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Commitments and Contingencies | 3 Months Ended
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May 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Note 8 - Commitments and Contingencies Legal Matters We are involved in various 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 a limited set of PUR gravity-fed water filtration systems. In the ITC Action, Brita LP requested the ITC to initiate an unfair import investigation relating to such 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. 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 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 the first quarter of fiscal 2023, we recorded a $4.4 million charge to cost of goods sold to write-off the obsolete packaging for the affected additional humidifier products and affected additional air filtration products in our inventory on-hand and in-transit as of the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2023. We incurred additional compliance costs during the first quarter of fiscal 2023 of $7.2 million, comprised of $5.0 million of obsolete packaging, storage and other charges from vendors, which were recognized in cost of goods sold, and $2.2 million of incremental warehouse storage costs and legal fees, which were recognized in SG&A. During the first quarter of 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. We refer to these charges as “EPA compliance costs.” In addition, during the first quarter of fiscal 2023, 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 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. Additional impacts or more pronounced adverse impacts may arise that we are not currently aware of today. Accordingly, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely and materially impacted in ways that we are not able to predict today. For additional information refer to Part I, Item 2., “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” including “EPA Compliance Costs”. Weather-Related Incident On March 30, 2022, a third-party facility that we utilize for inventory storage incurred severe damage from a weather-related incident. The inventory that was stored at this facility primarily related to our Health & Wellness and Beauty segments. While the inventory is insured, some seasonal inventory and inventory designated for specific customer promotions was not accessible and subsequently determined to be damaged, and as a result, unfavorably impacted our net sales revenue during the first quarter of fiscal 2023. As a result of the damages to the inventory stored at the facility, during the first quarter of fiscal 2023, we recorded a charge to write-off the damaged inventory totaling $34.4 million, of which $29.9 million and $4.5 million related to our Health & Wellness and Beauty segments, respectively. These charges were fully offset by probable insurance recoveries of $34.4 million also recorded during the first quarter of fiscal 2023, which represent anticipated insurance proceeds, not to exceed the amount of the associated losses, for which receipt was deemed probable. The charges for the damaged inventory and the expected insurance recoveries are included in cost of goods sold in our condensed consolidated statement of income for the three months ended May 31, 2022. Any potential future proceeds from our property insurance, above the amount of associated losses, and our business interruption insurance will be recognized when received.

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