Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Significant Accounting Policies

v3.22.1
Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies

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 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, 2021 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, 2022 and for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 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, 2022 and for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021. 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, 2021, or the 2021 10-K. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022.

Recently Adopted Pronouncements

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt — Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. This ASU simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments by eliminating certain accounting models, resulting in fewer embedded conversion features being separately recognized from the host contract, and also amends the guidance for derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity to reduce form-over-substance-based accounting conclusions. Additionally, the amendments in this ASU affect the diluted EPS calculation for convertible instruments. It requires that the effect of potential share settlement be included in the diluted EPS calculation when a convertible instrument may be settled in cash or shares; the if-converted method as opposed to the treasury stock method is required to calculate diluted EPS for these types of convertible instruments. The amendments in this update are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2022 using the modified retrospective method and recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit in the period of adoption. As a result of the adoption, on January 1, 2022, the Company increased long-term debt by approximately $59.1 million, reduced paid-in capital in excess of par value by approximately $136.7 million, and decreased accumulated deficit by approximately $77.6 million within its condensed consolidated balance sheet. Future non-cash interest expense related to convertible instruments will be lower as a result of adoption of this guidance and net income per share will be computed using the if-converted method for convertible instruments.

In December 2021, the Company made an irrevocable election under the indenture governing the convertible senior notes due 2024, or the 2024 Convertible Notes, to require the principal portion of the 2024 Convertible Notes to be settled in cash and any excess in shares or cash. Following the irrevocable election, only the amounts expected to be settled in excess of the principal will be considered in diluted earnings per share under the if-converted method pursuant to ASU 2020-06. This irrevocable election under the indenture had no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021.

In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-10, Government Assistance (Topic 832): Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance. This ASU increases the transparency of government assistance including the disclosure of: (1) the types of assistance, (2) an entity’s accounting for the assistance, and (3) the effect of the assistance on an entity’s financial statements. The amendments in this update are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance during the first quarter of 2022 did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-01, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Fair Value Hedging — Portfolio Layer Method. This ASU improves hedge accounting to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. It expands the current last-of-layer method that permits only one hedged layer to allow multiple hedged layers of a single closed portfolio, and to reflect that expansion, the last-of-layer method is renamed the portfolio layer method. The amendments in this update are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of this adoption on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s net sales consist of product sales. 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 the majority of 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 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. Beginning January 1, 2022, the Company began recognizing revenue for certain China independent service providers upon delivery as such Members have pricing discretion and increased fulfillment responsibilities and accordingly were determined to be the Company’s customers for accounting purposes.

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. As the Company is the principal party for the majority of product sales as described above, the majority of service fees payable to China independent service providers and the compensation received by third-party importers for the services they provide, which represents the discount provided to them, are recorded in selling, general, and administrative expenses within the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income. For those certain China independent service providers who are deemed to be the Company’s customers for accounting purposes, a portion of the service fees payable to these Members is classified as a reduction of net sales as opposed to the entire service fee being recognized within selling, general, and administrative expenses.

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. 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 $68.8 million and $53.0 million as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. Substantially all credit card receivables were current as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The Company recorded bad-debt expense related to allowances for the Company’s receivables of zero and $0.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. As of both March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts was $2.5 million. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, 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, 2022, the Company recognized substantially all of the revenues that were included within advance sales deposits as of December 31, 2021 and any remaining such balance was not material as of March 31, 2022. Advance sales deposits are included in other current liabilities within the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. See Note 14, 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 $3.0 million and $3.4 million as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

The Company’s products are grouped in five principal categories: weight management; targeted nutrition; energy, sports, and 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 geographic regions within 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, 2022, 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. Generally, these substantive conditions are the Company maintaining operations and paying certain taxes in the relevant province and obtaining government approval by completing an annual application process. The Company believes the continuing obligation with respect to the funds is a general requirement that they are used only for its business in China. The Company recognized government grant income related to its regional headquarters and distribution centers within China of approximately $13.1 million and $15.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, in other operating income within its condensed consolidated statements of income. 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.

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:

 

 

 

March 31,
2022

 

 

December 31,
2021

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

569.7

 

 

$

601.5

 

Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

2.6

 

 

 

2.6

 

Restricted cash included in Other assets

 

 

6.3

 

 

 

6.3

 

Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows

 

$

578.6

 

 

$

610.4

 

 

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.

COVID-19 Pandemic

During March 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, as a pandemic. In response to the spread of COVID-19, certain government agencies and the Company itself have mandated various measures and recommended others, in each to protect the public and the Company’s employees, which have disrupted certain areas of the Company’s business including, but not limited to, distribution and selling activities. The ultimate extent and magnitude of the impact of COVID-19 is not known and could have a material adverse impact to the Company’s business and future financial condition and results of operations. Management has been and continues to actively monitor the impact of COVID-19 generally and on the Company.

The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented herein reflect the latest estimates and assumptions made by management that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and related disclosures as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods presented. The Company believes it has used reasonable estimates and assumptions to assess the fair values of its goodwill, marketing-related intangible assets, and long-lived assets; assessment of the annual effective tax rate; valuation of deferred income taxes; and the allowance for doubtful accounts. After reviewing historical and forward-looking information, the Company determined there were no impairments required relating to its goodwill, marketing-related intangible assets, and long-lived assets during the three months ended March 31, 2022.