v3.25.1
Commitments and contingent liabilities
3 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and contingent liabilities Commitments and contingent liabilities
Environmental: We are subject to contingencies as a result of environmental laws and regulations that in the future may require us to take further action to correct the effects on the environment of prior disposal practices or releases of chemical or petroleum substances by us or other parties. Much of this liability results from the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, often referred to as Superfund, the U.S. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and similar state laws. These laws require us to undertake certain investigative and remedial activities at sites where we conduct or once conducted operations or at sites where Company-generated waste was disposed.
Remediation activities vary substantially in duration and cost from site to site. The nature of these activities, and their associated costs, depend on the mix of unique site characteristics, evolving remediation technologies, the regulatory agencies involved and their enforcement policies, as well as the presence or absence of other potentially responsible parties. At March 30, 2025, we have recorded $0.5 million and $3.3 million in accrued liabilities and other liabilities, respectively, relating to these matters. Considerable uncertainty exists with respect to these liabilities and, if adverse changes in circumstances occur, the potential liability may exceed the amount accrued as of March 30, 2025. The time frame over which the accrued amounts may be paid out, based on past history, is estimated to be 10-15 years.
Legal matters: We are a party to various lawsuits and claims arising in the normal course of business. These lawsuits and claims include actions involving product liability and product warranty, intellectual property, commercial disputes, acquisition and divestiture related matters, contracts, employment, environmental and other matters. As of March 30, 2025, we have recorded accrued liabilities of $0.8 million in connection with such contingencies, representing our best estimate of the cost within the range of estimated possible losses that will be incurred to resolve these matters. Amounts accrued for legal contingencies are often determined based on a complex series of judgments about future events and uncertainties that rely heavily on estimates and assumptions, including as to the timing of related payments. The ability to make such estimates and judgments can be affected by various factors including whether, among other things, damages sought in the proceedings are unsubstantiated or indeterminate; scientific and legal discovery has commenced or is complete; proceedings are in early stages; matters present legal uncertainties; there are significant facts in dispute, or procedural or jurisdictional issues; there is uncertainty or unpredictability regarding the number of potential claims; there is the potential to achieve comprehensive multi-party settlements; there is complexity regarding related cross-claims and counterclaims; and/or there are numerous parties involved. To the extent adverse awards, judgments or verdicts have been rendered against us, we do not record an accrual until a loss is determined to be probable and can be reasonably estimated.
While the results of such litigation or claims cannot be predicted with certainty, based on information currently available, advice of counsel, established reserves and other resources, we do not believe that the outcome of any outstanding litigation and claims is likely to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. However, in the event of unexpected further developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of these matters, or other similar matters, if unfavorable, may be materially adverse to our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Legal costs such as outside counsel fees and expenses are charged to selling, general and administrative expenses in the period incurred.
Other: In 2015, the Italian parliament enacted legislation that, among other things, imposed a “payback” measure on medical device companies that supply goods and services to the Italian National Healthcare System. Under the measure, companies are required to make payments to the Italian government if medical device expenditures in a given year exceed regional expenditure ceilings established for that year. The payment amounts are calculated based on the amount by which the regional ceilings for the given year were exceeded. In response to decrees issued by the Italian Ministry of Health, the various Italian regions issued invoices to medical device companies, including Teleflex, under the payback measure in the fourth quarter of 2022 seeking payment with respect to excess expenditures for the years 2015 through 2018. Following the issuance of the invoices, we and numerous other medical device companies filed appeals with the Italian administrative courts challenging the enforceability of the payback measure, primarily on the basis that the law was unconstitutional. The Italian administrative courts referred the question regarding the constitutionality of the law to the Italian Constitutional Court, which in July 2024, issued a ruling upholding the law as constitutional. As of March 30, 2025, our reserve related to this matter was $38.7 million, of which $2.1 million was recorded as a reduction of revenue during the
three months ended March 30, 2025. Following the ruling of the Italian Constitutional Court, the appeal before the Italian administrative court will proceed with respect to the remaining legal arguments asserted by the appellants with regard to the enforceability of the payback law.

As part of our acquisition of Palette Life Sciences AB ("Palette") in 2023, we identified certain foreign tax liabilities that had not been properly recognized and paid by Palette prior to our acquisition. As part of our acquisition accounting, we have established a liability of $3.5 million, representing our best estimate of the outstanding tax liabilities including interest as of March 30, 2025. In February 2024, we requested the relevant foreign tax authority to re-assess Palette’s previously filed tax returns for the related periods. In April 2025, we received a notice from the tax authority indicating our request may be subject to challenge. We intend to defend the position stated in our reassessment request vigorously should the tax authority ultimately disagree with the basis for our request and decide to challenge our request. If we are unsuccessful in defending our position, we may be required to pay an amount in excess of our current established liability, which could be material.
Tax audits and examinations: We are routinely subject to tax examinations by various tax authorities. As of March 30, 2025, the most significant tax examinations in process were in Germany and the United States. We may establish reserves with respect to our uncertain tax positions, after we adjust the reserves to address developments with respect to our uncertain tax positions, including developments in these tax examinations. Accordingly, developments in tax audits and examinations, including resolution of uncertain tax positions, could result in increases or decreases to our recorded tax liabilities, which could impact our financial results.