2. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial information of the Company has been prepared in accordance with Article 10 of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s, or the SEC, Regulation S-X. Accordingly, as permitted by Article 10 of the SEC’s Regulation S-X, it does not include all of the information required by generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S., or U.S. GAAP, for complete financial statements. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 was derived from the audited financial statements at that date and does not include all the disclosures required by U.S. GAAP, as permitted by Article 10 of the SEC’s Regulation S-X. The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2018, and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, include Herbalife Nutrition Ltd. and all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial information contains all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2018, and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, or the 2017 10-K. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2018, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018.

Recently Adopted Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The new revenue recognition standard provides a five-step analysis of contracts to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 for all entities by one year to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The FASB has issued several updates subsequently, including implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations, on how an entity should account for licensing arrangements with customers, and to improve guidance on assessing collectability, presentation of sales taxes, noncash consideration, and contract modifications and completed contracts at transition. The amendments in this series of updates shall be applied either retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The Company adopted Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, with a date of initial application of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method applied to all contracts existing as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning January 1, 2018 and thereafter are presented under Topic 606, while prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with Topic 605. The Company recorded a net reduction of $2.3 million to beginning retained earnings as of January 1, 2018 due to the cumulative impact of adopting Topic 606 resulting from revenue recognition timing differences related to the transfer of control of products sold through certain of the Company’s third-party importers which are not material. The cumulative impact to opening balance sheet accounts was not material. Additionally, certain third-party importer fees have changed classification from a reduction to revenue to selling, general, and administrative expense under Topic 606. For more information on the transitional impact of adopting Topic 606, see the section entitled “Revenue Recognition” below.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments — Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The updated guidance enhances the reporting model for financial instruments by modifying how entities measure and recognize equity investments and present changes in the fair value of financial liabilities, and by simplifying the disclosure guidance for financial instruments. The adoption of this guidance during the first quarter of 2018 did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-04, Liabilities — Extinguishments of Liabilities (Subtopic 405-20): Recognition of Breakage for Certain Prepaid Stored-Value Products. This ASU requires entities that sell prepaid stored-value products redeemable for goods, services or cash at third-party merchants to recognize breakage (i.e. the value that is ultimately not redeemed by the consumer) in a way that is consistent with how it will be recognized under the new revenue recognition standard. Under current U.S. GAAP, there is diversity in practice in how entities account for breakage that results when a consumer does not redeem the entire product balance. This ASU clarifies that an entity’s liability for prepaid stored-value products within its scope meets the definition of a financial liability. The adoption of this guidance during the first quarter of 2018 did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This ASU provides clarification on eight specific cash flow issues regarding presentation and classification in the statement of cash flows with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. The adoption of this guidance during the first quarter of 2018 did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. This ASU requires that entities recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The amendments in this update do not change U.S. GAAP for the pre-tax effects of an intra-entity asset transfer under Topic 810, Consolidation, or for an intra-entity transfer of inventory. The adoption of this guidance during the first quarter of 2018 did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. This ASU requires that restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts shown on the statements of cash flows. The adoption of this guidance during the first quarter of 2018 resulted in a change in the presentation of restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for all periods presented. Other than this change, the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. This ASU provides additional guidance for when a company should apply modification accounting when there is a change in either the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. Specifically, a company should not apply modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions, and classification of the award remains the same immediately before and after the modification. The adoption of this guidance during the first quarter of 2018 did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and subsequently issued additional updates to Topic 842. The updated guidance requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset, measured at the present value of the future minimum lease payments, at the lease commencement date. Recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses will depend on classification as a finance or operating lease. The amendments also require certain quantitative and qualitative disclosures. ASU 2016-02 is effective for all interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. As currently issued, the update requires entities to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of this adoption on its condensed consolidated financial statements. The adoption of this guidance is expected to increase both assets and liabilities.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instrument — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This ASU changes the impairment model for most financial assets, requiring the use of an expected loss model which requires entities to estimate the lifetime expected credit loss on financial assets measured at amortized cost. Such credit losses will be recorded as an allowance to offset the amortized cost of the financial asset, resulting in a net presentation of the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. In addition, credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will now be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a direct write-down to the security. The amendments in this update are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of this adoption on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This ASU simplifies the test for goodwill impairment by removing Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Companies will now perform the goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, recognizing an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The amendments in this update are effective for goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of this adoption on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. This ASU improves the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements and makes certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of existing hedge accounting guidance. The amendments in this update are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of this adoption on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220). This ASU allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for tax effects of items within accumulated other comprehensive income, or stranded tax effects, resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and requires certain disclosures about those stranded tax effects. The amendments in this update are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of this adoption on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

As a result of applying Topic 606, the impact to the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2018 was as follows:

 

 

As a result of applying Topic 606, the impact to the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was as follows:

 

 

As a result of applying Topic 606, the impact to the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was not material.

In general, the Company's performance obligation is to transfer its products to its Members. The Company generally recognizes revenue when product is delivered to its Members. For China independent service providers, and for third-party importers utilized in certain other countries where sales historically have not been material, the Company recognizes revenue based on the Company’s estimate of when the service provider or third-party importer sells the products because the Company is deemed to be the principal party of these product sales under Topic 606 due to the additional selling and operating requirements relating to pricing of products, conducting business with physical locations, and other selling and marketing activities required of the service providers and third-party importers; this timing difference relating to the Company recognizing revenues when these third-party entities sell the products compared to when the Company delivers the products to them did not have a material impact to the Company’s consolidated net sales for the periods presented.

