7. Contingencies

The Company is from time to time engaged in routine litigation. The Company regularly reviews all pending litigation matters in which it is involved and establishes reserves deemed appropriate by management for these litigation matters when a probable loss estimate can be made.

The matters described in this Note may take several years to resolve. While the Company believes it has meritorious defenses, it cannot be sure of their ultimate resolution. Although the Company may reserve amounts for certain matters that the Company believes represent the most likely outcome of the resolution of these related disputes, if the Company is incorrect in its assessment, the Company may have to record additional expenses, when it becomes probable that an increased potential liability is warranted.

Tax Matters

The Mexican Tax Administration Service has delayed processing value-added tax, or VAT, refunds for companies operating in Mexico and the Company believes that the process for its Mexico subsidiary to receive VAT refunds may be delayed. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $17.4 million of Mexico VAT-related assets, of which $6.8 million was recognized in prepaid expenses and other current assets and $10.6 million was recognized in other assets within its consolidated balance sheet. This amount relates to VAT payments made over various periods and the Company believes these amounts are recoverable by refund or they may be applied against certain future tax liabilities. Effective January 1, 2019, a tax reform law changed the rules concerning possible use of VAT assets, specifically providing that, for VAT balances generated after December 31, 2018, those balances could not be offset against taxes other than VAT obligations currently due. The Company has not recognized any losses related to these VAT-related assets as the Company does not believe a loss is probable.

In addition, the Mexican Tax Administration Service audited the Company’s various tax filings for the 2019 year. During July 2024, the Company received a tax assessment for its 2019 tax year of approximately $21.3 million, translated at the December 31, 2024 spot rate, relating to the VAT rate that was primarily applicable to certain of the Company’s products that were previously imported into Mexico. The Company filed a formal administrative appeal process in September 2024. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses. The Company has not recognized a loss as the Company does not believe a loss is probable.

The Company has received tax assessments for multiple years from the Federal Revenue Office of Brazil related to withholding/contributions based on payments to the Company’s Members. In February 2022, the Company received a mixed verdict related to the 2004 tax assessment which reduced the exposure to the Company. The aggregate combined amount of all these assessments is equivalent to approximately $14.0 million, translated at the December 31, 2024 spot rate. The Company is currently litigating these assessments and has provided a surety bond for certain of these amounts. The Company has not accrued a loss for the majority of the assessments because the Company does not believe a loss is probable. The Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate the amount of the loss that may result from an unfavorable outcome if additional assessments for other periods were to be issued.

The Company is under examination in several Brazilian states related to ICMS and ICMS-ST taxation. Some of these examinations have resulted in assessments for underpaid tax that the Company has appealed. The State of São Paulo has audited the Company for the 2013 and 2014 tax years. During July 2016 and August 2017, for the State of São Paulo, the Company received assessments in the aggregate amount of approximately $25.9 million and approximately $9.6 million, respectively, translated at the December 31, 2024 spot rate, relating to various ICMS issues for its 2013 and 2014 tax years, respectively. The Company appealed both of these assessments. The Company received an unfavorable decision at the Third Level Administrative Court on the 2013 tax year case and in November 2023, the Company provided a surety bond to the Court and an undrawn letter of credit to the surety bond issuer, each for approximately $45 million, in order to litigate the case at the Judicial level. During August 2024, the Company received an unfavorable decision at the Third Level Administrative Court on the 2014 tax year case, and subsequently, the Company provided a surety bond to the Court for approximately $20 million and an undrawn letter of credit to the surety bond issuer for approximately $15 million in order to litigate the case at the Judicial level. The Company is continuing to litigate both of these assessments. Separately, the State of São Paulo is auditing the Company for the 2017 to 2023 tax years, and during December 2023, March 2024, June 2024, and August 2024, the Company received assessments in the aggregate amount of approximately $37.2 million, approximately $23.5 million, approximately $14.2 million, and approximately $10.3 million, respectively, translated at the December 31, 2024 spot rate, relating to various ICMS issues for its 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 tax years, respectively. The 2018 through 2021 tax year cases are all under Administrative appeal and the Company has received favorable verdicts for all these tax year cases at the First Level Administrative Court. The Company expects the Tax Authority to appeal these decisions at the First Level Administrative Court. Litigation in all these cases is currently ongoing. The Company has not recognized a loss relating to any of these cases, assessments, and matters as the Company does not believe a loss is probable.

