of our competitors have substantially greater name recognition, technical, financial and marketing resources, and better-established relationships with potential customers than we have. Many of our competitors have more resources and more experience in developing or acquiring new products and technologies, and in creating market awareness for those products and technologies. In addition, many of our competitors have the financial resources to offer competitive products at aggressive pricing levels that could prevent us from competing effectively. Further, many of our competitors have built long-standing relationships with some of our prospective and existing customers and have the ability to provide financing to customers and could, therefore, have an inherent advantage in selling products to those customers.
Sales and Marketing
We market and sell our products and related support services primarily through our direct sales force, supported by marketing and product management personnel. We also use distribution or support partners to enter new markets or when requested by a potential customer. Our sales team has significant experience with the buying process and sales cycles typical of high-value telecommunications products.
The sales process for our products entails discussions with prospective customers, analyzing their networks and identifying how they can utilize our systems capabilities within their networks. This process requires developing strong customer relationships and leveraging our sales force and customer support capabilities.
Over the course of the sales cycle, potential customers often test our products before buying. Prior to commercial deployment, the customer will generally perform a field trial of our products. Upon successful completion, the customer generally accepts the products installed in its network and may continue with commercial deployment of additional products. We anticipate that our sales cycle, from initial contact with a prospective customer through the signing of a purchase agreement may, in some cases, take several quarters.
Direct Sales Force. Our sales team sells directly to service providers worldwide and is organized geographically around the following markets: (i) United States and Canada (“North America”); (ii) Latin America and South America (“LATAM”); (iii) Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”); and (iv) Asia Pacific and Japan (“APAC”). Within each geographic area, we maintain specific teams or personnel that focus on a particular region, country, customer or market vertical.
Indirect Sales Force. We employ business consultants and resale and logistics partners to assist in our sales efforts, primarily in new regions for us whereby these partners have deep knowledge of typical business practices and strong relationships with key local operators. We expect to work with business partners to assist our customers in the sale, deployment and maintenance of our systems and have entered into distribution and resale agreements to facilitate the sale and support of our products.
Marketing and Product Management. Our product management team is responsible for defining the product features and go-to-market plan required to maximize our success in the marketplace. Product management supports our sales efforts with product and application expertise. Our corporate marketing team works to create demand for our products by communicating our value proposition and differentiation through direct customer interaction, public relations, attendance at tradeshows and other events, as well as internet programs and other marketing channels.
Research and Development
Continued investment in research and development is critical to our business. To this end, we have a team of engineers with expertise in various fields, including photonic integrated circuits, components, systems, sub-systems and software. Our research and development efforts are currently focused in San Jose, California; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Annapolis, Maryland; Bangalore, India; Kanata, Canada; Stockholm, Sweden; Munich, Germany; Lisbon, Portugal; Shanghai, PRC; Espoo, Finland; and Naperville, Illinois. We utilize a mix of internal resources and supplement our staffing with development personnel provided by third parties on a contract basis. We have invested significant time and financial resources into the enhancement of existing products and the development of new products. We will continue to expand our product offerings and the capabilities of existing products in the future and plan to dedicate significant resources to these continued research and development efforts. We are continually increasing the scalability and software features of our current platforms. As part of the integration efforts related to the Acquisition, we are integrating the legacy Infinera and Coriant products into a seamless end-to-end portfolio; and we are investing in leveraging the vertical integration capabilities of Infinera across a broader portion of our platforms. We are also working to develop new generations of optical engines at a faster cadence than we have historically in order to bring new products to market more rapidly and meet customer demand. We believe these efforts will enhance our competitiveness in the markets we currently serve and also allow us to address adjacent markets to fuel our future growth.
Human Capital
Integrity, trust, mutual commitment, respect for diversity and execution excellence are some of Infinera’s core values - values brought to life by our talented, diverse, and dedicated global workforce. Employee health and safety are cornerstones of our human capital management, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We continuously strive to build and maintain a culture of human connection, individual responsibility, and mutual integrity. As of December 26, 2020, we had 3,050 employees, with 1,902 of those employees located outside of the United States. None of our U.S. employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement. Employees in certain foreign jurisdictions are represented by local workers’ councils and/or collective bargaining agreements, as required by local laws or customs. We have not experienced any work stoppages, and we consider our employee relationships to be good.
Diversity and Inclusion
At Infinera, we strive to be a diverse company with an inclusive culture, as reflected in the way we treat each other and respect our differences, and how we do business with our customers and partners around the world. We believe that our rich culture of inclusion and belonging enables us to leverage the strengths of our people in an effort to exceed customer expectations and growth objectives. Current key diversity and inclusion (“D&I”) initiatives include our global D&I engagement committee, employee resource groups and talent acquisition.
In 2020, as part of our commitment to fully embrace D&I in all aspects of our business, we launched Infinera ALL-In, an employee-led, company-wide effort to promote, facilitate and support sustainable efforts that lead to meaningful and measurable results in our approach to diversity, inclusion, and belonging at the Company. Infinera ALL-In includes members of the executive leadership team (led by our CEO, CFO and CHRO) as well as employees from various global sites and functions who are passionate about D&I. It coordinates and supports new and existing global and local D&I efforts.
Our Infinera ALL-In effort aims to incorporate D&I in every aspect of our business and employee experience; to create an environment where everyone in our global community feels valued, respected, and supported so that every person has the opportunity to achieve full potential; to embrace the unique perspectives and experiences of our employees and partners in an effort to exceed our globally diverse customer expectations; and to prepare and implement a corporate framework for hiring, developing, and engaging the diverse talent required to maximize our opportunity.
To take a holistic approach to D&I, Infinera ALL-In conducted a global employee survey to see if, where, and how different groups of employees experience our company culture. Employee input is critical as we continue to build a unified global culture that values local needs and perspectives. This anonymous survey highlighted key areas of focus for Infinera. In response to the survey, we are adding African Descent/Black at Infinera and LGBTQ+ employee resource groups and incorporating our existing Women at Infinera ("WIN") employee resource group.
WIN was founded in 2018 with the purpose of positively reinforcing women in technology and facilitating engagement and collaboration across the Company. The group works to provide our female employees with access to conferences, social events, and other prominent engagements in the technology industry, as well as to support greater opportunities for career growth, internships, and leadership. In 2019, we created a formal WIN leadership board, which was expanded to a global cross-functional team in 2020.
We are training our recruiters in diversity sourcing strategies. As of December 26, 2020, women represented over 18% of our global employees and minorities represented approximately 36% of our U.S. workforce.
Infinera also participates in national and regional initiatives to recruit diverse talent. For example, in Canada we have an agreement with Canada’s Employment and Social Development Agency to hire and develop women and underrepresented minorities. In 2020, a majority of our Canadian new hires were women and minorities. Similarly, in Europe we are party to European Commission-funded consortium agreements through which we recruit, hire and develop women and underrepresented minority early-stage researchers.
Compensation, Benefits and Well-being
Our goal is to provide our talented employees with a total compensation package that is market-competitive and appropriate for the individual. Our total compensation for eligible employees includes base salary, bonuses and equity awards. We intend to maintain ongoing competitiveness for attracting and retaining talent. We continuously improve our human resources information systems for workforce data collection, monitoring and reporting, and expect that this will allow us to improve our understanding of compensation equity around the globe to ensure fair pay. In addition, with our benefits programs, we seek to provide market-competitive benefits as part of our total reward structure for all employees around the globe and their dependents.
As the world responds to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working to do our part by ensuring the safety of our employees, striving to protect the health and well-being of the communities in which we operate, and providing technology, tips and resources to our customers to help them do their best work while remote. Infinera is a critical infrastructure business with manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and research and development sites in several countries. As such, we have invested in creating physically safe work environments for our on-site workforce. We have a global leadership team comprised of local site leaders that meets regularly to support compliance with all local and international guidelines and establish best practices at every site. In the U.S., we have initiated rapid testing for essential on-site employees at no cost to employees and currently require all non-essential employees to work remotely. We regularly quarantine employees and provide paid leave to employees beyond what is required by local laws. We are working to help protect our local communities. For example, through our engagement with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, we provided information and shared best practices to promote community safety. Also, proceeds from our on-site testing go to underserved community members to increase access to testing. Leveraging the knowledge of our local site leaders, we continue to evaluate opportunities for similar community initiatives outside of the U.S.
In light of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to physical, mental, and emotional health, we have renewed our focus on employee well-being. For example, in the U.S., the Employee Assistance Program benefit includes mental health counseling for help with personal issues, childcare and eldercare referrals, financial coaching, legal consultation, and wellness tools. Employees are provided medical, dental, vision, long-term and short-term disability and life insurance, and employees covered under our health insurance have access to various wellness programs. Employees are provided paid parental leaves as new parents (birth or adoption). Finally, eligible employees are also eligible for unlimited flexible time off.
We are committed to providing employees with a healthful and safe work environment by striving to prevent accidents and improve workplace conditions, and continuously working to improve our processes and performance. Our health and safety programs emphasize personal accountability, professional conduct, and regulatory compliance, while our culture fosters a sense of proactivity, caution, and communication.
Growth and Development
We believe that transparency and integrity help foster a culture of professional growth. With that in mind, we encourage our employees to share candid feedback about working for our company through our Executive Suggestion site and on public forums such as Glassdoor.com. Our executives utilize this feedback as we work to consistently improve our employee experience.
In addition, we have increased communication between our employees and management teams, which has facilitated the integration of our Coriant workforce. We have also worked extensively with our global site leaders to provide local representation for our workforce, to try to equip our employees with all they need to succeed, and to use local solutions where appropriate.
Finally, experiential learning is powerful in career development, which is why we provide job-based learning opportunities including cross-functional transfers, expanded roles, and relocations to other geographies.
Manufacturing
We have invested significant time and capital to develop and improve the manufacturing processes we use to produce and package our products. This includes significant investments in personnel, equipment and the facilities needed to manufacture and package our products in California and Pennsylvania. We also have invested in automating our manufacturing process and in training and maintaining the quality of our manufacturing workforce. As a leader in the development of photonic integration, our manufacturing processes have been developed over several years and are protected through a combination of patents, trade secrets and contractual protections. We believe that the investments we have made towards the manufacturing and packaging of our products provide us with a significant competitive advantage. We also believe that our current manufacturing facilities, including our fabrication facility for our PICs in California and our module manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania, can accommodate an increase in production capacity as our business continues to grow.
We also use contract manufacturers to assemble portions of our products. Each contract manufacturer procures components necessary to assemble products according to our specifications and bills of material. For elements of our business where we outsource, we perform rigorous in-house quality control testing to ensure the reliability of our products. Our supply chain risk mitigation strategies are continuous and institutionalized in our supply chain design for external manufacturing and for procurement of components. We currently use four contract manufacturers in several different countries, including China, Malaysia, Mexico, Hungary and Thailand, and we maintain the capability to redirect select manufacturing activities to U.S. qualified factories of three electronic manufacturing services partners.
We expect all suppliers to comply with our Supplier Code of Conduct, which addresses the rights of workers to safe and healthy working conditions, environmental responsibility, and compliance with applicable laws.
Backlog
Our backlog represents purchase orders received from customers for future product shipments and services to be provided in future periods. More than half of our total order backlog is related to services, comprised primarily of annual maintenance contracts. Our backlog is subject to future events that could cause the amount or timing of the related revenue to change, and, in certain cases, may be canceled without penalty. Orders in backlog may be fulfilled several quarters following order receipt and may relate to multi-year support service obligations. As a result, we believe that backlog should not be viewed as an accurate indicator of future operating results for any particular period. A backlogged order may not result in revenue in a particular period, and the actual revenue may not be equal to our backlog amounts. Our presentation of backlog may not be comparable with that of other companies in our industry.
Intellectual Property
Our innovative optical engine technology, including our PIC, DSP, module and related technologies, is foundational to our products and we believe it is highly valued by our customers and provides us with a competitive advantage.
We believe our success depends upon our ability to protect our core technology and intellectual property. To accomplish this, we rely on a combination of intellectual property rights, including patents, trade secrets, copyrights and trademarks, as well as customary contractual protections. However, there can be no assurances that these protections will be sufficient to provide us with a competitive advantage or that others have not or will not reverse engineer our designs or discover, develop or disclose the same or similar designs and manufacturing processes.
As of December 26, 2020, we held 1,126 U.S. patents and 771 international patents expiring between 2021 and 2038, and held 196 U.S. and 135 foreign pending patent applications. We do not know whether any of our pending patent applications will result in the issuance of patents or whether the examination process will require us to narrow our claims.
We may not receive any competitive advantages from the rights granted under our patents and other intellectual property. Any patents granted to us may be contested, circumvented or invalidated over the course of our business, and we may not be able to prevent third parties from infringing these patents. Therefore, the impact of these patents cannot be predicted with certainty.
We believe that the frequency of assertions of patent infringement is increasing as patent holders, including entities that are not in our industry and who purchase patents as an investment or to monetize such rights by obtaining royalties, use such actions as a competitive tactic as well as a source of additional revenue. For example, we are currently involved in litigation for alleged patent infringement. See Item 3. “Legal Proceedings” for additional information regarding these lawsuits. Any claim of infringement from a third party, even those without merit, could cause us to incur substantial costs defending against such claims, and could distract our management from running our business. Furthermore, a party making such a claim, if successful, could secure a judgment that requires us to pay substantial damages or could include an injunction or other court order that could prevent us from offering our products. In addition, we might be required to seek a license for the use of such intellectual property, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Alternatively, we may be required to develop non-infringing technology, which would require significant effort and expense and may ultimately not be successful.
In addition to trade secret and patent protections, we generally control access to and the use of our proprietary software and other confidential information. This protection is accomplished through a combination of internal and external controls, including contractual protections with employees, contractors, customers and partners, and through a combination of U.S. and international copyright laws.
We license some of our software pursuant to agreements that impose restrictions on our customers’ ability to use such software, such as prohibiting reverse engineering and limiting the use of copies. We also seek to avoid disclosure of our intellectual property by relying on non-disclosure and assignment of intellectual property agreements with our employees and consultants that acknowledge our exclusive ownership of all intellectual property developed by the individual during the course of his or her work with us. The agreements also require that each person maintain the confidentiality of all proprietary information disclosed to them. Other parties may not comply with the terms of their agreements with us, and we may not be able to enforce our rights adequately against these parties. We also rely on contractual rights to establish and protect our proprietary rights in our products.
We incorporate free and open source licensed software into our products. Although we monitor our use of such open source software closely, the terms of many open source licenses have not been interpreted by U.S. courts, and there is a risk that such licenses could be construed in a manner that could impose unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our ability to commercialize our products. In addition, non-compliance with open source software license terms and conditions could subject us to potential liability, including intellectual property infringement and/or contractual claims. In such event, we could be required to seek licenses from third parties in order to continue offering our products, to re-engineer our products or to discontinue the sale of our products in the event re-engineering cannot be accomplished in a timely manner, any of which could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
Governmental Regulations
Environmental Laws and Regulations. We are committed to maintaining compliance with all environmental laws and regulations applicable to our operations, products and services. Our business and operations are subject to various federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations that have been adopted with respect to the environment, including the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive ("WEEE"), Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment ("RoHS"), and Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals ("REACH") regulations adopted by the European Union. Environmental regulation is increasing and we expect that our operations will be subject to additional environmental compliance requirements, which may expose us to additional costs. We are also subject to disclosure requirements related to the presence of “conflict minerals” in our products. To date, our compliance costs relating to environmental regulations have not resulted in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Other Laws and Regulations. We are subject to U.S. and foreign laws and regulations across the jurisdictions in which we operate. In addition to the environmental laws and regulations discussed above, we are subject to laws and regulations addressing the telecommunications industry, cybersecurity, privacy and data protection, export and import control, trade sanctions, and anti-bribery and anti-corruption. To date, our compliance costs relating to these laws and regulations have not resulted in a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.
For further discussion of risks associated with these governmental laws and regulations, see Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors - Legal and Regulatory Risk Factors.”
Information about our Executive Officers
Our executive officers and their ages and positions as of December 26, 2020, are set forth below:
Name Age Position
David W. Heard 52 Chief Executive Officer and Director
Nancy Erba 54 Chief Financial Officer
David L. Teichmann 64 Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
Nicholas R. Walden 49 Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales
David W. Heard has served as our Chief Executive Officer and has been a member of our Board of Directors since November 2020. Mr. Heard served as our Chief Operating Officer from October 2018 to November 2020. Mr. Heard previously served as our General Manager, Products and Solutions, from June 2017 to October 2018. Prior to joining us, Mr. Heard served as a private consultant from 2015 to June 2017. From 2010 to 2015, Mr. Heard served as President of Network and Service Enablement at JDS Uniphase. From 2007 to 2010, Mr. Heard served as Chief Operating Officer at BigBand Networks (now part of Arris). From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Heard served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Somera (now part of Jabil). From 2003 to 2004, Mr. Heard served as President and General Manager Switching Division at Tekelec (now part of Oracle). From 1995 to 2003, Mr. Heard served in a number of leadership roles at Santera Systems Spatial Networks and at Lucent Technologies (both now part of Nokia). Mr. Heard holds an M.B.A. from the University of Dayton, an M.S. in management from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was a Sloan Fellow, and a B.A. in production and operations management from Ohio State University.
Nancy Erba has served as our Chief Financial Officer since August 2019 after joining us as Senior Vice President, Strategic Finance earlier in the same month. Prior to joining us, from September 2016 to March 2019, Ms. Erba served as Chief Financial Officer of Immersion Corporation, a leader in touch feedback technology. From February 2015 to October 2015, Ms. Erba was Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis of Seagate Technology plc, a data storage company. Prior executive roles at Seagate Technology include Division CFO and Vice President of Finance for Strategic Growth Initiatives from 2013 to 2015; Vice President, Business Operations and Planning from 2009 to 2013; Division CFO and Vice President of Finance of the Consumer Solutions Division from 2008 to 2009; and Vice President, Corporate Development from 2006 to 2008. Ms. Erba currently serves on the board of directors of PDF Solutions, Inc., a software and engineering services company. Ms. Erba holds an M.B.A. from Baylor University and a B.A. in mathematics from Smith College.
David L. Teichmann has served as our Chief Legal Officer and Secretary since April 2019. Prior to joining us, Mr. Teichmann served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of
Oclaro, Inc., a maker of optical components and modules for the long-haul, metro and data center markets, from January 2014 until its acquisition by Lumentum in December 2018. From 2007 to 2012, he served as the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Trident Microsystems, Inc., a public fabless semiconductor company that sold television and set top box integrated circuits. From August 1998 to February 2006, he served as the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of GoRemote Internet Communications, Inc., a secure managed global remote access solutions provider, guiding the company through its initial public offering in 1999 and its acquisition by iPass, Inc. in 2006. Mr. Teichmann held various senior legal counsel positions from 1989 to 1998 handling legal matters in Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Canada and began his career with the Fenwick & West law firm. Mr. Teichmann holds a J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii, an M.A. in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and a B.A. in political science from Trinity College.
Nicholas R. Walden has served as our Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales since January 2020. Mr. Walden served as Senior Vice President, Strategic Accounts from January 2019 to January 2020. He served as Senior Vice President, EMEA Sales from September 2015 to January 2019. Prior to joining us, Mr. Walden served in a variety of senior sales roles at Ciena Corporation from 1999 to 2015, most recently as its Vice President and Managing Director, Regional Carrier Business, EMEA. Mr. Walden studied HVAC Mechanical Engineering at the College of Technology at Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom.
Available Information
We may use our website (http://www.infinera.com), press releases, public conference calls and public webcasts as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Information contained on our website or any website referred to in this Form 10-K is not incorporated by reference unless expressly noted. We file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which we make available on our website free of charge. These reports include Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to such reports, each of which is provided on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with or furnish them to the SEC. The SEC also maintains a website that contains our SEC filings. The address of the SEC website is https://www.sec.gov.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. A description of the risks and uncertainties associated with our business is set forth below. The risks set forth below are not the only risks we face. These, many other factors described in this report and additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial could adversely affect our operations, performance and financial condition. Our actual results could differ materially from our forward-looking statements.
Risk Factors Summary
The following is a summary of the principal risks that could adversely affect our business, operations and financial results.
Business and Operational Risk Factors
•Our quarterly results may vary significantly from period to period.
•The COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
•Any delays in the development, introduction or acceptance of our new products or in releasing enhancements to our existing products may harm our business.
•Our ability to increase our revenue will depend upon continued demand growth for additional network capacity and on customer capital spending details.
•We are dependent on sole source and limited source suppliers for several key components.
•We are dependent on a small number of key customers for a significant portion of our revenue.
•Product performance problems or deployment delays could harm our business and reputation.
•Increased consolidation among our customers and suppliers in the communications networking industry has had, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
•The markets in which we compete are highly competitive and we may not be able to compete effectively.
•Aggressive business tactics by our competitors may harm our business.
•If we lose key personnel or fail to attract qualified personnel, our business may be harmed.
•Actions that we are taking to restructure our business may not be as effective as anticipated.
•We rely on various third-party service partners to help complement our global operations.
•We must respond to rapid technological change for our products to be successful.
•The manufacturing process for our optical engine and assembly of our products is very complex.
•If our contract manufacturers do not perform as we expect, our business may be harmed.
•If we fail to accurately forecast our manufacturing requirements or customer demand, we could incur additional costs.
•Our large customers have substantial negotiating leverage.
•Our sales cycle can be long and unpredictable, which could result in unexpected revenue shortfalls.
•Any strategic transactions that we undertake could disrupt our business and harm our financial condition and operations.
Financial and Macroeconomic Risk Factors
•We may be unable to generate the cash flow necessary to make anticipated capital expenditures, service our debt, or grow our business.
•Unfavorable macroeconomic and market conditions may adversely affect our industry, business and financial results.
•If we need additional capital in the future, it may not be available to us on favorable terms, or at all.
•Our international sales and operations subject us to additional risks.
•We may be adversely affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
•Our effective tax rate may increase or fluctuate, which could increase our income tax expense and reduce our net income.
•Our debt obligations may adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital and will be a burden on our future cash resources.
•We may issue additional shares of our common stock in connection with conversions of the Notes.
•The fundamental change provisions of the 2024 Notes and the 2027 Notes may delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial takeover attempt of us.
•The Capped Calls may affect the value of the 2024 Notes and our common stock.
•We are subject to counterparty risk with respect to the Capped Calls.
Legal and Regulatory Risk Factors
•If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, our competitive position could be harmed, or we could incur significant expense to enforce our rights.
•Claims by others that we infringe their intellectual property could harm our business.
•If we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future, the accuracy and timing of our financial reporting may be adversely affected.
•Security incidents, such as data breaches and cyber-attacks, could compromise our intellectual property and proprietary or confidential information and cause significant damage to our business and reputation.
•We are subject to governmental regulations that could adversely affect our business.
•We are subject to various governmental export control, trade sanctions and import laws and regulations that could impair our ability to compete in international markets or subject us to liability.
•A portion of our revenue is generated by sales to government entities, which are subject to a number of uncertainties, challenges, and risks.
•Our business could be adversely affected if we cannot obtain and maintain required security clearances, or we do not comply with obligations regarding the safeguarding of classified information.
•Failure to comply with anti-bribery and similar laws could subject us to adverse consequences.
General Risk Factors
•The trading price of our common stock has been volatile and is likely to be volatile in the future.
•Future sales of our common stock could cause our stock price to fall.
•Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company and may affect the trading price of our common stock.
•Exclusive forum provisions in our bylaws will restrict our stockholders’ ability to choose the judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or employees.
•Natural disasters, terrorist attacks or other catastrophic events could harm our operations.
For a more complete discussion of the material risks facing our business, see below.
Business and Operational Risk Factors
Our quarterly results may vary significantly from period to period, which could make our future results difficult to predict and could cause our operating results to fall below investor, analyst or our expectations.
Our quarterly results and, in particular, our revenue, gross margins, operating expenses, operating margins and net income (loss), have historically varied significantly from period to period and may continue to do so in the future. As a result, comparing our operating results on a period-to-period basis may not be meaningful. Our budgeted expense levels are based, in large part, on our expectations of future revenue and the development efforts associated with that future revenue. Consequently, if our revenue does not meet projected levels in the short-term, our inventory levels, cost of goods sold and operating expenses would be high relative to revenue, resulting in potential operating losses. If our revenue or operating results do not meet the expectations of investors or securities analysts or fall below any guidance we provide to the market, the price of our common stock may decline substantially.
Factors that may contribute to fluctuations in our quarterly results, many of which are outside our control and may be difficult to predict, include:
•fluctuations in demand, sales cycles and prices for products and services, including discounts given in response to competitive pricing pressures or to secure long-term customer relationships, as well as the timing of purchases by our key customers;
•changes in customers’ budgets for optical transport network purchases and changes or variability in their purchasing cycles;
•fluctuations in our customer, product or geographic mix, including the impact of new customer deployments, which typically carry lower gross margins, customer consolidation, which may affect our ability to grow revenue, and products powered by our next-generation technologies, which initially tend to be lower margin due to higher per unit production costs and greater variability in production yields;
•the timing, market acceptance and rate of adoption of our new product releases and our competitors' new product releases;
•our ability to manage manufacturing costs, maintain or improve quality, and increase volumes and yields on products manufactured in our internal manufacturing facilities, each of which has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic;
•our ability to successfully restructure or transform our operations within our anticipated time frame and realize our anticipated savings;
•the price, quality and timing of delivery of key components from suppliers, including any shipping cost increases or delays in the supply of components that may result from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as impacts due to consolidations amongst our suppliers;
•order cancellations, reductions or delays in delivery schedules by our customers;
•any delay in collecting or failure to collect accounts receivable;
•our ability to control costs, including our operating expenses and the costs and availability of components we purchase for our products;
•any significant changes in the competitive dynamics of the markets we serve, including any new entrants, new technologies, or customer or competitor consolidation, as well as aggressive pricing tactics by our competitors;
•our ability to manage inventory while timely meeting customer demand and avoiding charges for excess or obsolete inventory;
•readiness of customer sites for installation of our products as well as the availability of third-party service partners to provide contract engineering and installation services for us, each of which has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic;
•the timing of revenue recognition and revenue deferrals;
•any future changes in U.S. GAAP or new interpretations of existing accounting rules;
•the impact of a significant natural disaster, as well as interruptions or shortages in the supply of utilities such as water and electricity, in a key location such as our Northern California facilities, which are located near major earthquake fault lines, areas of high fire risk and in a designated flood zone; and
•general economic and political conditions in domestic and international markets, including those related to the recent change in presidential administration in the United States, and other factors beyond our control, including the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related response measures.
The COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to our business and operations to date and could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations in the future. The COVID-19 global pandemic has adversely affected the economies of many countries and has resulted in significant governmental measures to control the spread of COVID-19, including, among others, restrictions on travel, business operations and the movement of people in many regions of the world in which we operate, and the imposition of shelter-in-place or similarly restrictive work-from-home orders impacting many of our offices and employees, including those located in the United States.
As a result of these governmental measures and pursuant to recommended safety guidelines, we have temporarily closed or substantially limited the presence of personnel in our offices in several impacted locations, implemented travel restrictions and withdrawn from various industry events. Our work-from-home policy has contributed to delays in certain operational processes, including our routine quarterly financial statement close
process in the first quarter of 2020, and may have an impact on our operational processes in the future. We have experienced some disruption and delays in our global supply chain and manufacturing operations, logistics operations and customer support operations, including shipping delays, higher transport costs, and certain limitations on our ability to access customer fulfillment and service sites. We are dependent on sole source and limited source suppliers for several key components, and we have experienced capacity issues, longer lead times, increased costs and shortages with certain component suppliers, including for semiconductors, impacting our operational processes and results of operations. We have also seen disruptions in customer demand, including due to delays in the customer certification process resulting from customer facility closures or access restrictions. During fiscal 2020, some of these disruptions negatively impacted our revenue and our results of operations.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and results of operations in fiscal 2021 remains uncertain and is dependent in part on future infection rates, the emergence of new strains of the virus, the effectiveness and availability of vaccinations, and broader global macroeconomic developments. We may face further disruptions or restrictions on our ability to source, manufacture or distribute our products due to existing or additional governmental restrictions in multiple countries on business operations and movement of people and products. If we experience pronounced disruptions in our operations or in our ability to service our customers, including due to COVID-19 infections or quarantines among our employees and service providers, or if we face curtailed customer demand, these factors may materially adversely impact our business and results of operations. We could also face negative impacts on our liquidity and capital resources in fiscal 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on our customers, third-party service providers and capital markets.
Any delays in the development, introduction or acceptance of our new products or in releasing enhancements to our existing products may harm our business.
Our products are based on complex technologies, including, in many cases, the development of next-generation PICs, DSPs and specialized application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”), each of which are key components of our optical engines. In addition, we may also depend on technologies from outside suppliers, all of which may cause us to experience unanticipated delays in developing, improving, manufacturing or deploying our products. The development process for our optical engines is lengthy, and any modifications entail significant development cost and risks.
At any given time, various new product introductions and enhancements to our existing products are in the development phase and are not yet ready for commercial manufacturing or deployment. We rely on third parties, some of which are relatively early stage companies, to develop, manufacture and deliver components for our next-generation products, which can often require custom development. The development process from laboratory prototype to customer trials, and subsequently to general availability, involves a significant number of simultaneous efforts. These efforts often must be completed in a timely and coordinated manner so that they may be incorporated into the product development cycle for our systems, and include:
•completion of product development, including the development and completion of our next-generation optical engines, and the completion of associated module development;
•the qualification and multiple sourcing of critical components;
•validation of manufacturing methods and processes;
•extensive quality assurance and reliability testing and staffing of testing infrastructure;
•validation of software; and
•establishment of systems integration and systems test validation requirements.
Each of these steps, in turn, presents risks of failure, rework or delay, any one of which could decrease the speed and scope of product introduction and marketplace acceptance of our products. New generations of our optical engines as well as intensive software testing are important to the timely introduction of new products and enhancements to our existing products, which are subject to these development risks. In addition, unexpected intellectual property disputes, failure of critical design elements, limited or constrained engineering resources, and a host of other development execution risks may delay, or even prevent, the introduction of new products or enhancements to our existing products. For example, sustained restrictions on the ability of our
engineers to work in our offices and laboratories as a result of COVID-19-related restrictions imposed by governments, or us, has made and could continue to make it more difficult for our engineers to collaborate as effectively as desired in the development of new products, which could affect development schedules. If we do not develop and successfully introduce or enhance products in a timely manner, including the successful development of our next generation optical engine, our competitive position will suffer.
As we transition customers to new products, we face significant risk that our new products may not be accepted by our current or new customers. To the extent that we fail to introduce new and innovative products that are adopted by customers, we could fail to obtain an adequate return on these investments and could lose market share to our competitors, which could be difficult or impossible to regain. Similarly, we may face decreased revenue, gross margins and profitability due to a rapid decline in sales of current products as customers hold spending to focus purchases on new product platforms. We could incur significant costs in completing the transition, including costs of inventory write-downs of the current product as customers transition to new product platforms. In addition, products or technologies developed by others may render our products noncompetitive or obsolete and result in significant reduction in orders from our customers and the loss of existing and prospective customers.
Our ability to increase our revenue will depend upon continued growth of demand by consumers and businesses for additional network capacity and on the level and timing of capital spending by our customers.
Our future success depends on factors that increase the amount of data transmitted over communications networks and the growth of optical transport networks to meet the increased demand for optical capacity. These factors include the growth of mobile, video and cloud-based services, increased broadband connectivity and the continuing adoption of high-capacity, revenue-generating services. If demand for such bandwidth does not continue, or slows down, the market for optical transport networking equipment may not continue to grow and our product sales would be negatively impacted.
In addition, demand for our products depends on the level and timing of capital spending in optical networks by service providers as they construct, expand and upgrade the capacity of their optical networks. Capital spending is cyclical in our industry and spending by customers can change on short notice. Any future decisions by our customers to reduce capital spending, whether caused by lower customer demand, weakening economic conditions as has been precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in government regulations relating to telecommunications and data networks, customer or other reasons, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are dependent on sole source and limited source suppliers for several key components, and if we fail to obtain these components on a timely basis, we will not meet our customers’ product delivery requirements.
We currently purchase several key components for our products from sole or limited sources. In particular, we rely on our own production of certain components of our products, such as PICs, and on third parties, including sole source and limited source suppliers, for certain of the components of our products, including ASICs, field-programmable gate arrays, processors, and other semiconductor and optical components. We have increased our reliance on third parties to develop and manufacture components for certain products, some of which require custom development. We purchase most of these components on a purchase order basis and generally only have long-term contracts with these sole source or limited source suppliers. If any of our sole source or limited source suppliers suffer from capacity constraints, lower than expected yields, deployment delays, work stoppages or any other reduction or disruption in output, they may be unable to meet our delivery schedule, which could result in lost revenue, additional product costs and deployment delays that could harm our business and customer relationships. In addition, these same suppliers may decide to no longer manufacture or support specific components necessary for some of our legacy products, which could lead to our inability to fulfill demand without increased engineering and material costs necessary to replace such components. Further, our suppliers could enter into exclusive arrangements with our competitors, refuse to sell their products or components to us at commercially reasonable prices or at all, go out of business or discontinue their relationships with us. We may be unable to develop alternative sources for these components within a suitable time frame to be able to operate our business, or at all.
The loss of a source of supply, or lack of sufficient availability of key components, could require us to redesign products that use such components, which could result in lost revenue, additional product costs and deployment delays that could harm our business and customer relationships. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a disruption of the global supply chain for certain components necessary for our products and the magnitude of or duration of any such impact is unknown. Due to cross dependencies, any supply chain disruptions could negatively impact the demand for our products in the short term. In addition, if our contract manufacturers do not receive critical components in a timely manner to build our products, then we would not be able to ship certain products in a timely manner and would, therefore, be unable to meet our prospective customers’ product delivery requirements. In the past, we have experienced delivery delays because of lack of availability of components or reliability issues with components that we were purchasing. In addition, some of our suppliers have gone out of business, merged with another supplier, or limited their supply of components to us, which may cause us to experience longer than normal lead times, supply delays and increased prices. We may in the future experience a shortage of certain components as a result of our own manufacturing issues, manufacturing issues at our suppliers or contract manufacturers, capacity problems experienced by our suppliers or contract manufacturers, strong demand in the industry for such components, or other disruptions in our supply chain. In addition, disruptions to global macroeconomic conditions may create pressure on us and our suppliers to accurately project overall component demand and manufacturing capacity. These supplier disruptions may continue to occur in the future, which could limit our ability to produce our products and cause us to fail to meet a customer’s delivery requirements. Any failure to meet our customers’ product delivery requirements could harm our reputation and our customer relationships, either of which would harm our business and operating results.
We are dependent on a small number of key customers for a significant portion of our revenue from period to period and the loss of, or a significant reduction in, orders from one or more of our key customers would reduce our revenue and harm our operating results.
While our revenue and customer base have become more diversified over the past few years, a relatively small number of customers accounts for a large percentage of our revenue from period to period. For example, for fiscal 2020, our top ten customers accounted for approximately 43% of our total revenue. For fiscal 2019, our top ten customers accounted for approximately 46% of our total revenue. For fiscal 2018, our top ten customers accounted for approximately 54% of our total revenue. Our business will likely be harmed if any of our key customers, for whatever reason, substantially reduce, delay or stop their orders from us. In addition, our business will be harmed if we fail to maintain our competitive advantage with our key customers or do not add new larger customers over time. We continue to expect a relatively small number of customers to continue to account for a large percentage of revenue from period to period. However, customer consolidation could reduce the number of key customers that generate a significant percentage of our revenue and may increase the risks relating to dependence on a small number of customers.
Our ability to continue to generate revenue from our key customers will depend on our ability to maintain strong relationships with these customers and introduce competitive new products at competitive prices. In most cases, our sales are made to these customers pursuant to standard purchase agreements, which may be canceled or reduced readily, rather than long-term purchase commitments that would require these customers to purchase any minimum or guaranteed volumes orders. In the event of a cancellation or reduction of an order, we may not have enough time to reduce operating expenses to minimize the effect of the lost revenue on our business. Our operating results will continue to depend on our ability to sell our products to our key customers. In addition, we must regularly compete for and win business with existing and new customers across all of our customer segments.
In addition, the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on global economic conditions may affect the network spending, procurement strategies, or business practices of our key customers. If any of our key customers experience a loss in revenue due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their consumer or enterprise customers, they may reduce or delay capital spending generally or with respect to our products, which could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Product performance problems, including undetected errors in our hardware or software, or deployment delays could harm our business and reputation.
The development and production of products with high technology content is complicated and often involves problems with hardware, software, components and manufacturing methods. Complex hardware and software systems, such as our products, can often contain undetected errors or bugs when first introduced or as
new versions are released. In addition, errors associated with components we purchase from third parties, including customized components, may be difficult to resolve. We have experienced issues in the past in connection with our products, including failures due to the receipt of faulty components from our suppliers and performance issues related to software updates. From time to time we have had to replace certain components or provide software remedies or other remediation in response to errors or bugs, and we may have to do so again in the future. In addition, performance issues can be heightened during periods where we are developing and introducing multiple new products to the market, as any performance issues we encounter in one technology or product could impact the performance or timing of delivery of other products. Our products may also suffer degradation of performance and reliability over time.
