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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Nov. 04, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies Commitments The following table summarizes contractual obligations and commitments as of November 4, 2018:
|  |  |  | Fiscal Year |  |
|  | Total |  | 2019 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2022 |  | 2023 |  | Thereafter
|  | (In millions) |  |
Debt principal and interest |  | $ | 20,941 |  |  | $ | 566 |  |  | $ | 3,321 |  |  | $ | 1,242 |  |  | $ | 3,940 |  |  | $ | 1,366 |  |  | $ | 10,506 |
Purchase commitments |  | 852 |  |  | 776 |  |  | 74 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Other contractual commitments |  | 175 |  |  | 105 |  |  | 63 |  |  | 5 |  |  | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Operating lease obligations |  | 650 |  |  | 75 |  |  | 62 |  |  | 51 |  |  | 39 |  |  | 36 |  |  | 387 |
Total |  | $ | 22,618 |  |  | $ | 1,522 |  |  | $ | 3,520 |  |  | $ | 1,299 |  |  | $ | 3,982 |  |  | $ | 1,402 |  |  | $ | 10,893 |
Debt Principal and Interest. Represents principal and interest on borrowings under the 2017 Senior Notes, the Assumed BRCM Senior Notes, and the Assumed Brocade Convertible Notes. Purchase Commitments. Represents unconditional purchase obligations that include agreements to purchase goods or services, primarily inventory, that are enforceable and legally binding on us and that specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased, fixed, minimum or variable price provisions, and the approximate timing of the transaction. Purchase obligations exclude agreements that are cancelable without penalty. Cancellation for outstanding purchase orders for capital expenditures in connection with internal fabrication facility expansion and construction of our new campuses is generally allowed but requires payment of all costs incurred through the date of cancellation and, therefore, cancelable purchase orders for these capital expenditures are included in the table above. Other Contractual Commitments. Represents amounts payable pursuant to agreements related to information technology, human resources, financial infrastructure outsourcing services and other service agreements. Operating Lease Obligations. Represents real property and equipment leased from third parties under non-cancelable operating leases. Rent expense was $233 million, $253 million and $229 million for fiscal years 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Due to the inherent uncertainty with respect to the timing of future cash outflows associated with our unrecognized tax benefits at November 4, 2018, we are unable to reliably estimate the timing of cash settlement with the respective taxing authority. Therefore, $3,088 million of unrecognized tax benefits and accrued interest classified within other long-term liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet as of November 4, 2018 have been excluded from the contractual obligations table above. Standby Letters of Credit As of each November 4, 2018 and October 29, 2017, we had outstanding obligations relating to standby letters of credit of $14 million and $12 million, respectively. Standby letters of credit are financial guarantees provided by third parties for leases, customs, taxes and certain self-insured risks. If the guarantees are called, we must reimburse the provider of the guarantees. The fair values of the letters of credit approximate the contract amounts. The standby letters of credit generally renew annually. Contingencies From time to time, we are involved in litigation that we believe is of the type common to companies engaged in our line of business, including commercial disputes, employment issues and disputes involving claims by third parties that our activities infringe their patent, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property rights. Legal proceedings are often complex, may require the expenditure of significant funds and other resources, and the outcome of litigation is inherently uncertain, with material adverse outcomes possible. Intellectual property claims generally involve the demand by a third-party that we cease the manufacture, use or sale of the allegedly infringing products, processes or technologies and/or pay substantial damages or royalties for past, present and future use of the allegedly infringing intellectual property. Claims that our products or processes infringe or misappropriate any third-party intellectual property rights (including claims arising through our contractual indemnification of our customers) often involve highly complex, technical issues, the outcome of which is inherently uncertain. Moreover, from time to time, we pursue litigation to assert our intellectual property rights. Regardless of the merit or resolution of any such litigation, complex intellectual property litigation is generally costly and diverts the efforts and attention of our management and technical personnel. Lawsuits Relating to the Acquisition of CA, Inc. On August 3, 2018, a purported stockholder of CA commenced a putative class action lawsuit captioned Harvey v. CA, Inc., et al. against CA, the CA board of directors, Broadcom and Broadcom’s wholly owned subsidiary party to the merger agreement with CA in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. On August 9, 2018, another putative class action lawsuit captioned Vladimir Gusinsky Rev. Trust v. CA, Inc., et al. was filed against CA and the CA board of directors in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, or Delaware District Court. On August 15, 2018, a third putative class action lawsuit captioned Jacob Scheiner Retirement Account v. CA, Inc., et al. was filed against CA and the CA board of directors in the Delaware District Court. On August 22, 2018, a fourth putative class action lawsuit captioned Kenneth Gilley v. CA, Inc., et al. was filed against CA and