During September 2018, for the State of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the Company received an assessment in the aggregate amount of approximately $5.7 million, translated at the December 31, 2024 spot rate, relating to various ICMS-ST issues for its 2016 and 2017 tax years. The Company is appealing this assessment and the case is at the First Level Judicial Court. The Company has also received other ICMS tax assessments in Brazil. During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company filed appeals with state judicial courts against three of the assessments. The Company had provided surety bonds in the aggregate amount of $10.2 million, translated at the December 31, 2024 spot rate, to guarantee payment of some of the tax assessments as required while the Company pursues the appeals. In addition, the Company has received several ICMS tax assessments in the aggregate amount of $2.3 million, translated at the December 31, 2024 spot rate, from several other Brazilian states where surety bonds have not been issued. Litigation in all these cases is currently ongoing. The Company has not recognized a loss relating to any of these cases, assessments, and matters as the Company does not believe a loss is probable.

The Company has received various tax assessments in multiple jurisdictions in India for multiple years from the Indian VAT and Service Tax authorities in an amount equivalent to approximately $12.0 million, translated at the December 31, 2024 spot rate. These assessments are for underpaid VAT and the ability to claim input Service Tax credits. The Company is litigating these cases at the tax administrative level and the tax tribunal levels as it believes it has meritorious defenses. The Company has not recognized a loss as it does not believe a loss is probable. In addition, the Indian income tax authorities audited the Company’s fiscal years ended March 31, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022 and the Company has received assessments for tax and interest of approximately $17.0 million, $16.5 million, $21.6 million, $19.1 million, and $26.9 million for those respective years, translated at the December 31, 2024 spot rate. These assessments are subject to interest and penalty adjustments. For the assessments related to fiscal years March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2018, the Company received a favorable verdict at the Tax Tribunal level; however, the government has appealed these verdicts to the High Court. The Company intends to litigate these cases for fiscal years ended March 31, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The Company currently believes that it is more likely than not that it will be successful in supporting its positions relating to these assessments. Accordingly, the Company has not accrued any amounts relating to these matters. In addition, the Indian income tax authorities are auditing multiple years and it is uncertain whether additional assessments will be received.

Other Matters

As a marketer of foods, dietary and nutritional supplements, and other products that are ingested by consumers or applied to their bodies, the Company has been and is currently subjected to various product liability claims. The effects of these claims to date have not been material to the Company. The Company currently maintains product liability insurance with an annual deductible of $12.5 million.

On January 17, 2022, the Company filed a lawsuit, titled Herbalife International of America, Inc. vs. Eastern Computer Exchange, Inc., against a former technology services vendor in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The Company alleges claims of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent concealment, conversion, and declaratory relief related to the defendant’s request for payment for technology services and products that the company never authorized. The defendant asserted numerous counterclaims against the Company. On December 28, 2022, the Court partially granted a motion to dismiss counterclaims, leaving only breach of contract, promissory estoppel, and declaratory relief counterclaims. Summary judgment motions were filed, and the Court denied the defendant's motion for summary judgment and partially granted the Company's motion for summary judgment on March 18, 2024. The Company will vigorously defend itself while pursuing relief for its own claims. The current trial date for the action is April 8, 2025. The Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate the amount of the loss that may result from an unfavorable outcome and does not believe a loss is probable.

On October 31, 2024, the Company and certain of its executive officers were named as defendants in a purported class action lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, titled Sarah DeSimone v. Herbalife Ltd. et al. The complaint alleges violations of the California Labor Code, including misclassification of distributors as independent contractors, and states that plaintiff intends to assert claims under the California Private Attorneys General Act. The plaintiff seeks damages in an unspecified amount. The Company will vigorously defend itself against the claims in the lawsuit. The Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate the amount of the loss that may result from an unfavorable outcome and does not believe a loss is probable.