COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Contractual Obligations
We lease certain facilities and equipment used in our operations and accounts for leases with escalating payments using the straight-line method. We incurred expenses of approximately $8.5 million, $7.4 million, and $6.6 million in connection with operating leases during 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. The approximate aggregate commitments under non-cancelable operating leases in effect at December 31, 2018, were as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
We have entered into long-term agreements with third-parties in the ordinary course of business, in which we have agreed to pay a percentage of net sales in certain regions in which we operate, or royalties on certain products. In 2018, 2017, and 2016, the aggregate amounts of these payments were $46,000, $10,000, and $0.1 million, respectively.
Legal Proceedings
We are party to various legal proceedings. Management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, or their resulting effect on our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows as litigation and related matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. Were an unfavorable outcome to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows for the period in which the ruling occurs and/or future periods. We maintain product liability, general liability and excess liability insurance coverage. However, no assurances can be given that such insurance will continue to be available at an acceptable cost to us, that such coverage will be sufficient to cover one or more large claims, or that the insurers will not successfully disclaim coverage as to a pending or future claim.
Non-Income Tax Contingencies
We have reserved for certain state sales and use tax and foreign non-income tax contingencies based on the likelihood of an obligation in accordance with accounting guidance for probable loss contingencies. Loss contingency provisions are recorded for probable losses at management’s best estimate of a loss, or when a best estimate cannot be made, a minimum loss contingency amount is recorded. We provide provisions for potential payments of tax to various tax authorities for contingencies related to non-income tax matters, including value-added taxes and sales tax. We provide provisions for U.S. state sales taxes in each of the states where we have nexus. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, accrued liabilities include $0.3 million and $0.4 million related to non-income tax contingencies, respectively. While we believe that the assumptions and estimates used to determine this liability are reasonable, the ultimate outcome of these matters cannot presently be determined. We believe future payments related to these matters could range from $0 to approximately $3.4 million.
Other Litigation
We are party to various other legal proceedings in the United States and several foreign jurisdictions related to value-added tax assessments and other civil litigation. We have accrued $1.7 million related to the estimated outcome of these proceedings as of December 31, 2018. In addition, we are party to other litigation where there is a reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred, either the losses are not considered to be probable or we cannot at this time estimate the loss, if any; therefore, no provision for losses has been provided. We believe future payments related to these matters could range from $0 to approximately $0.4 million.
Self-Insurance Liabilities
Similar to other manufacturers and distributors of products that are ingested, we face an inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims in the event that, among other things, the use of our products results in injury. During 2017 we secured product liability coverage to cover possible claims, and still maintain accruals for periods prior to us obtaining coverage. Prior to this, we accrued an amount that we believe is sufficient to cover probable and reasonably estimable liabilities related to product liability claims based on our history of such claims. However, there can be no assurance that these estimates will prove to be sufficient, nor can there be any assurance that the ultimate outcome of any litigation for product liability will not have a material negative impact on our business prospects, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
We self-insure for certain employee medical benefits. The recorded liabilities for self-insured risks are calculated using actuarial methods and are not discounted. The liabilities include amounts for actual claims and claims incurred but not reported. Actual experience, including claim frequency and severity as well as health care inflation, could result in actual liabilities being more or less than the amounts currently recorded.
We review our self-insurance accruals on a quarterly basis and determine, based upon a review of our recent claims history and other factors, which portions of our self-insurance accruals should be considered short-term and long-term. We have accrued $1.1 million and $1.5 million for product liability and employee medical claims at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, of which $0.7 million and $0.6 million was classified as short-term. Such amounts are included in accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets.
Government Regulations
We are subject to governmental regulations pertaining to product formulation, labeling and packaging, product claims and advertising, and to our direct selling system. We are also subject to the jurisdiction of numerous foreign tax and customs authorities. Any assertions or determinations that either us or our independent Distributors are not in compliance with existing statutes, laws, rules or regulations could potentially have a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition, in any country or jurisdiction, the adoption of new statutes, laws, rules or regulations, or changes in the interpretation of existing statutes, laws, rules or regulations could have a material adverse effect on us and our operations. Although we believe that we are in compliance, in all material respects, with the statutes, laws, rules and regulations of every jurisdiction in which we operate, no assurance can be given that our compliance with applicable statutes, laws, rules and regulations will not be challenged by foreign authorities or that such challenges will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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