If reliability, quality, security or network monitoring problems develop, a number of negative effects on our business could result, including:
•reduced orders from existing customers;
•declining interest from potential customers;
•delays in our ability to recognize revenue or in collecting accounts receivables;
•costs associated with fixing hardware or software defects or replacing products;
•high service and warranty expenses;
•delays in shipments;
•high inventory excess and obsolescence expense;
•high levels of product returns;
•diversion of our engineering personnel from our product development efforts; and
•payment of liquidated damages, performance guarantees or similar penalties.
Because we outsource the manufacturing of certain components of our products, we may also be subject to product performance problems as a result of the acts or omissions of third parties, and we may not have adequate compensating remedies against such third parties.
From time to time, we encounter interruptions or delays in the activation of our products at a customer’s site. These interruptions or delays may result from product performance problems or from issues with installation and activation, some of which are outside our control. If we experience significant interruptions or delays that we cannot promptly resolve, the associated revenue for these installations may be delayed or confidence in our products could be undermined, which could cause us to lose customers, fail to add new customers, and consequently harm our financial results.
Increased consolidation among our customers and suppliers in the communications networking industry has had, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
We have seen increased consolidation in the communications networking industry over the past few years, which has adversely affected our business and results of operations. For example, several of our customers have consolidated in the past. During 2016, Charter Communications acquired Time Warner Cable, Inc. and Altice acquired Cablevision. During 2017, Verizon acquired XO Communications and CenturyLink acquired Level 3 Communications. Customer consolidation has led to changes in buying patterns, slowdowns in spending, redeployment of existing equipment and re-architecture of parts of existing networks or future networks, as the combined companies evaluate the needs of the combined business. Moreover, the significant purchasing power of these large companies can increase pricing and competitive pressures for us, including the potential for decreases in our average selling prices. If one of our customers is acquired by another company that does not rely on us to provide it with products or relies on another provider of similar products, we may lose that customer’s business. Such consolidation may further reduce the number of customers that generate a significant percentage of our revenue and may exacerbate the risks relating to dependence on a small number of customers. Any of the foregoing results will adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, our suppliers in the communications networking industry have recently continued to consolidate. For example, Lumentum acquired Oclaro in 2018 and II-VI acquired Finisar in 2019. In January 2021, Lumentum announced its intention to acquire Coherent, and MKS Instruments and II-VI each made unsolicited acquisition proposals for Coherent in February 2021. Supplier consolidation may lead to increased prices of components for our products, deployment delays and/or a disruption in output. In addition, such consolidation may exacerbate the risks relating to our dependence on a small number of suppliers for certain components and materials that are required to manufacture our products.
The markets in which we compete are highly competitive and we may not be able to compete effectively.
Competition in the packet-optical equipment market is intense. Our main competitors include WDM system suppliers, such as ADVA Optical Networking, Ciena Corporation, Cisco Systems, ECI (now part of Ribbon Communications Inc.), Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Nokia and ZTE. In addition, there are several other companies that offer one or more products that partially compete with our offerings.
Competition in the markets we serve is based on any one or a combination of the following factors:
•price and other commercial terms;
•functionality and optical performance;
•existing business and customer relationships;
•the ability of products and services to meet customers’ immediate and future network requirements;
•power consumption;
•heat dissipation;
•form factor or density;
•installation and operational simplicity;
•quality and reliability;
•service and support;
•security and encryption requirements;
•scalability and investment protection; and
•product lead times.
In addition to our current competitors, other companies have, or may in the future develop, products that are or could be competitive with our products. We also could encounter competitor consolidation in the markets in which we compete, which could lead to a changing competitive landscape, capabilities and market share, and could impact our results of operations. For example, in the third quarter of 2019, Cisco Systems announced its intention to acquire optical communications supplier Acacia Communications, and in January 2021, the parties agreed to revised acquisition terms, with the acquisition expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2021.
Some of our competitors have substantially greater name recognition, technical, financial and marketing resources. Many of our competitors have more resources and more experience in developing or acquiring new products and technologies, and in creating market awareness for those products and technologies. In addition, many of our competitors have the financial resources to offer competitive products at aggressive pricing levels and/or have the ability to provide financing to customers, which could prevent us from competing effectively. Further, many of our competitors have built long-standing relationships with some of our prospective and existing customers and could, therefore, have an inherent advantage in selling products to those customers.
We also compete with low-cost producers that may increase pricing pressure on us and with a number of smaller companies that provide competition for a specific product, customer segment or geographic market. In
addition, we may also face increased competition from system and component companies that develop products based on off-the-shelf hardware that offers the latest commercially available technologies. Due to the narrower focus of their efforts, these competitors may achieve commercial availability of their products more quickly than we can and may provide attractive alternatives to our customers.
Aggressive business tactics by our competitors may harm our business.
The markets in which we compete are extremely competitive and this often results in aggressive business tactics by our competitors, including:
•aggressively pricing their optical transport products and other portfolio products, including offering significant one-time discounts and guaranteed future price decreases;
•offering optical products at a substantial discount or for free when bundled together with broader technology purchases, such as router or wireless equipment purchases;
•providing financing, marketing and advertising assistance to customers; and
•influencing customer requirements to emphasize different product capabilities, which better suit their products.
The level of competition and pricing pressure tend to increase when competing for larger high-profile opportunities or during periods of economic weakness when there are fewer network build-out projects. If we fail to compete successfully against our current and future competitors, or if our current or future competitors continue or expand their aggressive business tactics, including those described above, demand for our products could decline, we could experience delays or cancellations of customer orders, and/or we could be required to reduce our prices to compete in the market.
If we lose key personnel or fail to attract and retain additional qualified personnel when needed, our business may be harmed.
Our success depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of our key management, engineering, sales and marketing, and finance personnel, many of whom would be difficult to replace. For example, senior members of our engineering team have unique technical experience that would be difficult to replace. Because our products are complex, we must hire and retain highly trained customer service and support personnel to ensure that the deployment of our products does not result in network disruption for our customers. We believe our future success will depend in large part upon our ability to identify, attract and retain highly skilled personnel, and competition for these individuals is intense in our industry, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area where we are headquartered and, increasingly, in certain cities and regions where we have operations outside the United States as well. In addition, we may not succeed in identifying, attracting and retaining appropriate personnel. The loss of the services of any of our key personnel, the inability to identify, attract or retain qualified personnel in the future or delays in hiring qualified personnel, particularly engineers and sales personnel, could make it difficult for us to manage our business and meet key objectives, such as timely product introductions. In addition, we do not have long-term employment contracts or key person life insurance covering any of our key personnel. If we are unable to attract and retain qualified personnel, we may be unable to manage our business effectively, and our results of operations could suffer.
Actions that we are taking to restructure our business to cut costs in order to align our operating structure with current opportunities may not be as effective as anticipated.
In December 2018, we implemented the 2018 Restructuring Plan as part of a comprehensive review of our operations and ongoing integration synergies in order to optimize resources for future growth, improve efficiencies and address redundancies following the Acquisition. As part of the 2018 Restructuring Plan, we sought to reduce expenses, streamline the organization, and reallocate resources to align more closely with our needs going forward. While we expect to realize efficiencies from these actions, these activities might not produce the full efficiency and cost reduction benefits we expect. For example, in the third quarter of 2019, we completed the transfer of our manufacturing operations in Berlin, Germany to a contract manufacturer. We may not fully realize all the projected cost savings from the closure of this site or other sites, which would harm our business. In addition, any disruptions in the smooth transition to a third-party manufacturer could damage customer relations and harm our ability to achieve our financial plans.
Further, any anticipated benefits from the 2018 Restructuring Plan, or from the 2020 Restructuring Plan initiated in the second quarter of 2020, may be realized later than expected or not at all, and the ongoing costs of implementing these measures may be greater than anticipated. In addition, as a result of these restructuring actions, our ability to execute on product development, address key market opportunities and/or meet customer demand could be materially and adversely affected.
We rely on various third-party service partners to help complement our global operations, and failure to adequately manage these relationships could adversely impact our financial results and relationships with customers.
We rely on a number of third-party service partners, both domestic and international, to complement our global operations. We rely upon these partners for certain installation, maintenance, logistics and support functions. In addition, as our customers increasingly seek to rely on vendors to perform additional services relating to the design, construction and operation of their networks, the scope of work performed by our service partners is likely to increase and may include areas where we have less experience providing or managing such services. We must successfully identify, assess, train and certify qualified service partners in order to ensure the proper installation, deployment and maintenance of our products. The vetting and certification of these partners can be costly and time-consuming, and certain partners may not have the same operational history, financial resources and scale as we have. Moreover, certain service partners may provide similar services for other companies, including our competitors. We may not be able to manage our relationships with our service partners effectively, and we cannot be certain that they will be able to deliver services in the manner or time required, that we will be able to maintain the continuity of their services, or that they will adhere to our approach to ethical business practices. Our service partners may also experience challenges in providing services to us as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We may also be exposed to a number of risks or challenges relating to the performance of our service partners, including:
•delays in recognizing revenue;
•liability for injuries to persons, damage to property or other claims relating to the actions or omissions of our service partners;
•our services revenue and gross margin may be adversely affected; and
•our relationships with customers could suffer.
If we do not effectively manage our relationships with third-party service partners, or if they fail to perform these services in the manner or time required, our financial results and relationships with our customers could be adversely affected.
We must respond to rapid technological change and comply with evolving industry standards and requirements for our products to be successful.
The optical transport networking equipment market is characterized by rapid technological change, changes in customer requirements and evolving industry standards. We continually invest in research and development to sustain or enhance our existing products, but the introduction of new communications technologies and the emergence of new industry standards or requirements could render our products obsolete. Further, in developing our products, we have made, and will continue to make, assumptions with respect to which standards or requirements will be adopted by our customers and competitors. If the standards or requirements adopted by our prospective customers are different from those on which we have focused our efforts, market acceptance of our products would be reduced or delayed, and our business would be harmed.
We are continuing to invest a significant portion of our research and development efforts in the development of our next-generation products. We expect our competitors will continue to improve the performance of their existing products and introduce new products and technologies and to influence customers’ buying criteria so as to emphasize product capabilities that we do not, or may not, possess. To be competitive, we must anticipate future customer requirements and continue to invest significant resources in research and development, sales and marketing, and customer support. If we do not anticipate these future customer requirements and invest in the technologies necessary to enable us to have and to sell the appropriate solutions, it may limit our competitive position and future sales, which would have an adverse effect on our business and
financial condition. We may not have sufficient resources to make these investments and we may not be able to make the technological advances necessary to be competitive.
The manufacturing process for our optical engine, and the assembly of our finished products, is very complex. The partial or complete loss of any of our manufacturing facilities, a reduction in yields of our PICs or an inability to scale capacity to meet customer demands could harm our business.
The manufacturing process for our optical engine, including the PICs, DSPs and specialized ASICs, and the assembly of our finished products, is very complex. In the event that any of our manufacturing facilities utilized to build these components and assemble our finished products were fully or partially destroyed, or shut down, as a result of a natural disaster, work stoppage or otherwise, it could severely limit our ability to sell our products. Because of the complex nature of our manufacturing facilities, such loss would take a considerable amount of time to repair or replace. The partial or complete loss of any of our manufacturing facilities, or an event causing the interruption in our use of any such facilities, whether as a result of a natural disaster, like the COVID-19 pandemic, work stoppage or otherwise, for any extended period of time would cause our business, financial condition and results of operations to be harmed.
Minor deviations in the PIC manufacturing process can cause substantial decreases in yields and, in some cases, cause production to be suspended. In the past, we have had significant variances in our PIC yields, including production interruptions and suspensions and may have continued yield variances, including additional interruptions or suspensions in the future. Lower than expected yields from our PIC manufacturing process or defects, integration issues or other performance problems in our products could limit our ability to satisfy customer demand requirements, and could damage customer relations and cause business reputation problems, harming our business and operating results.
Our inability to obtain sufficient manufacturing capacity to meet demand, either in our own facilities or through foundry or similar arrangements with third parties, could harm our relationships with our customers, our business and our results of operations.
If our contract manufacturers do not perform as we expect, our business may be harmed.
We rely on third-party contract manufacturers to perform a portion of the manufacturing of our products, and our future success will depend on our ability to have sufficient volumes of our products manufactured in a cost-effective and quality-controlled manner. We have engaged third parties to manufacture certain elements of our products at multiple contract manufacturing sites located around the world but do not have long-term agreements in place with some of our manufacturers and suppliers that will guarantee product availability, or the continuation of particular pricing or payment terms. We face a number of risks due to our dependence on contract manufacturers, including:
•reduced control over delivery schedules, particularly for international contract manufacturing sites;
•reliance on the quality assurance procedures of third parties;
•potential uncertainty regarding manufacturing yields and costs;
•potential lack of adequate capacity during periods of high demand;
•potential variability of pricing or payment terms due to agreement length;
•risks and uncertainties associated with the locations or countries where our products are manufactured, including potential manufacturing disruptions caused by social, geopolitical, environmental or health factors, including pandemics or widespread health epidemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic;
•limited warranties on components;
•potential misappropriation of our intellectual property; and
•potential manufacturing disruptions (including disruptions caused by geopolitical events, military actions, work stoppages, natural disasters or international health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic).
Any of these risks could impair our ability to fulfill orders. Any delays by our contract manufacturers may cause us to be unable to meet the delivery requirements of our customers, which could decrease customer satisfaction and harm our product sales. In addition, if our contract manufacturers are unable or unwilling to continue manufacturing our products or components of our products in required volumes or our relationship with any of our contract manufacturers is discontinued for any reason, we would be required to identify and qualify alternative manufacturers, which could cause us to be unable to meet our supply requirements to our customers and result in the breach of our customer agreements. Qualifying a new contract manufacturer and commencing volume production is expensive and time-consuming. If we are required to change or qualify a new contract manufacturer, we could lose revenue and damage our customer relationships.
If we fail to accurately forecast our manufacturing requirements or customer demand, we could incur additional costs, including inventory write-downs or equipment write-offs, which would adversely affect our business and results of operations.
We generate forecasts of future demand for our products several months prior to the scheduled delivery to our prospective customers. This requires us to make significant investments before we know if corresponding revenue will be recognized. Lead times for materials and components, including ASICs, that we need to order for the manufacture of our products vary significantly and depend on factors such as the specific supplier, contract terms and demand for each component at a given time. In the past, we have experienced lengthened lead times for certain components. If the lead times for components are lengthened, we may be required to purchase increased levels of such components to satisfy our delivery commitments to our customers. In addition, we must manage our inventory to ensure we continue to meet our commitments as we introduce new products or make enhancements to our existing products.
If we overestimate market demand for our products and, as a result, increase our inventory in anticipation of customer orders that do not materialize, we will have excess inventory, which could result in increased risk of obsolescence and significant inventory write-downs. Furthermore, this will result in reduced production volumes and our fixed costs will be spread across fewer units, increasing our per unit costs. If we underestimate demand for our products, we will have inadequate inventory, which could slow down or interrupt the manufacturing of our products, cause delays in shipments and our ability to recognize revenue, and result in potential loss of customers to competitors. In addition, we may be unable to meet our supply commitments to customers, which could result in a loss of certain customer opportunities or a breach of our customer agreements.
Our large customers have substantial negotiating leverage, which may cause us to agree to terms and conditions that result in lower average selling prices and potentially increased cost of sales leading to lower gross margin, each of which would harm our results of operations.
Many of our customers are large service providers and ICPs that have substantial purchasing power and leverage in negotiating contractual arrangements with us. In addition, customer consolidation in the past few years has created combined companies that are even larger and have greater negotiating leverage. Our customers have sought and may continue to seek advantageous pricing, payment and other commercial terms. We have agreed and may continue to agree to unfavorable commercial terms with these customers, including the potential of reducing the average selling price of our products, increasing cost of sales or agreeing to extended payment terms in response to these commercial requirements or competitive pricing pressures. To maintain acceptable operating results, we will need to comply with these commercial terms, develop and introduce new products and product enhancements on a timely basis, and continue to reduce our costs, which could affect our results of operations.
Our sales cycle can be long and unpredictable, which could result in an unexpected revenue shortfall in any given quarter.
Our products can have a lengthy sales cycle, which can extend from six to twelve months and may take even longer for larger prospective customers. Our prospective customers conduct significant evaluation, testing, implementation and acceptance procedures before they purchase our products. We incur substantial sales and marketing expenses and expend significant management effort during this time, regardless of whether we make a sale. We have seen a lengthening of our sales cycle as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, due to delays in the customer certification process for our products resulting from customer facility closures or access restrictions.
Because the purchase of our equipment involves substantial cost, most of our customers wait to purchase our equipment until they are ready to deploy it in their network. As a result, it is difficult for us to accurately predict the timing of future purchases by our customers. In addition, product purchases are often subject to budget constraints, multiple approvals and unplanned administrative processing and other delays, including the need for the customer to obtain external financing. If sales expected from customers for a particular quarter are not realized in that quarter or at all, our revenue will be negatively impacted.
Any acquisitions or strategic transaction that we undertake could disrupt our business and harm our financial condition and operations.
We have made strategic acquisitions of businesses, technologies and other assets in the past, including most recently the Acquisition. We may engage in acquisitions, divestitures or other strategic transactions in the future. In order to undertake certain of these transactions, we may use cash, issue equity that could dilute our current stockholders, or incur debt or assume indebtedness. If we are unable to achieve the anticipated strategic benefits of such transactions, it could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the market price of our common stock could be adversely affected if investors and securities analysts react unfavorably to a strategic transaction or if the integration or the anticipated financial and strategic benefits of such transactions are not realized as rapidly as or to the extent anticipated by investors and securities analysts.
Acquisitions, divestitures or other strategic transactions can also result in adverse tax consequences, warranty or product liability exposure related to acquired assets, additional stock-based compensation expense, and write-up of acquired inventory to fair value. Divestitures can also result in contractual, employment or intellectual property liability related to divested assets. In addition, we may record goodwill and other purchased intangible assets in connection with an acquisition and incur impairment charges in the future. If our actual results, or the plans and estimates used in future impairment analyses, are less favorable than the original estimates used to assess the recoverability of these assets, we could incur additional impairment charges.
Acquisitions, divestitures or other strategic transactions also involve numerous risks that could disrupt our ongoing business and distract our management team, including:
•problems integrating the acquired operations, technologies or products with our own;
•challenges in divesting assets and intellectual property without negatively affecting our retained business lines;
•diversion of management’s attention from our core business;
•adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers and customers;
•risks associated with entering new markets or exiting existing markets; and
•loss of key employees.
Our failure to adequately manage the risks associated with an acquisition, divestment or strategic transaction could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Financial and Macroeconomic Risk Factors
We may be unable to generate the cash flow necessary to make anticipated capital expenditures, service our debt or grow our business.
We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to make anticipated capital expenditures, to enable us to service our debt or to grow our business. For example, in each of the fiscal years since the completion of the Acquisition, we have had a net loss and negative cash flows from operations and we may continue to incur losses and negative cash flows from operations in the future periods. Our ability to pay our expenses, service our debt and fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our future performance, which will be affected by general economic, competitive, legislative, political, regulatory, public health issues and other factors beyond our control, and our ability to continue to realize synergies and anticipated cost savings. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or to borrow sufficient funds in the future to service our
debt or to make anticipated capital expenditures, we may be required to sell assets, reduce capital expenditures or evaluate alternatives for efficiently funding our capital expenditures and ongoing operations, including the issuance of equity, equity-linked and debt securities.
Unfavorable macroeconomic and market conditions may adversely affect our industry, business and financial results.
In the past, unfavorable macroeconomic and market conditions have resulted in sustained periods of decreased demand for optical communications products. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the economies of many countries and has created significant uncertainty regarding global macroeconomic conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to increased disruption and volatility in capital markets and credit markets. These conditions may also result in the tightening of credit markets, which could limit or delay our customers’ ability to obtain necessary financing for their purchases of our products. A lack of liquidity in the capital markets or the continued uncertainty in the global economic environment may cause our customers to delay or cancel their purchases, or increase the time they take to pay or default on their payment obligations, each of which would negatively affect our business and operating results. Weakness and uncertainty in the global economy could cause some of our customers to become illiquid, delay payments or adversely affect our collection of their accounts, which could result in a higher level of bad debt expense. In addition, currency fluctuations could negatively affect our international customers’ ability or desire to purchase our products.
Challenging economic conditions have from time to time contributed to slowdowns in the telecommunications industry in which we operate. Such slowdowns may result in:
•reduced demand for our products as a result of constraints on capital spending by our customers;
•increased price competition for our products, not only from our competitors, but also as a result of our customer’s or potential customer’s utilization of inventoried or underutilized products, which could put additional downward pressure on our near-term gross profits;
•risk of excess or obsolete inventories;
•our customers facing financial difficulties, including bankruptcy;
•excess manufacturing capacity and higher associated overhead costs as a percentage of revenue; and
•more limited ability to accurately forecast our business and future financial performance.
A lack of liquidity and economic uncertainty may adversely affect our suppliers or the terms on which we purchase products from these suppliers. It may also cause some of our suppliers to become illiquid. Any of these impacts could limit our ability to obtain components for our products from these suppliers and could adversely impact our supply chain or the delivery schedule to our customers. This also could require us to purchase more expensive components, or re-design our products, which could cause increases in the cost of our products and delays in the manufacturing and delivery of our products. Such events could harm our gross margin and harm our reputation and our customer relationships, either of which could harm our business and operating results.
If we need additional capital in the future, it may not be available to us on favorable terms, or at all.
Our business requires significant capital. We have historically relied on outside debt or equity financing as well as cash flow from operations to fund our operations, capital expenditures and expansion. For example, in September 2018, we issued convertible senior notes due September 1, 2024 (the “2024 Notes”) to pay the cost of related capped call transactions, as discussed below, to fund the cash portion of the purchase price of the Acquisition, and for general corporate purposes. In August 2019 and as supplemented in December 2019, we entered into the Credit Facility with Wells Fargo Bank and BMO Harris Bank N.A. to provide additional working capital flexibility to manage our business. In addition, in March 2020 we issued convertible senior notes due March 1, 2027 (the “2027 Notes” and, together with the 2024 Notes, the “Notes”) to raise additional funds for general corporate purposes, including working capital to fund growth and potential strategic projects. For additional risks related to the Notes, please see “Common Stock and Indebtedness Risk Factors” below. In August 2020, we entered into the Sales Agreement with Jefferies LLC ("Jefferies") under which we issued and sold through Jefferies, acting as agent and/or principal, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of $96.3 million, to raise funds for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures. We may require additional capital from equity or equity-linked financing, debt financing or other financings in the future to fund our operations, respond to competitive pressures or strategic opportunities or to refinance our existing debt obligations. In the event that we require additional capital, we may not be able to secure timely additional financing on favorable terms, or at all, and may be affected by any impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on capital markets. The terms of any additional financing may place limits on our financial and operating flexibility. If we raise additional funds through further issuances of equity, convertible debt securities or other securities convertible into equity, our existing stockholders could suffer dilution in their percentage ownership of our company, and any new securities we issue could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us, if and when we require it, our ability to grow or support our business and to respond to business challenges could be limited and our business will be harmed.
Our international sales and operations subject us to additional risks that may harm our operating results.
Sales of our products into international markets continue to be an important part of our business. During fiscal 2020, fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018, we derived approximately 54%, 52% and 49%, respectively, of our revenue from customers outside of the United States. We expect that significant management attention and financial resources will be required for our international activities over the foreseeable future as we continue to operate in international markets. In some countries, our success in selling our products and growing revenue will depend in part on our ability to form relationships with local partners. Our inability to identify appropriate partners or reach mutually satisfactory arrangements for international sales of our products could impact our ability to maintain or increase international market demand for our products. In addition, many of the companies we compete against internationally have greater name recognition and a more substantial sales and marketing presence.
We have sales and support personnel in numerous countries worldwide. In addition, we have established development centers in Canada, China, Finland, Germany, India, Portugal and Sweden. There is no assurance that our reliance upon development resources in international locations will enable us to achieve meaningful cost reductions or greater resource efficiency. As a result of the Acquisition, we now have sales and support personnel in a greater number of geographical locations throughout APAC (including China) and EMEA (with offices in the Middle East).
As a result of having global operations, the sudden disruption of the supply chain and/or the manufacture of our customer’s components caused by events outside of our control could impact our results of operations by impairing our ability to timely and efficiently deliver our products or provide installation and maintenance services to our customers. For example, the global COVID-19 pandemic may cause a disruption of the global supply chain for certain components necessary for our products and could threaten the health and safety of our employees.
Our international operations are subject to inherent risks, and our future results could be adversely affected by a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control, including:
•greater difficulty in collecting accounts receivable and longer collection periods;
•difficulties of managing and staffing international offices, and the increased travel, infrastructure and legal compliance costs associated with multiple international locations;
•political, social and economic instability, including wars, terrorism, political unrest, boycotts, curtailment of trade and other business restrictions;
•tariff and trade barriers and other regulatory requirements, contractual limitations, or customer specifications impacting our ability to sell or develop our products in certain foreign markets;
•less effective protection of intellectual property than is afforded to us in the United States or other developed countries;
•potentially adverse tax consequences;
•natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, and health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic;
•changes to free trade agreements, trade protection measures, tariffs, export compliance, domestic preference procurement requirements, qualification to transact business and additional regulatory requirements, including changes related to policy and other changes related to the recent change in presidential administration in the United States; and
•effects of changes in currency exchange rates, particularly relative increases in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar versus other currencies that could negatively affect our financial results and cash flows.
International customers may also require that we comply with certain testing or customization of our products to conform to local standards. The product development costs to test or customize our products could be extensive and a material expense for us.
Our international operations are subject to increasingly complex foreign and U.S. laws and regulations, including but not limited to anti-corruption laws, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act, antitrust or competition laws, anti-money laundering laws, various trade controls, national security related regulations, and data privacy laws, among others. Violations of these laws and regulations could result in fines and penalties, criminal sanctions against us, our officers, or our employees, prohibitions on the conduct of our business and on our ability to offer our products and services in one or more countries, and could also materially affect our reputation, our international expansion efforts, our ability to attract and retain employees, our business, and our operating results. Although we have implemented policies, procedures and training designed to ensure compliance with these laws and regulations, there can be no complete assurance that any individual employee, contractor or agent will not violate our policies. Additionally, the costs of complying with these laws (including the costs of investigations, auditing and monitoring) could also adversely affect our current or future business.
As we continue to expand our business globally, our success will depend, in large part, on our ability to effectively anticipate and manage these and other risks and expenses associated with our international operations. For example, political instability and uncertainty in the European Union ("the EU") and, in particular, the United Kingdom's exit from the E.U., could slow economic growth in the region, affect foreign exchange rates, and could further discourage near-term economic activity, leading to our customers delaying purchases of our products. Our failure to manage any of these risks successfully could harm our international operations and reduce our international sales, adversely affecting our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be adversely affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
A portion of our sales and expenses stem from countries outside of the United States, and are in currencies other than U.S. dollars, and therefore subject to foreign currency fluctuation. Accordingly, fluctuations in foreign currency rates could have a material impact on our financial results in future periods. We currently enter into foreign currency exchange forward contracts to reduce the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on certain non-functional currency account balances, and also to reduce the volatility of cash flows primarily related to forecasted foreign currency revenue and expenses. These forward contracts reduce the impact of currency exchange rate movements on certain transactions, but do not cover all foreign-denominated transactions and therefore do not entirely eliminate the impact of fluctuations in exchange rates on our results of operations and financial condition.
Our effective tax rate may increase or fluctuate, which could increase our income tax expense and reduce our net income.
Our effective tax rate and the amount of our taxable income could be subject to volatility or adversely affected by several factors, many of which are outside of our control, including:
•changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, and in deferred tax valuation allowances;
•changes in the relative proportions of revenue and income before taxes in the various jurisdictions in which we operate that have differing statutory tax rates;
•changing tax laws, regulations, rates and interpretations in multiple jurisdictions in which we operate;
•changes to the financial accounting rules for income taxes;
•the tax effects of acquisitions; and
•the resolution of issues arising from tax audits.
For example, the 2017 Tax Act made a number of changes to the taxation of business entities and the U.S. Department of Treasury continues to issue regulations and interpretative guidance related thereto, which may impact our future effective tax rate. Many countries and organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development are actively considering changes to existing tax laws or have proposed or enacted new laws that could increase our tax obligations in countries where we do business or cause us to change the way we operate our business. Any changes in federal, state or international tax laws or tax rulings could adversely affect our effective tax rate and our results of operations.
Our debt obligations may adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital and will be a burden on our future cash resources, particularly if we elect to settle these obligations in cash upon conversion or upon maturity or required repurchase.
As of December 26, 2020, we had $402.5 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 2024 Notes and $200.0 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 2027 Notes. The degree to which we are leveraged could have important consequences, including, but not limited to, the following:
•our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, litigation, general corporate or other purposes may be limited; and
•a substantial portion of our future cash balance may be dedicated to the payment of the principal of our indebtedness as we have stated the intention to pay the principal amount of each series Notes in cash upon conversion or when otherwise due, such that we would not have those funds available for use in our business.
Our ability to meet our payment obligations under our debt instruments, including the Notes, depends on our future cash flow performance. This, to some extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors, as well as other factors that may be beyond our control. There can be no assurance that our business will generate positive cash flow from operations, or that additional capital will be
available to us, in an amount sufficient to enable us to meet our debt payment obligations and to fund other liquidity needs. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt obligations, we may need to refinance or restructure our debt, sell assets, reduce or delay capital investments, or seek to raise additional capital. If we are unable to implement one or more of these alternatives, we may be unable to meet our debt payment obligations. As a result, we may be more vulnerable to economic downturns, less able to withstand competitive pressures and less flexible in responding to changing business and economic conditions.
We may issue additional shares of our common stock in connection with conversions of the 2024 Notes, and thereby dilute our existing stockholders and potentially adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
In the event that some or all of each series of Notes are converted and we elect to deliver shares of common stock, the ownership interests of existing stockholders will be diluted, and any sales in the public market of any shares of our common stock issuable upon such conversion could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock. In addition, the anticipated conversion of any series of Notes could depress the market price of our common stock.
The fundamental change provisions of the 2024 Notes and the 2027 Notes may delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial takeover attempt of us.
If a fundamental change, such as an acquisition of our company, occurs prior to the maturity of the 2024 Notes or 2027 Notes, holders of the applicable series of Notes will have the right, at their option, to require us to repurchase all or a portion of their Notes of such series. In addition, if such fundamental change also constitutes a make-whole fundamental change, the conversion rate for the applicable series of Notes may be increased upon conversion of the such series of Notes in connection with such make-whole fundamental change. Any increase in the conversion rate will be determined based on the date on which the make-whole fundamental change occurs or becomes effective and the price paid (or deemed paid) per share of our common stock in such transaction. Any such increase will be dilutive to our existing stockholders. Our obligation to repurchase any series of Notes or increase the conversion rate upon the occurrence of a make-whole fundamental change may, in certain circumstances, delay or prevent a takeover of us that might otherwise be beneficial to our stockholders.
The Capped Calls may affect the value of the 2024 Notes and our common stock.
In connection with the issuance of the 2024 Notes, we entered into capped call transactions (the "Capped Calls") with certain financial institutions who are the option counterparties. The capped call transactions are expected generally to reduce or offset the potential dilution upon conversion of the 2024 Notes and/or offset any cash payments we are required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted 2024 Notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap.
From time to time, the option counterparties or their respective affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivatives with respect to our common stock and/or purchasing or selling our common stock or other securities of ours in secondary market transactions prior to the maturity of the 2024 Notes. This activity could also cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of our common stock.
We are subject to counterparty risk with respect to the Capped Calls.
The option counterparties to the capped call transactions are financial institutions, and we will be subject to the risk that any or all of them might default under the capped call transactions. Our exposure to the credit risk of the counterparties will not be secured by any collateral. Past global economic conditions have resulted in the actual or perceived failure or financial difficulties of many financial institutions. If an option counterparty becomes subject to insolvency proceedings, we will become an unsecured creditor in those proceedings with a claim equal to our exposure at the time under the capped call transactions with such option counterparty. Our exposure will depend on many factors but, generally, an increase in our exposure will be correlated to an increase in the market price and in the volatility of our common stock. In addition, upon a default by an option counterparty, we may suffer adverse tax consequences and more dilution than we currently anticipate with respect to our common stock. We can provide no assurance as to the financial stability or viability of the option counterparties.
Legal and Regulatory Risk Factors
If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, our competitive position could be harmed, or we could incur significant expense to enforce our rights.
We depend on our ability to protect our proprietary technology. We rely on a combination of methods to protect our intellectual property, including limiting access to certain information, and utilizing trade secret, patent, copyright and trademark laws and confidentiality agreements with employees and third parties, all of which offer only limited protection. The steps we have taken to protect our proprietary rights may be inadequate to preclude misappropriation or unauthorized disclosure of our proprietary information or infringement of our intellectual property rights, and our ability to police such misappropriation, unauthorized disclosure or infringement is uncertain, particularly in countries outside of the United States. This is likely to become an increasingly important issue if we expand our operations and product development into countries that provide a lower level of intellectual property protection. We do not know whether any of our pending patent applications will result in the issuance of patents or whether the examination process will require us to narrow our claims, and even if patents are issued, they may be contested, circumvented or invalidated. Moreover, the rights granted under any issued patents may not provide us with a competitive advantage, and, as with any technology, competitors may be able to develop similar or superior technologies to our own now or in the future.
Protecting against the unauthorized use of our products, trademarks and other proprietary rights is expensive, difficult, time consuming and, in some cases, impossible. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce or defend our intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets or to determine the validity or scope of the proprietary rights of others. Such litigation could result in substantial cost and diversion of management resources, either of which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, many of our current and potential competitors have the ability to dedicate substantially greater resources to enforce their intellectual property rights than we do. Accordingly, despite our efforts, we may not be able to prevent third parties from infringing upon or misappropriating our intellectual property.
Claims by others that we infringe their intellectual property could harm our business.
Our industry is characterized by the existence of a large number of patents and frequent claims and related litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights. In particular, many leading companies in the optical transport networking industry, including our competitors, have extensive patent portfolios with respect to optical transport networking technology. In addition, non-practicing patent holding companies seek to monetize patents they have purchased or otherwise obtained. We expect that infringement claims may increase as the number of products and competitors in our market increases and overlaps in technology implementation occur. From time to time, third parties may assert exclusive patent, copyright, trademark and other intellectual property rights to technologies and related standards that are important to our business or seek to invalidate the proprietary rights that we hold. Competitors or other third parties have asserted, and may continue to assert claims or initiate litigation or other proceedings against us or our manufacturers, suppliers or customers alleging infringement of their proprietary rights, or seeking to invalidate our proprietary rights, with respect to our products and technology. In addition, in the past we have had certain patent licenses with third parties that have not been renewed, and if we cannot successfully renew these licenses, we could face claims of infringement. In the event that we are unsuccessful in defending against any such claims, or any resulting lawsuits or proceedings, we could incur liability for damages and/or have valuable proprietary rights invalidated. For additional information regarding certain of the legal proceedings in which we are involved, see Part I, Item 3, "Legal Proceedings."
Any claim of infringement from a third party, even one without merit, could cause us to incur substantial costs defending against the claim, and could distract our management from running our business. Furthermore, a party making such a claim, if successful, could secure a judgment that requires us to pay substantial damages or could include an injunction or other court order that could prevent us from offering our products. In addition, we might be required to seek a license for the use of such intellectual property, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Alternatively, we may be required to develop non-infringing technology, which would require significant effort and expense and may ultimately not be successful. Any of these events could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Competitors and other third parties have and may continue to assert infringement claims against our customers and sales partners. Any of these claims would require us to initiate or defend potentially protracted and costly litigation on their behalf, regardless of the merits of these claims, because we generally indemnify our
customers and sales partners from claims of infringement of proprietary rights of third parties. If any of these claims succeed, we may be forced to pay damages on behalf of our customers or sales partners, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We incorporate free and open source licensed software into our products. Although we monitor our use of such open source software closely, the terms of many open source licenses have not been interpreted by U.S. courts, and there is a risk that such licenses could be construed in a manner that could impose unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our ability to commercialize our products. In addition, non-compliance with open source software license terms and conditions could subject us to potential liability, including intellectual property infringement and/or contract claims. In such events, we may be required to seek licenses from third parties in order to continue offering our products, to re-engineer our products or to discontinue the sale of our products in the event re-engineering cannot be accomplished in a timely manner, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future, the accuracy and timing of our financial reporting may be adversely affected.
