8 unchanged sentences
Risks related to our financial position
−Removed: There are doubts about our ability to continue as a going concern and if we are unable to continue our business, our Class A common stock might have little or no value.
−Removed: Based on our current operating plans and potential market and economic conditions, we have concluded there is substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern within the next twelve months from the issuance of our consolidated financial statements that are included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as evaluated under generally accepted accounting principals in the United States.
−Removed: We have relied on our ability to fund our operations primarily through cash flows from operations as well as public and private debt and equity financings, but there can be no assurances that such financing or funding will continue to be available to us on satisfactory terms, or at all.
−Removed: In light of this, we are continuing to actively pursue plans to mitigate these conditions and events;
−Removed: however, there can be no assurances that it is probable these measures will successfully mitigate these conditions and events.
−Removed: Therefore, these measures do not alleviate the substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
−Removed: See Part II, Item 8.
−Removed: Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 1.
−Removed: Organization—Going Concern of this Annual Report for additional information.
−Removed: Our fundraising efforts to raise additional funding may divert our management from their day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize our products.
+Added: If we are unable to meet our current operating projections or secure other sources of liquidity, substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern may arise, which may negatively affect the market value of our Class A common stock.
+Added: The consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report have been prepared under the going concern basis of accounting, which presumes that the Company’s liquidation is not imminent.
+Added: Based on our current operating plans and potential market and economic conditions, the Company believes it should be able to meet its obligations as they become due within the next twelve months from the date of issuance of the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report, as evaluated under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
+Added: While we were in compliance as of December 31, 2023 with the financial covenants as stated within the Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of December 6, 2019 (the “2019 Credit Agreement,” and, as amended by that certain Amendment No.
+Added: 1 to Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of August 29, 2021, by the Second Amendment to Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2021, by the Third Amendment to Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of July 11, 2022, by the Fourth Amendment to Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2023 and by the Fifth Amendment, the “Amended 2019 Credit Agreement”), on January 18, 2024, the Company entered into Amendment No.
+Added: 5 to the 2019 Credit Agreement (the “Fifth Amendment”) as part of its efforts to further improve its financial condition.
+Added: The Fifth Amendment modified the financial covenant requirements contained in the 2019 Credit Agreement to provide additional financial covenant relief and included modifications to the Company’s leverage maintenance covenant and interest coverage ratio to provide financial and operational flexibility relative to its operating plan.
+Added: However, the Company has based the above assessment on assumptions of revenues, cash flows and operating costs that may prove to be wrong.
+Added: In such event, the Company may need to seek further modifications to certain of the covenants in the Amended 2019 Credit Agreement to avoid an event of default or seek waivers of any potential noncompliance.
+Added: Moreover, the Company has historically relied on its ability to fund its operations primarily through cash flows from operations, as well as public and private debt and equity financings, but there can be no assurances that such financing or funding will continue to be available to the Company on satisfactory terms, or at all.
In addition, we cannot guarantee that financing will be available in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
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The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed payment obligations and we may be required to agree to certain restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire, sell or license intellectual property rights and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business.
−Removed: We could also be required to seek funds through arrangements with collaborative partners or otherwise at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable and we may be required to relinquish rights to some of our technologies or product candidates or otherwise agree to terms unfavorable to us, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and prospects.If potential collaborators decline to do business with us or potential investors decline to participate in any future financings due to the foregoing concerns, our ability to improve our capital resources may be limited.
−Removed: The perception that we may not be able to continue as a going concern may cause others to choose not to deal with us due to concerns about our ability to meet our contractual obligations.
−Removed: Moreover, as a result of recent volatile market conditions, the cost and availability of capital has been and may continue to be adversely affected.
−Removed: Concern about the stability of the banking sector has generally led many lenders and institutional investors to reduce, and in some cases, cease to provide credit to businesses and consumers.
−Removed: Continued turbulence in the U.S.
−Removed: market and economy may adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition, including our ability to access the capital markets to meet liquidity needs.
−Removed: In addition, we maintain the majority of our cash and cash equivalents in accounts with major financial institutions, and our deposits at these institutions exceed insured limits.
−Removed: Market conditions can impact the viability of these institutions.
−Removed: In the event of failure of any of the financial institutions where we maintain our cash and cash equivalents, there can be no assurance that we would be able to access uninsured funds in a timely manner or at all.
−Removed: Any inability to access or delay in accessing these funds could adversely affect our business and financial position.
+Added: The inability to secure alternative financing on acceptable terms or to obtain any additional required modifications to the Amended 2019 Credit Agreement in the event that we fail to meet our operating projections may raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and adversely affect our business and financial condition.
Our Amended 2019 Credit Agreement contains financial and operating restrictions that may limit our access to credit.
If we fail to comply with its financial or other covenants, we may be required to repay the indebtedness, which may harm our liquidity.
−Removed: We are subject to certain covenants under our Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated December 6, 2019 (as amended on October 29, 2021, July 11, 2022 and March 31, 2023, the “Amended 2019 Credit Agreement”), including, but not limited to:
+Added: We are subject to certain covenants under the Amended 2019 Credit Agreement, including, but not limited to:
• a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum debt leverage ratio requirement as defined in the Amended 2019 Credit Agreement;
−Removed: • a minimum Liquidity (as defined in the Amended 2019 Credit Agreement) of not less than $10.0 million as of the end of each calendar month through June 30, 2024;
+Added: • a minimum Liquidity (as defined in the Amended 2019 Credit Agreement) of not less than $10.0 million as of the end of each calendar month through October 29, 2025;
• restrictions on the declaration or payment of certain distributions on or in respect of our equity interests;
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Indebtedness for further discussion concerning our indebtedness.
+Added: Failure to establish and maintain effective financial controls could cause us to have material weaknesses and financial misstatements due to error, which could adversely affect our business and stock price.
+Added: We are required to comply with the SEC’s rules implementing Sections 302, 404 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which require management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports, provide quarterly and annual management reports on the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures, and provide annual management reports on the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting.
+Added: Though we are required to disclose changes made in our internal controls and procedures on a quarterly basis and assess internal controls over financial reporting on an annual basis, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 until we are no longer an emerging growth company pursuant to the provisions of the JOBS Act.
+Added: At such time, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which our controls are documented, designed or operating.
+Added: We have undertaken various actions to comply with the requirements of being a public company.
+Added: However, we cannot assure you that the measures we have taken to date, and actions we may take in the future, will be sufficient to prevent or avoid financial misstatements due to error or material weaknesses.
+Added: If we identify any material weaknesses in the future that we cannot fully remediate, the accuracy and timing of our financial reporting may be adversely affected.
+Added: Testing and maintaining financial controls can also divert our management’s attention from other matters that are important to the operation of our business.
+Added: Ineffective disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial and other information, which would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of our Class A common stock.
+Added: Additionally, when evaluating our financial controls, we may identify material weaknesses in our internal controls that we may not be able to remediate in time to meet the applicable deadline imposed upon us for compliance with the requirements of Section 404.
+Added: If we identify any material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting or are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting once we are no longer an emerging growth company, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our Class A common stock could be adversely affected, and we could become subject to investigations by the stock exchange on which our securities are listed, the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.
We maintain our cash at financial institutions, often in balances that exceed federally insured limits.
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If such banking institutions were to fail, we could lose all or a portion of amounts held in excess of such insurance limitations.
−Removed: The FDIC recently took control of two such banking institutions, Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) on March 10, 2023 and Signature Bank (“Signature Bank”) on March 12, 2023.
+Added: The FDIC took control of two such banking institutions, Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) on March 10, 2023 and Signature Bank (“Signature Bank”) on March 12, 2023.
While we did have an account at SVB, we were able to recover all of our deposits when the FDIC stepped in and allowed us to transfer funds held at SVB to another bank without incurring any losses.
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Risks related to our business
−Removed: We are currently subject to securities class action litigation and may be subject to similar or other litigation in the future, which will require significant management time and attention, result in significant legal expenses and may result in unfavorable outcomes, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition, and negatively affect the price of our common stock.
+Added: We are currently subject to securities class action litigation and derivative shareholder lawsuits and may be subject to similar or other litigation in the future, which will require significant management time and attention, result in significant legal expenses and may result in unfavorable outcomes, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition, and negatively affect the price of our common stock.
We are, and may in the future become, subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in or outside the ordinary course of business.
−Removed: For example, we are currently subject to securities class action claims, which are often pursued against a company following a decline in the market price of its securities.
−Removed: In particular, on January 12, 2023, a stockholder of the Company, Robert Ciarciello, filed a putative class action complaint alleging violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and of Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act against us and certain of our current and former directors and executives.
−Removed: Ciarciello v.
−Removed: Bioventus, Inc.
+Added: For example, on January 12, 2023, the Company and certain of its current and former directors and officers were named as defendants in a putative class action lawsuit filed in the Middle District of North Carolina, Ciarciello v.
+Added: Bioventus, Inc., No.
1:23– CV – 00032-CCE-JEP (M.D.N.C.
−Removed: The complaint generally alleges that we failed to disclose certain information regarding rebate practices, our business and financial prospects, and the sufficiency of our internal controls regarding financial reporting.
+Added: The complaint asserts violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and of Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act and generally alleges that the Company failed to disclose certain information regarding rebate practices, its business and financial prospects, and the sufficiency of internal controls regarding financial reporting.
The complaint seeks damages in an unspecified amount.
−Removed: The case is in its early stages, and a lead plaintiff has not yet been appointed.
−Removed: The results of the securities class action lawsuit and any future legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty.
+Added: On April 12, 2023, the Court appointed Wayne County Employees’ Retirement System as lead plaintiff.
+Added: The plaintiff’s amended consolidated complaint was filed with the Court on June 12, 2023.
+Added: On July 17, 2023, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint raising a number of legal and factual deficiencies with the amended consolidated complaint.
+Added: In response to the defendants’ motion to dismiss, the lead plaintiff filed a second amended complaint on July 31, 2023.
+Added: The defendants moved to dismiss the second amended complaint on August 21, 2023, which the Court granted in part and denied in part on November 6, 2023.
+Added: The Court dismissed the plaintiff’s Securities Act claims, but allowed the plaintiff’s Exchange Act claims to proceed into discovery.
+Added: On October 4, 2023, certain of the Company’s current and former directors and officers were also named as defendants in a derivative shareholder lawsuit (in which the Company is a nominal defendant) filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Grogan, on behalf of Bioventus Inc., v.
+Added: Reali, et.al., No.
+Added: 1:23-CV-01099-RGA (D.
+Added: The complaint asserts violations of Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, breaches of fiduciary duties and related state law claims, and a claim for contribution, and generally alleges the same purported misconduct as alleged in the Ciarciello case.
+Added: On January 12, 2024, the Court agreed to stay the case pending resolution of the Ciarciello case.
+Added: On February 9, 2024, another plaintiff filed a derivative shareholder lawsuit against certain of the Company’s current and former directors and officers (in which the Company is a nominal defendant) filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Sanderson, on behalf of Bioventus Inc., v.
+Added: Reali, et.al., No.
+Added: 1:24-cv-00180-RGA (D.
+Added: Like the Grogan case, this case asserts violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act, breaches of fiduciary duties and related state law claims, and a claim for contribution, and generally alleges the same purported misconduct as alleged in the Ciarciello case.
+Added: The parties are in discussions to consolidate the two derivative matters and stay them on terms similar to those entered in the Grogan case.
+Added: The Company believes the claims alleged in each of the above matters lack merit and intends to defend itself vigorously.
+Added: However, the outcome of these matters is not presently determinable, and any loss is neither probable nor reasonably estimable.
+Added: The results of such lawsuits and any future legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty.
Also, our assets may be insufficient to cover any claimed amounts that exceed our insurance coverage, and we may have to pay damage awards or otherwise may enter into settlement arrangements in connection with such claims.
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In addition, such lawsuits may make it more difficult to finance our operations.
−Removed: We may be unable to acquire CartiHeal.
−Removed: On April 4, 2022, we exercised our call option under the Option and Equity Purchase Agreement with CartiHeal 2009 Ltd.
−Removed: (“CartiHeal”) to acquire CartiHeal (the “CartiHeal Acquisition”), excluding the ownership interest already owned by us, for approximately $315.0 million with an additional approximately $135.0 million payable contingent upon the achievement of $75.0 million in trailing twelve-month sales.
−Removed: Pursuant to the CartiHeal Amendment entered into on June 17, 2022, we deferred $215.0 million of upfront consideration (“Deferred Amount”) otherwise payable to CartiHeal stockholders at the closing of the CartiHeal Acquisition.
−Removed: We closed the acquisition on July 12, 2022 with an upfront payment of $100.0 million.
−Removed: We are required to pay the Deferred Amount in five tranches commencing in 2023 and ending no later than 2027, upon the earlier of the achievement of certain milestones and the occurrence of such installment payment dates.
