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Commitments and Contingencies
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
As a company with a substantial employee population and with operations in a large number of countries, Ingram Micro is involved, either as a plaintiff or defendant, in a variety of ongoing claims, demands, suits, investigations, tax matters and proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of its business. The Company records a provision with respect to a claim, suit, investigation, or proceeding when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. If there is at least a reasonable possibility that a material loss may have been incurred associated with pending legal claims, or when assertion of unasserted material claims is considered probable, we disclose such fact, and if reasonably estimable, we provide an estimate of the possible loss or range of possible loss. We record our best estimate of a loss related to pending legal and regulatory proceedings when the loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Where a range of loss can be reasonably estimated with no best estimate in the range, we record the minimum estimated liability. As additional information becomes available, we assess the potential liability related to pending legal and regulatory proceedings and revise our estimates and update our disclosures accordingly. Significant judgment is required in both the determination of probability and the determination as to whether a loss is reasonably estimable. Our legal costs associated with legal matters are recorded to expense as incurred.
The Company reviews claims, suits, investigations and proceedings at least quarterly, and decisions are made with respect to recording or adjusting provisions and disclosing reasonably possible losses or range of losses (individually or in the aggregate). Whether any losses, damages, or remedies finally determined in any claim, suit, investigation or proceeding could reasonably have a material effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows will depend on a number of variables, including: the timing and amount of such losses or damages; the structure and type of any such remedies; the significance of the impact of such losses, damages or remedies may have in the consolidated financial statements; and the unique facts and circumstances of the particular matter that may give rise to additional factors.
Our Brazilian subsidiary has received a number of tax assessments primarily related to tax reporting compliance topics as well as transaction-tax related matters largely involving applicability of tax and categorization of products and services. The total amount related to these assessments and similar tax exposures that are not yet assessed that give rise to a probable risk where a reserve has been established is Brazilian Reais 21,711 ($3,502 at December 28, 2024 exchange rates) in principal and associated penalties, interest and fines. The total amount related to these assessments and similar tax exposures that are not yet assessed that we believe give rise to a reasonably possible loss is Brazilian Reais 843,008 ($135,986 at December 28, 2024 exchange rates) in principal and associated penalties, interest and fines.
In June 2013, the French Competition Authority (“FCA”) launched an investigation of our subsidiary in France (“Ingram Micro France”), one of our competitors and one of our vendors in relation to alleged anticompetitive practices. In October 2018, the investigation services of the FCA filed a Statement of Objections against Ingram Micro France, as primary infringer, and Ingram Micro Europe BVBA and Ingram Micro, as parent companies (“Ingram”). In March 2020, the Board of the FCA issued its decision imposing a fine of €62,900 on Ingram regarding volume allocations of Apple products. In July 2020, we appealed the decision of the Board of the FCA to the Paris Court of Appeals. On October 6, 2022, the Paris Court of Appeals issued a decision maintaining the infraction of volume allocation and reducing the fine to €19,500. In November 2022 the Company further appealed this matter to the “Cour de Cassation.” As the appeal to the “Cour de Cassation” did not suspend the obligation to pay the fine, in the third quarter of 2022, we recorded a contingent liability at that time within our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Under the payment plan agreed with the French Treasury, Ingram Micro France had already paid approximately $11,000. On November 4, 2022, Ingram Micro France made an additional payment of approximately $9,000 to complete the total amount of the fine and the French Treasury released the third-party surety bond. As a result of the appeals court ruling, the Company determined that the best estimate of probable loss related to this matter is limited to the amounts already paid to date. On June 3, 2021, the reseller whose complaint to the FCA gave rise to the investigation filed a follow-on civil claim in the Paris Commercial Court seeking approximately €95,000 ($99,000 at December 28, 2024 exchange rates) in damages from Ingram, one of our competitors and one of our vendors. On May 30, 2022, the Paris Commercial Court postponed the hearing on this reseller claim pending resolution of the appeal on the main case. On October 24, 2022, the reseller requested the re-opening of the proceedings and we petitioned the Paris Commercial Court to stay the proceedings until the main case is decided by the “Cour de Cassation.” On May 15, 2023, the Paris Commercial Court did not accept the request to suspend the case and set a calendar for a final hearing, which took place in June 2024. On November 25, 2024, the Paris Commercial Court issued a decision rejecting the follow-on damages claim in its entirety due to lack of causation, and the plaintiff appealed the decision on December 23, 2024. We are currently evaluating this matter and we do not believe any loss amount is estimable or probable at this time.