We are required to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The provisions of the act require, among other things, that we maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. Preparing our financial statements involves a number of complex processes, many of which are done manually and are dependent upon individual data input or review. These processes include, but are not limited to, calculating revenue, deferred revenue and inventory costs. While we continue to automate our processes and enhance our review and put in place controls to reduce the likelihood for errors, we expect that for the foreseeable future many of our processes will remain manually intensive and thus subject to human error if we are unable to implement key operation controls around pricing, spending and other financial processes. Prior to the Acquisition, we maintained separate internal controls over financial reporting with different financial reporting processes and different ERP systems, and Coriant, as a private company, was not required to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In August 2019, we migrated to an integrated ERP system and encountered challenges that impacted our ability to complete our quarter-end closing procedures for the three months ended September 28, 2019 in a timely manner. If we are unable to successfully manage our integrated ERP system and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting of the combined company, we may fail to prevent or detect material misstatements in our financial statements, in which case investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our securities may decline. Additionally, if we encounter any further issues with our integrated ERP system, they may cause time delays and impact our ability to undertake financial reporting in a timely manner.
Security incidents, such as data breaches and cyber-attacks, could compromise our intellectual property and proprietary or confidential information and cause significant damage to our business and reputation.
In the ordinary course of our business, we maintain sensitive data on our networks, including data related to our intellectual property and data related to our business, customers and business partners, which is considered proprietary or confidential information, and includes certain personal information and other data relating to our employees and others. We believe that companies in the technology industry have been increasingly subject to a wide variety of security incidents, cyber-attacks and other attempts to gain unauthorized access. During the pendency of the COVID-19 pandemic, while so many of our own employees are primarily working from home and accessing our corporate network via remote devices, the potential for such events to occur is even greater. While the secure maintenance of this information is critical to our business and reputation, our network and storage applications, and those systems and other business applications maintained by our third-party providers, may be subject to unauthorized access by hackers or breached due to operator error, malfeasance or other system disruptions. It may be difficult to anticipate or immediately detect such security incidents or data breaches and the damage caused as a result. Accordingly, a data breach, cyber-attack, or any other unauthorized access or disclosure of our information or other information that we or our third-party vendors maintain could compromise our intellectual property and result in loss of or unauthorized access to proprietary or confidential information. While we continually work to safeguard our internal network systems and validate the security of our third-party providers to mitigate these potential risks, including through information security policies and employee awareness and training, there is no assurance that such actions will be sufficient to prevent cyber-attacks or security breaches. We also may face difficulties or delays in identifying or responding to security breaches and other security-related incidents. We have been subjected in the past to a range of incidents including phishing, emails purporting to come from an executive or vendor seeking payment requests,
malware and communications from look-alike corporate domains. While these have not had a material effect on our business or our network security to date, security incidents involving access or improper use of our systems, networks or products could compromise confidential or otherwise protected information, destroy or corrupt data, or otherwise disrupt our operations. These security incidents could cause us to incur significant costs and expenses to remediate and otherwise respond to the incident, subject us to regulatory actions and investigations, disrupt key business operations, open us up to liability, and divert attention of management and key information technology resources, any of which could cause significant harm to our business and reputation. Even the perception of inadequate security may damage our reputation and negatively impact our business. Further, we could be required to expend significant capital and other resources to address any data security incident or breach and in an effort to prevent future security incidents and breaches.
We are subject to governmental regulations that could adversely affect our business.
We are subject to governmental regulations that could adversely affect our business. This includes U.S. and foreign trade control laws that may limit where and to whom we are permitted to sell our products as well as the impact of new or revised environmental rules and regulations or other social initiatives on how and where we manufacture our products. In particular, our manufacturing operations use substances that are regulated by various federal, state, local, foreign and international laws and regulations governing health, safety and the environment, including WEEE, RoHS and REACH regulations adopted by the European Union. From time to time, the European Union restricts or considers restricting certain substances under these Directives. For example, indium phosphide is currently being considered for restriction under RoHS. Any restriction of indium phosphide or any other substance integral to our systems could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. In addition, if we experience a problem with complying with these laws and regulations, it could cause an interruption or delay in our manufacturing operations or it could cause us to incur liabilities or costs related to health, safety or environmental remediation or compliance. We could also be subject to liability if we do not handle these substances in compliance with safety standards for handling, storage and transportation and applicable laws and regulations. If we experience a problem or fail to comply with such safety standards or laws and regulations, our business, financial condition and operating results may be harmed.
Changes in regulatory requirements or uncertainty associated with the regulatory environment could delay or impede investment in network infrastructures. The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has jurisdiction over the entire U.S. communications industry and, as a result, our products and our U.S. customers are subject to FCC rules and regulations. In December 2017, the FCC voted to roll back its 2015 order regulating broadband internet service providers as telecommunications service carriers under Title II of the Telecommunications Act. This decision repeals net neutrality regulations that prohibit blocking, degrading or prioritizing certain types of internet traffic and restores the light touch regulatory treatment of broadband service in place prior to 2015. Similarly, changes in regulatory tariff requirements or other regulations relating to pricing or terms of carriage on communications networks could slow the development or expansion of network infrastructures and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, international regulatory standards could impair our ability to develop products for international customers in the future. Moreover, many jurisdictions, including the United States, the EU and other regions, are evaluating or have implemented regulations relating to cybersecurity, privacy and data protection, which can affect the market and requirements for networking and communications equipment. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”) has been in effect in the EU since May 2018, and similar regulatory standards are now in effect in the United Kingdom following its exit from the EU on December 31, 2020. These EU and UK laws impose stringent data handling requirements on companies that receive or process personal data of residents of the EU and the UK, respectively, and non-compliance could result in significant penalties, including data protection audits and heavy fines. Additionally, California has enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) which, among other things, requires covered companies to provide new disclosures to California consumers and afford such consumers new rights, including the right to opt-out of certain sales of personal information. Enforcement of the CCPA by the California Attorney General began on July 1, 2020. Additionally, a new privacy law, the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”) was approved by California voters in the November 2020 election. The CPRA creates obligations relating to certain types of data beginning on January 1, 2022, with implementing regulations expected on or before July 1, 2022, and enforcement beginning July 1, 2023. The CPRA significantly modifies the CCPA, potentially resulting in further uncertainty and requiring us to incur additional costs and expenses in an effort to comply. We cannot fully predict the impact of the GDPR, the CCPA, the CPRA or other laws or regulations relating to cybersecurity, privacy or data protection on our business or operations, but these laws and regulations may require us to modify our data processing
practices and policies and to incur substantial costs and expenses in an effort to comply. Any failure to obtain the required approvals or comply with such laws and regulations could result in claims, litigation, and regulatory proceedings. These could result in substantial costs, diversion of resources, fines, penalties, and other damages, and harm to our reputation. Any of these could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to various governmental export control, trade sanctions, and import laws and regulations that could impair our ability to compete in international markets or subject us to liability if we violate these controls.
In some cases, our products are subject to U.S. and foreign export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and our activities may be subject to trade and economic sanctions, including those administered by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) (collectively, “Trade Controls”). As such, a license may be required to export or re-export our products, or provide related services, to certain countries and end-users, and for certain end-uses. Further, our products incorporating encryption functionality may be subject to special controls applying to encryption items and/or certain reporting requirements.
We have procedures in place designed to ensure our compliance with Trade Controls, with which failure to comply could subject us to both civil and criminal penalties, including substantial fines, possible incarceration of responsible individuals for willful violations, possible loss of our export or import privileges, and reputational harm. Further, the process for obtaining necessary licenses may be time-consuming or unsuccessful, potentially causing delays in sales or losses of sales opportunities. Trade Controls are complex and dynamic regimes, and monitoring and ensuring compliance can be challenging, particularly given that our products are widely distributed throughout the world and are available for download without registration. Although we have no knowledge that our activities have resulted in violations of Trade Controls, any failure by us or our partners to comply with applicable laws and regulations would have negative consequences for us, including reputational harm, government investigations, and penalties.
In addition, various countries regulate the import of certain technologies and have enacted laws that could limit our ability to distribute our products and certain product features or could limit our customers’ ability to implement our products in those countries. Changes in our products or changes in U.S. and foreign import and export regulations may create delays in the introduction of our products in international markets, prevent our customers with international operations from deploying our products throughout their global systems or, in some cases, prevent the import and export of our products to certain countries altogether. For example, in 2018 and 2019, the United States imposed tariffs on a large variety of products originating from China, including some on components that are supplied to us from China. Depending upon the duration and implementation of these and future tariffs, as well as our ability to mitigate their impact, these tariffs could materially affect our business, including in the form of increased cost of goods sold, increased pricing for customers, and reduced sales. At this time, it remains unclear what additional actions, if any, will be taken by the governments of the United States or China with respect to such trade and tariff matters. Any change in import and export regulations or related legislation, shift in approach to the enforcement or scope of existing regulations, or change in the countries, persons or technologies impacted by such regulations, could result in decreased use of our products by, or in our decreased ability to export or sell our products to, existing or potential customers with international operations. Failure to comply with these and similar laws on a timely basis, or at all, or any limitation on our ability to develop, export or sell our products would adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
A portion of our revenue is generated by sales to government entities, which are subject to a number of uncertainties, challenges, and risks.
We currently sell many of our solutions to various government entities, and we may in the future increase sales to government entities. Sales to government entities are subject to a number of risks. Selling to government entities can be highly competitive, expensive, and time consuming, often requiring significant upfront time and expense without any assurance that we will complete a sale. In the event that we are successful in being awarded a government contract, such award may be subject to appeals, disputes, or litigation, including, but not limited to, bid protests by unsuccessful bidders. Government demand and payment for our solutions may be impacted by public sector budgetary cycles and funding authorizations, with funding reductions or delays adversely affecting public sector demand for our solutions. Government entities may also have statutory, contractual, or other legal rights to terminate contracts for convenience or due to a default. For purchases by the
U.S. federal government, the government may require certain products to be manufactured in the United States and other high cost manufacturing locations, and we may not manufacture all products in locations that meet government requirements, and as a result, our business and results of operations may suffer. Contracts with governmental entities may also include preferential pricing terms, including, but not limited to, “most favored customer” pricing.
Additionally, we may be required to obtain special certifications to sell some or all of our solutions to government or quasi-government entities. Such certification requirements for our solutions may change, thereby restricting our ability to sell into the federal government sector until we have attained the revised certification. If our products and subscriptions are late in achieving or fail to achieve compliance with these certifications and standards, or our competitors achieve compliance with these certifications and standards, we may be disqualified from selling our products to such governmental entities, or be at a competitive disadvantage, which would harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. There are no assurances that we will find the terms for obtaining such certifications to be acceptable or that we will be successful in obtaining or maintaining the certifications.
As a government contractor or subcontractor, we must comply with laws, regulations, and contractual provisions relating to the formation, administration, and performance of government contracts and inclusion on government contract vehicles, which affect how we and our partners do business with government agencies. As a result of actual or perceived noncompliance with government contracting laws, regulations, or contractual provisions, we may be subject to non-ordinary course audits and internal investigations which may prove costly to our business financially, divert management time, or limit our ability to continue selling our products and services to our government customers. These laws and regulations may impose other added costs on our business, and failure to comply with these or other applicable regulations and requirements, including non-compliance in the past, could lead to claims for damages from our channel partners, downward contract price adjustments or refund obligations, civil or criminal penalties, and termination of contracts and suspension or debarment from government contracting for a period of time with government agencies. Any such damages, penalties, disruption, or limitation in our ability to do business with a government would adversely impact, and could have a material adverse effect on, our business, financial condition, results of operations, public perception, and growth prospects.
Our business could be adversely affected if our employees cannot obtain and maintain required security clearances or we cannot maintain a required facility security clearance, or we do not comply with legal and regulatory obligations regarding the safeguarding of classified information.
Our U.S. government contract revenue includes income derived from contracts that require our employees to maintain various levels of security clearances, and may require us to maintain a facility security clearance, to comply with Department of Defense (“DoD”) requirements. The DoD has strict security clearance requirements for personnel who perform work in support of classified programs. In general, access to classified information, technology, facilities, or programs are subject to additional contract oversight and potential liability. In the event of a security incident involving classified information, technology, facilities, programs, or personnel holding clearances, we may be subject to legal, financial, operational, and reputational harm. We are limited in our ability to provide specific information about these classified programs, their risks, or any disputes or claims relating to such programs. As a result, investors have less insight into our classified programs than our other businesses and therefore less ability to fully evaluate the risks related to our classified business or our business overall. Obtaining and maintaining security clearances for employees involves a lengthy process, and it is difficult to identify, recruit, and retain employees who already hold security clearances. If our employees are unable to obtain security clearances in a timely manner, or at all, or if our employees who hold security clearances are unable to maintain their clearances or terminate employment with us, then a customer requiring classified work could terminate an existing contract or decide not to renew the contract upon its expiration. To the extent we are not able to obtain or maintain a facility security clearance, we may not be able to bid on or win new classified contracts, and existing contracts requiring a facility security clearance could be terminated.
Failure to comply with anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering laws, and similar laws, could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences.
We are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”), the U.S. domestic bribery statute contained in 18 U.S.C. § 201, the U.S. Travel Act, the United Kingdom Bribery Act 2010, and possibly other anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws in the United States and in countries outside of
the United States in which we conduct our activities. Anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws have been enforced aggressively in recent years and are interpreted broadly to generally prohibit companies, their employees, agents, representatives, business partners, and third-party intermediaries from authorizing, offering, or providing, directly or indirectly, improper payments or benefits to recipients in the public or private sector.
We sometimes leverage third parties to sell our products and conduct our business abroad. We, our employees, agents, representatives, business partners our third-party intermediaries may have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or state-owned or affiliated entities and may be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of these employees, agents, representatives, business partners or third-party intermediaries even if we do not explicitly authorize such activities. We cannot assure you that all of our employees and agents will not take actions in violation of applicable law, for which we may be ultimately held responsible. As we increase our international sales and business, our risks under these laws may increase.
These laws also require that we keep accurate books and records and maintain internal controls and compliance procedures designed to prevent any such actions. While we have policies and procedures to address compliance with such laws, we cannot assure you that none of our employees, agents, representatives, business partners or third-party intermediaries will take actions in violation of our policies and applicable law, for which we may be ultimately held responsible.
Any allegations or violation of the FCPA or other applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption laws, and anti-money laundering laws could result in whistleblower complaints, sanctions, settlements, prosecution, enforcement actions, fines, damages, adverse media coverage, investigations, loss of export privileges, severe criminal or civil sanctions, or suspension or debarment from U.S. government contracts, all of which may have an adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations, and prospects. Responding to any investigation or action will likely result in a materially significant diversion of management’s attention and resources and significant defense costs and other professional fees.
General Risk Factors
The trading price of our common stock has been volatile and may be volatile in the future.
The trading prices of our common stock and the securities of other technology companies have been and may continue to be highly volatile. Factors affecting the trading price of our common stock include:
•variations in our operating results;
•announcements of technological innovations, new services or service enhancements, strategic alliances or agreements by us or by our competitors;
•the gain or loss of customers;
•recruitment or departure of key personnel;
•changes in the estimates of our future operating results or external guidance on those results or changes in recommendations or business expectations by any securities analysts that elect to follow our common stock;
•mergers and acquisitions by us, by our competitors or by our customers;
•market conditions in our industry, the industries of our customers and the economy as a whole, including global trade tariffs;
•social, geopolitical, environmental or health factors, including pandemics or widespread health epidemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic; and
•adoption or modification of regulations, policies, procedures or programs applicable to our business.
In addition, if the market for technology stocks or the broader stock market experience a loss of investor confidence, the trading price of our common stock could decline for reasons unrelated to our business, financial
condition or results of operations. The trading price of our common stock might also decline in reaction to events that affect other companies in our industry even if these events do not directly affect us. Each of these factors, among others, could harm the value of your investment in our common stock. Some companies that have had volatile market prices for their securities have had securities class action lawsuits filed against them. If a suit were filed against us, regardless of its merits or outcome, it could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources.
Future sales of our common stock could cause our stock price to fall.
We have sold, and plan in the future to sell, shares of our common stock in underwritten offerings and have established, and may in the future establish, “at-the-market” offering programs pursuant to which we may offer and sell shares of our common stock. Sales of securities have resulted and will continue to result in dilution of our existing stockholders, and such sales could cause our stock price to fall. In August 2020, we entered into the Sales Agreement with Jefferies under which we issued and sold through Jefferies, acting as agent and/or principal, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of $96.3 million, to raise funds for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures.
In addition, if our existing stockholders sell, or indicate an intent to sell, a large number of shares of our common stock in the public market, it could cause our stock price to fall. We may also issue shares of common stock or securities convertible into our common stock from time to time in connection with financings, acquisitions, investments or otherwise. Any such issuance would result in dilution to our existing stockholders and could cause our stock price to fall.
Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company and may affect the trading price of our common stock.
We are a Delaware corporation and the anti-takeover provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which apply to us, may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control by prohibiting us from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years after the person becomes an interested stockholder, even if a change of control would be beneficial to our existing stockholders. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a change in our management or control over us that stockholders may consider favorable. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws:
•authorize the issuance of “blank check” convertible preferred stock that could be issued by our board of directors to thwart a takeover attempt;
•establish a classified board of directors, as a result of which the successors to the directors whose terms have expired will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following their election;
•require that directors only be removed from office for cause;
•provide that vacancies on the board of directors, including newly created directorships, may be filled only by a majority vote of directors then in office rather than by stockholders;
•prevent stockholders from calling special meetings; and
•prohibit stockholder action by written consent, requiring all actions to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders.
Our amended and restated bylaws designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the federal district courts of the United States of America as the exclusive forums for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders, which will restrict our stockholders’ ability to choose the judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or employees.
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law,
our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our bylaws; or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
These provisions would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the U.S. federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all such Securities Act actions. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. Our stockholders cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our amended and restated bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. While the Delaware courts have determined that such choice of forum provisions are facially valid, a stockholder may nevertheless seek to bring a claim in a venue other than those designated in the exclusive forum provisions. In such instance, we would expect to vigorously assert the validity and enforceability of the exclusive forum provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. This may require significant additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions and there can be no assurance that the provisions will be enforced by a court in those other jurisdictions.
These exclusive choice of forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors, officers, and other employees. If a court were to find such exclusive-forum provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur further significant additional costs associated with resolving the dispute in other jurisdictions, all of which could harm our business.
Natural disasters, human violence or other catastrophic events could harm our operations.
Our headquarters and the majority of our infrastructure, including our PIC fabrication manufacturing facility, are located in Northern California, an area that is susceptible to earthquakes, fires, floods and other natural disasters. Further, attacks and violence aimed at Northern California or at the United States energy or telecommunications infrastructure could hinder or delay the development and sale of our products. In the event that an earthquake, targeted attack or other man-made or natural catastrophe were to destroy any part of our or our contract manufacturers’ facilities, destroy or disrupt vital infrastructure systems or interrupt our operations for any extended period of time, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be harmed.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our headquarters are located in San Jose, California, which consist of approximately 82,000 square feet under lease. As of December 26, 2020, we leased approximately 261,000 square feet for research and development and manufacturing in Sunnyvale, California of which approximately 204,000 square feet was terminated and vacated in January 2021.
In addition to the leased buildings in San Jose and Sunnyvale, California, we also lease approximately 991,000 square feet of office spaces for research and development centers and for sales, service and support in various countries within (i) North America; (ii) LATAM; (iii) EMEA; and (iv) APAC.
All of these leases expire between 2021 and 2031. We also own a facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania. We intend to adjust our facility space to meet our requirements and we believe that suitable additional or substitute space will be available as needed to accommodate our business needs for our operations. We believe that our existing facilities are adequate to meet our business needs through the next 12 months.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The information set forth under the heading “Legal Matters” in Note 14, Commitments and Contingencies, in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not Applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “INFN.” As of February 19, 2021, there were 81 registered holders of record of our common stock. A substantially greater number of holders of our common stock are “street name” or beneficial holders, whose shares are held by banks, brokers and other financial institutions.
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock and do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the near future.
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the cumulative five-year total return provided stockholders on our common stock relative to the cumulative total returns of the Nasdaq Composite Index and the Nasdaq Telecommunications Index. An investment of $100 (with reinvestment of all dividends, if any) is assumed to have been made in our common stock and in each of the indexes on December 26, 2015 and its relative performance is tracked through December 26, 2020. The Nasdaq Telecommunications Index contains securities of Nasdaq-listed companies classified according to the Industry Classification Benchmark as Telecommunications and Telecommunications Equipment. They include providers of fixed-line and mobile telephone services, and makers and distributors of high-technology communication products. This graph is not deemed to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the graph shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any prior or subsequent filing by us under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Infinera Corporation, the Nasdaq Composite Index,
and the Nasdaq Telecommunications Index
*Assumes $100 invested on December 26, 2015 in our common stock, in the Nasdaq Composite Index and the Nasdaq Telecommunications Index, with reinvestment of all dividends, if any. Indexes calculated on month-end basis.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
You should read the following selected consolidated historical financial data below in conjunction with the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements, related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We derived the statements of operations data for the years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 and the balance sheet data as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 from our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes, which are included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We derived the statements of operations data for the years ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and the balance sheet data as of December 29, 2018, December 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016 from our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes, which are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have not declared or distributed any cash dividends.
Years Ended
December 26, 2020(1)
December 28,
2019(2)
December 29,
2018(3)
December 30,
2017 December 31,
(In thousands, except per share data)
Revenue $ 1,355,596 $ 1,298,865 $ 943,379 $ 740,739 $ 870,135
Gross profit $ 408,792 $ 325,923 $ 321,156 $ 244,000 $ 393,718
Net income (loss) $ (206,723) $ (386,618) $ (214,295) $ (194,506) $ (24,430)
Net income (loss) attributable to Infinera Corporation $ (206,723) $ (386,618) $ (214,295) $ (194,506) $ (23,927)
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to Infinera Corporation:
Basic $ (1.10) $ (2.16) $ (1.36) $ (1.32) $ (0.17)
Diluted $ (1.10) $ (2.16) $ (1.36) $ (1.32) $ (0.17)
Weighted average number of shares used in computing basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share:
Basic 188,216 178,984 157,748 147,878 142,989
Diluted 188,216 178,984 157,748 147,878 142,989
Total cash and cash equivalents, investments and restricted cash $ 315,383 $ 132,797 $ 268,848 $ 305,211 $ 367,056
Intangible assets, net $ 124,882 $ 170,346 $ 233,119 $ 92,188 $ 108,475
Goodwill $ 273,426 $ 249,848 $ 227,231 $ 195,615 $ 176,760
Total assets $ 1,732,497 $ 1,628,338 $ 1,801,270 $ 1,117,670 $ 1,198,583
Short-term debt $ 101,983 $ 31,673 $ - $ 144,928 $ -
Long-term debt, net $ 445,996 $ 323,678 $ 266,929 $ - $ 133,586
Long-term financing lease obligation $ 1,383 $ 2,394 $ 193,538 $ - $ -
Common stock and additional paid-in capital $ 1,965,446 $ 1,741,065 $ 1,686,091 $ 1,417,192 $ 1,354,227
Total stockholders’ equity $ 426,284 $ 386,535 $ 703,821 $ 665,365 $ 762,328
(1)Effective December 29, 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, "Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments", on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment at the beginning of the first quarter of 2020. Results for the reporting periods beginning December 29, 2019 are presented under Topic 326, while prior period amounts are not adjusted.
(2)Effective December 30, 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“Topic 842”), using the alternative modified transition method. Results for the reporting periods beginning December 30, 2018 are presented under Topic 842, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our historical accounting under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 840, “Leases.”
(3)Effective December 31, 2017, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“Topic 606”), using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts that were not completed as of December 31, 2017. Results for the reporting periods after December 31, 2017 are presented under Topic 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our historical accounting under ASC Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition” (“Topic 605”).

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our expectations regarding revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, cash flows and other financial items; the severity, magnitude, duration and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic and related impacts will materially and adversely affect our business operations, financial performance, results of operations, financial position, stock price and personnel; achievement of strategic objectives; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations and personnel; statements regarding the Acquisition; remaining payments under the 2020 Restructuring Plan; the impact of new customer network footprint on our gross margin; statements regarding our ERP systems; impacts of the recent presidential administration change in the United States; the effects of seasonal patterns in our business; factors that may affect our operating results; anticipated customer acceptance of our solutions; statements concerning new products or services, including new product features; statements related to capital expenditures; statements related to working capital and liquidity; statements related to future economic conditions, performance, market growth, competitor consolidation or our sales cycle; our ability to identify, attract and retain highly skilled personnel; our ability to protect our technology and intellectual property, the frequency of claims related to our intellectual property and the value of our intellectual property; our ability to protect our technology and intellectual property, the frequency of claims related to our intellectual property and the value of our intellectual property; statements related to our convertible senior notes and credit facility; statements related to the impact of tax regulations; statements related to the proliferation and impact of environmental regulation; statements related to the proliferation and impact of environmental regulation; statements related to the effects of litigation on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows; statements related to factors beyond our control, such as natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, epidemics and pandemics; statements related to new accounting standards; statements as to industry trends and other matters that do not relate strictly to historical facts; and statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. These statements are often identified using of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” "should," "will," or "would," and similar expressions or variations. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management based on information currently available to management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below, and those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” included in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should review these risk factors for a more complete understanding of the risks associated with an investment in our securities. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. We disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our “Selected Financial Data” included in Part II, Item 6 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
We are a global supplier of networking solutions comprised of networking equipment, software and services. Our portfolio of solutions includes optical transport platforms, converged packet-optical transport platforms, optical line systems, disaggregated router platforms, and a suite of networking and automation software offerings, and support and professional services.
Our customers include telecommunications service providers, ICPs, cable providers, wholesale carriers, research and education institutions, large enterprises and government entities. Our networking solutions enable our customers to deliver business and consumer communications services. Our comprehensive portfolio of networking solutions also enables our customers to scale their transport networks as end-user services and applications continue to drive growth in demand for network bandwidth. These end-user services and applications include, but are not limited to, high-speed internet access, business ethernet services, 4G/5G mobile broadband, cloud-based services, high-definition video streaming services, virtual and augmented reality and the Internet of Things.
Our systems are highly scalable, flexible and designed with open networking principles for ease of deployment. We build our systems using a combination of internally manufactured and third-party components. Our portfolio includes systems that leverage our innovative optical engine technology, comprised of large-scale PICs and DSPs. We optimize the manufacturing process by using indium phosphide to build our PICs, which enables the integration of hundreds of optical functions onto a set of semiconductor chips. This large-scale integration of our PICs and advanced DSPs allows us to deliver high-performance transport networking platforms with features that customers care about the most, including low cost per bit, low power consumption and space savings. In addition, we design our optical engines to increase the capacity and reach performance of our products by leveraging coherent optical transmission. We believe our vertical integration strategy becomes increasingly more valuable as our customers transition to 800 gigabits per second (“Gb/s”) per wavelength transmission speeds and beyond, as the combination of our optical integration, DSP, and tightly integrated packaging enables a leading optical performance at higher optical speeds. Over time, we plan to integrate our optical engine technology into a broader set of transport platforms in order to enhance customer value and lower production costs.
Over the past several years, we expanded our portfolio of solutions, evolving from our initial focus on the long-haul and subsea optical transport markets to offering a more complete suite of packet-optical networking solutions that address multiple markets within the end-to-end transport infrastructure. We achieved this expansion both by developing products internally and through acquisitions of Transmode AB in 2015 and Coriant in 2018. In particular, our acquisition of Coriant enhanced our ability to serve a global customer base and also enabled us to expand the breadth of customer applications we can address, including metro aggregation and switching, disaggregated routing, and software-enabled multi-layer network management and control.
Our high-speed optical transport platforms are differentiated by the Infinite Capacity Engine (ICE), our optical engine technology. ICE enables different subsystems that can be customized for a variety of network applications in different transport markets, including metro, DCI, long-haul and subsea. Our latest generation of available optical engine technology delivers multi-terabit opto-electronic subsystems powered by our fourth-generation PIC and latest generation FlexCoherent DSP (the combination of which we market as “ICE4”).
As part of the Acquisition, we expanded our high-speed optical transport portfolio with 600 Gb/s transmission capabilities powered by our CloudWave T technology, which enabled us to expand the high-speed transmission applications we can address.
Our products are designed to be managed by a suite of software solutions that enable end-to-end common network management, multi-layer service orchestration, and automated operations. We also provide software-enabled programmability that offers differentiated capabilities such as Instant Bandwidth. Combined with our differentiated hardware solutions, Instant Bandwidth enables our customers to purchase and activate bandwidth as needed through our unique software licensing feature set. This, in turn, allows our customers to accomplish two key objectives: (1) limit their initial network startup costs and investments; and (2) instantly activate new bandwidth as their customers’ and their own network needs evolve.
We believe our end-to-end portfolio of solutions benefits our customers by providing a unique combination of highly scalable capacity and features that address various applications and ultimately simplify and automate packet-optical network operations.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic in March 2020. We have been and will continue monitoring and adjusting our operations, as appropriate, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employees
We have taken a number of precautionary steps to safeguard our business and our employees from the effects of the outbreak of COVID-19, including temporarily closing or substantially limiting the presence of personnel in our offices in several impacted locations, implementing travel restrictions and withdrawing from various industry events. Since a large percentage of our workforce is accustomed to online work environments and online collaboration tools, we are able to remain productive and in contact with one another and our customers and vendors. For those employees who may need to be in offices, laboratory and manufacturing environments, or at business partner sites to perform their roles, we are taking appropriate measures to protect their health and safety and create and maintain a safe working environment. However, sustained restrictions on
the ability of our engineers to work in our offices as a result of restrictions imposed by governments, or us, has made and could continue to make it more difficult for them to collaborate as effectively as desired in the development of new products, which can affect development schedules.
Business Operations
In addition, we have implemented certain business continuity plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to minimize any business disruption and to protect our supply chain, customer fulfillment sites and support operations. Although we believe these actions have mitigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, we have experienced some disruption and delays in our supply chain and manufacturing operations, logistics, and customer support operations, including shipping delays, higher transport costs, and certain limitations on our ability to access customer fulfillment and service sites. We are dependent on sole source and limited source suppliers for several key components, and we have experienced capacity issues, longer lead times and increased costs with certain of these component suppliers, impacting our operational processes and results of operations. We have also seen disruptions in customer demand, including due to delays in the customer certification process resulting from customer facility closures or access restrictions. During fiscal 2020, some of these disruptions negatively impacted our revenue and our results of operations. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and results of operations in fiscal 2021 remains uncertain and is dependent in part on future infection rates, the emergence of new strains of the virus, the effectiveness and availability of vaccinations, and broader global macroeconomic developments.
We continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and actively assess potential implications to our business, supply chain and customer demand. If the COVID-19 pandemic or its adverse effects become more severe or prevalent or are prolonged in the locations where we, our customers, suppliers or contract manufacturers conduct business, or we experience more pronounced disruptions in our operations, or in economic activity and demand generally, our business and results of operations in future periods could be materially adversely affected.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have implemented measures to preserve cash and enhance liquidity, including suspending salary increases and bonuses, reducing salaries paid to a portion of our workforce, instituting a broad-based hiring freeze, significantly reducing business travel, reducing capital expenditures, and delaying or eliminating discretionary spending. We are also focused on managing our working capital needs, maintaining as much flexibility as possible around timing of taking and paying for inventory and manufacturing our products while managing potential changes or delays in installations.
While we believe we have enough cash to operate our business for the next 12 months, if the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to our business and financial position is more extensive than expected, we may need additional capital to enhance liquidity and working capital. We have historically been successful in our ability to secure other sources of financing, such as accessing capital markets, and implementing other cost reduction initiatives such as restructuring, delaying or eliminating discretionary spending to satisfy our liquidity needs. However, our access to these sources of capital could be materially and adversely impacted and we may not be able to receive terms as favorable as we have historically received. Capital markets have been volatile and there is no assurance that we would have access to capital markets at a reasonable cost, or at all, at times when capital is needed. In addition, some of our existing debt has restrictive covenants that may limit our ability to raise new debt, which would limit our ability to access liquidity by those means without obtaining the consent of our lenders.
On August 12, 2020, we entered into the Sales Agreement with Jefferies under which we issued and sold through Jefferies, acting as agent and/or principal, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of $96.3 million, to raise funds for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures. During the year ended December 26, 2020, we sold 12,000,000 shares of common stock under the Sales Agreement, for net proceeds of approximately $93.4 million, after paying Jefferies a sales commission of approximately $2.9 million related to services provided as the sales agent with respect to the sales of those shares.
Financial and Business Highlights
Total revenue was $1,355.6 million in 2020 as compared to $1,298.9 million in 2019, a 4% increase. The year over year increase in revenue was driven by revenue growth from service providers in APAC and from key customers in the United States. This growth was partially offset by lower revenue from our Cable vertical and a large European service provider which had strong revenue related to new deployments in the second half of 2019. In 2021, we anticipate benefiting from a diversified customer base and see several prospective opportunities to grow revenue by driving adoption of new and existing solutions. Our results will depend on overall market conditions and, as is typical, quarter-over-quarter revenue could be volatile, affected by the ongoing pandemic and more generally, customer buying patterns, supply chain disruptions and the timing of customer network deployments.
Gross margin increased to 30.2% in 2020 from 25% in 2019. The year over year increase in gross margin was primarily driven by lower integration and restructuring costs, which were higher in 2019 following the Coriant acquisition in 2018, and successful cost reductions stemming from enhanced manufacturing efficiencies as we benefited from site and systems consolidations that were completed during 2019. In 2020, we continued to lower our fixed cost structure and practiced pricing discipline, particularly on products acquired in the Acquisition. In 2021, we intend to continue to improve our fixed cost structure and practice pricing discipline. Additionally, with our ICE6 platform we intend to expand our vertical integration capabilities across more of our product portfolio, which we expect will lower our cost structure and drive continued margin improvement over time.
Operating expenses declined to $564.0 million in 2020 from $676.2 million in 2019, a 17% decrease. This decrease was attributable to lower headcount costs, lower costs on travel related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and lower integration and restructuring costs, which were higher in 2019 following the Coriant acquisition. In 2021, we intend to continue to balance prudent cost management with investments in technology innovation and other activities that will drive our future growth.
One customer accounted for approximately 11% and 13% of our revenue in 2020 and 2019, respectively. No other customers accounted for over 10% of our revenue in 2020 or 2019.
We primarily sell our products through our direct sales force, with the remainder sold indirectly through channel partners. We derived 77% and 79% of our revenue from direct sales to customers in 2020 and 2019, respectively. In the future, we expect to continue generating a majority of our revenue from direct sales.
We are headquartered in San Jose, California, with employees located throughout North America, LATAM, EMEA and APAC.
Results of Operations
The following sets forth, for the periods presented, certain consolidated statements of operations information (in thousands, except percentages):
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 % of total
revenue December 28,
2019 % of total
revenue Change % Change
Revenue:
Product $ 1,045,551 77 % $ 1,011,488 78 % $ 34,063 3 %
Services 310,045 23 % 287,377 22 % $ 22,668 8 %
Total revenue $ 1,355,596 100 % $ 1,298,865 100 % $ 56,731 4 %
Cost of revenue:
Product $ 751,465 55 % $ 735,059 57 % $ 16,406 2 %
Services 160,118 12 % 146,916 11 % $ 13,202 9 %
Amortization of intangible assets 29,247 2 % 32,583 3 % $ (3,336) (10) %
Acquisition and integration costs 1,828 - % 28,449 2 % $ (26,621) (94) %
Restructuring and related 4,146 - % 29,935 2 % $ (25,789) (86) %
Total cost of revenue $ 946,804 69 % $ 972,942 75 % $ (26,138) (3) %
Gross profit $ 408,792 30.2 % $ 325,923 25.0 % $ 82,869 25 %
Years Ended
December 28,
2019 % of total
revenue December 29, 2018 % of total
revenue Change % Change
Revenue:
Product $ 1,011,488 78 % $ 763,555 81 % $ 247,933 32 %
Services 287,377 22 % 179,824 19 % $ 107,553 60 %
Total revenue $ 1,298,865 100 % $ 943,379 100 % $ 355,486 38 %
Cost of revenue:
Product $ 735,059 57 % $ 517,765 55 % $ 217,294 42 %
Services 146,916 11 % 78,353 8 % $ 68,563 88 %
Amortization of intangible assets 32,583 3 % 23,475 2 % $ 9,108 39 %
Acquisition and integration costs 28,449 2 % - - % $ 28,449 *NMF
Restructuring and related 29,935 2 % 2,630 - % $ 27,305 *NMF
Total cost of revenue $ 972,942 75 % $ 622,223 66 % $ 350,719 56 %
Gross profit $ 325,923 25.0 % $ 321,156 34.0 % $ 4,767 1 %
*NMF - not meaningful
Revenue
2020 Compared to 2019. Product revenue increased by $34.1 million, or 3%, in 2020 from 2019. This increase was primarily driven by aforementioned growth from key customers in APAC and the United States. This increase was partially offset by lower revenue from our Cable vertical and a large European customer which had strong revenue related to new deployments in the second half of 2019.
Services revenue increased by $22.7 million, or 8%, in 2020 from 2019. This increase was attributable to an increase in amortized revenue stemming from higher services maintenance revenue, driven by a new customer and growth in existing customer renewals, and an increase in professional services revenue primarily from network installations.
