• Fourth quarter worldwide volume growth of 23 percent with double-digit increases in each of its six regions compared to the prior year period.
• Fourth quarter EPS of $0.86 increased 25 percent compared to the prior year period.
• Raising FY’12 EPS guidance to a range of $3.40 to $3.60.
• Record annual sales leader retention of over 50 percent.
• Board of directors approved a $0.30 per share quarterly dividend.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) today reported that fourth quarter net sales increased 20 percent and local currency net sales increased 23 percent compared to the same time period in 2010. Net income for the quarter of $105.4 million, or $0.86 per diluted share compares to 2010 fourth quarter net income of $86.3 million and EPS of $0.69, respectively.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, the company reported record net sales of $3.5 billion, a 26 percent increase on 21 percent volume growth compared to 2010. For the same period, the company reported adjusted¹ net income of $413.3 million, or $3.31 per diluted share, reflecting an increase of 35 percent and 37 percent respectively compared to the adjusted 2010 results of $305.6 million and $2.42 per diluted share. On a reported basis, EPS of $3.30 increased 39 percent compared to 2010.

“The momentum in our business continued throughout 2011 as we set new records in net sales, earnings per share, and free cash flow,” said Michael O. Johnson, the company’s chairman and CEO. “Equally important, we continue to set records in many Distributor metrics that are the foundation for continued growth, including activity levels and retention rates of Sales Leaders.“

For the year ended December 31, 2011, the company generated cash flow from operations of $509.3 million, an increase of 31 percent compared to 2010, paid dividends of $85.5 million, invested $90.9 million in capital expenditures and repurchased $298.8 million in common shares outstanding related to our share repurchase program.

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¹ See Schedule A – “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more detail.

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2011 Regional Key Metrics^2,3,4

Regional Volume Point and Average Active Sales Leader Metrics

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² “Emerging markets” are defined herein as those countries that the World Bank categorized as having “low” or “medium” GDP per capita, while “Established markets” are defined as those countries categorized by the World Bank as having “high” GDP per capita.

³ Supplemental tables that include additional business metrics can be found at http://www.ir.herbalife.com

⁴ Worldwide Average Active Sales Leaders may not equal the sum of the Average Active Sales Leaders in each region due to the calculation being an average of Sales Leaders active in a period, not a summation, and the fact that some sales leaders are active in more than one region but are counted only once in the worldwide amount.

2011 Annual Sales Leader Requalification

By January of each year, sales leaders are required to re-qualify. In February of each year, we remove from the rank of sales leaders those individuals who did not satisfy the sales leader qualifications during the preceding 12 months. For the latest 12-month re-qualification period ending January 2012, approximately 52 percent of the eligible sales leaders, excluding China, re-qualified, reflecting an improvement from approximately 49 percent in the prior requalification period.

Updated 2012 Guidance

Guidance for fully diluted 2012 EPS is based on the average daily exchange rates of January 2012, which in aggregate are not materially different from the foreign currency exchange rates assumed in our prior guidance.

Based on current business trends the company’s first quarter fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2012 guidance is provided below.

Announces Quarterly Dividend

The company reported today that its board of directors has approved a dividend of $0.30 per share to shareholders of record effective March 7, 2012, payable on March 22, 2012.

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2011 Earnings Conference Call

Herbalife senior management will host an investor conference call to discuss its recent financial results and provide an update on current business trends on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 8 a.m. PST (11 a.m. EST).

The dial-in number for this conference call for domestic callers is 877-317-1296 and 706-634-5671 for international callers (conference ID 41826311). Live audio of the conference call will be simultaneously webcast in the investor relations section of the company’s website at http://ir.herbalife.com.

An audio replay will be available following the completion of the conference call in MP3 format or by dialing 855-859-2056 for domestic callers or 404-537-3406 for international callers (conference ID 41826311). The webcast of the teleconference will be archived and available on Herbalife’s website.

About Herbalife Ltd.

Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) is a global network marketing company that sells weight-management, nutrition, and personal care products intended to support a healthy lifestyle. Herbalife products are sold in 81 countries through a network of approximately 2.7 million independent distributors. The company supports the Herbalife Family Foundation and its Casa Herbalife program to help bring good nutrition to children. Herbalife’s website contains a information about Herbalife, including financial and other information for investors at http://ir.Herbalife.com. The company encourages investors to visit its website from time to time, as information is updated and new information is posted.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including any projections of earnings, revenue or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning proposed new services or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements may include the words “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “intend,” “continue,” “believe,” “expect” or “anticipate” and any other similar words.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed or incorporated by reference in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:

• any collateral impact resulting from the ongoing worldwide financial “crisis,” including the availability of liquidity to us, our customers and our suppliers or the willingness of our customers to purchase products in a difficult economic environment;

• our relationship with, and our ability to influence the actions of, our distributors;

• improper action by our employees or distributors in violation of applicable law;

• adverse publicity associated with our products or network marketing organization;

• changing consumer preferences and demands;

• our reliance upon, or the loss or departure of any member of, our senior management team which could negatively impact our distributor relations and operating results;

• the competitive nature of our business;

• regulatory matters governing our products, including potential governmental or regulatory actions concerning the safety or efficacy of our products and network marketing program, including the direct selling market in which we operate;

• legal challenges to our network marketing program;

• risks associated with operating internationally and the effect of economic factors, including foreign exchange, inflation, disruptions or conflicts with our third party importers, pricing and currency devaluation risks, especially in countries such as Venezuela;

• uncertainties relating to the application of transfer pricing, duties, value added taxes, and other tax regulations, and changes thereto;

• uncertainties relating to interpretation and enforcement of legislation in China governing direct selling;

• our inability to obtain the necessary licenses to expand our direct selling business in China;

• adverse changes in the Chinese economy, Chinese legal system or Chinese governmental policies;

• our dependence on increased penetration of existing markets;

• contractual limitations on our ability to expand our business;

• our reliance on our information technology infrastructure and outside manufacturers;

• the sufficiency of trademarks and other intellectual property rights;

• product concentration;

• changes in tax laws, treaties or regulations, or their interpretation;

• taxation relating to our distributors;

• product liability claims; and

• whether we will purchase any of our shares in the open markets or otherwise.

We do not undertake any obligation to update or release any revisions to any forward-looking statements or to report any events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

SCHEDULE A: RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(unaudited), (Dollars in Thousand, Except Per Share Data)

In addition to its reported results, the Company has included in the tables below adjusted results that the Securities and Exchange Commission defines as “non-GAAP financial measures.” Management believes that such non-GAAP financial measures, when read in conjunction with the Company’s reported results, can provide useful supplemental information for investor in analyzing period to period comparisons of the Company’s results.

The following is a reconciliation of net income and diluted earnings per share, presented and reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, to net income adjusted for certain items:

The following is a reconciliation of total long-term debt to net debt:

Herbalife Ltd.
Media Contact:
Barbara Henderson, 213-745-0517
SVP, Worldwide Corp. Comm.
or
Investor Contact:
Amy Greene, 213-745-0474
VP, Investor Relations

Source: Herbalife Ltd.

Released Feb 21, 2012 • 4:10pm EST