the CA board of directors in the Delaware District Court. The Harvey and Vladimir Gusinsky Rev. Trust complaints alleged violations of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act arising out of CA’s preliminary proxy statement relating to the CA Merger, filed with the SEC on July 24, 2018. The Scheiner Retirement Account and Gilley complaints alleged violations of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14a-9 promulgated thereunder arising out of CA’s definitive proxy statement relating to the CA Merger, filed with the SEC on August 10, 2018. The complaints asserted that the preliminary proxy statement or definitive proxy statement, as applicable, contain incomplete and misleading information regarding CA’s financial projections and the financial analysis performed by Qatalyst Partners, CA’s financial advisor, as well as, for the Harvey, Scheiner Retirement Account and Gilley complaints, the sales process undertaken by CA in connection with its proposed merger with Broadcom. Plaintiffs sought to enjoin the defendants from consummating the CA Merger, or, if the CA Merger is consummated, rescission and/or damages. The plaintiffs also sought costs and fees. On September 4, 2018, the parties to each of the four lawsuits reached an agreement in principle providing for a dismissal of each of the lawsuits following the CA shareholder vote with respect to the CA Merger. In connection with this agreement, CA filed a supplement to the definitive proxy statement relating to the CA Merger. On September, 24, 2018, all four lawsuits were dismissed. Lawsuits Relating to the Acquisition of Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. On December 13, 2016, December 15, 2016, December 21, 2016, January 5, 2017 and January 18, 2017, six putative class action complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, or the U.S. Northern District Court, captioned Steinberg v. Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., et al., No. 3:16-cv-7081-EMC, Gross v. Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., et al., No. 3:16-cv-7173-EJD, Jha v. Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., et al., No. 3:16-cv-7270-HRL, Bragan v. Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., et al., No. 3:16-cv-7271-JSD, Chuakay v. Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., et al., No. 3:17-cv-0058-PJH, and Mathew v. Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., et al., No. 3:16-cv-7271-HSG, respectively. The Steinberg, Bragan and Mathew complaints named as defendants Brocade, the members of Brocade’s board of directors, Broadcom, BRCM and Bobcat Merger Sub, Inc. The Gross, Jha and Chuakay complaints named as defendants Brocade and the members of Brocade’s board of directors. All of the complaints asserted claims under Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14a-9 promulgated thereunder. The complaints alleged, among other things, that the board of directors of Brocade failed to provide material information and/or omitted material information from the Preliminary Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on December 6, 2016 by Brocade. The complaints sought to enjoin the closing of the transaction between Brocade and Broadcom, as well as certain other equitable and declaratory relief and attorneys’ fees and costs. On January 10, 2017, January 27, 2017 and February 15, 2017, the U.S. Northern District Court granted motions to relate the cases, all of which were then related to the Steinberg action and before the Honorable Judge Edward Chen. On January 11, 2017, Plaintiff Jha filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, which was subsequently withdrawn on January 18, 2017. On February 6, 2017, Plaintiff Gross voluntarily dismissed the Gross action without prejudice, which was ordered by the U.S. Northern District Court on February 15, 2017. On April 14, 2017, the U.S. Northern District Court granted the Motion for Consolidation, Appointment as Lead Plaintiff and Approval of Lead Plaintiff’s Selection of Counsel filed by Plaintiff Giulio D. Cessario, a plaintiff in the Steinberg action, which consolidated these actions under the caption In re Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. Securities Litigation, Case No. 3:16-cv-07081-EMC. On December 29, 2017, Lead Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the consolidated action without prejudice and withdrew as Lead Plaintiff. On February 16, 2018, Plaintiffs Gross, Chuakay and Jha filed a joint motion for an award of attorneys’ fees. On March 2, 2018, the defendants filed a joint opposition to the motion for attorneys’ fees. On May 3, 2018, Plaintiffs Gross, Chuakay and Jha withdrew their motion for an award of attorneys’ fees. As of May 6, 2018, all actions have been dismissed and motions withdrawn, thereby concluding all actions with respect to these lawsuits. Lawsuits Relating to Tessera, Inc. On May 23, 2016, Tessera Technologies, Inc., Tessera, Inc., or Tessera, and Invensas Corp., an affiliate of Tessera, or Invensas or collectively, the Complainants, filed a complaint to institute an investigation with the U.S. International Trade Commission, or the ITC. The Complainants alleged infringement by Broadcom and our subsidiaries, BRCM, Avago, and Avago Technologies U.S. Inc., or Avago U.S., or collectively, the Respondents, of three patents relating to semiconductor packaging and semiconductor manufacturing technology. The downstream respondents, which are customers of the Respondents, were Arista Networks, Inc., ARRIS International plc, ARRIS Group, Inc., ARRIS Technology, Inc., ARRIS Enterprises LLC, ARRIS Solutions, Inc., Pace Ltd., Pace Americas, LLC, Pace USA, LLC, ASUSteK Computer Inc., ASUS Computer International, Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC, Comcast Business Communications, LLC, HTC Corporation, HTC America, Inc., NETGEAR, Inc., Technicolor S.A., Technicolor USA, Inc., and Technicolor Connected Home USA LLC, or collectively, the Downstream Respondents. On July 20, 2016, the ITC instituted the investigation, or the ITC Investigation. Complainants sought the following relief: (1) a permanent limited exclusion order excluding from importation into the U.S. all of the Respondents' semiconductor devices and semiconductor device packages and Downstream Respondents’ products containing Respondents’ semiconductor devices and semiconductor device packages that infringe one or more of the three patents subject to the ITC Investigation and (2) a permanent cease and desist order prohibiting the Respondents and Downstream Respondents and related companies from importing, marketing, advertising, demonstrating, warehousing inventory for distribution, offering for sale, selling, qualifying for use in the products of others, distributing, or using the Respondents' semiconductor devices and semiconductor device packages and Downstream Respondents’ products containing Respondents’ semiconductor devices and semiconductor device packages that infringe one or more of the three patents subject to the ITC Investigation. On May 23, 2016, Tessera and Invensas filed a complaint against BRCM in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, Case No. 1-16-cv-00379, alleging infringement of the three patents subject to the ITC Investigation. The complaint sought compensatory damages in an unspecified amount, as well as an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees, interest, and costs. On May 23, 2016, Tessera and Tessera Advanced Technologies, Inc. filed a complaint against BRCM in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, Case No. 1-16-cv-00380, alleging infringement of four patents relating to semiconductor packaging and circuit technologies. On June 19, 2016, the complaint was amended to add three more patents relating to semiconductor packaging technologies for a total of seven patents in this matter. The complaint sought compensatory damages in an unspecified amount, as well as an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees, interest, and costs. On May 23, 2016, Invensas filed a Writ of Summons against Broadcom, BRCM, Broadcom Netherlands B.V. and Broadcom Communications Netherlands B.V. in the Hague District Court in the Netherlands, Case No. L1422381, alleging infringement of a single European patent that is a foreign counterpart to one of the patents subject to the ITC Investigation, or the European Patent. The named defendants also included distributors EBV Elektronik GmbH, Arrow Central Europe GmbH, and Mouser Electronics Netherlands B.V. The requested relief included a cease-and-desist order and damages in an unspecified amount. On May 23, 2016, Invensas also filed a complaint against each of (i) Broadcom Germany GmbH and Broadcom‘s German distributors, Case No. 7 O 97/16, and (ii) Broadcom and BRCM, Case No. 7 O 98/16, in the Mannheim District Court in Germany, alleging infringement of the European Patent. The requested relief included damages in an unspecified amount and an injunction preventing the sale of the accused products. On November 7, 2016, Invensas filed a complaint against Avago, Avago U.S., Emulex Corporation, or Emulex, LSI and PLX Technology, Inc., a subsidiary of Broadcom, or PLX, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, Case No. 1-16-cv-01033, alleging infringement of two of the patents subject to the ITC Investigation. The complaint sought compensatory damages in an unspecified amount, as well as an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees, interest, and costs. On November 7, 2016, Tessera and Invensas filed a complaint against Avago, Avago U.S., and Avago Technologies Wireless (U.S.A.) Manufacturing Inc., or AT Wireless in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, Case No. 1-16-cv-01034, alleging infringement of two patents relating to semiconductor packaging technology. On January 31, 2017, Tessera and Invensas amended the complaint in this matter and added three additional patents related to semiconductor packaging technology, which were also at issue in case No. 1-16-cv-00379 pending in Delaware. The complaint sought compensatory damages in an unspecified amount, as well as an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees, interest, and costs. On December 18, 2017, Broadcom and its subsidiaries entered into comprehensive settlement agreements and a patent license agreement with Tessera and its affiliates resolving all outstanding litigation. Pursuant to the agreements between the parties, the ITC investigation was terminated, and all of the other litigations were dismissed, thereby concluding all actions with respect to these matters. Lawsuits Relating to the Acquisition of Emulex On March 3, 2015, two putative stockholder class action complaints were filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or the Delaware Court of Chancery, against Emulex, its directors, AT Wireless, and Emerald Merger Sub, Inc., or Emerald Merger Sub, captioned as follows: James Tullman v. Emulex Corporation, et al., Case No. 10743-VCL (Del. Ch.); Moshe Silver ACF/Yehudit Silver U/NY/UTMA v. Emulex Corporation, et al., Case No. 10744-VCL (Del. Ch.). On March 11, 2015, a third complaint was filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery, captioned Hoai Vu v. Emulex Corporation, et al., Case No. 10776-VCL (Del. Ch.). The complaints alleged, among other things, that Emulex’s directors breached their fiduciary duties by approving the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 25, 2015, by and among AT Wireless, Emerald Merger Sub and Emulex and that AT Wireless and Emerald Merger Sub aided and abetted these alleged breaches of fiduciary duty. The complaints sought, among other things, either to enjoin the transaction or to rescind it following its completion, as well as damages, including attorneys’ and experts’ fees. The