2019 Compared to 2018. Product revenue increased by $247.9 million, or 32%, in 2019 from 2018, primarily attributable to the inclusion of Coriant’s revenue for all of 2019 as compared to only the fourth quarter of 2018. Revenue growth was also driven by strong year over year growth from our ICP and Tier 1 verticals. Overall growth was partially offset by a decline from our cable vertical, as compared to a very strong 2018.
Services revenue increased by $107.6 million, or 60%, in 2019 from 2018, primarily attributable to the inclusion of Coriant's services revenue for all of 2019 as compared to only the fourth quarter of 2018. Services revenue was slightly offset by lower revenue from our largest cable customer.
In line with typical seasonality in our industry, we expect our total revenue will be lower in the first quarter of 2021 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, as our customers take time to determine and operationalize their 2021 budgets.
Revenue by geographic region is based on the shipping address of the customer. The following table summarizes our revenue by geography and sales channel for the periods presented (in thousands, except percentages):
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 % of total
revenue December 28,
2019 % of total revenue Change % Change
Total revenue by geography
Domestic $ 630,422 47 % $ 628,075 48 % $ 2,347 - %
International 725,174 53 % 670,790 52 % 54,384 8 %
$ 1,355,596 100 % $ 1,298,865 100 % $ 56,731 4 %
Total revenue by sales channel
Direct $ 1,039,976 77 % $ 1,032,527 79 % $ 7,449 1 %
Indirect 315,620 23 % 266,338 21 % 49,282 19 %
$ 1,355,596 100 % $ 1,298,865 100 % $ 56,731 4 %
Years Ended
December 28,
2019 % of total revenue December 29, 2018 % of total revenue Change % Change
Total revenue by geography
Domestic $ 628,075 48 % $ 476,784 51 % $ 151,291 32 %
International 670,790 52 % 466,595 49 % 204,195 44 %
$ 1,298,865 100 % $ 943,379 100 % $ 355,486 38 %
Total revenue by sales channel
Direct $ 1,032,527 79 % $ 838,931 89 % $ 193,596 23 %
Indirect 266,338 21 % 104,448 11 % 161,890 155 %
$ 1,298,865 100 % $ 943,379 100 % $ 355,486 38 %
2020 Compared to 2019. Domestic revenue increased by $2.3 million in 2020 compared to 2019, primarily due to strong growth from ICP customers. In 2020, the growth from our ICP vertical was nearly offset by moderate declines from certain Cable and Tier 1 customers.
International revenue increased by $54.4 million, or 8%, in 2020 compared to 2019. In this period, revenue in APAC increased strongly due to certain large new deployments. We also enjoyed growth in Other Americas and in EMEA in 2020.
Indirect revenue increased $49.3 million, or 19% primarily due to our growth in international revenue, where in certain regions we typically sell through channel partners as opposed to selling directly to customers.
2019 Compared to 2018. Domestic revenue increased by $151.3 million, or 32%, in 2019 compared to 2018, primarily attributable to the inclusion of Coriant’s revenue for all of 2019 as compared to only the fourth quarter of 2018. In 2019 we saw a significant increase in spending from our ICP and Tier 1 verticals. Growth was partially offset by lower spending from cable operators in 2019, compared to a very strong 2018.
International revenue increased by $204.2 million, or 44%, in 2019 compared to 2018, primarily attributable to the inclusion of Coriant’s revenue for all of 2019 as compared to only the fourth quarter of 2018. Additionally, we also benefited from increased ICE4 sales to a key customer in Europe.
Indirect revenue increased $161.9 million, or 155% due to the Acquisition, as Coriant’s business model carried a higher proportion revenue driven by channel partners than Infinera’s did historically.
Cost of Revenue and Gross Margin
2020 Compared to 2019. Gross margin increased to 30.2% in 2020 from 25% in 2019. In this period our margins benefited from reductions in integration-related expenses and restructuring costs. We also reduced costs attributable to completing site and systems consolidations over the course of 2019.
2019 Compared to 2018. Gross margin decreased to 25% in 2019 from 34.0% in 2018. This decline was primarily due to the mix of products acquired from the Acquisition, as Coriant products historically had a lower margin. As the time of the Acquisition, Coriant carried a higher cost structure largely due to not being vertically integrated. Integration and restructuring expenses also contributed to the gross margin decline. Over the course of 2019, we were able to improve margins by improving pricing discipline and executing on our integration strategy of lowering our cost structure by reducing headcount and transitioning costs to lower cost regions and variable cost models.
In any given quarter, gross margins can fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the mix of footprint versus fill, product mix, customer mix and overall volume.
We currently expect that gross margin in the first quarter of 2021 will be slightly lower than that of the fourth quarter of 2020. In the first quarter we will look to optimally spread our fixed costs across the seasonally lower anticipated revenue and intend to continue practicing pricing discipline and lowering costs
Amortization of Intangible Assets
2020 Compared to 2019. Amortization of intangible assets decreased by $3.3 million in 2020 from 2019 due to certain technologies becoming fully amortized in the third quarter of 2020. The decrease was partially offset by capitalization of in-process technology to developed in the fourth quarter of 2019.
2019 Compared to 2018. Amortization of intangible assets increased by $9.1 million in 2019 from 2018 primarily due to a full year of amortization expense on intangible assets acquired from Coriant.
Acquisition and Integration Costs
2020 Compared to 2019. Acquisition and integration costs decreased by $26.6 million in 2020 from 2019. This reduction has been the result of lower integration-related headcount, third-party contractors, and vendor spend during 2020 as we have largely completed our integration efforts.
2019 Compared to 2018. Acquisition and integration costs increased by $28.4 million in 2019 from 2018 as a result of the Acquisition. Costs in 2019 were predominantly integration related, which included the transition of our Berlin manufacturing activities to a contract manufacturer, start-up costs around a new European distribution center, and contractors and employees focused on integration-specific activities.
See Note 7, “Business Combination” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the Acquisition.
Restructuring and Related
2020 Compared to 2019. In 2020, within cost of revenue, we incurred $4.1 million in restructuring and other related costs, including $4.0 million of severance and related costs and $0.1 million of asset impairment charges and impaired facilities charges. The restructuring and related costs decreased by $25.8 million due to the substantial completion of restructuring initiatives under the 2018 Restructuring Plan in fiscal year 2020. This decrease was partially offset by additional costs under the 2020 Restructuring Plan initiated in the second quarter of 2020.
2019 Compared to 2018. In 2019, within cost of revenue, we incurred $29.9 million in restructuring and other related costs, including $26.6 million of severance and related costs and $2.2 million of asset impairment charges and $1.2 million of impaired facilities charges. These charges were primarily associated with the closure of our Berlin, Germany site and the reduction of headcount at our Munich, Germany site.
See Note 10, “Restructuring and Other Related Costs” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on our restructuring plans.
Operating Expenses
The following table summarizes our operating expenses for the periods presented (in thousands, except percentages):
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 % of total
revenue December 28,
2019 % of total
revenue Change % Change
Research and development $ 265,634 20 % $ 287,977 22 % $ (22,343) (8) %
Sales and marketing 129,604 10 % 151,423 12 % $ (21,819) (14) %
General and administrative 112,240 8 % 126,351 10 % $ (14,111) (11) %
Amortization of intangible assets 18,581 1 % 27,280 2 % $ (8,699) (32) %
Acquisition and integration costs 13,346 1 % 42,271 3 % $ (28,925) (68) %
Restructuring and related 24,586 2 % 40,851 3 % $ (16,265) (40) %
Total operating expenses $ 563,991 42 % $ 676,153 52 % $ (112,162) (17) %
Years Ended
December 28,
2019 % of total
revenue December 29,
2018 % of total
revenue Change % Change
Research and development $ 287,977 22 % $ 244,302 26 % $ 43,675 18 %
Sales and marketing 151,423 12 % 124,238 13 % $ 27,185 22 %
General and administrative 126,351 10 % 80,957 9 % $ 45,394 56 %
Amortization of intangible assets 27,280 2 % 29,296 3 % $ (2,016) (7) %
Acquisition and integration costs 42,271 3 % 15,530 2 % $ 26,741 172 %
Restructuring and related 40,851 3 % 12,512 1 % $ 28,339 226 %
Total operating expenses $ 676,153 52 % $ 506,835 54 % $ 169,318 33 %
The following table summarizes the stock-based compensation expense included in our operating expenses for the periods presented (in thousands):
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28,
2019 December 29,
Research and development $ 16,863 $ 17,457 $ 16,270
Sales and marketing 10,907 8,413 10,869
General and administration 13,906 10,460 9,649
Total $ 41,676 $ 36,330 $ 36,788
Research and Development Expenses
2020 Compared to 2019. Research and development expenses decreased by $22.3 million, or 8% in 2020 from 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower employee-related costs and lower travel costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decreases were partially offset by higher outside services spend associated with bringing our new technologies to market. As employee-related costs have declined, we have continued to make targeted innovation investments in research and development to support our strategy of expanding our vertically integrated product portfolio, including bringing new products to market quickly.
2019 Compared to 2018. Research and development expenses increased by $43.7 million, or 18%, in 2019 from 2018, primarily due to increased headcount as a result of the Acquisition. Over the course of 2019, R&D expenses grew at a slower rate than revenue, largely due to reducing headcount and lower spending in equipment and materials as we started to benefit from company-wide cost reduction and integration efforts.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
2020 Compared to 2019. Sales and marketing expenses decreased by $21.8 million, or 14%, in 2020 from 2019. This decrease was driven by lower travel and marketing-related expenses, primarily driven by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also had lower employee-related spend during these periods, primarily due to workforce reduction initiatives. The 2020 decrease was partially offset by higher stock-based compensation expenses.
2019 Compared to 2018. Sales and marketing expenses increased by $27.2 million, or 22%, in 2019 from 2018, primarily due to the inclusion of the Coriant business and higher commission expense as a result of higher revenue. Sales and marketing expenses grew at a slower rate than revenue due to reducing headcount and lower demo and trial spend in conjunction with company-wide cost reduction and integration efforts.
General and Administrative Expenses
2020 Compared to 2019. General and administrative expenses decreased by $14.1 million, or 11%, in 2020 from 2019. The decrease was attributable to lower outside services spend stemming from cost management initiatives, lower employee-related expenses, lower travel expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a litigation settlement in the second quarter of 2019.
2019 Compared to 2018. General and administrative expenses increased by $45.4 million, or 56%, in 2019 from 2018, primarily due to the inclusion of headcount associated expenses from the Coriant business and higher outside professional services. General and administrative expenses grew faster than revenue to ensure we had sufficient infrastructure and operations to support the larger company.
Amortization of Intangible Assets
2020 Compared to 2019. Amortization of intangible assets decreased by $8.7 million in 2020 from 2019 primarily due to higher amortization of backlog by $8.1 million in 2019. Backlog is amortized over the expected customer lives.
2019 Compared to 2018. Amortization of intangible assets decreased by $2.0 million in 2019 from 2018, primarily due to higher amortization of backlog in 2018 compared to 2019 offset by higher amortization of customer relationship intangible assets in 2019 as a result of the Acquisition.
Acquisition and Integration Costs
2020 Compared to 2019. Acquisition and integration costs decreased by $28.9 million in 2020 from 2019 primarily due to lower integration-related headcount, third-party contractors and vendor spend as we largely completed our integration efforts in 2019.
2019 Compared to 2018. Acquisition and integration costs increased by $26.7 million in 2019 from 2018 as a result of the Acquisition. Costs in 2019 were predominantly integration-related including the convergence of three ERP systems into one new corporate ERP system, other systems-related integration activities, and costs related to contractors and headcount focused on integration-specific activities.
See Note 7, “Business Combination” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the Acquisition.
Restructuring and Related
2020 Compared to 2019. Restructuring and related costs decreased by $16.3 million in 2020 compared to 2019. The severance and related costs decreased by $11.2 million due to the substantial completion of restructuring initiatives under the 2018 Restructuring Plan in fiscal year 2020. This decrease was partially offset by additional costs under the 2020 Restructuring Plan initiated in the second quarter of 2020. Facilities-related impairment charges decreased by $4.9 million due to impairment of a facility in Naperville, Illinois in 2019. The decrease was by offset additional impairment charges on our facility in Naperville and impairment of certain other leased facilities recorded in fiscal 2020.
2019 Compared to 2018. In 2019, within operating expenses, we incurred $40.9 million in restructuring and other related costs, including $25.3 million of severance and related costs and $14.7 million of impaired facilities charges. These charges were primarily associated with the closure of our Berlin, Germany site, the reduction of headcount at our Munich, Germany site and impairment of a facility in Naperville, Illinois.
See Note 10, “Restructuring and Other Related Costs” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on our restructuring plans.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28,
2019 December 29,
(In thousands)
Interest income $ 118 $ 1,139 $ 2,428
Interest expense (46,728) (31,657) (22,049)
Other gain (loss), net 1,121 (2,907) (9,650)
Total other income (expense), net $ (45,489) $ (33,425) $ (29,271)
2020 Compared to 2019. Interest income decreased by $1.0 million in 2020 compared to 2019, primarily due to the liquidation of investments in 2019. Interest expense increased by $15.1 million, primarily due to amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs of $6.3 million and contractual interest of $4.0 million on the new convertible debt issued in March 2020, $1.9 million increase in amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs on the 2024 Notes (as described below), a $0.9 million increase in interest on a financing assistance arrangement obtained in May 2019, and a $3.7 million increase in interest and other related charges related to the Credit Facility (as described and defined below) obtained in August 2019, and as amended. This increase was offset by a $1.4 million of interest credit from a supplier and reduction in miscellaneous interest charges of $0.3 million.
The change in other gain (loss), net, in 2020 from 2019 was $4.0 million due to a decrease in foreign exchange losses, primarily driven by the favorable foreign currency exchange rate changes.
2019 Compared to 2018. Interest income decreased $1.3 million in 2019 from 2018, primarily due to a lower average investment balance during the year. Interest expense for 2019 increased by $9.6 million due to $18.6 million of additional interest and amortization related to the 2024 Notes issued in September 2018, $0.3 million of interest on cash collateral obtained in March 2019, $0.5 million of interest on a financing assistance arrangement obtained in May 2019, $1.1 million of interest and other related charges related to the Credit Facility (as defined under “Liquidity and Capital Resources-Liquidity” below) obtained in August 2019, and $1.7 million of other interest charges. The increase to interest expense was offset by a reduction of $6.5 million related to financing lease obligations, which we assumed in connection with the Acquisition and were reclassified in 2019
on adoption of the new leasing standard, and $6.2 million interest on 2018 Notes that matured in 2018. Other gain (loss), net, primarily consisted of a $3.7 million loss primarily related to foreign exchange related transactions and a $1.1 million gain on the sale of non-marketable equity investments.
Provision for/(Benefit From) Income Taxes
We recognized an income tax expense of $6.0 million on a loss before income taxes of $200.7 million, $3.0 million on a loss before income taxes of $383.7 million, and an income tax benefit of $0.7 million on a loss before income taxes of $215.0 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The resulting effective tax rates were (3.0)%, (0.8%) and 0.3% for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The 2020 and 2019 effective tax rates differ from the expected statutory rate of 21% based on our ability to benefit from our U.S. loss carryforwards, offset by state income taxes, non-deductible stock-based compensation expenses and foreign taxes provided on foreign subsidiary earnings. The increase in 2020 income tax provision compared to 2019 is due to additional foreign earnings.
Because of our U.S. operating loss in 2020, significant loss carryforward position, and corresponding valuation allowance in all years, other than separate filing state taxes and minimum taxes, we have not been subject to federal or state tax on our U.S. income because of the availability of loss carryforwards. If these losses and other tax attributes become fully utilized, our taxes will increase significantly to a more normalized, expected rate on U.S. earnings. The release of transfer pricing reserves in the future will have a beneficial impact to tax expense, but the timing of the impact depends on factors such as expiration of the statute of limitations or settlements with tax authorities. No significant releases are expected in the near future based on information available at this time.
In determining future taxable income, we make assumptions to forecast federal, state and international operating income, the reversal of temporary differences, and the implementation of any feasible and prudent tax planning strategies. The assumptions require significant judgment regarding the forecasts of future taxable income, and are consistent with our income forecasts used to manage our business.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019 December 29, 2018
(In thousands)
Net cash flow provided by (used in):
Operating activities $ (112,300) $ (167,350) $ (99,083)
Investing activities $ (39,009) $ (12,609) $ 12,624
Financing activities $ 334,162 $ 71,910 $ 207,889
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019
(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents $ 298,014 $ 109,201
Restricted cash 17,369 23,596
$ 315,383 $ 132,797
Our restricted cash balance amounts are primarily pledged as collateral for certain standby letters of credit related to customer performance guarantees, value added tax licenses and property leases.
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $112.3 million for 2020, as compared to net cash used in operating activities of $167.4 million for 2019 and net cash used in operating activities of $99.1 million for 2018.
Net loss for 2020 was $206.7 million, which included non-cash charges of $206.2 million such as depreciation, stock-based compensation, amortization of intangibles, operating lease expense, restructuring charges and related costs, and amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs, compared to a net loss of $386.6 million in 2019, which included non-cash charges of $227.5 million. Net cash used in working capital was $111.8 million in 2020. Accounts receivable decreased by $32.2 million due to cash collections. Inventory levels decreased by $71.4 million due to management efforts to reduce inventory. Prepaid and other assets increased by $36.1 million primarily due to timing of value-added tax and income tax payments and increase in customer contract assets. Accounts payable decreased by $93.4 million primarily due to more timely payments to suppliers. Accrued liabilities and other expenses decreased by $107.7 million primarily due to the payment of the fiscal 2019 corporate bonus, restructuring liabilities, tax liabilities, purchases of shares of our common stock under our 2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) in 2020 and no accrual for fiscal 2020 corporate bonus. Deferred revenue increased by $21.9 million due to higher maintenance renewals during the period attributable to expanding our installed base. Maintenance contracts are typically contracted on an annual or multi-year basis.
Net loss for 2019 was $386.6 million, which included non-cash charges of $227.5 million, compared to a net loss for 2018 of $214.3 million, which included non-cash charges of $172.4 million. Net cash used in working capital was $8.3 million for 2019. Accounts receivables increased by $35.4 million attributable to higher revenue levels during 2019 and the timing of invoicing and collections. Inventory levels increased by $42.8 million to address strong customer demand for our ICE4 products, and additional inventory to support our manufacturing transition and integration efforts. Prepaid and other assets increased by $93.6 million primarily due to timing of tax payments, and increase in customer contract assets. Accounts payable increased by $83.3 million primarily to support integration initiatives and the increase in inventory. Accrued liabilities and other expenses increased by $54.7 million primarily due to increased compensation-related expenses and timing of tax payments. Deferred revenue increased by $25.7 million due to maintenance renewals on our growing installed base, which are typically contracted on an annual or multi-year basis.
Net cash used in working capital was $57.2 million for 2018. Accounts receivables increased by $21.1 million attributable to higher revenue levels during 2018 and timing of invoicing and collections. Inventory levels increased by $8.6 million to address strong customer demand for our next-generation ICE4 products, while inventory levels of our prior generation products decreased. Accounts payable decreased by $0.5 million primarily due to the timing of payments and inventory purchases. Accrued liabilities and other expenses decreased by $21.5 million primarily due to reduced levels of compensation-related accruals. Additionally, this decrease was attributable to the reduction of customer right of returns, net of an increase in customer prepayments due to our adoption of Topic 606. Deferred revenue increased by $8.0 million due to maintenance renewals on our growing installed base, which are typically contracted on an annual or multi-year basis, net of adjustments related to our adoption of Topic 606.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities for 2020 was $39.0 million for the purchase of property and equipment.
Net cash used in investing activities for 2019 was $12.6 million. Investing activities during 2019 included the net escrow payment of $10.0 million in connection with the Acquisition, and net proceeds of $26.6 million associated with sales, maturities and purchases of investments during the year. In addition, we spent $30.2 million on capital expenditures and received additional proceeds on the sale of our non-marketable equity investments of $1.0 million.
Net cash provided by investing activities for 2018 was $12.6 million. Investing activities during 2018 included the net payment of $102.9 million in connection with the Acquisition, and net proceeds of $152.2 million associated with sales, maturities and purchases of investments during the year. In addition, we spent $37.7 million on capital expenditures and received additional proceeds on the sale of our non-marketable equity investments of $1.1 million.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $334.2 million for 2020. Financing activities in 2020 included net proceeds of $92.9 million from our common stock "at-the-market" offering program (net of commissions and other charges), $194.5 million from issuance of the 2027 Notes and $55.0 million from the Credit Facility (as described below). Payments during this period included $8.0 million under the Credit Facility, $5.3 million under the financing assistance arrangement, $2.5 million in debt issuance cost, $1.6 million for
finance lease obligations and $5.7 million for term license purchase. The period also included net proceeds from the issuance of shares under our ESPP and the exercise of stock options. These proceeds were offset by the minimum tax withholdings paid on behalf of certain employees for net share settlements of restricted stock units (“RSUs”).
Net cash provided by financing activities was $71.9 million for 2019. Financing activities in 2019 included proceeds of $8.6 million from issuance of debt associated with mortgaging one of our facilities, $48.1 million from a new revolving line of credit obtained in August 2019 and subsequently amended in December 2019 (as described under “Liquidity and Capital Resources-Liquidity” below) and $24.3 million under a financing assistance arrangement with third-party contract manufacturer. Financing activities during 2019 also included $20.0 million for the repayment of the revolving line of credit. The period also included net proceeds from the issuance of shares under our ESPP and the exercise of stock options. These proceeds were offset by the minimum tax withholdings paid on behalf of certain employees for net share settlements of RSUs.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $207.9 million for 2018. Financing activities in 2018 included proceeds from the issuance of the 2024 Notes of $391.4 million, offset by the payment for capped call transactions related to the 2024 Notes of $48.9 million. Financing activities during 2018 also included $150.0 million for the repayment of the 2018 Notes, which matured on June 1, 2018. Additionally, we made principal payments on capital lease obligations of $1.2 million during the period. The period also included net proceeds from the issuance of shares under the ESPP and the exercise of stock options. These proceeds were offset by the minimum tax withholdings paid on behalf of certain employees for net share settlements of restricted stock units RSUs.
Liquidity
We believe that our current cash, along with the Credit Facility (as defined below) will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for working capital and capital expenditures, payments under the financing assistance arrangement with the third-party contract manufacturer, and the interest payments on the Notes and the Credit Facility for at least 12 months. While we believe we have enough cash to operate our business for the next 12 months, if the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to our business and financial position is more extensive than expected and the existing sources of cash are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we may require additional capital from equity or debt financings to fund our operations, to respond to competitive pressures or strategic opportunities, or otherwise. In addition, we are continuously evaluating alternatives for efficiently funding our capital expenditures and ongoing operations. We may, from time to time engage in a variety of financing transactions for such purposes. We may not be able to secure timely additional financing on favorable terms, or at all. The terms of any additional financings may place limits on our financial and operating flexibility. If we raise additional funds through further issuances of equity or equity-linked securities, our existing stockholders could suffer dilution in their percentage ownership of us, and any new securities we issue could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock.
On August 12, 2020, we entered into the Sales Agreement with Jefferies LLC ("Jefferies") under which the Company issued and sold through Jefferies, acting as agent and/or principal, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of $96.3 million. During the year ended December 26, 2020, we issued and sold 12,000,000 shares of our common stock under the Sales Agreement, for net proceeds of approximately $93.4 million, after paying Jefferies a sales commission of approximately $2.9 million related to those shares. We intend to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures.
On March 9, 2020, we issued the 2027 Notes, which will mature on March 1, 2027, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, commencing on September 1, 2020. The net proceeds from the 2027 Notes issuance were approximately $194.5 million and we intend to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including working capital to fund growth and potential strategic projects.
Upon conversion, it is our intention to pay cash equal to the lesser of the aggregate principal amount or the conversion value of the 2027 Notes. For any remaining conversion obligation, we intend to pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election. As of December 26, 2020, long-term debt, net, included $131.8 million outstanding for the 2027 Notes, which represents the liability component of the $200.0 million principal balance, net of $68.2 million of unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs. The debt discount and debt issuance costs are currently being amortized over the remaining term until maturity of the 2027 Notes on March 1, 2027. To the extent that the
holders of the 2027 Notes request conversion during an early conversion window, we may require funds for repayment of such 2027 Notes prior to their maturity date.
As of December 26, 2020, contractual obligations related to the 2027 Notes are payments of $5.0 million due each year from 2021 through 2026 and $202.5 million due in 2027. These amounts represent principal and interest cash payments over the term of the 2027 Notes. Any future redemption or conversion of the Notes could impact the amount or timing of our cash payments. For more information regarding the 2027 Notes, see Note 12, “Debt” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
On August 1, 2019, we entered into a Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with Wells Fargo Bank. The Credit Agreement provides for a senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility of up to $100 million (the "Credit Facility"), which we may draw upon from time to time. The Credit agreement included an option to increase the total commitments under the Credit Facility by up to an additional $50 million, subject to certain conditions. The Credit Agreement provides for a $50 million letter of credit sub-facility and a $10 million swing loan sub-facility.
On December 23, 2019, we exercised our option to increase the total commitments under the Credit Facility and entered into an Increase Joinder and Amendment Number One to Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”), with BMO Harris Bank N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, as administrative agent. The amendment increased the total commitments under the Credit Facility to $150 million.
The proceeds of the loans under the Credit Agreement, as amended by the Amendment (the “Amended Credit Agreement”) may be used to pay the fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Amended Credit Agreement and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Credit Facility matures, and all outstanding loans become due and payable, on March 5, 2024. Availability under the Credit Facility is based upon periodic borrowing base certifications valuing certain inventory and accounts receivable, as reduced by certain reserves. The Credit Facility is secured by first-priority security interest (subject to certain exceptions) in inventory, certain related assets, specified deposit accounts, and certain other accounts in certain domestic subsidiaries.
Loans under the Amended Credit Agreement bear interest, at our option, at either a rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) for the applicable interest period or a base rate, in each case plus a margin. The margin ranges from 2.00% to 2.50% for LIBOR rate loans and 1.00% to 1.50% for base rate loans, depending on the utilization of the Credit Facility. The fee payable on the unused portion of the Credit Facility ranges from 0.375% to 0.625% per annum, also based on the current utilization of the Credit Facility. Letters of credit issued pursuant to the Credit Facility will accrue a fee at a per annum rate equal to the applicable LIBOR rate margin times the average amount of the letter of credit usage during the immediately preceding quarter in addition to the fronting fees, commissions and other fees. As of December 26, 2020, we had outstanding borrowings of $77 million due in March 2024 and related interest due monthly. The outstanding balance was repaid in full on January 7, 2021. For more information regarding the Credit Facility, see Note 13, “Debt” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In September 2018, we issued the 2024 Notes, which will mature on September 1, 2024, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, which commenced on March 1, 2019. The net proceeds from the 2024 Notes issuance were approximately $391.4 million, of which approximately $48.9 million was used to pay the cost of the capped call transactions. We also used a portion of the remaining net proceeds to fund the cash portion of the purchase price of the Acquisition, including fees and expenses relating thereto, and intend to use the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes.
Upon conversion, it is our intention to pay cash equal to the lesser of the aggregate principal amount or the conversion value of the 2024 Notes. For any remaining conversion obligation, we intend to pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election. As of December 26, 2020, long-term debt, net, was $306.4 million, which represents the liability component of the $402.5 million principal balance, net of $96.1 million of unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs. The debt discount and debt issuance costs are currently being amortized over the remaining term until maturity of the 2024 Notes on September 1, 2024. To the extent that the holders of the 2024 Notes request conversion during an early conversion window, we may require funds for repayment of such 2024 Notes prior to their maturity date.
As of December 26, 2020, contractual obligations related to the 2024 Notes are payments of $8.6 million due each year from 2021 through 2023 and $411.1 million due in 2024. These amounts represent
principal and interest cash payments over the term of the 2024 Notes. Any future redemption or conversion of the Notes could impact the amount or timing of our cash payments. For more information regarding the 2024 Notes, see Note 13, “Debt” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
As of December 26, 2020, we had $298.0 million of cash including $87.4 million of cash held by our foreign subsidiaries. Our policy with respect to undistributed foreign subsidiaries' earnings is to consider those earnings to be indefinitely reinvested. As a result of the enactment in the United States of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “2017 Tax Act”), if and when funds are actually distributed in the form of dividends or otherwise, we expect minimal tax consequences, except for foreign withholding taxes, which would be applicable in some jurisdictions.
Contractual Obligations
The following is a summary of our contractual obligations as of December 26, 2020:
Payments Due by Period
Total Less than
1 year 1 - 3
years 3 - 5
years More than
5 years
(In thousands)
Operating leases(1)
$ 121,898 $ 22,866 $ 38,372 $ 29,482 $ 31,178
Financing lease obligations(2)
2,683 1,253 1,430 - -
Purchase obligations(3)
291,365 274,236 16,841 288 -
2027 Notes, including interest(4)
232,500 5,000 10,000 10,000 207,500
2024 Notes, including interest(4)
436,712 8,553 17,106 411,053 -
Mortgage Payable, including interest 9,570 841 1,753 6,976 -
Financing assistance agreement, including interest 26,263 26,263 - - -
Asset-based revolving credit facility4)
77,750 77,750 - - -
Total contractual obligations(5)(6)
$ 1,198,741 $ 416,762 $ 85,502 $ 457,799 $ 238,678
(1)We lease facilities under non-cancelable operating lease agreements. These leases have varying terms that range from one to 11 years, and contain leasehold improvement incentives, rent holidays and escalation clauses. In addition, some of these leases have renewal options for up to six years. We also have contractual commitments to remove leasehold improvements and return certain properties to a specified condition when the leases terminate. At the inception of a lease with such conditions, we record an asset retirement obligation liability and a corresponding capital asset in an amount equal to the estimated fair value of the obligation. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset. An assumption of lease renewal where a renewal option exists is used only when the renewal has been determined to be reasonably assured. The estimated useful life of leasehold improvements is one to 11 years. See Note 14, "Commitments and Contingencies" to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
(2)We have two finance leases for manufacturing and other equipment. The financing lease assets will continue to be amortized and payments due will be made over the lease terms, which range from 3 to 5 years. See Note 9, "Balance Sheet Details" to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
(3)We have service agreements with our major production suppliers under which we are committed to purchase certain parts.
(4)For additional information regarding our asset-based revolving credit facility and 2027 and 2024 Notes, see Note 13, “Debt” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(5)Tax liabilities of $20.6 million related to uncertain tax positions are not included in the table because we cannot reliably estimate the timing and amount of future payments, if any.
(6)In 2021, we expect to make contributions of $5.1 million to cover benefit payments to plan participants. Expected future payments to our pension and post-employment plan are excluded from the contractual obligation table because they do
not represent contractual cash outflow as they are dependent on various factors. See Note 19, "Employee Benefit and Pension Plans" to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
We had $28.9 million of standby letters of credit, bank guarantees and surety bonds outstanding as of December 26, 2020. These consisted of $19.5 million related to customer performance guarantees, $0.3 million of value-added tax and customs' licenses, $4.0 million related to property leases, $4.4 million related to Coriant pre-acquisition restructuring plans, $0.6 million related to credit cards and $0.1 million for other liabilities. Of the $19.5 million related to customer performance guarantees, approximately $2.8 million was used to secure Surety Bonds in the aggregate of $5.5 million.
Of the aforementioned standby letters of credit and bank guarantees outstanding, $11.5 million was backed by cash collateral from a third-party institution, and the Company accrues 2.25% annual fee and 0.13% annual fronting fee on the average LOC balances outstanding on the cash collateral.
We had $27.9 million of standby letters of credit and bank guarantees outstanding as of December 28, 2019. These consisted of $14.2 million related to customer performance guarantees, $5.9 million related to property leases, $6.8 million related to Coriant pre-acquisition restructuring plans, $0.4 million of value-added tax and customs' licenses, $0.5 million related to credit cards and $0.1 million for other liabilities. Of the aforementioned standby letters of credit and bank guarantees outstanding, $4.1 million was backed by cash collateral from a third-party institution, and the Company accrues 2.25% annual fee and 0.13% annual fronting fee on the average LOC balances outstanding on the cash collateral.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 26, 2020, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These accounting principles require us to make certain estimates, assumptions and judgments that can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods presented. See Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which is included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, which describes our significant accounting policies and methods used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements. Management believes that the estimates, assumptions and judgments upon which they rely are reasonable based upon information available to them at the time that these estimates and judgments are made. To the extent there are material differences between these estimates and actual results, our consolidated financial statements will be affected.
We believe our critical accounting policies and estimates are those related to revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, employee benefit and pension plans, accounting for income taxes, inventory valuation, accrued warranty, business combination, amortization of intangible assets, and impairment of intangibles and goodwill. Management considers these policies critical because they are both important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations, and they require management to make judgments and estimates about inherently uncertain matters.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.
We determine revenue recognition by applying the following five-step approach:
•identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer;
•identification of the performance obligations in the contract;
•determination of the transaction price;
•allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and
•recognition of revenue when, or as, we satisfy a performance obligation.
Many of our product sales are sold in combination with installation and deployment services along with initial hardware and software support. Our product sales are also sold at times with spares management, on-site hardware replacement services, network operations management, software subscription services, extended hardware warranty and training. Initial software and hardware support services are generally delivered over a one-year period in connection with the initial purchase. Software warranty provides customers with maintenance releases during the warranty support period and hardware warranty provides replacement or repair of equipment that fails to perform in line with specifications. Software subscription services include software warranty and additionally provides customers with rights to receive unspecified software product upgrades released during the support period.
Spares management and on-site hardware replacement services include the replacement of defective units at customer sites in accordance with specified service level agreements. Network operations management includes the day-to-day operation of a customer's network. These services are generally delivered on an annual basis. We evaluate each promised good and service in a contract to determine whether it represents a distinct performance obligation or should be accounted for as a combined performance obligation.
Services revenue includes software subscription services, installation and deployment services, spares management, on-site hardware replacement services, network operations management, extended hardware warranty and training. Revenue from software subscription services, spares management, on-site hardware replacement services, network operations management and extended hardware warranty contracts is deferred and is recognized ratably over the contractual support period, which is generally one year, as services are provided over the course of the entire period. Revenue related to training and installation and deployment services is recognized upon completion of the services.
Contracts and customer purchase orders are generally used to determine the existence of an arrangement. In addition, shipping documents and customer acceptances, when applicable, are used to verify delivery and transfer of title. We typically satisfy our performance obligations upon shipment or delivery of product depending on the contractual terms. Payment terms to customers generally range from net 30 to 120 days from invoice, which are considered to be standard payment terms. We assess our ability to collect from our customers based primarily on the creditworthiness and past payment history of the customer.
Customer product returns are generally approved on a case by case basis. Specific reserve provisions are made based upon a specific review of all the approved product returns where the customer has yet to return the products to generate the related sales return credit at the end of a period. Estimated sales returns are recorded as a reduction to revenue.
For sales to resellers, the same revenue recognition criteria apply. It is our practice to identify an end-user prior to shipment to a reseller. We do not offer rights of return or price protection to our resellers.
We report revenue net of any required taxes collected from customers and remitted to government authorities, with the collected taxes recorded as current liabilities until remitted to the relevant government authority.
Customer Purchase Commitments
We sell software licenses that provide customers the ability to purchase incremental bandwidth capacity on an already-deployed piece of hardware. Instant Bandwidth-enabled systems generally include a specific initial capacity and incremental capacity can be added by the purchase of Instant Bandwidth licenses. Instant Bandwidth licenses are considered distinct performance obligations because customers can provision additional transmission capacity on demand without the deployment of any incremental equipment.
Some contracts commit the customer to purchase incremental Instant Bandwidth licenses within a specified time frame from the initial shipment of the Instant Bandwidth-enabled hardware. The time frame varies by customer and generally ranges between 12 to 24 months. If the customer does not purchase the additional capacity within the time frame as stated in the contract, we have the right to deliver and invoice such Instant Bandwidth licenses to the customer. Future committed licenses are considered to be additional performance obligations when a minimum purchase obligation is present, as evidenced by enforceable rights and obligations. As such, we are required to estimate the variable consideration for future Instant Bandwidth licenses as part of determining the contract transaction price.
Contract Termination Rights
The contract term is determined on the basis of the period over which the parties to the contract have present enforceable rights and obligations. Certain customer contracts include a termination for convenience clause that allows the customer to terminate services without penalty, upon advance notification. For such contracts, the service duration is limited to the non-cancelable portion of the contract.
Variable Consideration
The consideration associated with customer contracts is generally fixed. Variable consideration includes discounts, rebates, refunds, credits, incentives, penalties, or other similar items. The amount of consideration that can vary is not a substantial portion of total consideration.
Variable consideration estimates are re-assessed at each reporting period until a final outcome is determined. The changes to the original transaction price due to a change in estimated variable consideration will be applied on a retrospective basis, with the adjustment recorded in the period in which the change occurs.
Stand-alone Selling Price
Stand-alone selling price is the price at which an entity would sell a good or service on a stand-alone (or separate) basis at contract inception. Under this model, the observable price of a good or service sold separately provides the best evidence of stand-alone selling price. However, in certain situations, stand-alone selling prices will not be readily observable and the entity must estimate the stand-alone selling price.