−Removed: The first milestone under the Option and Equity Purchase Agreement occurred on February 13, 2023, triggering an obligation to pay to the payment agent for the benefit of the securityholders $50.0 million plus applicable interest (less any applicable setoff).
−Removed: On February 27, 2023, the parties entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) under which they mutually released any further claims under the Option and Equity Purchase Agreement and related transaction documents, including without limitation a release by the securityholders of any rights to enforce the provisions of the Option and Equity Purchase Agreement or make further monetary claims against us or our respective affiliates and representatives.
−Removed: Concurrently with the execution of the Settlement Agreement, the parties irrevocably instructed the escrow agent to return the escrowed shares in CartiHeal to a trustee (the “Trustee”) for the benefit of the securityholders in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement.
−Removed: The Settlement Agreement also provided BV LLC, at its sole discretion, the right to seek financing sufficient to pay to the securityholders by no later than March 29, 2023 (the “Interim Period”) an amount sufficient to extinguish the entire amount of the post-closing tranches and any applicable interest in accordance with the provisions of the Option and Equity Purchase Agreement, in which case the transfer of the escrowed shares to the Trustee would be deemed null and void and the potential Sales Milestone payment will be reinstated.
−Removed: Because we were not able to find a financing solution to fund the payment obligations under the Option and Equity Purchase Agreement on terms we believed to be favorable to the Company and its shareholders, we elected to allow the Interim Period to expire.
−Removed: We can give no assurance that we will be able to obtain the necessary financing or negotiate acceptable terms to reacquire CartiHeal and its assets.
−Removed: Our business may continue to experience adverse impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
−Removed: In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic spread around the world and in the United States and, more recently, new variants of the virus have emerged, some of which have shown to be more contagious.
−Removed: The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread, rapidly evolving and unpredictable impacts on global society, economies, financial markets and business practices.
−Removed: Federal and state governments have implemented measures in an effort to minimize the spread of the virus and ongoing effects of the pandemic, including social distancing, travel restrictions, border closures, limitations on public gatherings, mandatory closure or reduced capacity of business, work from home, supply chain logistical changes and other measures, which have caused global business disruptions and significant volatility in U.S.
−Removed: and international debt and equity markets.
−Removed: Our business, results of operations and financial condition have been, and may continue to be, materially impacted due to the decrease in patient visits and elective procedures and any future temporary cessations of elective procedures and could be further impacted by delays in payments from customers, supply chain interruptions, extended “shelter-in-place” orders or advisories, facility closures or other reasons related to the pandemic.
−Removed: Furthermore, the long-term impact of COVID-19 on our business will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the pandemic, new and ongoing measures taken in response to the pandemic, the availability and effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutics to combat COVID-19, future mutations of the virus, the impact on economic activity from the pandemic and actions taken in response and the resulting impact it has on our partners, patients and communities in which we operate, all of which continue to be uncertain.
−Removed: For example, there has been a decrease in patient visits to hospitals due to risk and fear of exposure to COVID-19, as well as decreases in, or temporary moratoriums on, elective procedures, which may be re-imposed in the future.
−Removed: In addition to lower sales, we experienced certain decreased costs as a result of the pandemic including declines in travel and lower compensation related expenses during 2020.
−Removed: We also implemented other various cost reduction initiatives and measures to safeguard liquidity, refer to Part II, Item 7.
−Removed: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, for further details on the impact of COVID-19 on our business.
−Removed: To the extent the COVID-19 disruptions continue to adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition, they may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in Part I, Item 1A.
−Removed: Risk Factors , including risks relating to our ability to successfully commercialize new developed or acquired products or therapies, consolidation in the healthcare industry, disruptions in the supply or manufacturing of our products or their components, intensified pricing pressure as a result of changes in the purchasing behavior of hospitals and maintenance of our numerous contractual relationships.
We are highly dependent on a limited number of products.
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• maintain an effective and dedicated sales and marketing team.
−Removed: If we are unsuccessful in developing, acquiring and commercializing new products or enhancing our existing product offerings through line extensions and expanded indications, our ability to increase our net sales may be impaired.
+Added: If we are unsuccessful in developing, acquiring and commercializing new products or enhancing our existing product offerings through line extensions and expanded indications, our long-term growth may be negatively affected.
