XML 34 R21.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.22.1

Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Feb. 28, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Note 13 - Commitments and Contingencies Indemnity Agreements Under agreements with customers, licensors and parties from whom we have acquired assets or entered into business combinations, we indemnify these parties against liability associated with our products. Additionally, we are party to a number of agreements under leases where we indemnify the lessor for liabilities attributable to our actions or conduct. The indemnity agreements to which we are a party do not, in general, increase our liability for claims related to our products or actions and have not materially affected our consolidated financial statements. Legal Matters We are involved in various other legal claims and proceedings in the normal course of operations. We believe the outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity, except as described below. On December 23, 2021, Brita LP filed a complaint against Kaz USA, Inc. and Helen of Troy Limited in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (the “Patent Litigation”), alleging patent infringement by the Company relating to its PUR gravity-fed water filtration systems. In the Patent Litigation, Brita LP seeks monetary damages and injunctive relief relating to the alleged infringement. Brita LP simultaneously filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (“ITC”) against Kaz USA, Inc., Helen of Troy Limited and five other companies that sell water filtration systems (the “ITC Action”). The complaint in the ITC Action also alleges patent infringement by the Company with respect to its PUR gravity-fed water filtration systems. In the ITC Action, Brita LP requested the ITC to initiate an unfair import investigation relating to the filtration systems. This action seeks injunctive relief to prevent entry of PUR products (and certain other products) into the U.S. and removal of existing inventory that is already in the U.S. On January 25, 2022, the ITC instituted the investigation requested by the ITC Action. The Patent Litigation has been stayed pending resolution of the ITC Action. We intend to vigorously pursue our claims and defenses in these proceedings. However, we cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings, the amount or range of any potential loss, or when the proceedings will be resolved. Litigation is inherently unpredictable, and the resolution or disposition of these proceedings could, if adversely determined, have a material and adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations. Regulatory Matters Our operations are subject to national, state, local, and provincial jurisdictions’ environmental, health and safety laws and regulations and industry-specific product certifications. Many of the products we sell are subject to product safety laws and regulations in various jurisdictions. These laws and regulations specify the maximum allowable levels of certain materials that may be contained in our products, provide statutory prohibitions against misbranded and adulterated products, establish ingredients and manufacturing procedures for certain products, specify product safety testing requirements, and set product identification, labeling and claim requirements. For example, some of our Beauty segment’s customers require that our Beauty appliances comply with various safety certifications, including UL certifications. Similarly, thermometers distributed by our Health & Wellness segment must comply with various regulations governing the production and distribution of medical devices. Additionally, some product lines within our Health & Wellness segment are subject to product identification, labeling and claim requirements, which are monitored and enforced by regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. During fiscal 2022, we were in discussions with the EPA regarding the compliance of packaging claims on certain of our products in the air and water filtration categories and a limited subset of humidifier products within the Health & Wellness segment that are sold in the U.S. The EPA did not raise any product quality, safety or performance issues. As a result of these packaging compliance discussions, we voluntarily implemented a temporary stop shipment action on the impacted products as we worked with the EPA towards an expedient resolution. The EPA approved modest changes to our labeling claims on packaging of the air and water filtration impacted products, which we implemented, and subsequently resumed shipping during fiscal 2022. Our fiscal 2022 consolidated, and Health & Wellness segment’s, net sales revenue, gross profit, SG&A, and operating income was materially and adversely impacted by the stop shipment actions and the time needed to execute repackaging plans after changes were approved by the EPA. While we have resumed normalized levels of shipping of the affected inventory, we are still in process of repackaging our existing inventory of impacted products. Additionally, as a result of continuing dialogue with the EPA, we are executing further repackaging and relabeling plans on certain additional humidifier products and certain additional air filtration products. If we are not able to execute our repackaging plans on schedule to meet demand, our net sales revenue, gross profit and operating income could continue to be materially and adversely impacted. At this time, we are not aware of any fines or penalties related to this matter imposed against us by the EPA. While we do not anticipate material fines or penalties, there can be no assurances that such fines or penalties will not be imposed. During fiscal 2022, we recorded a $13.1 million charge to cost of goods sold to write-off the obsolete packaging for the affected products in our inventory on-hand and in-transit as of the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2022. During fiscal 2022, we incurred additional compliance costs of $19.3 million, comprised of $14.6 million of incremental warehouse storage costs and legal fees, which were recognized in SG&A, and $4.7 million of storage, obsolete packaging and other charges from vendors, which were recognized in cost of goods sold. We refer to these charges as “EPA compliance costs.” In addition, during fiscal 2022, we incurred and capitalized into inventory costs to repackage a portion of our existing inventory of the affected products and expect to continue to incur and capitalize such costs as we continue to repackage inventory. We also expect to incur additional compliance costs, which may include incremental freight, warehouse storage costs, charges from vendors, and legal fees, among other things. Such potential incremental EPA compliance costs will be expensed as incurred and could materially and adversely impact our consolidated and Health & Wellness segment’s gross profit and operating income. In addition, our net sales revenue could be materially and adversely impacted by customer returns, an increase in sales discounts and allowances and by the potential impact of distribution losses at certain retailers. For additional information refer to Item 1A., “Risk Factors,” and to Item 7., “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” including “EPA Compliance Costs” included within this Annual Report. Commitments We sell certain of our products under trademarks licensed from third parties. Some of these trademark license agreements require us to pay minimum royalties. As of February 28, 2022, we estimate future minimum annual royalty payments over the noncancellable term of these arrangements to be approximately $7.4 million, $7.3 million, $7.0 million, $5.6 million, and $2.9 million per year, during the next five fiscal years, respectively.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2127136 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2144648 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 954 -SubTopic 440 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6491277&loc=d3e6429-115629 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123406679&loc=d3e25336-109308 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123406679&loc=d3e25336-109308 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration