Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Operating Leases

We lease various offices and data centers in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia under non-cancellable operating lease arrangements that expire on various dates through 2029. Some of our leases include options to extend the term of such leases for a period from three months to up to 10 years and/or options to early terminate the leases. As of December 31, 2023, we did not include any such options in determining the lease terms because we were not reasonably certain that we would exercise these options.

The following table summarizes the supplemental balance sheet information related to our operating leases (in thousands):


	December 31, 2023		December 31, 2022
Right-of-use assets:
Operating lease right-of-use assets (included in other assets)	$	55,890	$	53,390


Lease liabilities:
Operating lease liabilities, current (included in other current liabilities)	21,106		19,878
Operating lease liabilities, non-current (included in other long-term liabilities)	44,413		43,964
Total operating lease liabilities	$	65,519	$	63,842

The following table summarizes our lease costs (in thousands):


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022
Operating lease costs:
Fixed lease costs	$	23,541	$	24,134
Variable lease costs	9,717		8,682
Total operating lease costs	$	33,258	$	32,816

The operating lease costs in the table above include costs for long-term and short-term leases. Total short-term lease costs were immaterial. Fixed lease costs include expenses recognized for base rent payments on a straight-line basis. Variable lease costs primarily include maintenance, utilities and operating expenses that are incremental to the fixed base rent payments, and are excluded from the calculation of operating lease liabilities and ROU assets. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, cash paid for amounts associated with our operating lease liabilities were approximately $22.7 million and $23.9 million, respectively, which were classified as operating activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows.

Maturities of operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2023 are presented in the table below (in thousands):


Years ending December 31,	Amount
2024	$	23,985
2025	21,208
2026	12,846
2027	8,694
2028	5,105
2029 and thereafter	159
Total undiscounted operating lease payments (excluding non-lease components)	71,997
Less: imputed interest	(6,478)
Present value of operating lease payments as of December 31, 2023	$	65,519

December 31, 2023

December 31, 2022

Other information:

Weighted-average remaining lease term — operating leases

3.4 years

4.2 years

Weighted-average discount rate — operating leases

5.4%

5.1%

Purchase Commitments

We outsource most of our manufacturing and supply chain management operations to third-party contract manufacturers, who procure components and assemble products on our behalf. A significant portion of our purchase orders to our contract manufacturers for finished products consists of non-cancellable purchase commitments. In addition, we purchase strategic component inventory from certain suppliers under non-cancellable purchase commitments, including integrated circuits, which are consigned to our contract manufacturers. As of December 31, 2023, we had non-cancellable purchase commitments not recorded on our balance sheet of $1,586.7 million, of which $1,547.2 million have confirmed receipt dates within 12 months, and $39.5 million have confirmed receipt dates greater than 12 months. These open purchase orders are considered enforceable and legally binding, and while we may have some limited ability to reschedule, and adjust our requirements based on our business needs prior to the delivery of goods or performance of services, this can only occur with the agreement of the related supplier.

We also had deposits to our contract manufacturers to secure our purchase commitments in the amount of $133.3 million and $192.5 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which were recorded within prepaid expenses and other current assets, as well as other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

Guarantees

We have entered into agreements with some of our direct customers and channel partners that contain indemnification provisions relating to potential situations where claims could be alleged that our products infringe the intellectual property rights of a third-party. We have, at our option and expense, the ability to repair any infringement, replace product with a non-infringing equivalent-in-function product or refund our customers all or a portion of the value of the product. Other guarantees or indemnification agreements include guarantees of product and service performance and standby letters of credit for leased facilities and corporate credit cards. We have not recorded a liability related to these indemnification and guarantee provisions, and our guarantee and indemnification arrangements have not had any material impact on our consolidated financial statements to date.

Legal Proceedings

WSOU Investments, LLC

On November 25, 2020, WSOU Investments LLC ("WSOU") filed a lawsuit against us in the Western District of Texas asserting that certain of our products infringe three WSOU patents. WSOU's allegations are directed to certain features of our wireless and switching products. WSOU seeks remedies including monetary damages, attorney's fees and costs. On February 4, 2021, we filed an answer denying WSOU's allegations. On November 5, 2021, the case was transferred to the Northern District of California. On March 30, 2022, WSOU dismissed one of the patents with prejudice, removing Arista wireless products from those accused of infringement. On July 1, 2022, the court stayed the case pending the resolution of an inter partes review of one of the patents-in-suit. On May 30, 2023, the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) ruled all challenged claims in the inter partes review unpatentable. The district court case remains pending appeal and/or final resolution of the PTAB ruling.

We intend to vigorously defend against the claims brought against us by WSOU; however, we cannot be certain that any of WSOU's claims will be resolved in our favor, regardless of the merits of those claims. Any adverse litigation ruling could result in a significant damages award against us and injunctive relief.

With respect to the legal proceedings described above, it is our belief that while a loss is not probable, it may be reasonably possible. Further, at this stage in the litigation, any possible loss or range of loss cannot be estimated; however, the outcome of litigation is inherently uncertain. Therefore, if this legal matter were resolved against us in a reporting period for a material amount, our consolidated financial statements for that reporting period could be materially adversely affected.

Other matters

In the ordinary course of business, we are a party to other claims and legal proceedings including matters relating to commercial, employee relations, business practices and intellectual property.

We record a provision for contingent losses when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. As of December 31, 2023, provisions recorded for contingent losses related to other claims and matters have not been significant. Based on currently-available information, management does not believe that any additional liabilities relating to other unresolved matters are probable or that the amount of any resulting loss is estimable, and believes these other matters are not likely, individually and in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows; however, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties and our view of these matters may change in the future. Were an unfavorable outcome to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows for the period in which the unfavorable outcome occurs, and potentially in future periods.