The Company’s Members, excluding its China independent service providers, may receive distributor allowances, which are comprised of discounts, rebates and wholesale commission payments from the Company. Distributor allowances resulting from the Company’s sales of its products to its Members are recorded against net sales because the distributor allowances represent discounts from the suggested retail price.

The Company compensates its sales leader Members with royalty overrides for services rendered, relating to the development, retention, and management of their sales organizations. Royalty overrides are payable based on achieved sales volume. Royalty overrides are classified as an operating expense reflecting the services provided to the Company. The Company compensates its China independent service providers and third-party importers utilized in certain other countries for providing marketing, selling, and customer support services. Under Topic 606, as the Company is the principal party of the product sales as described above, the service fees payable to China independent service providers and the compensation received by third-party importers for the services they provide are recorded within Selling, general & administrative expenses. For the periods presented under Topic 605, the service fees payable to its China independent service providers are similarly recognized within Selling, general & administrative expenses as they are under Topic 606. However, under Topic 605, the compensation received by third-party importers for the services they provide, which represents the discount provided to them, is recorded as a reduction to net sales, which differs from the treatment under Topic 606 as described above. This change in the accounting treatment under Topic 606 of the compensation for services provided by the Company’s third-party importers did not impact the Company’s consolidated net income and was not material to the Company’s consolidated net sales for the periods presented.

The Company recognizes revenue when it delivers products to its United States Members; distributor allowances, inclusive of discounts and wholesale commissions, are recorded as a reduction to net sales; and royalty overrides are classified as an operating expense.

Shipping and handling services relating to product sales are recognized as fulfillment activities on the Company’s performance obligation to transfer products and are therefore recorded within net sales as part of product sales and are not considered as separate revenues under Topic 606. Shipping and handling costs paid by the Company are included in cost of sales.

The Company presents sales taxes collected from customers on a net basis.

The Company generally receives the net sales price in cash or through credit card payments at the point of sale. Accounts receivable consist principally of credit card receivables arising from the sale of products to the Company’s Members, and its collection risk is reduced due to geographic dispersion. Credit card receivables were $80.7 million and $68.1 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Substantially all credit card receivables were current as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, in bad-debt expense related to allowances for the Company’s receivables. As of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts was $1.2 million. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the majority of the Company’s total outstanding accounts receivable were current.

The Company records advance sales deposits when payment is received but revenue has not yet been recognized. In the majority of the Company’s markets, advance sales deposits are generally recorded to income when the product is delivered to its Members. Additionally, advance sales deposits also include deferred revenues due to the timing of revenue recognition for products sold through China independent service providers. The estimated deferral period for advance sales deposits is generally within one week. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recognized substantially all of the revenues that were included within advance sales deposits as of December 31, 2017 and any remaining such balance was not material as of March 31, 2018. Advance sales deposits are included in Other current liabilities on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. See Note 13, Detail of Certain Balance Sheet Accounts, for further information.

In general, if a Member returns product to the Company on a timely basis, they may obtain replacement product from the Company for such returned products. In addition, in general the Company maintains a buyback program pursuant to which it will repurchase products sold to a Member who has decided to leave the business. Allowances for product returns, primarily in connection with the Company’s buyback program, are provided at the time the sale is recorded. This accrual is based upon historical return rates for each country and the relevant return pattern, which reflects anticipated returns to be received over a period of up to 12 months following the original sale. Allowances for product returns were $4.2 million and $3.9 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

The Company’s products are grouped in five principal categories: weight management; targeted nutrition; energy, sports & fitness; outer nutrition; and literature and promotional items. However, the effect of economic factors on the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue recognition and cash flows are similar among all five product categories. The Company defines its operating segments through six geographic regions. The effect of economic factors on the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue recognition and cash flows are similar among the regions with the Company’s Primary Reporting Segment. See Note 6, Segment Information, for further information on the Company’s reportable segments and the Company’s presentation of disaggregated revenue by reportable segment.

Distributor Compensation – U.S.

In the U.S., distributor compensation, including Royalty overrides, is capped if the Company does not meet an annual requirement as described in the consent order discussed in more detail in Note 5, Contingencies. On a periodic basis, the Company evaluates if this requirement will be achieved by year end to determine if a cap on distributor compensation will be required, and then determines the appropriate amount of distributor compensation expense, which may vary in each reporting period. As of March 31, 2018, the Company believes that the cap to distributor compensation will not be applicable for the current year.

Other Operating Income

To encourage local investment and operations, governments in various China provinces conduct grant programs. The Company applied for and received several such grants in China. Government grants are recorded into income when a legal right to the grant exists, there is a reasonable assurance that the grant proceeds will be received, and the substantive conditions under which the grants were provided have been met. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recognized government grant income of approximately $16.2 million in other operating income within its condensed consolidated statements of income, related to its regional headquarters and distribution centers within China. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company did not recognize any government grant income related to its regional headquarters and distribution centers within China. The Company intends to continue applying for government grants in China when programs are available; however, there is no assurance that the Company will receive grants in future periods.

Other Expense, Net

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recognized a $11.3 million loss on the revaluation of the non-transferable contractual contingent value right, or CVR, provided for each share tendered in the October 2017 modified Dutch auction tender offer (See Note 10, Shareholders’ Deficit, for further information on the CVR); and a $13.1 million loss on extinguishment of $475.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Company’s convertible senior notes due 2019 (See Note 4, Long-Term Debt) in other expense, net within its condensed consolidated statements of income. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company did not recognize any other expense, net.

Restricted Cash

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of cash flows:

 

 

The majority of the Company’s consolidated restricted cash is held by certain of its foreign entities and consists of cash deposits that are required due to the business operating requirements in those jurisdictions.