When allocating on a relative stand-alone selling price basis, any discount provided in the contract is generally allocated proportionately to all of the performance obligations in the contract.
The majority of products and services offered by us have readily observable selling prices. For products and services that do not, we generally estimate stand-alone selling price using the market assessment approach based on expected selling price and adjust those prices as necessary to reflect our costs and margins. As part of our stand-alone selling price policy, we review product pricing on a periodic basis to identify any significant changes and revise our expected stand-alone selling price assumptions as appropriate.
Capitalization of Costs to Obtain a Contract
We have assessed the treatment of costs to obtain or fulfill a contract with a customer. Sales commissions have historically been expensed as incurred. Under Topic 606, we capitalize sales commissions related to multi-year service contracts, which are paid for upfront and amortize the asset over the period of benefit, which is the service period. Sales commissions paid on service contract renewals, are commensurate with the sales commissions paid on the initial contracts.
Transaction Price Allocated to the Remaining Performance Obligation
Our remaining performance obligations represent the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially satisfied, as of period end, consisting of deferred revenue and backlog. Our backlog represents purchase orders received from customers for future product shipments and services that are unsatisfied or partially satisfied as of period end. Our backlog is subject to future events that could cause the amount or timing of the related revenue to change, and, in certain cases, may be canceled without penalty. Orders in backlog may be fulfilled several quarters following receipt or may relate to multi-year support service obligations.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period) under the straight-line amortization method. We account for forfeitures as they occur.
We estimate the fair value of the rights to acquire stock under the ESPP using the Black-Scholes option pricing formula. The ESPP provides for consecutive six-month offering periods and we use our own historical volatility data in the valuation of shares that are purchased under the ESPP.
We account for the fair value of RSUs using the closing market price of our common stock on the date of grant. For new-hire grants, RSUs typically vest ratably on an annual basis over four years. For annual refresh grants, RSUs typically vest ratably on an annual basis over two, three or four years.
We granted performance shares (“PSUs”) to our executive officers and senior management in 2017 and 2018. The PSUs granted during 2017 and 2018 to our executive officers and senior management are based on total stockholder return (“TSR”) of our common stock price relative to the TSR of the individual companies listed in the S&P North American Technology Multimedia Networking Index (SPGIIPTR) (the “S&P Networking Index”) over the span of one year, two years and three years. The number of shares to be issued upon vesting of these PSUs range from zero to two times the target number of PSUs granted depending on our performance against the individual companies listed in the SPGIIPTR. This performance metric is classified as a market condition.
PSUs granted to our executive officers and senior management during 2019 and 2020 are based on performance criteria related to a specific financial target over the span of a three-year performance period. These PSUs may become eligible for vesting to begin before the end of the three year performance period, if the applicable financial target is met. The number of shares to be issued upon vesting of these PSUs is capped at the target number of PSUs granted. We assess the achievement status of these PSUs on a quarterly basis and record the related stock-based compensation expenses based on the estimated achievement payout.
We use a Monte Carlo simulation model to determine the fair value of PSUs with market conditions. The Monte Carlo simulation model is based on a discounted cash flow approach, with the simulation of a large number of possible stock price outcomes for our stock and the target composite index. The use of the Monte Carlo simulation model requires the input of a number of assumptions including expected volatility of our stock price, expected volatility of a target composite index, correlation between changes in our stock price and changes in the target composite index, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends as applicable. Expected volatility of our stock is based on the weighted-average historical volatility of our stock. Expected volatility of the target composite index is based on the historical and implied data. Correlation is based on the historical relationship between our stock price and the target composite index average. The risk-free interest rate is based upon the treasury zero-coupon yield appropriate for the term of the PSU as of the grant date. Our expected dividend yield is zero as we do not expect to pay dividends in the future. The expected dividend yield for the target composite index is the annual dividend yield expressed as a percentage of the composite average of the target composite index on the grant date.
In addition, we have granted other PSUs to certain employees that only vest upon the achievement of specific operational performance criteria. We assess the achievement status of these PSUs on a quarterly basis and record the related stock-based compensation expenses based on the estimated achievement payout.
Employee Benefit and Pension Plans
We operate a number of post-employment plans in Germany, as well as smaller post-employment plans in other countries, including both defined contribution and defined benefit plans. Benefit cost obligations pertaining to these plans are based on assumptions for the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, mortality rates, expected salary increases, health care cost trend rates and attrition rates. The discount rate assumption is based on current investment yields of high-quality fixed-income securities with maturities similar to the expected benefits payment period. Mortality rates help predict the expected life of plan participants. The expected increase in the compensation levels assumption reflects our actual experience and future expectations. The expected long-term return on plan assets is determined based on asset allocations, historical portfolio results, historical asset correlations and management’s expected returns for each asset class. We evaluate our expected return assumptions annually including reviewing current capital market assumptions to assess the reasonableness of the expected long-term return on plan assets. We update the expected long-term return on assets when we observe a sufficient level of evidence that would suggest the long-term expected return has changed.
Accounting for Income Taxes
As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. We estimate actual current tax expense together with assessing temporary differences resulting from different treatment of items, such as accruals and allowances not currently deductible for tax purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in our consolidated balance sheets. In general, deferred tax assets represent future tax benefits to be received when certain expenses previously recognized in our consolidated statements of operations become deductible expenses under applicable income tax laws or loss, or credit carryforwards are utilized. Accordingly, realization of our deferred tax assets is dependent on future taxable income within the respective jurisdictions against which these deductions, losses and credits can be utilized within the applicable future periods.
We must assess the likelihood that some portion or all of our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income within the respective jurisdictions, and to the extent we believe that recovery does not meet the “more-likely-than-not” standard, it must establish a valuation allowance. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management judgment is required in determining its provision for income taxes, its deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets. In evaluating the need for a full or partial valuation allowance, all positive and negative evidence must be considered, including our forecast of taxable income over the applicable carryforward periods, its current financial performance, its market environment, and other factors. Based on the available objective evidence, at December 26, 2020, management believes it is not more likely than not that the domestic net deferred tax assets will be realizable in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the domestic net deferred tax assets are subject to a full valuation allowance. To the extent that we determine that deferred tax assets are realizable on a more likely than not basis, and an adjustment is needed, that adjustment will be recorded in the period that the determination is made.
Inventory Valuation
Inventories consist of raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods and are stated at standard cost adjusted to approximate the lower of actual cost or net realizable value. Costs are recognized utilizing the first-in, first-out method. Net realizable value is based upon an estimated selling price reduced by the estimated cost of disposal. The determination of market value involves numerous judgments including estimated average selling prices based upon recent sales volumes, industry trends, existing customer orders, current contract price, future demand and pricing and technological obsolescence of our products.
Inventory that is obsolete or in excess of our forecasted demand or is anticipated to be sold at a loss is written down to its estimated net realizable value based on historical usage and expected demand. In valuing our inventory costs and deferred inventory costs, we considered whether the net realizable value of inventory delivered or expected to be delivered at less than cost, primarily comprised of common equipment, had declined. We concluded that, in the instances where the net realizable value of inventory delivered or expected to be delivered was less than cost, it was appropriate to value the inventory costs and deferred inventory costs at cost or net realizable value, whichever is lower, thereby recognizing the cost of the reduction in net realizable value of inventory in the period in which the reduction occurred or can be reasonably estimated. We have, therefore, recognized inventory write-downs as necessary in each period in order to reflect inventory at the lower of actual cost or net realizable value.
We consider whether we should accrue losses on firm purchase commitments related to inventory items. Given that the net realizable value of common equipment is below contractual purchase price, we have also recorded losses on these firm purchase commitments in the period in which the commitment is made. When the inventory parts related to these firm purchase commitments are received, that inventory is recorded at the purchase price less the accrual for the loss on the purchase commitment.
Accrued Warranty
In our contracts with our customers, we warrant that our products will operate substantially in conformity with product specifications. Hardware warranties provide the purchaser with protection in the event that the product does not perform to product specifications. During the warranty period, the purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy in the event of such defect or failure to perform is limited to the correction of the defect or failure by repair, refurbishment or replacement, at our sole option and expense. Our hardware warranty periods generally range from one to five years from date of acceptance for hardware and our software warranty is 90 days. Upon delivery of our products, we provide for the estimated cost to repair or replace products that may be returned under warranty. The hardware warranty accrual is based on actual estimated future returns and cost of repair rates and the application of those estimated rates to our in-warranty installed base. The provision for warranty claims fluctuates depending upon the installed base of products and the failure rates and costs of repair associated with these products under warranty. Furthermore, our costs of repair vary based on repair volume and our ability to repair, rather than replace, defective units, as well as our ability to utilize used units to fulfill warranty obligations. In the event that actual product failure rates and costs to repair differ from our estimates, revisions to the warranty provision are required. In addition, from time to time, specific hardware warranty accruals may be made if unforeseen technical problems arise with specific products. We regularly assess the adequacy of our recorded warranty liabilities and adjust the amounts as necessary.
Business Combination
Accounting for acquisitions requires management to estimate the fair value of the assets and liabilities assumed, which requires management to make significant estimates, judgments, and assumptions that could materially affect the timing or amounts recognized in our financial statements. These assumptions and estimates include our use of the asset and the appropriate discount rates. Our significant estimates can include, but are not limited to, the future cash flows, the appropriate weighted cost of capital, and discount rates, as well as the estimated useful life of intangible assets, deferred tax assets and liabilities, uncertain tax positions, and tax-related valuation allowance, which are initially estimated as of the acquisition date. While we use our best estimates and assumptions to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, the estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. In addition, unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that may affect the accuracy or validity of such estimates. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year following the acquisition date, if new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date, we may record adjustments to the fair value of these assets and liabilities, with the corresponding offset to goodwill.
Amortization of Intangible Assets
Intangible assets with finite lives are carried at cost, less accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. In-process research and development represents the fair value of incomplete research and development projects that have not reached technological feasibility as of the date of acquisition. Initially, these assets are not subject to amortization. Once projects have been completed they are transferred to developed technology, which are subject to amortization, while assets related to projects that have been abandoned are impaired and expensed to research and development.
Impairment of Intangible Assets and Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquired business over the fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We test for impairment of goodwill on an annual basis in the fourth quarter and at any other time when events occur or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may not be recoverable. We have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test. If we determine that as a result of the qualitative assessment that it is more likely than not (i.e., greater than 50% likelihood) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the quantitative test is required or we can directly perform the quantitative analysis. We recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized does not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.
We evaluate events and changes in circumstances that could indicate carrying amounts of purchased intangible assets may not be recoverable. When such events or changes in circumstances occur, we assess the recoverability of these assets by determining whether or not the carrying amount will be recovered through undiscounted expected future cash flows. If the total of the future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of an asset, we record an impairment loss for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a full description of recent accounting pronouncements including the respective expected dates of adoptions and effects on us.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Foreign Currency Risk
We operate in international markets, which expose us to market risk associated with foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and various foreign currencies, the most significant of which is the euro. Historically, the majority of our revenue contracts were denominated in U.S. dollars, with the most significant exception being in Europe, where we invoice primarily in euros and SEK. Additionally, a portion of our expenses, primarily the cost of personnel for research and development, sales and sales support to deliver technical support on our products and professional services, and the cost to manufacture, are denominated in foreign currencies, primarily the Indian rupee, the euro, the SEK and the British pound. As a result of the Acquisition, we have increased our exposure to a broader set of currencies. Revenue resulting from selling in local currencies and costs incurred in local currencies are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations that can affect our operating income. As exchange rates vary, operating income may differ from expectations.
We currently enter into foreign currency exchange forward contracts to reduce the impact of currency exchange rate movements on certain transactions, but do not cover all foreign-denominated transactions and therefore do not entirely eliminate the impact of fluctuations in exchange rates that could negatively affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We enter into foreign currency exchange forward contracts to reduce the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on certain non-functional currency denominated account balances primarily in euros and British pounds. As a result, we do not expect a significant impact to our results from a change in exchange rates on foreign denominated non-functional account balances in the near-term. Gains and losses on these contracts are intended to offset the impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on the underlying foreign currency denominated non-functional currency account balances. Accordingly, the effect of an immediate 10% adverse change in foreign exchange rates on these transactions during 2020 would not be material to our results of operations.
During 2020, we also entered into foreign currency exchange contracts to reduce the volatility of cash flows primarily related to forecasted revenues and expenses denominated in euros. The contracts are generally settled for U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds at maturity under an average rate method agreed to at inception of the contracts. The gains and losses on these foreign currency derivatives are recorded to the consolidated statement of operations line item, in the current period, to which the item that is being economically hedged is recorded. The effect of an immediate 10% adverse change in foreign exchange rates on these transactions during 2020 would not be material to our results of operations.
Interest Rate Sensitivity
We had cash and restricted cash totaling $315.4 million and $132.8 million as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, respectively. The unrestricted cash is held for working capital purposes. We do not enter into investments for speculative purposes. We are also exposed to interest rate risk in connection with our variable interest rate borrowings. The effect of an immediate 10% adverse change in interest rates would not be material to our results of operations.
Market Risk and Market Interest Risk
In March 2020, we issued the 2027 Notes. The 2027 Notes have a fixed annual interest rate of 2.50%, and, therefore, we do not have economic interest rate exposure on the 2027 Notes. However, the fair values of the 2027 Notes is subject to interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk and other factors due to the convertible feature. The fair value of the 2027 Notes will generally increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. In addition, the fair value of the 2027 Notes will generally increase as our common stock price increases and will generally decrease as our common stock price declines in value. The interest and market value changes affect the fair value of the 2027 Notes but do not impact our financial position, cash flows or results of operations due to the fixed nature of the debt obligation. Additionally, we do not carry the 2027 Notes at fair value. We present the fair value of the 2027 Notes for required disclosure purposes only. As of December 26, 2020, the fair value of the 2027 Notes was $319.3 million. The fair value was determined based on the quoted bid price of the 2027 Notes in an over-the-counter market on December 24, 2020. The 2027 Notes are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Holders may convert the 2024 Notes prior to maturity upon the occurrence of certain circumstances. Upon conversion, we will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election. If our common stock price is above the initial conversion price of $9.87 upon conversion or at maturity, the amount of cash or shares of common stock required to pay the conversion premium is not fixed and would increase if our common stock price increases.
As of December 26, 2020, the fair value of the 2024 Notes was $515.2 million. The fair value was determined based on the quoted bid price of the 2024 Notes in an over-the-counter market on December 24, 2020. The 2024 Notes are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the 2024 Notes is subject to interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk and other factors due to the convertible feature. The fair value of the 2024 Notes will generally increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. In addition, the fair value of the 2024 Notes will generally increase as our common stock price increases and will generally decrease as our common stock price declines in value. The interest and market value changes affect the fair value of the 2024 Notes but do not impact our financial position, cash flows or results of operations due to the fixed nature of the debt obligation. Additionally, we do not carry the 2024 Notes at fair value. We present the fair value of the 2024 Notes for required disclosure purposes only.
See Note 13, “Debt” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page
Reports of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Infinera Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Infinera Corporation (the Company) as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 26, 2020, and the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 26, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated March 3, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Inventory Valuation
Description of the Matter
At December 26, 2020, the Company’s inventory balance was $269.3 million and represented 15.5% of total assets. As discussed in Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements, the Company assesses the valuation of inventories, including raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods, in each reporting period. Obsolete inventory or inventory in excess of management’s forecasted demand is written down to its estimated net realizable value if less than cost.
Auditing management’s estimates for excess and obsolete inventory involved subjective auditor judgement because the estimates rely on a number of factors that are affected by market and economic conditions outside the Company’s control. In particular, the excess and obsolete inventory calculations are sensitive to significant assumptions, including forecasted demand for the Company’s products.
How We Addressed the
Matter in Our Audit
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of internal controls over the Company's excess and obsolete inventory reserve process. This included controls over management's assessment of the forecasted demand for their products and the completeness and accuracy of the data underlying the excess and obsolete inventory valuation.
Our audit procedures included, among others, evaluating the significant assumptions including forecasted demand and the accuracy and completeness of the underlying data management used to value excess and obsolete inventory. We compared the cost of on-hand inventories to customer demand forecasts and historical sales and evaluated adjustments to sales forecasts for specific product considerations, such as technological changes or alternative uses. We also assessed the historical accuracy of management's estimates and performed sensitivity analyses over the significant assumptions to evaluate the changes in the excess and obsolete inventory estimates that would result from changes in the underlying assumptions.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2001.
San Jose, California
March 3, 2021
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Infinera Corporation
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Infinera Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Infinera Corporation (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2020, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 26, 2020, and the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”) and our report dated March 3, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
San Jose, California
March 3, 2021
INFINERA CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except par values)
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash $ 298,014 $ 109,201
Short-term restricted cash 3,293 4,339
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,912 in 2020 and $4,005 in 2019
319,428 349,645
Inventory 269,307 340,429
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 171,831 139,217
Total current assets 1,061,873 942,831
Property, plant and equipment, net 153,133 150,793
Operating lease right-of-use assets 68,851 68,081
Intangible assets, net 124,882 170,346
Goodwill 273,426 249,848
Long-term restricted cash 14,076 19,257
Other non-current assets 36,256 27,182
Total assets $ 1,732,497 $ 1,628,338
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 175,762 $ 273,397
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 150,550 193,168
Accrued compensation and related benefits 52,976 92,221
Short-term debt, net 101,983 31,673
Accrued warranty 19,369 21,107
Deferred revenue 133,246 103,753
Total current liabilities 633,886 715,319
Long-term debt, net 445,996 323,678
Long-term financing lease obligation 1,383 2,394
Accrued warranty, non-current 21,339 22,241
Deferred revenue, non-current 29,810 36,067
Deferred tax liability 4,164 8,700
Operating lease liabilities 76,126 64,210
Other long-term liabilities 93,509 69,194
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value
Authorized shares-25,000 and no shares issued and outstanding
- -
Common stock, $0.001 par value
Authorized shares-500,000 in 2020 and 500,000 in 2019
Issued and outstanding shares-201,397 in 2020 and 181,134 in 2019
201 181
Additional paid-in capital 1,965,245 1,740,884
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (11,898) (34,639)
Accumulated deficit (1,527,264) (1,319,891)
Total stockholders' equity 426,284 386,535
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 1,732,497 $ 1,628,338
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
INFINERA CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019 December 29, 2018
Revenue:
Product $ 1,045,551 $ 1,011,488 $ 763,555
Services 310,045 287,377 179,824
Total revenue 1,355,596 1,298,865 943,379
Cost of revenue:
Cost of product 751,465 735,059 517,765
Cost of services 160,118 146,916 78,353
Amortization of intangible assets 29,247 32,583 23,475
Acquisition and integration costs 1,828 28,449 -
Restructuring and related 4,146 29,935 2,630
Total cost of revenue 946,804 972,942 622,223
Gross profit 408,792 325,923 321,156
Operating expenses:
Research and development 265,634 287,977 244,302
Sales and marketing 129,604 151,423 124,238
General and administrative 112,240 126,351 80,957
Amortization of intangible assets 18,581 27,280 29,296
Acquisition and integration costs 13,346 42,271 15,530
Restructuring and related 24,586 40,851 12,512
Total operating expenses 563,991 676,153 506,835
Loss from operations (155,199) (350,230) (185,679)
Other income (expense), net:
Interest income 118 1,139 2,428
Interest expense (46,728) (31,657) (22,049)
Other income (loss), net 1,121 (2,907) (9,650)
Total other income (expense), net (45,489) (33,425) (29,271)
Loss before income taxes (200,688) (383,655) (214,950)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 6,035 2,963 (655)
Net loss (206,723) (386,618) (214,295)
Net loss per common share:
Basic $ (1.10) $ (2.16) $ (1.36)
Diluted $ (1.10) $ (2.16) $ (1.36)
Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per common share:
Basic 188,216 178,984 157,748
Diluted 188,216 178,984 157,748
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
INFINERA CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In thousands)
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019 December 29, 2018
Net loss $ (206,723) $ (386,618) $ (214,295)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Change in unrealized gain on available-for-sale investments - 91 327
Foreign currency translation adjustment 29,040 (9,376) (26,483)
Tax effect on items related to available-for-sale investments - - (85)
Actuarial gain (loss) on pension liabilities (6,299) (54) (5,313)
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 22,741 (9,339) (31,554)
Comprehensive loss $ (183,982) $ (395,957) $ (245,849)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
INFINERA CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the Years Ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
(In thousands)
Common Stock Additional
Paid-in
Capital Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss) Accumulated
Deficit Total Stockholders' Equity
Shares Amount
Balance at December 30, 2017 149,471 $ 149 $ 1,417,043 $ 6,254 $ (758,081) $ 665,365
Stock options exercised 229 - 1,701 - - 1,701
ESPP shares issued 2,189 2 15,990 - - 15,992
Shares withheld for tax obligations (109) - (1,144) - - (1,144)
Restricted stock units released 2,697 3 (3) - - -
Issuance of common stock related to acquisition 20,975 21 129,607 - - 129,628
Stock-based compensation - - 42,905 - - 42,905
Conversion option related to convertible senior notes, net of allocated costs - - 128,726 - - 128,726
Capped call - - (48,909) - - (48,909)
Cumulative-effect adjustment from adoption of ASU 2016-09 - - - - 15,406 15,406
Other comprehensive income (loss) - - - (31,554) - (31,554)
Net loss - - - - (214,295) (214,295)
Balance at December 29, 2018 175,452 $ 175 $ 1,685,916 $ (25,300) $ (956,970) $ 703,821
ESPP shares issued 2,897 $ 3 $ 12,049 $ - $ - $ 12,052
Shares withheld for tax obligations (98) - (425) - - (425)
Restricted stock units released 2,883 3 (3) - - -
Stock-based compensation - - 43,347 - - 43,347
Cumulative-effect adjustment from adoption of Topic 842 - - - - 23,697 23,697
Other comprehensive income (loss) - - - (9,339) - (9,339)
Net loss - - - - (386,618) (386,618)
Balance at December 28, 2019 181,134 $ 181 $ 1,740,884 $ (34,639) $ (1,319,891) $ 386,535
Shares of common stock sold in at-the market equity offering, net of issuance costs 12,000 $ 12 $ 92,852 $ - $ - $ 92,864
Stock options exercised 474 - 3,995 - - 3,995
Retirement of common shares purchased upon exercise of options (254) - (2,255) - - (2,255)
ESPP shares issued 3,001 3 15,343 - - 15,346
Shares withheld for tax obligations (330) - (2,013) - - (2,013)
Restricted stock units released 5,372 5 - - - 5
Stock-based compensation - - 48,642 - - 48,642
Cumulative-effect adjustment from adoption of Topic 326 - - - - (650) (650)
Conversion option related to convertible senior notes, net of allocated costs - - 67,797 - - 67,797
Other comprehensive income (loss) - - - 22,741 - 22,741
Net loss - - - - (206,723) (206,723)
Balance at December 26, 2020 201,397 $ 201 $ 1,965,245 $ (11,898) $ (1,527,264) $ 426,284
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
INFINERA CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019 December 29, 2018
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net loss $ (206,723) $ (386,618) $ (214,295)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 100,140 119,824 100,494
Non-cash restructuring and other related 5,471 13,937 7,291
Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs 28,115 19,162 11,161
Interest accretion related to financing lease obligation - - 4,694
Operating lease expense 18,556 31,141 -
Impairment of non-marketable equity investment - - 5,110
Stock-based compensation expense 49,461 43,294 43,410
Other, net 4,438 178 254
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable 32,150 (35,395) (21,111)
Inventory 71,424 (42,840) (8,617)
Prepaid expenses and other assets (36,127) (93,621) (13,458)
Accounts payable (93,411) 83,272 (520)
Accrued liabilities and other expenses (107,704) 54,658 (21,490)
Deferred revenue 21,910 25,658 7,994
Net cash used in operating activities (112,300) (167,350) (99,083)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchase of available-for-sale investments - - (2,986)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investments - 1,499 53,039
Proceeds from maturities of investments - 25,085 102,112
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired - (10,000) (102,899)
Proceeds from sale of non-marketable equity investments - 1,009 1,050
Purchase of property and equipment, net (39,009) (30,202) (37,692)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (39,009) (12,609) 12,624
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock from at-the-market equity offering, net of issuance costs of $3,380
92,916 - -
Proceeds from issuance of 2027 Notes 194,500 - -
Proceeds from issuance of 2024 Notes - - 391,431
Proceeds from mortgage payable - 8,584 -
Proceeds from short-term borrowings - 24,310 -
Proceeds from revolving line of credit 55,000 48,125 -
Purchase of capped call transactions - - (48,880)
Repayment of third-party manufacturing funding (5,346) - -
Repayment of revolving line of credit (8,000) (20,000) -
Repayment of mortgage payable (233) (300) -
Payment of debt issuance cost (2,455) (273) -
Repayment of 2018 Notes - - (150,000)
Principal payments on financing lease obligations (1,587) (163) (1,211)
Payment of term license obligation (5,692) - -
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 17,072 12,053 17,693
Minimum tax withholding paid on behalf of employees for net share settlement (2,013) (426) (1,144)
Net cash provided by financing activities 334,162 71,910 207,889
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (267) (1,491) (579)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 182,586 (109,540) 120,851
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 132,797 242,337 121,486
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period(1)
$ 315,383 $ 132,797 $ 242,337
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes, net $ 5,039 $ 16,944 $ 6,692
Cash paid for interest $ 15,638 $ 9,564 $ 3,554
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Transfer of inventory to fixed assets $ 1,083 $ 2,961 $ 3,787
Common stock issued in connection with acquisition $ - $ - $ 129,628
Third-party manufacturer funding for transfer expenses incurred $ - $ 6,960 $ -
Unpaid debt issuance cost $ - $ 2,493 $ -
Property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ - $ 3,838 $ 2,774
Unpaid term licenses (included in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other long term liabilities) $ 12,478 $ - $ -
(1) Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to the consolidated balance sheets:
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019 December 29, 2018
(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents $ 298,014 $ 109,201 $ 202,954
Short-term restricted cash 3,293 4,339 13,229
Long-term restricted cash 14,076 19,257 26,154
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 315,383 $ 132,797 $ 242,337
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Organization and Basis of Presentation
Infinera Corporation (“Infinera” or the “Company”), headquartered in San Jose, California, was founded in December 2000 and incorporated in the State of Delaware. Infinera is a global supplier of networking solutions comprised of networking equipment, software and services. The Company's portfolio of solutions includes optical transport platforms, converged packet-optical transport platforms, optical line systems and disaggregated router platforms, and a suite of networking and automation software offerings.
During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of all the outstanding limited liability company interests (the “Units”) of Telecom Holding Parent LLC (“Coriant”), a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Coriant Investor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”), pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) by and among the Company, Seller and Oaktree Optical Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Lender”) (the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination, and accordingly, the Company's consolidated financial statements include the operating results of Coriant from October 1, 2018, the date the acquisition closed (the “Acquisition Date”).
The Company operates and reports financial results on a fiscal year of 52 or 53 weeks ending on the last Saturday of December in each year. Accordingly, fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018 were 52-week years that ended on December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 respectively. The next 53-week year will end on December 31, 2022.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The consolidated financial statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's annual results. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period balances in order to conform to the current period presentation of accrued expenses and other current liabilities in Note 9, “Balance Sheet Details” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. These reclassifications were not material and had no impact on previously reported net cash used in operating activities in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for any periods presented or to the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for the periods ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts for the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates in the Company which the Company has a controlling financial interest or is the primary beneficiary. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates, assumptions and judgments that can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Such management estimates include, but not limited to the revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, employee benefit and pension plans, inventory valuation, accrued warranty, operating liabilities, business combinations, fair value measurement of investments and accounting for income taxes. Other estimates, assumptions and judgments made by management include restructuring and other related costs, manufacturing partner and supplier liabilities, allowances for sales returns, allowances for doubtful accounts, pension benefit cost and obligations, useful life of acquired intangibles and recoverability of property, plant and equipment, impairment loss related to facility abandonment, fair value measurement of the debt component of the convertible senior notes, and loss contingencies. The Company bases its assumptions on historical experience and also on assumptions that it believes are reasonable. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Further, the Company expects uncertainties around its key accounting estimates to continue to evolve depending on the duration and degree of impact associated with the recent outbreak of a novel strain of the coronavirus
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
(“COVID-19”). These estimates may change as new events occur and additional information emerges, and such changes are recognized or disclosed in the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to its customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.
The Company determines revenue recognition by applying the following five-step approach:
•identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer;
•identification of the performance obligations in the contract;
•determination of the transaction price;
•allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and
•recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation.
Many of the Company's product sales are sold in combination with installation and deployment services along with initial hardware and software support. The Company's product sales are also sold at times with spares management, on-site hardware replacement services, network operations management, software subscription services, extended hardware warranty and training. Initial software and hardware support services are generally delivered over a one-year period in connection with the initial purchase. Software warranty provides customers with maintenance releases during the warranty support period and hardware warranty provides replacement or repair of equipment that fails to perform in line with specifications. Software subscription services include software warranty and additionally provides customers with rights to receive unspecified software product upgrades released during the support period.
Spares management and on-site hardware replacement services include the replacement of defective units at customer sites in accordance with specified service level agreements. Network operations management includes the day-to-day operation of a customer's network. These services are generally delivered on an annual basis. The Company evaluates each promised good and service in a contract to determine whether it represents a distinct performance obligation or should be accounted for as a combined performance obligation.
Services revenue includes software subscription services, installation and deployment services, spares management, on-site hardware replacement services, network operations management, extended hardware warranty and training. Revenue from software subscription services, spares management, on-site hardware replacement services, network operations management and extended hardware warranty contracts is deferred and is recognized ratably over the contractual support period, which is generally one year, as services are provided over the course of the entire period. Revenue related to training and installation and deployment services is recognized upon completion of the services.
Contracts and customer purchase orders are generally used to determine the existence of an arrangement. In addition, shipping documents and customer acceptances, when applicable, are used to verify delivery and transfer of title. The Company typically satisfies its performance obligations upon shipment or delivery of product depending on the contractual terms. Payment terms to customers generally range from net 30 to 120 days from invoice, which are considered to be standard payment terms. The Company assesses its ability to collect from its customers based primarily on the creditworthiness and past payment history of the customer.
Customer product returns are generally approved on a case-by-case basis. Specific reserve provisions are made based upon a specific review of all the approved product returns where the customer has yet to return the products to generate the related sales return credit at the end of a period. Estimated sales returns are recorded as a reduction to revenue.
For sales to resellers, the same revenue recognition criteria apply. It is the Company’s practice to identify an end-user prior to shipment to a reseller. The Company does not offer rights of return or price protection to its resellers.
The Company reports revenue net of any required taxes collected from customers and remitted to government authorities, with the collected taxes recorded as current liabilities until remitted to the relevant government authority.
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Customer Purchase Commitments
The Company sells software licenses that provide customers the ability to purchase incremental bandwidth capacity on an already-deployed piece of hardware. Infinera Instant Bandwidth-enabled systems generally include a specific initial capacity and incremental capacity can be added by the purchase of Instant Bandwidth licenses. Instant Bandwidth licenses are considered distinct performance obligations because customers can provision additional transmission capacity on demand without the deployment of any incremental equipment.
Some contracts commit the customer to purchase incremental Instant Bandwidth licenses within a specified time frame from the initial shipment of the Instant Bandwidth-enabled hardware. The time frame varies by customer and generally ranges between 12 to 24 months. If the customer does not purchase the additional capacity within the time frame as stated in the contract, the Company has the right to deliver and invoice such Instant Bandwidth licenses to the customer. Future committed licenses are considered to be additional performance obligations when a minimum purchase obligation is present, as evidenced by enforceable rights and obligations. As such, the Company is required to estimate the variable consideration for future Instant Bandwidth licenses as part of determining the contract transaction price.
Contract Termination Rights
The contract term is determined on the basis of the period over which the parties to the contract have present enforceable rights and obligations. Certain customer contracts include a termination for convenience clause that allows the customer to terminate services without penalty, upon advance notification. For such contracts, the service duration is limited to the non-cancelable portion of the contract.
Variable Consideration
The consideration associated with customer contracts is generally fixed. Variable consideration includes discounts, rebates, refunds, credits, incentives, penalties, or other similar items. The amount of consideration that can vary is not a substantial portion of total consideration.
Variable consideration estimates are re-assessed at each reporting period until a final outcome is determined. The changes to the original transaction price due to a change in estimated variable consideration will be applied on a retrospective basis, with the adjustment recorded in the period in which the change occurs.
Stand-alone Selling Price
Stand-alone selling price is the price at which an entity would sell a good or service on a stand-alone (or separate) basis at contract inception. Under this model, the observable price of a good or service sold separately provides the best evidence of stand-alone selling price. However, in certain situations, stand-alone selling prices will not be readily observable and the entity must estimate the stand-alone selling price.
When allocating on a relative stand-alone selling price basis, any discount provided in the contract is generally allocated proportionately to all of the performance obligations in the contract.
The majority of products and services offered by the Company have readily observable selling prices. For products and services that do not, the Company generally estimates stand-alone selling price using the market assessment approach based on expected selling price and adjust those prices as necessary to reflect the Company’s costs and margins. As part of its stand-alone selling price policy, the Company reviews product pricing on a periodic basis to identify any significant changes and revise its expected stand-alone selling price assumptions as appropriate.
Shipping and Handling
The Company treats shipping and handling activities as costs to fulfill the Company's promise to transfer products. Shipping and handling fees billed to customers are recorded as a reduction to cost of product.
Capitalization of Costs to Obtain a Contract
The Company has assessed the treatment of costs to obtain or fulfill a contract with a customer. Sales commissions have historically been expensed as incurred. Under Topic 606, the Company capitalizes sales commissions related to multi-year service contracts, which are paid for upfront, and amortizes the asset over the period of benefit, which is the service period. Sales commissions paid on service contract renewals, are commensurate with the sales commissions paid on the initial contracts.
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Transaction Price Allocated to the Remaining Performance Obligation
The Company’s remaining performance obligations represent the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially satisfied as of period end, consisting of deferred revenue and backlog. The Company’s backlog represents purchase orders received from customers for future product shipments and services that are unsatisfied or partially satisfied as of period end. The Company’s backlog is subject to future events that could cause the amount or timing of the related revenue to change, and, in certain cases, may be canceled without penalty. Orders in backlog may be fulfilled several quarters following receipt or may relate to multi-year support service obligations.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period) under the straight-line amortization method. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.
The Company estimates the fair value of the rights to acquire stock under its 2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) using the Black-Scholes option pricing formula. The ESPP provides for consecutive six-month offering periods and the Company uses its own historical volatility data in the valuation of shares that are purchased under the ESPP.
The Company accounts for the fair value of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) using the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. For new-hire grants, RSUs typically vest ratably on an annual basis over four years. For annual refresh grants, RSUs typically vest ratably on an annual basis over two, three or four years.
The Company granted performance shares (“PSUs”) to its executive officers and senior management in 2017 and 2018. The PSUs granted during 2017 and 2018 to the Company’s executive officers and senior management are based on the TSR of the Company’s common stock price relative to the TSR of the individual companies listed in the S&P North American Technology Multimedia Networking Index (SPGIIPTR) (the “S&P Networking Index”) over the span of one year, two years and three years. The number of shares to be issued upon vesting of these PSUs range from zero to two times the target number of PSUs granted depending on the Company’s performance against the individual companies listed in the S&P Networking Index. This performance metric is classified as a market condition.
PSUs granted to the Company's executive officers and senior management during 2019 and 2020 are based on performance criteria related to a specific financial target over the span of a three-year performance period. These PSUs may become eligible for vesting to begin before the end of the three year performance period, if the applicable financial target is met. The number of shares to be issued upon vesting of these PSUs is capped at the target number of PSUs granted. The Company assesses the achievement status of these PSUs on a quarterly basis and records the related stock-based compensation expenses based on the estimated achievement payout.
The Company uses a Monte Carlo simulation model to determine the fair value of PSUs with market conditions. The Monte Carlo simulation model is based on a discounted cash flow approach, with the simulation of a large number of possible stock price outcomes for the Company's stock and the target composite index. The use of the Monte Carlo simulation model requires the input of a number of assumptions including expected volatility of the Company's stock price, expected volatility of a target composite index, correlation between changes in the Company's stock price and changes in the target composite index, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends as applicable. Expected volatility of the Company's stock is based on the weighted-average historical volatility of its stock. Expected volatility of the target composite index is based on the historical and implied data. Correlation is based on the historical relationship between the Company's stock price and the target composite index average. The risk-free interest rate is based upon the treasury zero-coupon yield appropriate for the term of the PSU as of the grant date. The expected dividend yield is zero for the Company as it does not expect to pay dividends in the future. The expected dividend yield for the target composite index is the annual dividend yield expressed as a percentage of the composite average of the target composite index on the grant date.
In addition, the Company granted other PSUs to certain employees that only vest upon the achievement of specific operational performance criteria. The Company assesses the achievement status of these PSUs on a quarterly basis and records the related stock-based compensation expenses based on the estimated achievement payout.