In January 2021, we first learned through external sources that in June 2019, the Court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Special Acts), Central District, Tis Hazari in New Delhi (the “New Delhi Court”) issued a summoning order naming Ingram Micro India Ltd. (“IMIL”) as one of 40 legal entity defendants in a criminal complaint. IMIL is accused by the Serious Fraud Office of cheating and criminal conspiracy based on four payments it made over 16 years ago at the request of a certain vendor. In February 2021, outside legal counsel appeared on IMIL’s behalf at the New Delhi Court and requested relevant documentation pertaining to these charges to assess IMIL’s legal position. IMIL has vigorously contested the charges as we believe the charges to be meritless and in December 2021 filed a motion to dismiss.
In September 2021, the Company’s subsidiary in Saudi Arabia received a tax assessment for Saudi Riyal 238,152 ($63,420 at December 28, 2024 exchange rates) in tax and associated penalties issued by ZATCA (tax and customs authority) asserting that withholding tax was due on payments to non-resident vendors for software distributed to resellers from 2015 through 2020. We believe the tax assessment gives rise to a reasonably possible loss of Saudi Riyal 159,985 ($42,604 at December 28, 2024 exchange rates) in tax and a probable risk of Saudi Riyal 5,466 ($1,456 at December 28, 2024 exchange rates) in tax. In addition, we believe it is possible the tax authorities will assess us for payments to non-resident vendors for software distributed to resellers for the years 2021 through 2024, which gives rise to a reasonably possible loss of Saudi Riyal 395,505 ($105,323 at December 28, 2024 exchange rates) in tax and a probable risk of Saudi Riyal 1,632 ($435 at December 28, 2024 exchange rates) in tax. Associated penalties have a remote risk due to the assessments being based on a difference in interpretation of Saudi tax law. In February 2024 and early April 2024, ZATCA issued new guidelines on taxation of payments for software, which largely appear to no longer assert that withholding tax is due on payments to non-resident vendors for software distributed to resellers. While we continue to analyze the guidelines it is unclear how ZATCA will utilize the guidelines with respect to the pre-guidelines periods since they are only applicable on a prospective basis; however, we believe there has been positive development as the new guidelines appear to be largely consistent with the interpretation before the assessments were made. In May 2024, at our request, the court granted a third 6-month suspension of the case. In September 2024, we submitted a resolution proposal for the years 2015 through 2020 for Saudi Riyal 5,466 ($1,456 at December 28, 2024 exchange rates), which is in alignment with the probable risk listed above. The proposal creates an indefinite suspension of the case for the duration of the resolution procedure. We strongly believe that we have administered taxes correctly, that these payments to non-resident vendors for software distributed to resellers are not subject to withholding tax and that we will ultimately prevail in this matter.
Related to the matter discussed in section "Out of Period Correction" within Note 2, "Significant Accounting Policies", we have made voluntary disclosure to the Indian tax authorities, which we and our local advisors believe has mitigated the risk of any potential income tax penalties.
We may be subject to non-income based tax unasserted claims related to transactions with certain non-U.S. affiliates and indirect tax related matters. As of December 28, 2024, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the possible losses or range of losses, if any, arising from unasserted claims due to a number of factors, including the presence of complex or novel legal theories and the ongoing discovery and development of information important to potential unasserted claims. Claims, suits, investigations and proceedings are inherently uncertain, and it is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of unasserted claims. It is possible that the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially affected in any particular period by the resolution of potential claims.
As is customary in the IT distribution industry, we have arrangements with certain finance companies that provide inventory-financing facilities for our customers. In conjunction with certain of these arrangements, we have agreements with the finance companies that would require us to repurchase certain inventory that might be repossessed from the customers by the finance companies. Due to various reasons, including among other items, the lack of information regarding the amount of salable inventory purchased from us that is still on hand with the customer at any point in time, repurchase obligations relating to inventory cannot be reasonably estimated. Repurchases of inventory by us under these arrangements have been insignificant to date.
We have guarantees to third parties that provide financing to a limited number of our customers. Net sales under these arrangements accounted for less than one percent of our consolidated net sales for each of the periods presented. The guarantees require us to reimburse the third party for defaults by these customers up to an aggregate of $6,591. The fair value of these guarantees has been recognized as cost of sales on the Consolidated Statements of Income to these customers and is included in accrued expenses and other on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.