Delaware Court of Chancery has entered an order consolidating the three Delaware actions under the caption In re Emulex Corporation Stockholder Litigation, Consolidated C.A. No. 10743-VCL. On May 5, 2015, we completed our acquisition of Emulex. On June 5, 2015, the Court of Chancery dismissed the consolidated action without prejudice. On April 8, 2015, a putative class action complaint was filed in the U.S. Central District Court, entitled Gary Varjabedian, et al. v. Emulex Corporation, et al., No. 8:15-cv-554-CJC-JCG. The complaint names as defendants Emulex, its directors, AT Wireless and Emerald Merger Sub, and purported to assert claims under Sections 14(d), 14(e) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act. The complaint alleged, among other things, that the board of directors of Emulex failed to provide material information and/or omitted material information from the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 filed with the SEC on April 7, 2015 by Emulex, together with the exhibits and annexes thereto. The complaint sought to enjoin the tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Emulex common stock, as well as certain other equitable relief and attorneys’ fees and costs. On July 28, 2015, the U.S. Central District Court issued an order appointing the lead plaintiff and approving lead counsel for the putative class. On September 9, 2015, plaintiff filed a first amended complaint seeking rescission of the merger, unspecified money damages, other equitable relief and attorneys’ fees and costs. On October 13, 2015, defendants moved to dismiss the first amended complaint, which the U.S. Central District Court granted with prejudice on January 13, 2016. Plaintiff filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, or the Ninth Circuit Court, on January 15, 2016. The appeal is captioned Gary Varjabedian, et al. v. Emulex Corporation, et al., No. 16-55088. On June 27, 2016, the Plaintiff-Appellant filed his opening brief, on August 17 and August 22, 2016, the Defendants-Appellees filed their answering briefs, and on October 5, 2016 Plaintiff-Appellant filed his reply brief. The Ninth Circuit Court heard oral arguments on October 5, 2017. On April 20, 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court issued an opinion affirming in part and reversing in part the decision of the U.S. Central District Court and remanding Plaintiff-Appellant’s claims under Sections 14(e) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act to the U.S. Central District Court for reconsideration. On May 4, 2018, the Defendants-Appellees filed a Petition for Rehearing En Banc with the Ninth Circuit Court. On July 13, 2018, Plaintiff-Appellant filed an Opposition to the Petition for Rehearing En Banc. On September 6, 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court issued an order denying the Petition for Rehearing En Banc. On October 11, 2018, Defendants-Appellees filed a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. We believe these claims are all without merit and intend to vigorously defend these actions. Other Matters In addition to the matters discussed above, we are currently engaged in a number of legal actions in the ordinary course of our business. Contingency Assessment We do not believe, based on currently available facts and circumstances, that the final outcome of any pending legal proceedings, taken individually or as a whole, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, lawsuits may involve complex questions of fact and law and may require the expenditure of significant funds and other resources to defend. The results of litigation are inherently uncertain, and material adverse outcomes are possible. From time to time, we may enter into confidential discussions regarding the potential settlement of such lawsuits. Any settlement of pending litigation could require us to incur substantial costs and other ongoing expenses, such as future royalty payments in the case of an intellectual property dispute. During the periods presented, no material amounts have been accrued or disclosed in the accompanying consolidated financial statements with respect to loss contingencies associated with any other legal proceedings, as potential losses for such matters are not considered probable and ranges of losses are not reasonably estimable. These matters are subject to many uncertainties and the ultimate outcomes are not predictable. There can be no assurances that the actual amounts required to satisfy any liabilities arising from the matters described above will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows. Other Indemnifications As is customary in our industry and as provided for in local law in the U.S. and other jurisdictions, many of our standard contracts provide remedies to our customers and others with whom we enter into contracts, such as defense, settlement, or payment of judgment for intellectual property claims related to the use of our products. From time to time, we indemnify customers, as well as our suppliers, contractors, lessors, lessees, companies that purchase our businesses or assets and others with whom we enter into contracts, against combinations of loss, expense, or liability arising from various triggering events related to the sale and the use of our products, the use of their goods and services, the use of facilities and state of our owned facilities, the state of the assets and businesses that we sell and other matters covered by such contracts, usually up to a specified maximum amount. In addition, from time to time we also provide protection to these parties against claims related to undiscovered liabilities, additional product liabilities or environmental obligations. In our experience, claims made under such indemnifications are rare and the associated estimated fair value of the liability is not material.

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