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Employee Benefit and Pension Plans
The Company operates a number of post-employment plans in Germany, as well as smaller post-employment plans in other countries, including both defined contribution and defined benefit plans. Benefit cost and obligations pertaining to these plans are based on assumptions for the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, mortality rates, expected salary increases, health care cost trend rates and attrition rates. The discount rate assumption is based on current investment yields of high-quality fixed-income securities with maturities similar to the expected benefits payment period. Mortality rates help predict the expected life of plan participants. The expected increase in the compensation levels assumption reflects the Company's actual experience and future expectations. The expected long-term return on plan assets is determined based on asset allocations, historical portfolio results, historical asset correlations and management’s expected returns for each asset class. The Company evaluates its expected return assumptions annually including reviewing current capital market assumptions to assess the reasonableness of the expected long-term return on plan assets. The Company updates the expected long-term return on assets when the Company observes a sufficient level of evidence that would suggest the long-term expected return has changed.
Research and Development
All costs to develop the Company’s hardware products are expensed as incurred. Software development costs are capitalized beginning when a product’s technological feasibility has been established and ending when a product is available for general release to customers. Generally, the Company’s software products are released soon after technological feasibility has been established. As a result, costs subsequent to achieving technological feasibility have not been significant and all software development costs have been expensed as incurred.
Advertising
All advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses in 2020, 2019 and 2018 were $1.3 million, $1.5 million, and $0.9 million, respectively.
Accounting for Income Taxes
As part of the process of preparing the Company's consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. The Company estimates actual current tax expense together with assessing temporary differences resulting from different treatment of items, such as accruals and allowances not currently deductible for tax purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in its consolidated balance sheets. In general, deferred tax assets represent future tax benefits to be received when certain expenses previously recognized in its consolidated statements of operations become deductible expenses under applicable income tax laws or loss, or credit carryforwards are utilized. Accordingly, realization of the Company's deferred tax assets is dependent on future taxable income within the respective jurisdictions against which these deductions, losses and credits can be utilized within the applicable future periods.
The Company must assess the likelihood that some portion or all of its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income within the respective jurisdictions, and to the extent the Company believes that recovery does not meet the “more-likely-than-not” standard, it must establish a valuation allowance. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management judgment is required in determining the Company’s provision for income taxes, the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities, and any valuation allowance recorded against the Company’s net deferred tax assets. In evaluating the need for a full or partial valuation allowance, all positive and negative evidence must be considered, including the Company's forecast of taxable income over the applicable carryforward periods, its current financial performance, its market environment, and other factors. Based on the available objective evidence, at December 26, 2020, the Company believes it is not more likely than not that the domestic net deferred tax assets will be realizable in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the domestic net deferred tax assets are subject to a full valuation allowance. To the extent that the Company determines that deferred tax assets are realizable on a more likely than not basis, and an adjustment is needed, that adjustment will be recorded in the period that the determination is made.
Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions
The Company considers the functional currencies of its foreign subsidiaries to be the local currency. Assets and liabilities recorded in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate as of the balance sheet
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date, revenue, costs and expenses are translated at average exchange rates in effect during the period. Equity transactions are translated using historical exchange rates. The effects of foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
For all non-functional currency account balances, the re-measurement of such balances to the functional currency will result in either a foreign exchange transaction gain or loss, which is recorded to other gain (loss), net, in the same period that the re-measurement occurred. Aggregate foreign exchange transactions recorded in 2020, 2019 and 2018 were losses of $0.2 million, $3.7 million, and $2.5 million, respectively.
The Company enters into foreign currency exchange forward contracts to reduce the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on earnings from certain non-functional currency account balances denominated primarily in euros and British pounds.
The Company also enters into foreign currency exchange contracts to reduce the volatility of cash flows primarily related to forecasted revenues and expenses denominated primarily in euros and British pounds. The gains and losses on these foreign currency derivatives are recorded to the consolidated statement of operations line item, in the current period, to which the item that is being economically hedged is recorded.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term and Long-term Investments
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity at the date of purchase of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents and those with a maturity between 90 days and one year to be short-term investments. The Company classifies debt instruments with remaining maturities greater than one year as long-term investments, unless the Company intends to settle its holdings within one year or less and in such case it is considered to be short-term investments. The Company determines the appropriate classification of its marketable securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such designations as of each balance sheet date.
The investments in these categories based on the original maturity at the date of purchase include U.S. Treasury Securities, U.S. Government Sponsored Enterprises, Money Market Funds, corporate debt securities, including commercial paper, corporate notes, corporate bonds, time deposits and FDIC-guaranteed certificates of deposit.
The Company also maintains a portion of its cash in bank deposit accounts which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.
Available-for-sale investments are stated at fair market value with unrealized gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company evaluates its available-for-sale marketable debt securities for other-than-temporary impairments and records any credit loss portion in other income (expense), net, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity and for any credit losses incurred on these securities. Gains and losses are recognized when realized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations under the specific identification method.
As of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 the Company did not have any cash equivalents and investments.
Fair Value Measurement
Pursuant to the accounting guidance for fair value measurements and its subsequent updates, fair value is defined as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and it considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability.
Valuation techniques used by the Company are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable or market inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s assumptions about market participant assumptions based on the best information available. Observable inputs are the preferred source of values. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:
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Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 - Prices or valuations that require management inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
The Company measures its cash equivalents, foreign currency exchange forward contracts, and debt securities at fair value and classifies its securities in accordance with the fair value hierarchy on a recurring basis.
As of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 the Company did not have any cash equivalents and investments.
Foreign Currency Exchange Forward Contracts
As discussed in Note 6, “Derivative Instruments" to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company mainly holds non-speculative foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge certain foreign currency exchange exposures. The Company estimates the fair values of derivatives based on quoted market prices or pricing models using current market rates. Where applicable, these models project future cash flows and discount the future amounts to a present value using market-based observable inputs including interest rate curves, credit risk, foreign exchange rates, and forward and spot prices for currencies.
Pension
As a result of the Acquisition, the Company acquired a number of post-employment plans in Germany, as well as a number of smaller post-employment plans in other countries, including both defined contribution and defined benefit plans. The defined benefit plans expose the Company to actuarial risks such as investment risk, interest rate risk, life expectancy risk and salary risk. The characteristics of the defined benefit plans and the risks associated with them vary depending on legal, fiscal, and economic requirements.
Facilities-related Charges
The Company estimates the fair value of its facilities-related charges associated with its restructuring plans, based on estimated future discounted cash flows and unobservable inputs, which included the amount and timing of estimated sublease rental receipts that the Company could reasonably obtain over the remaining lease term and the discount rate.
Accounts Receivable and Allowances for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated credit losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments and reviewed the allowance quarterly. The Company determines expected credit losses by performing credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition, establishing both a general reserve and specific reserve for customers in adverse financial condition and adjusting for its expectations of changes in conditions that may impact the collectability of outstanding receivables. The Company considers a customer's receivable balance past due when the amount is due beyond the credit terms extended, The Company considers factors such as historical experience, credit quality, age of the accounts receivable balances, and geographic or country-specific risks. Amounts are written off when receivables are determined to be uncollectible.
Allowances for Sales Returns
Customer product returns are approved on a case by case basis. Specific reserve provisions are made based upon a specific review of all the approved product returns where the customer has yet to return the products to generate the related sales return credit at the end of a period. Estimated sales returns are provided for as a reduction to revenue. At December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, revenue was reduced for estimated sales returns by $2.4 million, $3.5 million, and $4.3 million, respectively.
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Concentration of Risk
Financial instruments that are potentially subject to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and accounts receivable.
The risk with respect to accounts receivable is mitigated by ongoing credit evaluations that the Company performs on its customers. As the Company continues to expand its sales internationally, it may experience increased levels of customer credit risk associated with those regions. Collateral is generally not required for accounts receivable but may be used in the future to mitigate credit risk associated with customers located in certain geographical regions.
As of December 26, 2020, no customer accounted for over 10% of the Company's net accounts receivable balance. As of December 28, 2019, one customer accounted for over 10% of the Company's net accounts receivable balance.
To date, a few of the Company’s customers have accounted for a significant portion of its revenue. One customer accounted for approximately 11%, 13% and 13% of the Company's revenue in each of 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. One other customer accounted for approximately 15% of the Company's revenue in 2018. No other customers accounted for over 10% of the Company's revenue in 2020, 2019 or 2018.
The Company depends on sole source or limited source suppliers for several key components and raw materials. The Company generally purchases these sole source or limited source components and raw materials through standard purchase orders and does not have long-term contracts with many of these limited-source suppliers. While the Company seeks to maintain sufficient reserve stock of such components and raw materials, the Company’s business and results of operations could be adversely affected if any of its sole source or limited source suppliers suffer from capacity constraints, lower than expected yields, deployment delays, work stoppages or any other reduction or disruption in output.
Derivative Instruments
The Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations in the normal course of its business. As part of its risk management strategy, the Company uses derivative instruments, specifically forward contracts, to reduce the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on earnings. The forward contracts are with high-quality institutions and the Company monitors the creditworthiness of the counterparties consistently. The Company’s objective is to offset gains and losses resulting from these exposures with gains and losses on the derivative contracts used to hedge them, thereby reducing volatility of earnings or protecting fair values of assets. The Company does not use derivative contracts for trading or speculative purposes.
The Company enters into foreign currency exchange forward contracts to manage its exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates that arise primarily from euro and British pounds. Gains and losses on these contracts are intended to offset the impact of foreign exchange rate changes on the underlying, and therefore, do not subject the Company to material balance sheet risk. The Company also enters into foreign currency exchange contracts to reduce the volatility of cash flows primarily related to forecasted revenues and expenses denominated in euros and British pounds. These contracts are generally settled for U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds at maturity.
The Company has entered into factoring agreements, to sell certain receivables to unrelated third-party financial institutions. These transactions are accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 860, “Transfers and Servicing” (“ASC 860”). ASC 860 and result in a reduction in accounts receivable because the agreements transfer effective control over and risk related to the receivables to the buyers. The Company's factoring agreements do not allow for recourse in the event of uncollectability, and the Company does not retain any interest in the underlying accounts receivable once sold.
Inventory Valuation
Inventories consist of raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods and are stated at standard cost adjusted to approximate the lower of actual cost or net realizable value. Costs are recognized utilizing the first-in, first-out method. Net realizable value is based upon an estimated selling price reduced by the estimated cost of disposal. The determination of market value involves numerous judgments including estimated average selling prices based upon recent sales volumes, industry trends, existing customer orders, current contract price, future demand and pricing and technological obsolescence of the Company’s products.
Inventory that is obsolete or in excess of the Company’s forecasted demand or is anticipated to be sold at a loss is written down to its estimated net realizable value based on historical usage and expected demand. In
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
valuing its inventory costs and deferred inventory costs, the Company considered whether the net realizable value of inventory delivered or expected to be delivered at less than cost, primarily comprised of common equipment, had declined. The Company concluded that, in the instances where the net realizable value of inventory delivered or expected to be delivered was less than cost, it was appropriate to value the inventory costs and deferred inventory costs at cost or net realizable value, whichever is lower, thereby recognizing the cost of the reduction in net realizable value of inventory in the period in which the reduction occurred or can be reasonably estimated. The Company has, therefore, recognized inventory write-downs as necessary in each period in order to reflect inventory at the lower of actual cost or net realizable value.
The Company considers whether it should accrue losses on firm purchase commitments related to inventory items. Given that the net realizable value of common equipment is below contractual purchase price, the Company has also recorded losses on these firm purchase commitments in the period in which the commitment is made. When the inventory parts related to these firm purchase commitments are received, that inventory is recorded at the purchase price less the accrual for the loss on the purchase commitment.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. This includes enterprise-level business software that the Company customizes to meet its specific operational needs and certain software licenses. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset. An assumption of lease renewal where a renewal option exists is used only when the renewal has been determined to be reasonably certain. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. The estimated useful life for each asset category is as follows:
Estimated Useful Lives
Building 20 years
Laboratory and manufacturing equipment 1.5 to 10 years
Furniture and fixtures 3 to 10 years
Computer hardware and software 1.5 to 7 years
Leasehold and building improvements 1 to 11 years
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable or that the useful life is shorter than originally estimated. If impairment indicators are present and the projected future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the assets, the carrying values are reduced to the estimated fair value. If assets are determined to be recoverable, but the useful lives are shorter than originally estimated, the carrying value of the assets is depreciated over the newly determined remaining useful lives.
Accrued Warranty
In the Company's contracts with its customers, the Company warrants that its products will operate substantially in conformity with product specifications. Hardware warranties provide the purchaser with protection in the event that the product does not perform to product specifications. During the warranty period, the purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy in the event of such defect or failure to perform is limited to the correction of the defect or failure by repair, refurbishment or replacement, at the Company’s sole option and expense. The Company's hardware warranty periods generally range from one to five years from date of acceptance for hardware and the Company's software warranty is 90 days. Upon delivery of the Company's products, the Company provides for the estimated cost to repair or replace products that may be returned under warranty. The hardware warranty accrual is based on actual historical returns and cost of repair experience and the application of those historical rates to the Company's in-warranty installed base. The provision for warranty claims fluctuates depending upon the installed base of products and the failure rates and costs of repair associated with these products under warranty. Furthermore, the Company's costs of repair vary based on repair volume and its ability to repair, rather than replace, defective units. In the event that actual product failure rates and costs to repair differ from the Company's estimates, revisions to the warranty provision are required. In addition, from time to time, specific hardware warranty accruals may be made if unforeseen technical problems arise with specific products. The Company regularly assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities and adjusts the amounts as necessary.
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Business Combination
Accounting for acquisitions requires the Company's management to estimate the fair value of the assets and liabilities assumed, which requires management to make significant estimates, judgments, and assumptions that could materially affect the timing or amounts recognized in its financial statements. These assumptions and estimates include the Company’s use of the asset and the appropriate discount rates. The Company’s significant estimates can include, but are not limited to, the future cash flows, the appropriate weighted cost of capital, and discount rates, as well as the estimated useful life of intangible assets, deferred tax assets and liabilities, uncertain tax positions, and tax-related valuation allowance, which are initially estimated as of the acquisition date. While the Company uses its best estimates and assumptions to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, the estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. In addition, unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that may affect the accuracy or validity of such estimates. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year following the acquisition date, if new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the fair value of these assets and liabilities, with the corresponding offset to goodwill.
Amortization of Intangible Assets
Intangible assets with finite lives are carried at cost, less accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. In-process research and development represent the fair value of incomplete research and development projects that have not reached technological feasibility as of the date of acquisition. Initially, these assets are not subject to amortization, but once projects have been completed, these assets are transferred to developed technology, which are subject to amortization, while assets related to projects that have been abandoned are impaired and expensed to research and development.
Impairment of Intangible Assets and Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquired business over the fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company tests for impairment of goodwill on an annual basis in the fourth quarter and at any other time when events occur or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may not be recoverable. The Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test. If the Company determines that as a result of the qualitative assessment that it is more likely than not (i.e., greater than 50% likelihood) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the quantitative test is required or it can directly perform the quantitative analysis. The Company recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized does not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.
The Company evaluates events and changes in circumstances that could indicate carrying amounts of purchased intangible assets may not be recoverable. When such events or changes in circumstances occur, the Company assesses the recoverability of these assets by determining whether or not the carrying amount will be recovered through undiscounted expected future cash flows. If the total of the future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of an asset, the Company records an impairment loss for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.
Leases
Effective December 30, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“Topic 842”) utilizing the modified retrospective transition method, which requires a cumulative-effect adjustment, if any, to the opening balance of retained earnings to be recognized on the date of adoption with prior periods not restated.
The Company leases facilities under non-cancelable operating lease agreements. These leases have varying terms that range from one to 11 years and contain leasehold improvement incentives, rent holidays and escalation clauses. In addition, some of these leases have renewal options for up to six years.
The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right of use ("ROU") assets, accrued expenses and operating lease liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property, plant and equipment, accrued expenses and finance lease liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
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Operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. As most of the Company's leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. Operating lease ROU assets also include any lease payments made and exclude lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. Variable lease payments are expensed as incurred and are not included within the ROU asset and lease liability calculation. Variable lease payments primarily include reimbursements of costs incurred by lessors for common area maintenance and utilities. The Company's lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company rents or subleases certain real estate under agreements that are classified as operating leases.
Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. The Company recognizes lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company does not account for lease components (e.g., fixed payments including rent) separately from the non-lease components (e.g., common-area maintenance costs).
Upon abandoning or committing to a plan to abandon a leased property in the short term before the lease term expires, the Company assesses the fair value of its remaining obligation under the lease and records an impairment of the ROU asset, if needed. The impairment loss is calculated as the present value of the amount by which the remaining lease obligation, adjusted for the effects of any one-time costs to sublease, exceeds the estimated sublease rentals that could be reasonably obtained. The estimated sublease rentals consider Company's ability and intent to sublease the space. The significant assumptions used in the Company's discounted cash flow model include the amount and timing of estimated sublease rental receipts and the discount rate which involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond control, including future real estate market conditions and the Company's ability to successfully enter into subleases or termination agreements with terms as favorable as those assumed when arriving at its estimates. The Company monitors these estimates and assumptions on at least a quarterly basis for changes in circumstances and any corresponding adjustments to the accrual are recorded in its statement of operations in the period when such changes are known.
The loss recorded or to be recorded may change significantly as a result of the re-measurement of the liability, if the timing or amount of estimated cash flows change.
Restructuring and Other Related Costs
The Company records costs associated with exit activities related to restructuring plans in accordance with ASC 420, “Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations.” Liabilities for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity are recognized in the period in which the liability is incurred. The timing of the associated cash payments is dependent upon the type of exit cost and extends over an approximately four-year period. The Company records restructuring cost liabilities in “Accrued Expenses” and "Other Long-term Liabilities" in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Restructuring costs include employee and contract termination costs, facility consolidation and closure costs, equipment write-downs and inventory write-downs. One-time termination benefits are recognized as a liability at estimated fair value when the approved plan of termination has been communicated to employees, unless employees must provide future service, in which case the benefits are recognized ratably over the future service period. Ongoing termination benefits arrangements are recognized as a liability at estimated fair value when the amount of such benefits becomes estimable and payment is probable.
Restructuring charges require significant estimates and assumptions, including estimates made for employee separation costs and other contract termination charges. Management estimates involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond control, including the Company's ability to successfully enter into termination agreements with employees and others with terms as favorable as those assumed when arriving at its estimates. The Company monitors these estimates and assumptions on at least a quarterly basis for changes in circumstances and any corresponding adjustments to the accrual are recorded in its statement of operations in the period when such changes are known.
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Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments", in order to improve financial reporting of expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit. Topic 326 requires that an entity measure and recognize expected credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost and replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in prior U.S. GAAP with a methodology that requires consideration of a broader range of information to estimate credit losses. The Company adopted Topic 326 on a modified retrospective basis in the first quarter of 2020 through a cumulative-effect adjustment at the beginning of the first quarter of 2020 and the impact of the adoption was not material to the Company's consolidated financial statements as credit losses are not expected to be significant based on historical collection trends, the financial condition of the Company’s customers, and external market factors. The Company will continue to actively monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on expected credit losses.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement” (“ASU 2018-13”). This update eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 was effective for the Company in its first quarter of 2020. The Company adopted ASU 2018-13 in the first quarter of 2020 and the impact of the adoption was not material to the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, “Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans” (“ASU 2018-14”). This update eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other post-retirement plans. The ASU 2018-14 is effective for the Company for the year ended December 26, 2020. The Company adopted ASU 2018-14 in the fourth quarter of 2020 and the impact of the adoption was not material to the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Effective
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt-Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity's Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40). The ASU simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current GAAP. Consequently, more convertible debt instruments will be reported as a single liability instrument with no separate accounting for embedded conversion features. This update removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, which will permit more equity contracts to qualify for it. This update also simplifies the diluted net income per share calculation in certain areas. The update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2021, and early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2020-06 would have on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04 (Topic 848), "Reference Rate Reform - Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting” (“ASU 2020-04”), which provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the existing guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate. The standard was effective upon issuance and may generally be applied through December 31, 2022 to any new or amended contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR. The Company will apply the amendments when its relevant contracts are modified upon transition to alternative reference rates.
In December 2019, FASB issued ASU 2019-12, "Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes" (“ASU 2019-12”), as part of its simplification initiative. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions from Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 740, "Income Taxes" ("ASC 740"), including (i) the exception to the incremental approach for intra period tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations and income or a gain from other items such as discontinued operations or other comprehensive income; (ii) the exception to accounting for outside basis differences of equity method investments and foreign subsidiaries; and (iii) the exception to limit tax benefit recognized in interim period in cases when the year-to-date losses exceeds anticipated losses. ASU 2019-12 also simplifies U.S. GAAP in several other areas of ASC 740 such as (i) franchise taxes and other taxes partially based on income; (ii) step-up in tax basis goodwill considered part of a
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business combination in which the book goodwill was originally recognized or should be considered a separate transaction; (iii) separate financial statements of entities not subject to tax; and (iv) interim recognition of enactment of tax laws or rate changes. ASU 2019-12 is effective for the Company for fiscal years (and interim periods within those fiscal years) beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected not to early adopt ASU 2019-12 as of December 26, 2020. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
3. Leases
The Company has operating leases for real estate and automobiles. For the year ended December 26, 2020, operating lease expense was $34.0 million (including $9.9 million of rent expense due to restructuring resulting in abandonment of certain lease facilities). During the year ended December 28, 2019, operating lease expense was approximately $41.5 million (including $15.9 million of accelerated rent expense due to restructuring resulting in abandonment of lease facilities). Variable lease cost, short-term lease cost and sublease income were immaterial during the year ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019.
As of December 26, 2020, $14.9 million was included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and $76.1 million as long term operating lease liabilities. As of December 28, 2019, $18.1 million was included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and $64.2 million as long term operating lease liabilities.
The following table presents maturity of lease liabilities under the Company's non-cancelable operating leases as of December 26, 2020 (in thousands):
2021 $ 22,866
2022 20,972
2023 17,400
2024 15,244
2025 14,238
Thereafter 31,178
Total lease payments $ 121,898
Less: interest(1)
30,887
Present value of lease liabilities $ 91,011
(1) Calculated using the interest rate for each lease.
The following table presents supplemental information for the Company's non-cancelable operating leases for the year ended December 26, 2020 (in thousands, except for weighted average and percentage data):
Weighted average remaining lease term 6.63
Weighted average discount rate 9.18 %
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities $ 26,565
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities $ 18,023
Financing Lease Obligations
During the year ended December 26, 2020, there were no new finance lease arrangements. The lease term for existing arrangements range from three to five years with option to purchase at the end of the term.
Finance lease expense was approximately $0.9 million for the year ended December 26, 2020 out of which $0.7 million was amortization of right of use asset and $0.2 million was interest cost. As of December 26,
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
2020, $1.1 million was included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and $1.4 million as long term finance lease obligation related to these equipment finance lease arrangements.
Finance lease expense was approximately $0.5 million for the year ended December 28, 2019 out of which $0.4 million was amortization of right of use asset and $0.1 million was interest cost. As of December 28, 2019, $1.4 million was included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and $2.4 million as long term finance lease obligation related to these equipment finance lease arrangements.
The following table presents maturity of lease liability under the Company's finance leases as of December 26, 2020 (in thousands):
2021 $ 1,253
2022 984
2023 446
Thereafter -
Total lease payments $ 2,683
Less: interest 161
Present value of lease liabilities $ 2,522
The following table presents supplemental information for the Company's finance leases for the year ended December 26, 2020 (in thousands, except for weighted average and percentage data):
Weighted average remaining lease term 2.18
Weighted average discount rate 6.40 %
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of finance lease liabilities $ 1,588
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities $ -
4. Revenue Recognition
Capitalization of Costs to Obtain a Contract
The ending balance of the Company’s capitalized costs to obtain a contract as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 were zero and $0.2 million, respectively. The Company's amortization expense was not material for the year ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, respectively.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table presents the Company's revenue disaggregated by revenue source (in thousands):
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019 December 29, 2018
Product $ 1,045,551 $ 1,011,488 $ 763,555
Services 310,045 287,377 179,824
Total revenue $ 1,355,596 $ 1,298,865 $ 943,379
The Company sells its products directly to customers who are predominantly service providers and to channel partners that sell on its behalf. The following tables present the Company's revenue disaggregated by geography, based on the shipping address of the customer and by sales channel (in thousands):
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019 December 29, 2018
United States $ 630,422 $ 628,075 $ 476,784
Other Americas 99,158 93,251 44,581
Europe, Middle East and Africa 424,411 418,333 309,989
Asia Pacific 201,605 159,206 112,025
Total revenue $ 1,355,596 $ 1,298,865 $ 943,379
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019 December 29, 2018
Direct $ 1,039,976 $ 1,032,527 $ 838,931
Indirect 315,620 266,338 104,448
Total revenue $ 1,355,596 $ 1,298,865 $ 943,379
Contract Balances
The following table provides information about receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers (in thousands):
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019
Accounts receivable, net $ 319,428 $ 349,645
Contract assets $ 51,583 $ 22,814
Deferred revenue $ 163,056 $ 139,820
Revenue recognized for the year ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 that was included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the reporting period was $85.2 million and $119.9 million, respectively. Changes in the contract asset and liability balances during the year ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 were not materially impacted by other factors.
Transaction Price Allocated to the Remaining Performance Obligation
The Company’s remaining performance obligations represent the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially satisfied, consisting of deferred revenue and backlog. The Company’s backlog represents purchase orders received from customers for future product shipments and services. The Company’s backlog is subject to future events that could cause the amount or timing of the related
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
revenue to change, and, in certain cases, may be canceled without penalty. Orders in backlog may be fulfilled several quarters following receipt or may relate to multi-year support service obligations.
The following table includes estimated revenue expected to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially satisfied) pursuant to contracts that are not subject to cancellation without penalty at the end of the reporting period (in thousands):
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter Total
Revenue expected to be recognized in the future as of December 26, 2020 $ 470,210 $ 33,507 $ 20,959 $ 7,111 $ 1,740 $ 1,584 $ 535,111
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
5. Fair Value Measurements
The following tables represent the Company’s fair value hierarchy for its assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):
As of December 26, 2020 As of December 28, 2019
Fair Value Measured Using Fair Value Measured Using
Level 1 Level 2 Total Level 1 Level 2 Total
Liabilities
Foreign currency exchange forward contracts $ - $ (72) $ (72) $ - $ (159) $ (159)
During 2020 and 2019, there were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. As of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, none of the Company’s existing securities were classified as Level 3 securities.
The Company classifies certain facilities-related charges within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy and applies fair value accounting on a nonrecurring basis when impairment indicators exist or upon the existence of observable fair values. The fair values are classified as Level 3 measurements due to the significance of unobservable inputs. These analyses require management to make assumptions and estimates regarding industry and economic factors, future operating results and discount rates.
The Company measures goodwill and intangible assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis when there are identifiable events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse impact on the fair value of these assets. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company performed an analysis of impairment indicators of these assets and noted no adverse impact to their fair values as of December 26, 2020.
Facilities-related Charges
In connection with the 2018 Restructuring Plans (as defined in Note 10, “Restructuring and Other Related Costs” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements), for 2020 and 2019, the Company calculated the fair value of the $9.9 million and $15.9 million, respectively, in facilities-related charges based on estimated future discounted cash flows and classified the fair value as a Level 3 measurement due to the significance of unobservable inputs, which included the amount and timing of estimated sublease rental receipts that the Company could reasonably obtain over the remaining lease term and the discount rate. See Note 10, “Restructuring and Other Related Costs” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the 2018 Restructuring Plan.
Cash
As of December 26, 2020, the Company had $298.0 million of cash, including $87.4 million of cash held by its foreign subsidiaries. As of December 28, 2019, the Company had $109.2 million of cash including $68.7 million of cash held by its foreign subsidiaries. The Company's cash in foreign locations is used for operational and investing activities in those locations, and the Company does not currently have the need or the intent to repatriate those funds to the United States.
6. Derivative Instruments
Foreign Currency Exchange Forward Contracts
The Company transacts business in various foreign currencies and has international sales, cost of sales, and expenses denominated in foreign currencies, and carries foreign-currency-denominated account balances, subjecting the Company to foreign currency risk. The Company’s primary foreign currency risk management objective is to protect the U.S. dollar value of future cash flows and minimize the volatility of reported earnings. The Company utilizes foreign currency forward contracts, primarily short term in nature.
Historically, the Company enters into foreign currency exchange forward contracts to manage its exposure to fluctuation in foreign exchange rates that arise from its euro and British pound denominated account
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
balances. Gains and losses on these contracts are intended to offset the impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on the underlying foreign currency denominated account balances, do not subject the Company to material balance sheet risk.
As of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the Company posted $0.9 million and $0.9 million, respectively of collateral on its derivative instruments to cover potential credit risk exposure. This amount is classified as other long-term restricted cash on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
The before-tax effect of foreign currency exchange forward contracts was a gain of $0.3 million, $0.5 million and $0.7 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, included in other gain (loss), net, in the consolidated statements of operations. In each of these periods, the impact of the gross gains and losses were offset by foreign exchange rate fluctuations on the underlying foreign currency denominated amounts.
As of December 26, 2020, the Company did not designate foreign currency exchange forward contracts as hedges for accounting purposes and accordingly, changes in the fair value are recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. These contracts were with one high-quality institution and the Company consistently monitors the creditworthiness of the counterparties.
The fair value of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets was as follows (in thousands):
As of December 26, 2020 As of December 28, 2019
Gross
Notional(1)
Other
Accrued
Liabilities Gross
Notional(1)
Other
Accrued
Liabilities
Foreign currency exchange forward contracts
Related to euro denominated receivables $ 23,605 $ (59) $ 27,566 $ (159)
Related to British pound denominated receivables 4,868 (13) - -
Total $ 28,473 $ (72) $ 27,566 $ (159)
(1)Represents the face amounts of forward contracts that were outstanding as of the period noted.
Accounts Receivable Factoring
The Company sells certain designated trade account receivables based on factoring arrangements with well-established factoring companies. Pursuant to the terms of the arrangements, the Company accounts for these transactions in accordance with ASC 860, "Transfers and Servicing". The Company's factor purchases trade accounts receivables on a non-recourse basis and without any further obligations. Trade accounts receivables balances sold are removed from the consolidated balance sheets and cash received are reflected as cash provided by operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flow. The difference between the fair value of the Company's trade receivables and the proceeds received is recorded as interest expense in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. For the years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, the Company's recognized factoring related interest expense was approximately $0.4 million, $0.6 million and $0.1 million, respectively. The gross amount of trade accounts receivables sold totaled approximately $80.2 million and $84.8 million for the year ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 respectively. Prior to the Acquisition, the Company had not entered into any factoring arrangements.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
7. Business Combination
On the Acquisition Date, the Company acquired 100% ownership of Coriant. The Acquisition positions the Company as one of the largest providers of vertically integrated transport networking solutions in the world, enhances the Company's ability to serve a global customer base and accelerates delivery of the innovative solutions its customers demand. This Acquisition also positions the Company to expand the breadth of customer applications it can address, including metro aggregation and switching, disaggregated transport and routing, and software-enabled multi-layer network management and control. The Acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations” and consisted of the following (in thousands, except shares):
Cash $ 154,192
Equity consideration(1)
129,628
Total $ 283,820
(1)Based on the closing price of the Company's common stock of $6.18 on October 1, 2018, the $129.6 million equity consideration represents the fair value of 21 million shares of the Company's common stock issued to Coriant shareholders in accordance with the Purchase Agreement.
The Company financed the cash portion of the purchase price of the Acquisition with the net proceeds from its offering of the $402.5 million of 2.125% convertible senior notes due September 1, 2024 (the “2024 Notes”). See Note 13, “Debt” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
In 2018, the Company expensed acquisition-related costs in the amount of $8.3 million in operating expenses.
The Company allocated the fair value of the purchase price of the acquisition to the tangible and intangible assets acquired as well as liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the fair values of these identifiable assets and liabilities was recorded as goodwill.
The Company prepared an initial determination of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the Acquisition Date using preliminary information. In accordance with Topic 805, during the measurement period an acquirer retrospectively adjusts the provisional amounts recognized at the Acquisition Date to reflect information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the Acquisition Date that, if known, would have affected the measurement of the amounts recognized as of the Acquisition Date. The Company has recognized measurement period adjustments during the fiscal year 2019 to the fair value of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the acquisition of Coriant, which resulted in a $30.9 million increase to goodwill. The adjustments were recorded as a result of additional information obtained during the year ended December 28, 2019 about facts and circumstances that existed as of the date of acquisition. The measurement period adjustments were primarily related to adjustments to income taxes, inventory, acquired liabilities, deferred revenue, accounts receivable and others. The measurement period adjustments included tax adjustments related to uncertain tax positions, realization of certain income taxes receivable, tax attributes and deferred tax asset valuation allowances. This resulted from additional information collected and analysis performed including preparation, filing and assessment of tax returns in certain jurisdictions. The Company also recorded adjustments to fair value of inventory as the Company received additional information and performed analysis to finalize the estimated values.
The Company does not believe that the measurement period adjustments had a material impact on its consolidated statements of operations, balance sheets or cash flows in any periods previously reported.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table summarizes the Company’s allocation of the purchase consideration based on the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the Acquisition Date (in thousands):
Amounts
Recognized as of Acquisition Date Measurement Period Adjustments Total
Cash and cash equivalents $ 15,549 $ - $ 15,549
Restricted cash 25,743 - 25,743
Accounts receivable 170,466 (2,153) 168,313
Inventory 96,067 (10,433) 85,634
Property, plant and equipment, net 217,991 - 217,991
Other assets 39,145 (5,083) 34,062
Intangible assets, net 200,700 - 200,700
Goodwill 48,235 30,916 79,151
Financing lease obligation (194,700) - (194,700)
Deferred revenue (43,502) 5,264 (38,238)
Other liabilities (291,874) (18,511) (310,385)
Total net assets $ 283,820 $ - $ 283,820
The following table presents details of the identifiable assets acquired at the Acquisition Date (in thousands):
Fair Value Estimated Useful Life (Years)
Customer relationships and backlog $ 111,400 8
Developed technology 70,550 5
In-process technology 17,750 n/a
Trade name 1,000 1
Total $ 200,700
Goodwill generated from this business combination is primarily attributable to the synergies from combining the operations of Coriant with that of the Company, which resulted in strengthening the Company's ability to serve a global customer base and accelerate delivery of product solutions. The goodwill recorded in the Acquisition is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.
8. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill
Goodwill is recorded when the purchase price of an acquisition exceeds the fair value of the net tangible and identified intangible assets acquired.
The following table presents details of the Company’s goodwill for the year ended December 26, 2020 (in thousands):
Balance as of December 28, 2019 $ 249,848
Foreign currency translation adjustments 23,578
Balance as of December 26, 2020 $ 273,426
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The gross carrying amount of goodwill may change due to the effects of foreign currency fluctuations as a portion of these assets are denominated in foreign currency. To date, the Company has zero accumulated impairment loss on goodwill.
Intangible Assets
The following table presents details of the Company’s intangible assets as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 (in thousands):
December 26, 2020
Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Weighted Average Remaining Useful Life (In Years)
Intangible assets with finite lives:
Trade names $ 1,000 $ (1,000) $ - NMF*
Customer relationships and backlog 162,098 (90,667) 71,431 4.9
Developed technology 192,285 (138,834) 53,451 3.0
Total intangible assets $ 355,383 $ (230,501) $ 124,882
December 28, 2019
Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Weighted Average Remaining Useful Life (In Years)
Intangible assets with finite lives:
Trade names $ 1,000 $ (1,000) $ - NMF*
Customer relationships and backlog 155,942 (68,119) 87,823 5.8
Developed technology 179,593 (97,070) 82,523 3.5
Total intangible assets $ 336,535 $ (166,189) $ 170,346
*NMF = Not meaningful
In connection with the Acquisition, the Company acquired intangible assets for a total of $200.7 million, which is included in the gross carrying amount of intangible assets as of each of the periods ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019. See Note 7, "Business Combination" to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
The gross carrying amount of intangible assets and the related amortization expense of intangible assets may change due to the effects of foreign currency fluctuations as a portion of these assets are denominated in foreign currency. Amortization expense was $47.8 million and $59.9 million for the years ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, respectively.
Intangible assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization expenses are recorded to the appropriate cost and expense categories. During the year ended December 28, 2019, the Company transferred $17.8 million of its in-process technology to developed technology, which is being amortized over a useful life of five years.
The following table summarizes the Company’s estimated future amortization expense of intangible assets with finite lives as of December 26, 2020 (in thousands):
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Total 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter
Total future amortization expense $ 124,882 $ 36,155 $ 33,560 $ 27,390 $ 11,983 $ 9,025 $ 6,769
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
9. Balance Sheet Details
Restricted Cash
The Company’s restricted cash balance is held in deposit accounts at various banks globally. These amounts primarily collateralize the Company’s issuances of standby letters of credit and bank guarantees.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The following table provides a rollforward of the allowance for doubtful accounts for accounts receivable for the year ended December 26, 2020 (in thousands):
Balance as of December 28, 2019 $ 4,005
Adjustment for adoption of new standard 650
Additions(1)
1,621
Write offs(2)
(3,231)
Recoveries during the period (284)
Other(3)
Balance as of December 26, 2020 $ 2,912
(1)The new additions during the year ended December 26, 2020 are primarily due to specific reserves.
