Unrecognized tax benefit

[Table of Contents](#i2c45b01857824b67a12ec5acf3b2e95b_7)Legal ProceedingsLynwood Investment CY Limited v. F5 Networks et al.On June 8, 2020, Lynwood Investment CY Limited (“Lynwood”) filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Company and certain affiliates, along with other defendants. In its complaint, Lynwood claims to be the assignee of all rights and interests of Rambler Internet Holding LLC (“Rambler”), and alleges that the intellectual property in the NGINX software originally released by the co-founder of NGINX in 2004 belongs to Rambler (and therefore Lynwood, by assignment) because the software was created and developed while the co-founder was employed by Rambler. Lynwood asserts 26 causes of action against the various defendants, including copyright infringement, violation of trademark law, tortious interference, conspiracy, and fraud. The complaint seeks damages, disgorgement of profits, fees and costs, declarations of copyright and trademark ownership, trademark cancellations, and injunctive relief. Lynwood also initiated several trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which have all since been suspended. In August and October 2020, the Company and the other defendants filed motions to dismiss all claims asserted against them in the lawsuit. While these motions were pending, the Court ordered Lynwood to select ten of its twenty-six claims to litigate through trial while the remaining sixteen claims would be stayed pending resolution of the ten selected claims.On March 25 and 30, 2021, the Court dismissed the ten selected claims and granted Lynwood leave to cure the deficiencies in its complaint though it expressed doubt about Lynwood’s ability to do so. The Court further ruled that Lynwood may not add new causes of action or add new parties without stipulation or leave of court, and that unless Lynwood corrects “all the defects” identified in the Court’s orders and the Company’s and other defendants’ motions to dismiss, the Court will dismiss the ten claims with prejudice. On April 6, the Court referred the parties to private mediation to be completed by June 1, 2021. Pursuant to the Court’s order, the parties held a private mediation on May 27, 2021. The matter did not resolve.On April 29, Lynwood filed its amended complaint, seeking the same relief against the Company and other defendants. On May 27, 2021, the Company and other defendants filed a consolidated motion to dismiss the claims Lynwood had selected to proceed to litigate through trial, reserving their right to move to dismiss the 16 stayed claims once the Court lifts the stay. The motion to dismiss was set to be heard by the Court on October 14, 2021, but on October 11, 2021, the Court vacated the hearing and gave notice that it will decide the motion on the papers without oral argument.This case has recently been assigned to a new judge. The new judge has not indicated when the motion will be ruled upon.Proven Networks LLC LitigationsProven Networks LLC (“Proven”) is a non-practicing entity (NPE) whose sole business is acquiring patents and filing lawsuits alleging infringement of those patents to extract licensing fees. Proven acquired a portfolio of Alcatel-Lucent patents and asserted various patents from that portfolio against more than a dozen technology companies in courts in California and Texas, in the International Trade Commission and in foreign courts. Proven brought three actions against the Company, one in California, one in the International Trade Commission, and one in Germany. These cases against the Company were resolved through a global settlement that was not material to the Company, the terms of which are confidential.10. Income TaxesThe Company's tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimated annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items in the related period. The effective tax rate was 16.3% and 25.1% for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2020 is primarily due to the tax impact of stock based compensation.At December 31, 2021, the Company had $72.7 million of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. It is anticipated that the Company’s existing liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits will change within the next twelve months due to audit settlements or the expiration of statutes of limitations. The Company does not expect these changes to be material to the consolidated financial statements. The Company recognizes interest and, if applicable, penalties for any uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense.The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as the income tax of multiple state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company has concluded all U.S. federal income tax matters for fiscal years through September 30, 2017. Major jurisdictions where there are wholly owned subsidiaries of F5, Inc. which require income tax filings include the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Israel. The earliest periods open for review by local taxing authorities are fiscal years 2020 for the United Kingdom, 2017 for Singapore, and 2013 for Israel. The Company is currently under audit by various states for fiscal 21