(2)The write offs during the year ended December 26, 2020 are primarily amounts fully reserved previously.
(3)Primarily represents translation adjustments.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table provides details of selected balance sheet items (in thousands):
December 26, 2020 December 28,
Inventory:
Raw materials $ 34,693 $ 47,474
Work in process 55,835 48,842
Finished goods 178,779 244,113
Total $ 269,307 $ 340,429
Property, plant and equipment, net:
Computer hardware $ 34,502 $ 36,086
Computer software(1)
44,397 45,428
Laboratory and manufacturing equipment(2)
333,955 313,081
Land and building 12,349 12,349
Furniture and fixtures 3,445 2,845
Leasehold and building improvements(3)
66,014 52,263
Construction in progress 39,727 27,946
Subtotal $ 534,389 $ 489,998
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization(4)
(381,256) (339,205)
Total $ 153,133 $ 150,793
Accrued expenses:
Loss contingency related to non-cancelable purchase commitments $ 18,848 $ 25,410
Taxes payable 45,884 65,815
Restructuring accrual 9,292 26,706
Short-term operating and financing lease liability 16,023 19,486
Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities 60,503 55,751
Total accrued expenses $ 150,550 $ 193,168
(1)Included in computer software at December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 were $25.4 million and $23.3 million, respectively, related to enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) systems that the Company implemented. The unamortized ERP costs at December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 were $10.8 million and $11.3 million, respectively. Also included in computer software at December 26, 2020 was $17.0 million related to term licenses. The unamortized term license costs at December 26, 2020 was $12.0 million.
(2)Included in laboratory and manufacturing equipment at December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 was $2.0 million related to an equipment finance lease entered by the Company for a term of three years with an option to purchase at the end of the three year term. The finance lease was recorded at $2.0 million using a discount rate of 8.2% and was included in property, plant and equipment, net.
(3)Included in leasehold improvements at December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 was equipment finance lease entered by the Company for a term of five years with an option to purchase at the end of five year term. The finance lease was recorded at $2.3 million using a discount rate of 5% and was included in property, plant and equipment, net.
(4)Depreciation expense was $52.3 million, $60.0 million and $47.7 million (which includes depreciation of capitalized ERP costs of $2.6 million, $2.4 million and $2.2 million) for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
10. Restructuring and Other Related Costs
In December 2018, the Company implemented a restructuring initiative (the “2018 Restructuring Plan”) as part of a comprehensive review of the Company's operations and ongoing integration activities in order to optimize resources for future growth, improve efficiencies and address redundancies following the acquisition of Coriant. As part of the 2018 Restructuring Plan, the Company made several changes to improve its research and development efficiency by consolidating its manufacturing and development sites, including closure of its Berlin, Germany site, reducing headcount at its Munich, Germany site, and processing changes to leverage the Company's engineering and product line development resources across regions and prioritizing research and development initiatives. The Berlin and Munich initiatives were substantially completed in the first half of fiscal year 2020, with some remaining payments to be made during 2021.
During 2020, the Company implemented a new restructuring initiative (the "2020 Restructuring Plan") that was primarily intended to reduce costs and consolidate its operations.
During the years ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the Company recorded $18.1 million and $51.9 million, respectively in severance and related costs in its consolidated statements of operations. As of December 26, 2020, the identified cost reduction initiatives under the 2020 Restructuring Plan were substantially completed, with the majority of associated payments made in 2020 and the remaining amounts expected to be paid by the first half of 2021. Additional restructuring activities may occur in the future in connection with the Company’s ongoing transformation initiatives.
In connection with the Acquisition, the Company assumed restructuring liabilities associated with Coriant's previous restructuring and reorganization plans consisting of termination benefits primarily comprised of severance payments. These costs are recorded at estimated fair value.
The following table presents restructuring and other related costs included in cost of revenue and operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations under the 2020 Restructuring Plan, the 2018 Restructuring Plan, Coriant's previous restructuring and reorganization plans, and the Company's earlier restructuring initiatives (in thousands):
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019 December 29, 2018
Cost of Revenue Operating Expenses Cost of Revenue Operating Expenses Cost of Revenue Operating Expenses
Severance and related expenses $ 4,042 $ 14,054 $ 26,576 $ 25,303 $ 2,630 $ 10,413
Lease related impairment charges 88 9,851 1,158 14,703 - (544)
Asset impairment 14 468 2,201 7 - 2,643
Others 2 213 - 838 - -
Total $ 4,146 $ 24,586 $ 29,935 $ 40,851 $ 2,630 $ 12,512
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Restructuring liabilities are reported within accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):
Severance and related expenses Lease related impairment charges Asset impairment Others Total
Balance as of December 29, 2018 $ 19,842 $ 4,266 $ 243 $ - $ 24,351
Charges 51,879 15,861 2,208 838 70,786
Cash payments (43,136) (8,418) (243) - (51,797)
Non-cash Settlements and Other (20) (11,709) (2,208) - (13,937)
Balance as of December 28, 2019 $ 28,565 $ - $ - $ 838 $ 29,403
Charges 18,096 9,939 482 215 28,732
Cash payments (36,346) (5,102) (28) (719) (42,195)
Non-cash Settlements and Other (74) (4,837) (454) (104) (5,469)
Balance as of December 26, 2020 $ 10,241 $ - $ - $ 230 $ 10,471
As of December 26, 2020, the Company's restructuring liability was comprised of $10.2 million of severance and related expenses, of which $3.8 million is related to assumed restructuring liabilities associated with Coriant's previous restructuring and reorganization plans and is expected to be paid by end of 2023. Out of the remaining liability, $1.7 million is primarily related to the 2018 Restructuring Plan and is expected to be substantially paid by the end of 2020, and $4.7 million is related to the 2020 Restructuring Plan and is expected to be substantially paid by the first half of 2021.
The Company's restructuring liability as of December 26, 2020 also comprised $0.2 million related to service agreements that were determined to have no future use. The Company expects the payments related to the service agreements to be fully paid by the second quarter of 2021. Non-cash Settlements and Other primarily include foreign exchange impact on settlement of restructuring liability and impairment of right of use asset.
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
11. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) includes certain changes in equity that are excluded from net income (loss). The following table sets forth the changes by component for the periods presented (in thousands):
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-for-Sale Securities Foreign Currency Translation Actuarial Gain (Loss) on Pension Accumulated Tax Effect Total
Balance at December 30, 2017 $ (418) $ 7,551 $ - $ (879) $ 6,254
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications 327 (26,483) (5,547) (85) (31,788)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss - - 234 - 234
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) 327 (26,483) (5,313) (85) (31,554)
Balance at December 29, 2018 $ (91) $ (18,932) $ (5,313) $ (964) $ (25,300)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications 91 (9,376) (1,692) - (10,977)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss - - 1,638 - 1,638
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) 91 (9,376) (54) - (9,339)
Balance at December 28, 2019 $ - $ (28,308) $ (5,367) $ (964) $ (34,639)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications - 29,040 (8,183) - 20,857
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss - - 1,884 - 1,884
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) - 29,040 (6,299) - 22,741
Balance at December 26, 2020 $ - $ 732 $ (11,666) $ (964) $ (11,898)
12. Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Common Share
Basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per common share is computed using net loss and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares include the assumed exercise of outstanding in-the-money stock options, assumed release of outstanding RSUs and PSUs, and assumed issuance of common stock under the ESPP using the treasury stock method. Potentially dilutive common shares also include the assumed conversion of $402.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company's 2.125% convertible senior notes due September 1, 2024 (the “2024 Notes”) from the conversion spread (as further discussed in Note 13, “Debt” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements), $200 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company's 2.50% convertible senior notes due March 1, 2027 (the “2027 Notes”) from the conversion spread (as further discussed in Note 13, “Debt” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements) and $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 1.75% convertible senior notes due June 1, 2018 (the “2018 Notes”) from the conversion spread (as further discussed in Note 11, “Convertible Senior Notes” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017), as applicable during each of the reported periods. The Company would include the dilutive effects of the 2024 Notes and 2027 Notes in the calculation of diluted net income per common share if the average market price is above the conversion price. Upon conversion of the 2024 Notes and 2027 Notes, it is the Company’s intention to pay cash equal to the lesser of the aggregate principal amount or the conversion value of
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
the 2024 Notes and 2027 Notes being converted; therefore, only the conversion spread relating to the 2024 Notes and 2027 Notes would be included in the Company’s diluted earnings per share calculation unless their effect is anti-dilutive. The Company includes the common shares underlying PSUs in the calculation of diluted net income per common share only when they become contingently issuable.
The following table sets forth the computation of net loss per common share (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28,
2019 December 29,
Net loss $ (206,723) $ (386,618) $ (214,295)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted 188,216 178,984 157,748
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted $ (1.10) $ (2.16) $ (1.36)
The Company incurred net losses during 2020, 2019 and 2018, and as a result, potential common shares from stock options, RSUs, PSUs and the assumed release of outstanding shares under the ESPP were not included in the diluted shares used to calculate net loss per share, as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. Additionally, due to the net loss position during these periods, the Company excluded the potential shares issuable upon conversion of the 2027 Notes, 2024 Notes and the 2018 Notes in the calculation of diluted earnings per share, as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.
The following table sets forth the potentially dilutive shares excluded from the computation of the diluted net loss per share because their effect was anti-dilutive (in thousands):
As of
December 26,
2020 December 28,
2019 December 29,
Stock options outstanding 451 873 1,134
Restricted stock units 13,947 11,776 7,792
Performance stock units 3,668 2,389 1,284
Employee stock purchase plan shares 133 569 940
Total 18,199 15,607 11,150
13. Debt
2.50% Convertible Senior Notes due March 1, 2027
In March 2020, the Company issued the 2027 Notes due on March 1, 2027, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. The 2027 Notes are governed by an indenture dated as of March 9, 2020 (the “2027 Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The 2027 Notes are unsecured, and the 2027 Indenture does not contain any financial covenants or any restrictions on the payment of dividends, the incurrence of senior debt or other indebtedness, or the issuance or repurchase of the Company's other securities by the Company.
Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, commencing on September 1, 2020. The net proceeds to the Company were approximately $193.3 million after deducting initial purchasers' fee and other debt issuance costs. The Company intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including working capital to fund growth and potential strategic projects.
Upon conversion, it is the Company’s intention to pay cash equal to the lesser of the aggregate principal amount or the conversion value of the 2027 Notes. For any remaining conversion obligation, the Company intends to pay or deliver, as the case may be, either cash, shares of its common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at the Company’s election. The initial conversion rate is 130.5995 shares of
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2027 Notes, subject to anti-dilution adjustments, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $7.66 per share of common stock.
Throughout the term of the 2027 Notes, the conversion rate may be adjusted upon the occurrence of certain events, including for any cash dividends. Holders of the 2027 Notes will not receive any cash payment representing accrued and unpaid interest upon conversion of a 2027 Note. Accrued but unpaid interest will be deemed to be paid in full upon conversion rather than canceled, extinguished or forfeited. Prior to December 1, 2026, holders may convert their 2027 Notes under the following circumstances:
•during any fiscal quarter commencing after the fiscal quarter ended on June 27, 2020 (and only during such fiscal quarter) if the last reported sale price of the common stock for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day;
•during the five business day period after any five consecutive trading day period (the “measurement period”) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of 2027 Notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock and the conversion rate on each such trading day;
•if the Company calls any or all of the 2027 Notes for redemption, such 2027 Notes called for redemption, at any time prior to the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date;
•upon the occurrence of specified corporate events described under the 2027 Indenture, such as a consolidation, merger or binding share exchange; or
•at any time on or after December 1, 2026 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert their 2027 Notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances.
If the Company undergoes a fundamental change as defined in the 2027 Indenture, holders may require the Company to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their 2027 Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date. In addition, upon the occurrence of a “make-whole fundamental change” (as defined in the 2027 Indenture), the Company may, in certain circumstances, be required to increase the conversion rate by a number of additional shares for a holder that elects to convert its 2027 Notes in connection with such make-whole fundamental change.
The net carrying amounts of the debt obligation were as follows (in thousands):
December 26, 2020
Principal $ 200,000
Unamortized discount (1)
(64,223)
Unamortized issuance cost (1)
(3,963)
Net carrying amount $ 131,814
(1)Unamortized debt conversion discount and issuance costs will be amortized over the remaining life of the 2027 Notes, which is approximately 74 months.
As of December 26, 2020, the carrying amount of the equity component of the 2027 Notes was $67.8 million.
In accounting for the issuance of the 2027 Notes, the Company separated the 2027 Notes into liability and equity components. The carrying amount of the liability component was calculated by measuring the fair value of a similar debt instrument that does not have an associated convertible feature. The carrying amount of
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
the equity component representing the conversion option was determined by deducting the fair value of the liability component from the par value of the 2027 Notes. The equity component is not remeasured as long as it continues to meet the conditions for equity classification. The excess of the principal amount of the liability component over its carrying amount (“debt discount”) is amortized to interest expense over the term of the 2027 Notes.
The Company allocated the total issuance costs incurred to the liability and equity components of the 2027 Notes based on their relative values. Issuance costs attributable to the liability component were recorded as a reduction to the liability portion of the 2027 Notes and will be amortized as interest expense over the term of the 2027 Notes. The issuance costs attributable to the equity component were netted with the equity component in stockholders’ equity.
The Company recorded a deferred tax liability of $16.2 million in connection with the issuance of the 2027 Notes, and a corresponding reduction in valuation allowance. The impact of both was recorded to stockholders' equity.
The Company determined that the embedded conversion option in the 2027 Notes does not require separate accounting treatment as a derivative instrument because it is both indexed to the Company’s own stock and would be classified in stockholders’ equity if freestanding.
The following table sets forth total interest expense recognized related to the 2027 Notes (in thousands):
Year ended December 26, 2020
Contractual interest expense $ 4,024
Amortization of debt issuance costs 365
Amortization of debt discount 5,910
Total interest expense $ 10,299
For the year ended December 26, 2020, the debt discount and debt issuance costs for the 2027 Notes were amortized, using an annual effective interest rate of 9.92%, to interest expense over the term of the 2027 Notes.
As of December 26, 2020, the fair value of the 2027 Notes was $319.3 million. The fair value was determined based on the quoted bid price of the 2027 Notes in an over-the-counter market on December 24, 2020 (the last trading day of the fiscal quarter). The 2027 Notes are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock of $10.97 per share as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on December 24, 2020 (the last trading day of the fiscal quarter), the if-converted value of the 2027 Notes exceeded their principal amount by approximately $86.5 million.
Asset-based revolving credit facility
On August 1, 2019, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. The Credit Agreement provides for a senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility of up to $100 million (the "Credit Facility"), which the Company may draw upon from time to time. The Company may increase the total commitments under the Credit Facility by up to an additional $50 million, subject to certain conditions. The Credit Agreement provides for a $50 million letter of credit sub-facility and a $10 million swing loan sub-facility.
On December 23, 2019, the Company exercised its option to increase the total commitments under the Credit Facility and entered into an Increase Joinder and Amendment Number One to Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”), with BMO Harris Bank N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent. The amendment increased the total commitments under the Credit Facility to $150 million.
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The proceeds of the loans under the Credit Agreement, as amended by the Amendment (the “Amended Credit Agreement”) may be used to pay the fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Amended Credit Agreement and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Credit Facility matures, and all outstanding loans become due and payable, on March 5, 2024. Availability under the Credit Facility is based upon periodic borrowing base certifications valuing certain inventory and accounts receivable, as reduced by certain reserves. The Credit Facility is secured by first-priority security interest (subject to certain exceptions) in inventory, certain related assets, specified deposit accounts, and certain other accounts in certain domestic subsidiaries.
Loans under the Amended Credit Agreement bear interest, at the Company's option, at either a rate based on LIBOR for the applicable interest period or a base rate, in each case plus a margin. The margin ranges from 2.00% to 2.50% for LIBOR rate loans and 1.00% to 1.50% for base rate loans, depending on the utilization of the Credit Facility. The commitment fee payable on the unused portion of the Credit Facility ranges from 0.375% to 0.625% per annum, also based on the current utilization of the Credit Facility. Letters of credit issued pursuant to the Credit Facility will accrue a fee at a per annum rate equal to the applicable LIBOR rate margin times the average amount of the letter of credit usage during the immediately preceding quarter in addition to the fronting fees, commissions and other fees.
The Amended Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative covenants, such as financial statement reporting requirements and delivery of borrowing base certificates. The Amended Credit Agreement also contains customary covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to, among other things, incur debt, create liens and encumbrances, engage in certain fundamental changes, dispose of assets, prepay certain indebtedness, make restricted payments, make investments, and engage in transactions with affiliates. The Amended Credit Agreement also contains a financial covenant that requires the Company to maintain a minimum amount of liquidity and customary events of default.
In connection with the Credit Facility, the Company incurred lender and other third-party costs of approximately $4.9 million for the period ended December 28, 2019, which are recorded as a deferred asset and are amortized to interest expense using a straight-line method over the term of the Credit Facility. During the year ended December 26, 2020, the Company recorded $1.1 million as amortization of deferred debt issuance cost, $3.9 million as contractual interest expense and related charges.
As of December 26, 2020, the Company had availability of $61.3 million under the Credit Facility and had letters of credit outstanding of approximately $11.5 million. As of December 28, 2019, the Company had availability of $115.9 million under the Credit Facility and had letters of credit outstanding of approximately $4.1 million.
As of December 26, 2020, $77.0 million was outstanding under the Credit Facility, which was included in short-term debt. The outstanding balance was repaid in full on January 7, 2021.
Finance Assistance Agreement
During March 2019, the Company signed an agreement with a third-party contract manufacturer that governs the transfer of the activities from the legacy Coriant manufacturing facility in Berlin, Germany to a third-party contract manufacturer. Subsequently in May 2019, the Company entered into a financing assistance agreement with the contract manufacturer whereby the contract manufacturer agreed to provide funding of up to $40 million to cover severance, retention and other costs associated with the transfer. The funding is secured against certain foreign assets, carries a fixed interest rate of 6% and is repayable in 12 months from the date of each draw down. In October 2020, the Company and the contract manufacturer amended the payment terms to extend the due date by six months set the fixed interest rate at 3% during such period, and allow for the phased transfer of inventory to offset the amount due. As of December 26, 2020, $24.6 million was outstanding, which was included in short-term debt.
Mortgage Payable
In March 2019, the Company mortgaged a property it owns. The Company received proceeds of $8.7 million in connection with the loan. The loan carries a fixed interest rate of 5.25% and is repayable in 59 equal monthly installments of approximately $0.1 million each with the remaining unpaid principal balance plus accrued
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
unpaid interest due five years from the date of the loan. As of December 26, 2020, $8.2 million remained outstanding, of which $0.4 million was included in short-term debt and $7.8 million was included in long-term debt. As of December 28, 2019, $8.4 million remained outstanding, of which $0.4 million was included in short-term debt and $8.0 million was included in long-term debt.
2.125% Convertible Senior Notes due September 1, 2024
In September 2018, the Company issued the 2024 Notes due on September 1, 2024, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. The 2024 Notes are governed by a base indenture dated as of September 11, 2018 and a first supplemental indenture dated as of September 11, 2018 (together, the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The 2024 Notes are unsecured, and the Indenture does not contain any financial covenants or any restrictions on the payment of dividends, the incurrence of senior debt or other indebtedness, or the issuance or repurchase of the Company's other securities by the Company.
Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, commencing March 1, 2019. The net proceeds to the Company were approximately $391.4 million, of which approximately $48.9 million was used to pay the cost of the capped call transactions with certain financial institutions (“Capped Calls”). The Company also used a portion of the remaining net proceeds to fund the cash portion of the purchase price of the Acquisition (as discussed in Note 7, “Business Combination” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements), including fees and expenses relating thereto, and intends to use the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes.
The Capped Calls have an initial strike price of $9.87 per share, subject to certain adjustments, which corresponds to the initial conversion price of the 2024 Notes. The Capped Calls have initial cap prices of $15.19 per share, subject to certain adjustments. The Capped Calls cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments, 40.8 million shares of common stock. The capped call transactions are expected generally to reduce or offset potential dilution to the Company's common stock upon any conversion of the 2024 Notes and/or offset any cash payments the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted 2024 Notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap. The Capped Calls expire on various dates between July 5, 2024 and August 29, 2024. The Capped Calls were recorded as a reduction of the Company’s stockholders' equity in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Upon conversion, it is the Company's intention to pay cash equal to the lesser of the aggregate principal amount or the conversion value of the 2024 Notes. For any remaining conversion obligation, the Company intends to pay or deliver, as the case may be, either cash, shares of its common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at the Company’s election. The initial conversion rate is 101.2812 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2024 Notes, subject to anti-dilution adjustments, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $9.87 per share of common stock.
Throughout the term of the 2024 Notes, the conversion rate may be adjusted upon the occurrence of certain events, including for any cash dividends. Holders of the 2024 Notes will not receive any cash payment representing accrued and unpaid interest upon conversion of a 2024 Note. Accrued but unpaid interest will be deemed to be paid in full upon conversion rather than canceled, extinguished or forfeited. Prior to June 1, 2024, holders may convert their 2024 Notes under the following circumstances:
•during any fiscal quarter commencing after the fiscal quarter ended on December 29, 2018 (and only during such fiscal quarter) if the last reported sale price of the common stock for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day;
•during the five business day period after any five consecutive trading day period (the “measurement period”) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of 2024 Notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock and the conversion rate on each such trading day;
•if the Company calls the 2024 Notes for redemption, at any time prior to the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date;
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
•upon the occurrence of specified corporate events described under the Indenture, such as a consolidation, merger or binding share exchange; or
•at any time on or after June 1, 2024 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert their 2024 Notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances.
If the Company undergoes a fundamental change as defined in the Indenture governing the 2024 Notes, holders may require the Company to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their 2024 Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2024 Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date. In addition, upon the occurrence of a “make-whole fundamental change” (as defined in the Indenture), the Company may, in certain circumstances, be required to increase the conversion rate by a number of additional shares for a holder that elects to convert its 2024 Notes in connection with such make-whole fundamental change.
The net carrying amounts of the debt obligation were as follows (in thousands):
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019
Principal $ 402,500 $ 402,500
Unamortized discount (1)
(90,213) (109,652)
Unamortized issuance cost (1)
(5,889) (7,158)
Net carrying amount $ 306,398 $ 285,690
(1)Unamortized debt conversion discount and issuance costs will be amortized over the remaining life of the 2024 Notes, which is approximately 44 months.
As of December 26, 2020, the carrying amount of the equity component of the 2024 Notes was $128.7 million.
In accounting for the issuance of the 2024 Notes, the Company separated the 2024 Notes into liability and equity components. The carrying amount of the liability component was calculated by measuring the fair value of a similar debt instrument that does not have an associated convertible feature. The carrying amount of the equity component representing the conversion option was determined by deducting the fair value of the liability component from the par value of the 2024 Notes. The equity component is not re-measured as long as it continues to meet the conditions for equity classification. The excess of the principal amount of the liability component over its carrying amount (“debt discount”) is amortized to interest expense over the term of the 2024 Notes.
The Company allocated the total issuance costs incurred to the liability and equity components of the 2024 Notes based on their relative values. Issuance costs attributable to the liability component were recorded as a reduction to the liability portion of the Notes and will be amortized as interest expense over the term of the 2024 Notes. The issuance costs attributable to the equity component were netted with the equity component in stockholders’ equity.
The Company recorded a deferred tax liability of $30.9 million in connection with the issuance of the 2024 Notes, and a corresponding reduction in valuation allowance. The impact of both was recorded to stockholders' equity.
The Company determined that the embedded conversion option in the 2024 Notes does not require separate accounting treatment as a derivative instrument because it is both indexed to the Company’s own stock and would be classified in stockholder’s equity if freestanding.
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table sets forth total interest expense recognized related to the 2024 Notes (in thousands):
Year Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019
Contractual interest expense $ 8,553 $ 8,553
Amortization of debt issuance costs 1,269 1,149
Amortization of debt discount 19,439 17,612
Total interest expense $ 29,261 $ 27,314
For the years ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the debt discount and debt issuance costs were amortized, using an annual effective interest rate of 9.92%, to interest expense over the term of the 2024 Notes.
As of December 26, 2020, the fair value of the 2024 Notes was $515.2 million. The fair value was determined based on the quoted bid price of the 2024 Notes in an over-the-counter market on December 24, 2020. As of December 28, 2019, the fair value of the 2024 Notes was $417.2 million. The fair value was determined based on the quoted bid price of the 2024 Notes in an over-the-counter market on December 27, 2019. The 2024 Notes are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock of $10.97 on December 24, 2020, the if-converted value of the 2024 Notes exceeded their principal amount by approximately $44.7 million.
1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due June 1, 2018
In May 2013, the Company issued the 2018 Notes, which matured on June 1, 2018. Upon maturity of the 2018 Notes, the Company repaid in full all $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount and the final coupon interest of $1.3 million.
The following table sets forth total interest expense recognized related to the 2018 Notes (in thousands):
Year ended
December 29, 2018
Contractual interest expense $ 1,094
Amortization of debt issuance costs 402
Amortization of debt discount 4,671
Total interest expense $ 6,167
The coupon rate was 1.75%. For the year ended December 29, 2018, the debt discount and debt issuance costs were amortized, using an annual effective interest rate of 10.23%, to interest expense over the term of the 2018 Notes.
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
14. Commitments and Contingencies
Operating Leases
The Company leases facilities under non-cancelable operating lease agreements. These leases have varying terms that range from one to 11 years. The Company has contractual commitments to remove leasehold improvements and return certain properties to a specified condition when the leases terminate. At the inception of a lease with such conditions, the Company records an asset retirement obligation liability and a corresponding capital asset in an amount equal to the estimated fair value of the obligation. Asset retirement obligations were $5.0 million and $4.7 million as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, respectively. Of the $5.0 million as of December 26, 2020, $0.4 million is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and the remainder is classified as other long-term liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Future annual minimum operating lease payments at December 26, 2020 were as follows (in thousands):
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter Total
Operating lease payments $ 22,866 $ 20,972 $ 17,400 $ 15,244 $ 14,238 $ 31,178 $ 121,898
The implementation of the 2018 Restructuring Plans, resulted in the Company vacating certain leased facilities. See Note 10, "Restructuring and Other Related Costs" to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
Financing Lease Obligations
The Company has two finance leases for manufacturing and other equipment. See Note 9, "Balance Sheet Details" to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
Future annual minimum financing lease payments at December 26, 2020 were as follows (in thousands):
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter Total
Financing lease obligations $ 1,253 $ 984 $ 446 $ - $ - $ - $ 2,683
Purchase Commitments
The Company has agreements with its major production suppliers, where the Company is committed to purchase certain parts. As of December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, these non-cancelable purchase commitments were $291.4 million, $258.2 million and $203.5 million, respectively. The significant increase of purchase commitments in 2018 was due to the Acquisition.
Future purchase commitments at December 26, 2020 were as follows (in thousands):
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter Total
Purchase obligations $ 274,236 $ 11,110 $ 5,731 $ 288 $ - $ - $ 291,365
The contractual obligation tables above exclude tax liabilities of $18.5 million related to uncertain tax positions because the Company cannot reliably estimate the timing and amount of future payments, if any.
Convertible Senior Notes 2027
The future interest and principal payments related to the 2027 Notes are as follows as of December 26, 2020 (in thousands):
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter Total
Convertible senior notes, including interest $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 207,500 $ 232,500
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Convertible Senior Notes 2024
The future interest and principal payments related to the 2024 Notes are as follows as of December 26, 2020 (in thousands):
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter Total
Convertible senior notes, including interest $ 8,553 $ 8,553 $ 8,553 $ 411,053 $ - $ - $ 436,712
Mortgage Payable
The future interest and principal payments related to the Mortgage are as follows as of December 26, 2020 (in thousands):
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter Total
Mortgage payable, including interest $ 841 $ 912 $ 841 $ 6,976 $ - $ - $ 9,570
Finance Assistance Agreement
The future interest and principal payments related to the Financing assistance agreement are as follows as of December 26, 2020 (in thousands):
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter Total
Finance assistance agreement $ 26,263 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 26,263
Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility
The future interest and principal payments related to the Credit Facility are as follows as of December 26, 2020 (in thousands):
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter Total
Asset-based revolving credit facility $ 77,750 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 77,750
On January 7, 2021, the Company repaid the outstanding balance.
Legal Matters
Oyster Optics LLC I
On November 23, 2016, Oyster Optics, LLP (“Oyster Optics”) filed a complaint against the Company in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The complaint asserts infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,469,816, 6,476,952, 6,594,055, 7,099,592, 7,620,327 (the “’327 patent”), 8,374,511 (the “’511 patent”) and 8,913,898 (the “’898 patent”). Collectively, the asserted patents are referred to herein as the “Oyster Optics patents in suit.” The complaint seeks unspecified damages and a permanent injunction. The Company filed its answer to Oyster Optics’ complaint on February 3, 2017. The Company filed two petitions for Inter Partes Review (“IPR”) of the ‘898 patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). Other defendants have filed IPR petitions in connection with the remaining Oyster Optics patents in suit. The USPTO instituted two IPRs of the ‘511 patent and two IPRs of the ‘898 patent but denied IPR petitions in connection with the ‘327 patent.
A first Markman decision issued on December 5, 2017 and fact discovery closed on December 22, 2017. Oyster Optics dropped the ‘511 and ‘898 patents, leaving only a few claims in the ‘327 patent at issue in the case.
Oyster Optics LLC II
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
On May 15, 2018, Oyster Optics filed a second patent infringement complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, naming the Company as a defendant. In its new complaint, Oyster Optics alleges infringement of the ‘327 patent, ‘898 patent and U.S. Patent No. 9,749,040. On June 8, 2018, the court granted the parties’ joint motion to sever and consolidate the first-filed lawsuit with the later filed case. The Company filed its answer to the new complaint on July 16, 2018. On October 26, 2018, the Company filed an amended answer to include a license defense based on a license agreement dated June 28, 2018 by and between Oyster Optics and several subsidiaries of Coriant (now one of the Company’s affiliated subsidiaries). The Company also filed a motion for summary judgment based on the license defense on November 29, 2018. On June 25, 2019, the court granted the Company’s motion for summary judgment and on June 28, 2019, the court entered a final judgment for the Company. On July 22, 2019, Oyster Optics filed an appeal of the court’s decision with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. On February 11, 2021, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision. The Company believes that it does not infringe any valid and enforceable claim of the Oyster Optics patents in suit and intends to defend this action vigorously. The Company is currently unable to predict the outcome of this litigation and therefore cannot determine the likelihood of loss nor estimate a range of possible loss.
Oyster Optics LLC III
On July 29, 2019, Oyster Optics filed a third complaint against the Company, Coriant (USA) Inc., Coriant North America, LLC and Coriant Operations, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The complaint asserts infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,665,500 (the “Oyster III patent in suit”). The complaint seeks unspecified damages and a permanent injunction. On October 7, 2019, the Company filed its answer to the complaint asserting among other things, counterclaims and defenses based on non-infringement, invalidity, and a license to the Oyster III patent in suit. On October 28, 2019, Oyster Optics filed an amended complaint. On December 3, 2019, the Company filed a motion to dismiss certain claims based on certain allegations made by Oyster Optics in their amended complaint, and Oyster Optics filed its opposition to the Company's motion on January 3, 2020. The Company filed its reply brief on January 13, 2020, and Oyster Optics filed its sur-reply on January 21, 2020. On December 27, 2019, the Company filed IPR petitions with the USPTO, in which the Company requested the USPTO to invalidate the asserted claims of the Oyster III patent in suit. On January 17, 2020, the Company filed a motion to stay to the case pending a decision of the validity of the Oyster III patent in suit by the USPTO. Oyster Optics submitted its response to the Company’s IPR petitions on April 13, 2020. The Company filed its answer to Oyster Optics' amended complaint on April 14, 2020. In connection with the Company’s IPR petitions, the USPTO issued an order on June 8, 2020, requesting additional briefing on the issue of why the Company filed two IPR petitions instead of one. The Company filed its reply to the USPTO order on June 16, 2020, and Oyster Optics submitted its sur-reply on June 18, 2020. On June 26, 2020, the USPTO instituted some of the Company’s IPR claims and rejected others. In light of the USPTO's favorable institution decision, the Company filed a renewed motion to stay the Oyster III case on June 30, 2020. On July 17, 2020, the Court denied the Company's motion to stay the proceedings, and on July 24, 2020 the Company received the Court's claim construction decision. On September 28, 2020, the Company filed motions for summary judgement based on the Company's license, non-infringement and marking defenses. The Company also filed motions to exclude certain testimony by Oyster Optics' expert witnesses. On September 29, 2020, the Court dismissed Oyster Optics' fraud claims without prejudice in response to the motion the Company filed on December 3, 2019. The Company and Oyster Optics participated in a mediation on October 16, 2020, which failed to result in any settlement between the parties. On February 11, 2021, the Court held a hearing with respect to the motions based on the Company’s license defenses. A second hearing with respect to the remaining motions based on the Company’s marking and non-infringement defenses is scheduled for March 25, 2021. In addition, the USPTO is holding a hearing in March 2021 regarding the Company's IPR petitions, with a decision due by the end of June 2021. A trial is currently scheduled for April 2021. The Company believes that it does not infringe any valid and enforceable claim of the Oyster III patent in suit and intends to defend this action vigorously. The Company is currently unable to predict the outcome of this litigation and therefore cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any, arising from this matter.
Capella Photonics, Inc.
On March 17, 2020, Capella Photonics, Inc. ("Capella") filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against the Company, Tellabs, Inc., Coriant Operations, Inc., Coriant America Inc., and Coriant (USA) Inc.), alleging infringement of Capella U.S. Reissue Patent Nos. RE47,905 and RE47,906 (the
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
"Capella Patents," which are reissued versions of the patents Capella previously asserted in a prior lawsuit). The complaint alleges infringement of the Capella Patents against certain legacy Coriant platforms. The complaint seeks unspecified damages and a permanent injunction. The Company filed answers to the complaint on May 29, 2020. On July 6, 2020, the Company filed a motion seeking to transfer the case to the Northern District of California, which motion remains pending at this time. The Parties continue to engage in fact discovery. A trial is currently scheduled for August 2021. The Company believes that it does not infringe any valid and enforceable claim of the Capella Patents, and intends to defend this action vigorously. The Company is currently unable to predict the outcome of this litigation and therefore cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any, arising from this matter.
Viewpoint IP LLC
On February 24, 2021, Viewpoint IP LLC (“Viewpoint”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware against the Company, alleging infringement of Viewpoint’s U.S. Patent No. 6,869,853 (the “Viewpoint Patent”). The complaint alleges infringement of the Viewpoint Patent by the Company’s “Infinera-GX Series” product. The Company intends to defend this action vigorously. Because this action is in the early stages, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of this litigation at this time and therefore cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any, arising from this matter.
In addition to the matters described above, the Company is subject to various legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, the Company does not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve these matters will have a material effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Loss Contingencies
The Company is subject to the possibility of various losses arising in the ordinary course of business. These may relate to disputes, litigation and other legal actions. In the preparation of its quarterly and annual financial statements, the Company considers the likelihood of loss or the incurrence of a liability, including whether it is probable, reasonably possible or remote that a liability has been incurred, as well as the Company’s ability to reasonably estimate the amount of loss, in determining loss contingencies. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, an estimated loss contingency is accrued when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company regularly evaluates current information to determine whether any accruals should be adjusted and whether new accruals are required. As of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the Company has accrued the estimated liabilities associated with certain loss contingencies.
Indemnification Obligations
From time to time, the Company enters into certain types of contracts that contingently require it to indemnify parties against third-party claims. The terms of such indemnification obligations vary. These contracts may relate to: (i) certain real estate leases under which the Company may be required to indemnify property owners for environmental and other liabilities, and other claims arising from the Company’s use of the applicable premises; and (ii) certain agreements with the Company’s officers, directors and certain key employees, under which the Company may be required to indemnify such persons for liabilities.
In addition, the Company has agreed to indemnify certain customers for claims made against the Company’s products, where such claims allege infringement of third-party intellectual property rights, including, but not limited to, patents, registered trademarks, and/or copyrights. Under the aforementioned intellectual property indemnification clauses, the Company may be obligated to defend the customer and pay for the damages awarded against the customer under an infringement claim as well as the customer’s attorneys’ fees and costs. These indemnification obligations generally do not expire after termination or expiration of the agreement containing the indemnification obligation. In certain cases, there are limits on and exceptions to the Company’s potential liability for indemnification. The Company cannot estimate the amount of potential future payments, if any, that it might be required to make as a result of these agreements. The maximum potential amount of any future payments that the Company could be required to make under these indemnification obligations could be significant.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
As permitted under Delaware law and the Company’s charter and bylaws, the Company has agreements whereby it indemnifies certain of its officers and each of its directors. The term of the indemnification period is for the officer’s or director’s lifetime for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was, serving at the Company’s request in such capacity. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements could be significant; however, the Company has a director and officer insurance policy that may reduce its exposure and enable it to recover all or a portion of any future amounts paid. As a result of its insurance policy coverage, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is minimal.
15. Guarantees
Product Warranties
Activity related to product warranty was as follows (in thousands):
December 26,
2020 December 28,
Beginning balance $ 43,348 $ 41,021
Charges to operations 23,973 23,874
Utilization (31,462) (25,070)
Change in estimate(1)
4,849 3,523
Balance at the end of the period $ 40,708 $ 43,348
(1)The Company records product warranty liabilities based on the latest quality and cost information available as of the date the revenue is recorded. The changes in estimate shown here are due to changes in overall actual failure rates, the mix of new versus used units related to replacement of failed units, and changes in the estimated cost of repair and product recalls. During the year ended December 26, 2020, the Company recorded $5.0 million in product warranty cost as a result of revising estimated failure rates and repair cost data for certain products. As the Company's products mature over time, failure rates and repair costs associated with such products generally decline leading to favorable changes in warranty reserves.
Letters of Credit and Bank Guarantees
The Company had $28.9 million of standby letters of credit, bank guarantees and surety bonds outstanding as of December 26, 2020. These consisted of $19.5 million related to customer performance guarantees, $0.3 million of value-added tax and customs' licenses, $4.0 million related to property leases, $4.4 million related to Coriant pre-acquisition restructuring plans, $0.6 million related to credit cards and $0.1 million for other liabilities. Of the $19.5 million related to customer performance guarantees, approximately $2.8 million was used to secure Surety Bonds in the aggregate of $5.5 million.
Of the aforementioned standby letters of credit and bank guarantees outstanding, $11.5 million was backed by cash collateral from a third-party institution, and the Company accrues 2.25% annual fee and 0.13% annual fronting fee on the average LOC balances outstanding on the cash collateral.
The Company had $27.9 million of standby letters of credit and bank guarantees outstanding as of December 28, 2019. These consisted of $14.2 million related to customer performance guarantees, $0.4 million of value-added tax and customs' licenses, $5.9 million related to property leases, $6.8 million related to Coriant pre-acquisition restructuring plans, $0.5 million related to credit cards and $0.1 million for other liabilities.
As of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the Company had a Credit Facility, which included a $50.0 million letter of credit sub-facility, pursuant to which letters of credit in the amount of $11.5 million and $4.1 million had been issued and outstanding for both periods, respectively. Approximately $169.5 million and $180.9 million of assets of certain Company subsidiaries have been pledged to secure this Credit Facility and other obligations as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, respectively.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
16. Stockholders’ Equity
Open Market Sales Agreement
On August 12, 2020, the Company entered into an Open Market Sale Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”), as sales agent and/or principal, pursuant to which the Company issued and sold through Jefferies, from time to time, shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”), having an aggregate offering price of $96.3 million. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement, Jefferies will use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares from time to time, based upon the Company’s instructions. The Company has provided Jefferies with customary indemnification rights, and Jefferies will be entitled to a compensation of 3% of the gross proceeds per Share sold. Sales of the Shares, if any, under the Sales Agreement may be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company has no obligation to sell any of the Shares and may at any time suspend sales under the Sales Agreement or terminate the Sales Agreement.
During the fiscal year ended December 26, 2020, the Company sold 12 million shares of common stock under the Sales Agreement, for net proceeds of approximately $93.4 million after paying Jefferies a sales commission of approximately $2.9 million related to services provided as the sales agent with respect to the sales of those shares.
2007 Equity Incentive Plan, 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, 2019 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan
In February 2007, the Company’s board of directors adopted the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2007 Plan”) and the Company’s stockholders approved the 2007 Plan in May 2007. The Company reserved a total of 46.8 million shares of common stock for issuance under the 2007 Plan. Upon stockholder approval of the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”), the Company has ceased granting equity awards under the 2007 Plan; however, the 2007 Plan will continue to govern the terms and conditions of the outstanding options and awards previously granted under the 2007 Plan. As of December 26, 2020, options to purchase 0.1 million shares of the Company's common stock were outstanding and an insignificant number of RSUs were outstanding under the 2007 Plan.
In February 2016, the Company's board of directors adopted the 2016 Plan and the Company's stockholders approved the 2016 Plan in May 2016. In May 2018, May 2019 and May 2020, the Company's stockholders approved amendments to the 2016 Plan to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2016 Plan by 1.5 million shares, 7.3 million shares and 8.1 million shares, respectively. As of December 26, 2020, the Company reserved a total of 30.8 million shares of common stock for the award of stock options, RSUs and PSUs to employees, non-employees, consultants and members of the Company's board of directors pursuant to the 2016 Plan, plus any shares subject to awards granted under the 2007 Plan that, after the effective date of the 2016 Plan, expire, are forfeited or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full to the extent such awards were exercisable, and shares issued pursuant to awards granted under the 2007 Plan that, after the effective date of the 2016 Plan, are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to failure to vest. The 2016 Plan has a maximum term of 10 years from the date of adoption, or it can be earlier terminated by the Company's board of directors. The 2007 Plan was canceled; however, it continues to govern outstanding grants under the 2007 Plan.
In July 2019, the Company's board of directors approved a new 2019 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan and set the maximum number of shares to be issued at 750,000.
The ESPP was adopted by the board of directors in February 2007 and approved by the stockholders in May 2007. The ESPP was last amended by the stockholders in May 2019 to increase the shares authorized under the ESPP to a total of approximately 31.6 million shares of common stock. The ESPP has a 20-year term. Eligible employees may purchase the Company’s common stock through payroll deductions at a price equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market values of the stock as of the beginning or the end of six-month offering periods. An employee’s payroll deductions under the ESPP are limited to 15% of the employee’s compensation and an employee may not purchase more than 3,000 shares per purchase period and $25,000 of stock during any calendar year.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Shares Reserved for Future Issuances
Common stock reserved for future issuance was as follows (in thousands):
December 26, 2020
Outstanding stock options and awards 15,986
Reserved for future option and award grants 9,582
Reserved for future ESPP 9,437
Total common stock reserved for stock options and awards 35,005
Stock-based Compensation Plans
The Company has stock-based compensation plans pursuant to which the Company has granted stock options, RSUs and PSUs. The Company also has an ESPP for all eligible employees. The following tables summarize the Company’s equity award activity and related information (in thousands, except per share data):
Number of
Options Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
Per Share Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding at December 30, 2017 1,397 $ 8.11 $ 1
Options granted - $ -
Options exercised (229) $ 7.43 $ 496
Options canceled (53) $ 11.57
Outstanding at December 29, 2018 1,115 $ 8.09 $ -
Options granted - $ -
Options exercised - $ - $ -
Options canceled (385) $ 7.47
Outstanding at December 28, 2019 730 $ 8.41 $ -
Options granted -
Options exercised (474) $ 8.43 $ 155
Options canceled (205) $ 8.58
Outstanding at December 26, 2020 51 $ 7.57 $ 174
Exercisable at December 26, 2020 51 $ 7.57
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Number of
Restricted
Stock Units Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Per Share Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding at December 30, 2017 6,791 $ 11.55 $ 42,988
RSUs granted 3,756 $ 10.52
RSUs released (2,642) $ 12.12 $ 26,457
RSUs canceled (1,159) $ 11.12
Outstanding at December 29, 2018 6,746 $ 10.83 $ 26,446
RSUs granted 8,950 $ 4.36
RSUs released (2,784) $ 10.48 $ 12,901
RSUs canceled (1,312) $ 8.37
Outstanding at December 28, 2019 11,600 $ 6.20 $ 90,254
RSUs granted 7,064 $ 5.95
RSUs released (5,087) $ 6.36 $ 30,421
RSUs canceled (1,109) $ 6.29
Outstanding at December 26, 2020 12,468 $ 5.99 $ 136,781
Number of
Performance
Stock Units Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value Per Share Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding at December 30, 2017 1,367 $ 16.28 $ 8,651
PSUs granted 521 $ 9.79
PSUs released (55) $ 15.93 $ 411
PSUs canceled (704) $ 16.01
Outstanding at December 29, 2018 1,129 $ 16.10 $ 4,425
PSUs granted 2,202 $ 4.63
PSUs released (99) $ 11.11 $ 472
PSUs canceled (727) $ 14.42
Outstanding at December 28, 2019 2,505 $ 6.48 $ 19,485
PSUs granted 1,628 $ 5.89
PSUs released (285) $ 9.02 $ 1,702
PSUs canceled (382) $ 6.93
Outstanding at December 26, 2020 3,466 $ 5.36 $ 38,022
Expected to vest as of December 26, 2020 2,481 $ 27,214
The aggregate intrinsic value of unexercised options is calculated as the difference between the closing price of the Company’s common stock of $10.97 at December 24, 2020 and the exercise prices of the underlying stock options. The aggregate intrinsic value of the options which have been exercised is calculated as the difference between the fair market value of the common stock at the date of exercise and the exercise price of the underlying stock options. The aggregate intrinsic value of unreleased RSUs and unreleased PSUs is calculated using the closing price of the Company's common stock of $10.97 at December 24, 2020. The aggregate intrinsic value of RSUs and PSUs released is calculated using the fair market value of the common stock at the date of release.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table presents total stock-based compensation cost for instruments granted but not yet amortized, net of estimated forfeitures, of the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 26, 2020. These costs are expected to be amortized on a straight-line basis over the following weighted-average periods (in thousands, except for weighted-average period):
Unrecognized
Compensation
Expense, Net Weighted-
Average Period
(in years)
RSUs $ 49,385 1.97
PSUs $ 9,276 2.15
The following table summarizes information about options outstanding at December 26, 2020.
Options Outstanding Vested and Exercisable
Options
Exercise Price Number of
Shares Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual Life Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price Number of
Shares Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
(In thousands) (In years) (In thousands)
$7.25 - $8.01
51 0.33 $ 7.57 51 $ 7.57
Employee Stock Options
The Company did not grant any stock options during 2020, 2019 or 2018. Stock option exercises are settled with newly issued shares of common stock approved by stockholders for inclusion under the 2007 Plan.
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense related to stock options in 2020, 2019 and 2018 was insignificant.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The fair value of the ESPP shares was estimated at the date of grant using the following assumptions:
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28,
2019 December 29,
Volatility 42% - 97%
70% - 72%
48% - 62%
Risk-free interest rate 0.12% - 1.56%
1.76% - 2.48%
1.90% - 2.31%
Expected life 0.5 years 0.5 years 0.5 years
Estimated fair value $2.17 - $3.42
$1.64 - $1.77
$2.47 - $3.13
The Company’s ESPP activity for the following periods was as follows (in thousands):
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28,
2019 December 29,
Stock-based compensation expense $ 6,607 $ 4,873 $ 5,478
Employee contributions $ 15,346 $ 12,052 $ 15,992
Shares purchased 3,001 2,897 2,189
Restricted Stock Units
The Company granted RSUs to employees and members of the Company’s board of directors to receive shares of the Company’s common stock. All RSUs awarded are subject to each individual's continued service to the Company through each applicable vesting date. The Company accounted for the fair value of the RSUs using the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Amortization of stock-
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
based compensation expense related to RSUs in 2020, 2019 and 2018 was approximately $36.1 million, $32.3 million and $29.2 million, respectively.
Performance Stock Units
Pursuant to the 2016 Plan, the Company has granted PSUs to certain of the Company’s executive officers, senior management and certain employees. All PSUs awarded are subject to each individual's continued service to the Company through each applicable vesting date and if the performance metrics are not met within the time limits specified in the award agreements, the PSUs will be canceled.
PSUs granted to the Company’s executive officers and senior management under the 2016 Plan during 2017 and the first half of 2018 are based on the TSR of the Company's common stock price relative to the TSR of the individual companies listed in the SPGIIPTR over the span of one year, two years and three years. The number of shares to be issued upon vesting of these PSUs range from zero to two times the target number of PSUs granted depending on the Company’s performance against the individual companies listed in the SPGIIPTR.
The ranges of estimated values of the PSUs granted that are compared to the SPGIIPTR, as well as the assumptions used in calculating these values were based on estimates as follows:
2018 2017
Index volatility 33% 33% - 34%
Infinera volatility 58% - 59%
55% - 56%
Risk-free interest rate 2.37% - 2.40%
1.41% - 1.63%
Correlation with index 0.04 - 0.48
0.10 - 0.49
Estimated fair value $14.99 - $19.46
$15.23 - $17.35
PSUs granted to the Company's executive officers and senior management under the 2016 Plan during 2019 and the first quarter of 2020 are based on performance criteria related to a specific financial target over the span of a three-year performance period. These PSUs may become eligible for vesting to begin before the end of the three-year performance period, if the applicable financial target is met. The number of shares to be issued upon vesting of these PSUs are capped at the target number of PSUs granted. Certain other employees were awarded PSUs that will only vest upon the achievement of specific financial and operational performance criteria.
In addition, in 2019, one of the Company's executive officers was awarded a PSU that will be eligible to vest if the market price condition is met. The assumptions used in calculating the estimated values of this award granted in fiscal 2019 were based upon Monte Carlo Model Assumptions and estimates as follows:
Index volatility N/A
Infinera volatility 64% - 68%
Risk-free interest rate 2.17% - 2.48%
Correlation with index/index component N/A
Estimated fair value $2.08 - $2.89
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table summarizes by grant year, the Company’s PSU activity for the year ended December 26, 2020 (in thousands):
Total Number of Performance Stock Units 2017 2018 2019 2020
Outstanding at December 28, 2019 2,505 199 270 2,036 -
PSUs granted 1,628 - - - 1,628
PSUs released (285) (104) (121) (60) -
PSUs canceled (382) (95) (40) (219) (28)
Outstanding at December 26, 2020 3,466 - 109 1,757 1,600
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense related to PSUs in 2020, 2019 and 2018 was approximately $6.0 million, $6.1 million and $8.2 million, respectively.
Stock-based Compensation Expense
The following tables summarize the effects of stock-based compensation on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations for the periods presented (in thousands):
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28,
2019 December 29,
Stock-based compensation effects in inventory $ 3,979 $ 4,798 $ 4,750
Income tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation $ 8,637 $ 10,438 $ 10,229
Stock-based compensation effects in net loss before income taxes
Cost of revenue $ 7,785 $ 6,449 $ 6,621
Research and development 16,863 17,457 16,270
Sales and marketing 10,907 8,413 10,869
General and administrative 13,906 10,460 9,649
Total stock-based compensation expense $ 49,461 $ 42,779 $ 43,409
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
17. Income Taxes
The following is a geographic breakdown of the provision for (benefit from) income taxes (in thousands):
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28,
2019 December 29,
Current:
Federal $ 494 $ - $ -
State 917 288 186
Foreign 9,606 3,046 6,832
Total current $ 11,017 $ 3,334 $ 7,018
Deferred:
Federal $ - $ 369 $ (546)
State - - -
Foreign (4,982) (740) (7,127)
Total deferred $ (4,982) $ (371) $ (7,673)
Total provision for (benefit from) income taxes $ 6,035 $ 2,963 $ (655)
Loss before provision for income taxes from international operations was $37.3 million, $202.2 million and $135.5 million for the years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively.
The provisions for (benefit from) income taxes differ from the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rates as follows:
Years Ended
December 26,
2020 December 28,
2019 December 29,
Expected tax at federal statutory rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 21.0 %
State taxes, net of federal benefit (0.4) % (0.1) % (0.1) %
Research credits 1.2 % 1.0 % 1.8 %
Stock-based compensation (1.2) % (2.0) % (0.8) %
Change in valuation allowance (16.9) % (19.7) % (18.1) %
Foreign rate differential (6.3) % (0.2) % (2.9) %
Other (0.4) % (0.8) % (0.6) %
Effective tax rate (3.0) % (0.8) % 0.3 %
For 2020, the Company's income tax expense was $6.0 million with effective tax rate of (3.0)%. The difference between the effective income tax rate and the U.S federal statutory rate of 21% to income before income taxes is primarily the result of foreign income taxed at different rates and valuation allowances. The Company recognized an income tax expense of $3.0 million and income tax benefit of $0.7 million in fiscal years 2019 and 2018. The resulting effective tax rates were (0.8)% and 0.3% for 2019 and 2018. The 2019 and 2018 effective tax rates differ from the expected statutory rate of 21%, based on the Company's ability to benefit from its U.S. loss carryforwards, offset by state income taxes, non-deductible stock-based compensation expenses and foreign taxes provided on foreign subsidiary earnings.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Significant deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating losses $ 354,598 $ 301,929
Research and foreign tax credits 126,839 121,065
Nondeductible accruals 61,871 72,094
Inventory valuation 32,444 31,982
Property, plant and equipment 5,819 4,601
Leasing Liabilities 24,261 19,265
Stock-based compensation 4,161 3,998
Total deferred tax assets $ 609,993 $ 554,934
Valuation allowance (531,923) (484,834)
Net deferred tax assets $ 78,070 $ 70,100
Deferred tax liabilities:
Accruals, reserves and prepaid expenses $ - $ (830)
Right of use asset (17,515) (16,261)
Acquired intangible assets (24,547) (34,542)
Convertible senior notes (37,979) (25,417)
Total deferred tax liabilities $ (80,041) $ (77,050)
Net deferred tax liabilities $ (1,971) $ (6,950)
The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. The Company must consider all positive and negative evidence, including the Company's forecasts of taxable income over the applicable carryforward periods, its current financial performance, its market environment, and other factors in evaluating the need for a full or partial valuation allowance against its net U.S. deferred tax assets. Based on the available objective evidence, management believes it is not more likely than not that the domestic net deferred tax assets will be realizable in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the Company has provided a full valuation allowance against its domestic deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities, as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019.
To the extent that the Company determines that deferred tax assets are realizable on a more likely than not basis, and an adjustment is needed, that adjustment will be recorded in the period that the determination is made and would generally decrease the valuation allowance and record a corresponding benefit to earnings or other comprehensive income.
As of December 26, 2020, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $725.9 million for federal income tax purposes which will begin to expire in 2027 if unused. The Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $555.8 million for state income tax purposes which will begin to expire in the year 2021 if unused. The Company also had foreign net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $674.8 million.
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
As of December 26, 2020, the Company also had R&D credit carryforwards of approximately $53.2 million for federal income tax and $56.9 million for state income tax purposes. The federal R&D tax credit will begin to expire in 2023 if unused. State R&D tax credits will carry forward indefinitely.
As of December 26, 2020, the Company also had Foreign Tax credit carryforwards of approximately $41.5 million for federal income tax. The foreign tax credit will begin to expire in 2023 if unused.
Infinera Canada Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary, has Scientific Research and Experimental Development Expenditures (“SRED”) credits available of $3.1 million to offset future Canadian income tax payable as of December 26, 2020. The Company's Portugal subsidiary has a SIFIDE Credit of $4.6 million to offset future income tax in Portugal payable as of December 26, 2020. Canadian SRED credits will begin to expire in the year 2032 if not fully utilized. The Portugal SIFIDE credits will begin to expire in the year 2021.
At December 26, 2020, the Company had federal capital loss carryforwards of $7.6 million. If not utilized, the federal capital loss will expire in 2023.
The federal and state net operating loss carryforwards may be subject to significant limitations under Section 382 and Section 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and similar provisions under state law. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 contains provisions that limit the federal net operating loss carryforwards that may be used in any given year in the event of special occurrences, including significant ownership changes. The Company has completed a Section 382 review and has determined that none of its operating losses will expire solely due to Section 382 limitation(s).
The aggregate changes in the balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits were as follows (in thousands):
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019 December 29,
Beginning balance $ 44,092 $ 24,617 $ 19,786
Tax position related to current year
Additions 3,213 1,965 2,296
Tax positions related to prior years
Additions 11,494 18,212 2,981
Reductions (625) (542) (40)
Lapses of statute of limitations (243) (160) (406)
Ending balance $ 57,931 $ 44,092 $ 24,617
As of December 26, 2020, the cumulative unrecognized tax benefit was $57.9 million, of which $40.2 million was netted against deferred tax assets that would have otherwise been subjected with a full valuation allowance. Of the total unrecognized tax benefit as of December 26, 2020, approximately $20.6 million, if recognized, would impact the Company’s effective tax rate. The amount of unrecognized tax benefit could be reduced upon expiration of the applicable statute of limitation. The potential reduction in unrecognized tax benefits during the next 12 months is not expected to be material.
As of December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, the Company had $2.9 million, $1.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively, of accrued interest or penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, of which less than $0.5 million was included in the Company’s provision for income taxes in each of the years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively. The Company’s policy is to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the Company’s provision for income taxes.
The Company files income tax returns in the United States, various state jurisdictions and various foreign jurisdictions. As of December 26, 2020, the Company is potentially subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and the relevant state income taxing authorities and other major foreign jurisdictions where the Company conducts business, under the statute of limitations for years 2002 and forward.
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
With these jurisdictions and in the United States, it is reasonably possible that there could be significant changes to the Company's unrecognized tax benefits in the next twelve months due to either the expiration of a statute of limitation or a tax audit settlement that will be partially offset by an anticipated tax liability related to unremitted foreign earnings, where applicable. Given the number of years and numerous matters that remain subject to examination in various tax jurisdictions, management is unable to estimate the range of possible changes to the balance of the Company's unrecognized tax benefits.
Included in the balance of income tax liabilities, accrued interest and penalties at December 26, 2020 is an immaterial amount related to tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the statute of limitations will expire in various jurisdictions within the next twelve months.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was enacted and signed into law. The CARES Act includes several provisions for corporations including increasing the amount of deductible interest, allowing companies to carryback certain Net Operating Losses (“NOLs”) and increasing the amount of NOLs that corporations can use to offset income. The aforementioned relief available under the CARES Act did not have a material impact on the Company's provision for income taxes for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2020.
Post Tax Reform, the Company and its subsidiaries do not have significant unremitted foreign earnings and the associated withholding and other taxes are not material for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2020.
18. Segment Information
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). The Company’s CEO reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis, accompanied by information about revenue by geographic region for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. The Company has one business activity as a provider of optical transport networking equipment, software and services. Accordingly, the Company is considered to be in a single reporting segment and operating unit structure.
Revenue by geographic region is based on the shipping address of the customer. For more information regarding revenue disaggregated by geography, see Note 4, “Revenue Recognition” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Additionally, the following table sets forth long-lived assets by geographic region (in thousands):
December 26, 2020 December 28,
United States $ 127,691 $ 118,656
Other Americas 2,668 2,798
Europe, Middle East and Africa 18,605 21,536
Asia Pacific and Japan 4,169 7,803
Total property, plant and equipment, net $ 153,133 $ 150,793
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
19. Employee Benefit and Pension Plans
Defined Contribution Plans
The Company has established a savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “401(k) Plan”). As allowed under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, the 401(k) Plan provides tax-deferred salary contributions for eligible U.S. employees. Employee contributions are limited to a maximum annual amount as set periodically by the Internal Revenue Code. The Company made voluntary cash contributions and matched a portion of employee contributions of $2.4 million, $2.7 million and $2.3 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Expenses related to the 401(k) Plan were insignificant for each of the years 2020, 2019 and 2018.
In connection with the Company's acquisition of Transmode during the third quarter of 2015, the Company has an ITP pension plan covering its Swedish employees. Commitments for old-age and survivors' pension for salaried employees in Sweden are vested through an insurance policy. Expenses related to the ITP pension plan were $2.7 million for 2020, $2.6 million for 2019 and $2.8 million for 2018.
The Company also provides defined contribution plans in certain foreign countries where required by local statute or at the Company's discretion. For the years ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the Company had $3.5 million and $3.9 million related to post-retirement costs, respectively.
Pension Plans
Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
As a result of the Acquisition during the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company acquired a number of post-employment plans in Germany, as well as a number of smaller post-employment plans in other countries, including both defined contribution and defined benefit plans. The defined benefit plans expose the Company to actuarial risks such as, investment risk, interest rate risk, life expectancy risk and salary risk. The characteristics of the defined benefit plans and the risks associated with them vary depending on legal, fiscal, and economic requirements.
Obligations and Funded Status
The following table sets forth the changes in benefits obligations and the fair value of plan assets of the Company's benefit plans (in thousands):
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
December 26, 2020 December 28,
Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 113,234 $ 104,624
Service cost 896 2,061
Interest cost 1,773 2,075
Benefits paid (3,103) (1,925)
Curtailment (258) -
Actuarial loss 6,243 9,134
Employee contributions 986 -
Foreign currency exchange rate changes 10,165 (2,735)
Benefit obligation at end of year(1)
$ 129,936 $ 113,234
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 69,777 $ 63,064
Actual return on plan assets 447 9,043
Payments - (1,397)
Employee contributions 1,305 715
Employer contributions - 53
Foreign currency exchange rate changes 6,032 (1,701)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year $ 77,561 $ 69,777
Net liability recognized $ 52,375 $ 43,457
(1) The Company's accumulated benefit obligation was $128.9 million and $110.8 million at December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, respectively.
The net liability is included in the line item other long-term liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
The following table presents net amounts of non-current assets and current and non-current liabilities for the Company's pension and other post-retirement benefit plans recognized on its consolidated balance sheet (in thousands):
December 26, 2020 December 28,
Other non-current assets $ 77,561 $ 69,777
Other long-term liabilities (129,936) (113,234)
Net liability recognized $ (52,375) $ (43,457)
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Net periodic benefit cost for the Company's pension and other post-retirement benefit plans consisted of the following (in thousands):
Years ended
December 26, 2020 December 28, 2019 December 29,
2018(1)
Service cost $ 896 $ 2,061 $ 466
Interest cost 1,773 2,075 512
Expected return on plan assets (2,644) (2,371) (653)
Amortization of actuarial loss (gain) 1,884 1,638 234
Total net periodic benefit cost $ 1,909 $ 3,403 $ 559
(1) Acquisition date through December 29, 2018.
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Actuarial gains and losses are amortized using a corridor approach. The gain/loss corridor is equal to 10% of the greater of the pension benefit obligation and the market-related value of assets. Gains and losses in excess of the corridor are generally amortized over the average future working lifetime of the pension plan participants. All components of net periodic benefit cost are recorded in operating expense of the Company's consolidated statements of operations as the impact of the amounts to be recorded in other income and expense is immaterial.
The following table sets forth the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income for the Company's benefit plans (pre-tax) (in thousands):
December 26, 2020 December 28,
Beginning balance $ (5,367) $ (5,313)
Net actuarial loss arising in current year (8,183) (1,680)
Amortization of net actuarial loss(1)
1,884 1,638
Foreign currency translation gain (loss) - (12)
Ending balance $ (11,666) $ (5,367)
(1) The actuarial loss for the year ended December 16, 2020 was caused primarily by the change in the discount rate. Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as components of net periodic pension cost during fiscal year 2021 is $3.5 million (pre-tax).
Assumptions
Certain weighted-average assumptions used in computing the benefit obligations are as follows:
December 26, 2020 December 28,
Discount rate 1.05 % 1.35 %
Salary growth rate 2.25 % 2.25 %
Pension growth rate 2.00 % 2.00 %
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets 3.93 % 3.93 %
Assumptions regarding future mortality are set based on actuarial advice in accordance with published German statistics and experience. These assumptions translate into an average remaining life expectancy in years for a pensioner retiring at age 65:
2021 Life Expectancy
Retiring at the end of the reporting period 20.5
Male 20.0
Female 23.6
Investment Policy
The financial position of the Company’s funded status is the difference between the fair value of plan assets and projected benefit obligations. Volatility in funded status occurs when asset values change differently from liability values and can result in fluctuations in costs in financial reporting. The Company’s investment policies and strategies are designed to increase the rate of assets to plan liabilities at an appropriate level of funded status volatility. Asset allocation decisions are recommended by the trustees for the specific plan and agreed to by the Company's management. Investment objectives are designed to generate returns that will enable the plan to meet its future obligations. The Company's management reviews the investment strategy and performance semi-annually and discuss alternatives to manage volatility.
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Basis for Expected Long-Term Rate of Return on Plan Assets
The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets reflects the expected returns for each major asset class in which the plan invests and the weight of each asset class in the target mix. Expected asset returns reflect the current yield on government bonds, risk premiums for each asset class and expected real returns which considers each country’s specific inflation outlook. The expected return is set using a low to medium risk profile and to meet the market expectations over a longer period of time to meet the obligations in the future.
Fair Value of Plan Assets
The following tables present the fair value of plan assets for pension and other benefit plans by major asset category (in thousands):
As of December 26, 2020
Fair Value Measured Using
Level 1 Level 2 Total
Cash $ 1,060 $ - $ 1,060
Equity fund - 48,942 48,942
Insurance contracts - 27,394 27,394
Pension fund - 165 165
Total plan assets at fair value $ 1,060 $ 76,501 $ 77,561
As of December 28, 2019
Fair Value Measured Using
Level 1 Level 2 Total
Cash $ 895 $ - $ 895
Equity fund - 43,540 43,540
Insurance contracts - 15,149 15,149
Mixed fund - 615 615
Pension fund - 9,578 9,578
Total plan assets at fair value $ 895 $ 68,882 $ 69,777
Valuation Techniques
The following describes the valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of the assets shown in the table above. Equity funds are invested in traded securities and are recorded at market value as of the balance sheet date. Insurance contracts are recorded at cash surrender value of the policies. Mixed fund and pension fund are valued at the amounts as provided by the insurance companies who manage the funds and represent fair market value at the date of the balance sheet.
Transfers Between Levels
Any transfers between levels in the fair value hierarchy are recognized as of the end of the reporting period. No material transfers between levels occurred during the year ended December 26, 2020.
Future Contributions
In fiscal 2021, the Company expects to make contributions of $5.1 million to cover benefit payments to plan participants.
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Cash Flows
Estimated future benefit payments under the Company's pension plans as of December 26, 2020 are as follows (in thousands):
2021 $ 5,121
2022 $ 4,333
2023 $ 3,872
2024 $ 4,302
2025 $ 6,003
2026 to 2030 $ 22,904
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
20. Financial Information by Quarter (Unaudited)
The following table sets forth the Company’s unaudited quarterly consolidated statements of operations data for 2020 and 2019. The data has been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this report. The table includes all necessary adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments that the Company considers necessary for a fair presentation of this data.
For the Three Months Ended (Unaudited)
2020 2019
Dec. 26 Sep. 26 Jun. 27 Mar. 28 Dec. 28 Sep. 28 Jun. 29 Mar. 30
(In thousands, except per share data)
Revenue:
Product $ 267,226 $ 261,906 $ 261,227 $ 255,192 $ 307,861 $ 253,754 $ 226,866 $ 223,007
Services 86,299 78,305 70,360 75,081 76,706 71,587 69,384 69,700
Total revenue 353,525 340,211 331,587 330,273 384,567 325,341 296,250 292,707
Cost of revenue:
Cost of product 178,153 185,001 186,519 201,792 213,536 186,205 177,501 157,817
Cost of services 44,724 38,100 36,599 40,695 38,543 34,866 36,831 36,676
Amortization of intangible assets 4,611 7,287 8,721 8,628 8,437 7,796 8,098 8,252
Acquisition and integration costs - 43 750 1,035 7,238 8,447 10,700 2,064
Restructuring and related (106) 1,504 1,591 1,157 5,407 1,198 1,864 21,466
Total cost of revenue 227,382 231,935 234,180 253,307 273,161 238,512 234,994 226,275
Gross profit 126,143 108,276 97,407 76,966 111,406 86,829 61,256 66,432
Amortization of intangible assets 4,745 4,696 4,585 4,555 6,617 6,861 6,745 7,057
Acquisition and integration costs (265) 1,045 3,344 9,222 11,011 11,962 12,164 7,134
Restructuring and related 7,230 6,679 5,097 5,580 18,024 2,168 3,471 17,188
Other operating expenses 121,209 122,773 129,007 134,489 136,625 135,125 147,260 146,741
Total operating expenses 132,919 135,193 142,033 153,846 172,277 156,116 169,640 178,120
Loss from operations (6,776) (26,917) (44,626) (76,880) (60,871) (69,287) (108,384) (111,688)
Other income (expense), net (2,043) (7,620) (14,374) (21,452) (5,886) (13,932) (3,887) (9,720)
Loss before income taxes (8,819) (34,537) (59,000) (98,332) (66,757) (83,219) (112,271) (121,408)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 1,105 1,359 2,635 936 (163) 1,548 1,385 193
Net loss $ (9,924) $ (35,896) $ (61,635) $ (99,268) $ (66,594) $ (84,767) $ (113,656) $ (121,601)
Net loss per common share
Basic $ (0.05) $ (0.19) $ (0.33) $ (0.55) $ (0.37) $ (0.47) $ (0.64) $ (0.69)
Diluted $ (0.05) $ (0.19) $ (0.33) $ (0.55) $ (0.37) $ (0.47) $ (0.64) $ (0.69)
The Company operates and reports financial results on a fiscal year of 52 or 53 weeks ending on the last Saturday of December in each year. Accordingly, fiscal years 2020 and 2019 were 52-week years that ended on December 26, 2020, and December 28, 2019 respectively. The quarters for fiscal years 2020 and 2019 were 13-week quarters.
INFINERA CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
In December of 2018, the Company implemented a restructuring initiative (the “2018 Restructuring Plan”) as part of a comprehensive review of the Company's operations and ongoing integration activities in order to optimize resources for future growth, improve efficiencies and address redundancies following the Acquisition. These integration initiatives and restructuring initiatives under the 2018 Restructuring Plan were substantially completed in 2019. During 2020, the Company implemented a new restructuring initiative (the "2020 Restructuring Plan") that was primarily intended to reduce costs and consolidate its operations. As of December 26, 2020, the identified cost reduction initiatives under the 2020 Restructuring Plan were substantially completed For more information on the Company's restructuring plans, see Note 10, “Restructuring and Other Related Costs” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Effective December 30, 2018, the Company adopted Topic 842, using the alternative modified transition method. Results for the reporting periods beginning December 30, 2018 are presented under Topic 842, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company's historical accounting under ASC Topic 840, “Leases.” The company incurred lease impairment costs included in restructuring expenses.
Effective December 29, 2019, the Company adopted Topic 326 on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment at the beginning of the first quarter of 2020. Results for the reporting periods beginning December 29, 2019 are presented under Topic 326, while prior period amounts are not adjusted.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Attached as exhibits to this Form 10-K are certifications of our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), which are required in accordance with Rule 13a-14 of the Exchange Act. This “Controls and Procedures” section includes information concerning the internal controls and controls evaluation referred to in the certifications.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
An evaluation was performed by our management, with the participation of our CEO and our CFO, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d -15(e) under the Exchange Act). Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that, as of December 26, 2020, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
Our management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal controls over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to its costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in business conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the three months ended December 26, 2020 there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting which were identified in connection with management’s evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. We are continually monitoring and assessing the COVID-19 pandemic situation to minimize the impact, if any, on the design and operating effectiveness on our internal controls.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management, with the participation of our CEO and CFO, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2020, the end of our fiscal year. Management based its assessment on the framework established in the 2013 Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“2013 COSO framework”). Management’s assessment included evaluation of elements such as the design and operating effectiveness of key financial reporting controls, process documentation, accounting policies, and our overall control environment. This assessment is supported by testing and monitoring performed by our internal audit and finance personnel utilizing the 2013 COSO framework.
Based on our assessment, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of the end of our fiscal year 2020 to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of fiscal year 2020 has been audited by Ernst & Young, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is included elsewhere herein.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information responsive to this item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement with respect to our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. For information pertaining to our executive officers, refer to the section entitled “Information about our Executive Officers” in Part 1, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
As part of our system of corporate governance, our board of directors has adopted a code of business conduct and ethics. The code applies to all of our employees, officers (including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions), agents and representatives, including our independent directors and consultants, who are not employees of Infinera, with regard to their Infinera-related activities. The full text of our code of business conduct and ethics is posted on our web site at http://www.infinera.com. We intend to disclose future amendments to certain provisions of our code of business conduct and ethics, or waivers of such provisions, applicable to any principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions or our directors on our web site identified above. The inclusion of our web site address in this report does not include or incorporate by reference the information on our web site into this report.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information responsive to this item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement with respect to our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information responsive to this item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement with respect to our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information responsive to this item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement with respect to our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Information responsive to this item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement with respect to our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) Consolidated Financial Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains the following financial statements which appear under Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K on the pages noted below:
Page
Reports of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedule
Schedule II: Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Years Ended
December 26, 2020 December 28,
2019 December 29,
(In thousands)
Deferred tax asset, valuation allowance
Beginning balance $ 484,834 $ 493,157 $ 205,241
Additions 53,761 122,878 355,166
Reductions (6,672) (131,201) (67,250)
Ending balance $ 531,923 $ 484,834 $ 493,157
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Beginning balance $ 4,005 $ 1,821 $ 892
Additions 2,422 2,184 929
Deductions/write-offs (3,515) - -
Ending balance $ 2,912 $ 4,005 $ 1,821
Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
(a)(3) Exhibits.
See Index to Exhibits. The Exhibits listed in the accompanying Index to Exhibits are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.