Additionally, our research and development efforts may require a substantial investment of time and resources before we are adequately able to determine the commercial viability of a new product, technology, material or other innovation.
4 unchanged sentences
Third-party payers may be reluctant to continue to cover our products at their current prices.
−Removed: Further, new injectable therapies or oral medications may become available that help manage OA joint pain in a more convenient and/or cost effective manner than our HA viscosupplementation therapies.
+Added: Further, new injectable therapies or oral medications may become available that help manage OA pain in a more convenient and/or cost effective manner than our HA viscosupplementation therapies.
With respect to our Surgical Solutions, new allograft, DBMs, synthetics, growth factors, or other enhancements to our existing implants may never achieve broad market acceptance, which can be affected by a lack of clinical acceptance of Surgical Solutions products and technologies, introduction of competitive treatment options which render Surgical Solutions products and technologies too expensive or obsolete and difficulty training surgeons in the use of Surgical Solutions products and technologies.
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The 510(k) clearance process does not always require clinical testing, and is generally less onerous than the premarket approval process applicable to Class III devices.
−Removed: Also in 2020, the Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Devices Panel of the FDA Medical Devices Advisory Committee met and ultimately voted in favor of FDA’s proposal to down-classify non-invasive bone growth stimulators.
+Added: Also in 2020, the Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Devices Panel of the FDA Medical Devices Advisory Committee met and ultimately voted in favor of the FDA’s proposal to down-classify non-invasive bone growth stimulators.
While the FDA has not yet finalized its proposal to down-classify non-invasive bone growth stimulators, should such down-classification occur now or in the future, we may face additional competition from new market entrants who would be able to pursue marketing authorization through the 510(k) clearance pathway instead of the more onerous and burdensome PMA approval process.
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In addition, we are dependent on these payers to provide timely and accurate invoices for the rebates that we are obligated to pay under these contractual relationships.
−Removed: If the information is not received timely or inaccurate, we may not be able to correctly forecast the amounts due under those agreements, which may adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
+Added: If the information is not received timely or is inaccurate, we may not be able to correctly forecast the amounts due under those agreements, which may adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
CMS, which administers the Medicare program, has continued efforts to implement a competitive bidding program for selected DEMPOS items paid for by the Medicare program.
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In order for us to sell our products, we must convince such staff as well as physicians and hospitals that our products are attractive alternatives to competing products for use in surgical procedures.
−Removed: Additionally, GPOs, independent delivery networks and large single accounts may continue to use their market power to consolidate purchasing decisions for physicians.
+Added: Additionally, GPOs, integrated delivery networks (“IDNs”) and large single accounts may continue to use their market power to consolidate purchasing decisions for physicians.
Third-party payers may also continue to use their market power to reduce the reimbursement for our products by increasing the rebates we are required to pay them when our products are covered, which may negatively impact our results.
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Our future success will depend, in part, upon our ability to manage the expanded business following these acquisitions, including challenges related to the management and monitoring of new operations and associated increased costs and complexity associated with the acquisition of Misonix, Bioness, and other potential acquisitions.
+Added: Other risks involving potential future and completed acquisitions and strategic investments include:
• risks associated with conducting due diligence;
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Pricing pressure from our competitors or hospitals may affect our ability to sell our products at prices necessary to support our current business strategies.
−Removed: Medical device companies, healthcare systems and GPOs have intensified competitive pricing pressure as a result of industry trends and new technologies.
−Removed: Purchasing decisions are gradually shifting to hospitals, IDNs and other hospital groups, with surgeons and other physicians increasingly acting only as “employees.” Changes in the purchasing behavior of hospitals or the amount third-party payers are willing to reimburse our customers for procedures using our products, including those as a result of healthcare reform initiatives, could create additional pricing pressure on us.
+Added: Medical device companies, healthcare systems, IDNs and GPOs have intensified competitive pricing pressure as a result of industry trends and new technologies.
+Added: Purchasing decisions are gradually shifting to hospitals, IDNs and other hospital groups, with surgeons and other physicians increasingly acting only as “employees.” Changes in the purchasing behavior of hospitals or the amount that third-party payers are willing to reimburse our customers for procedures using our products, including as result of healthcare reform initiatives, could create additional pricing pressure on us.
In addition to these competitive forces, we continue to see pricing pressure as hospitals introduce new pricing structures into their contracts and agreements, including fixed price formulas, capitated pricing and episodic or bundled payments intended to contain healthcare costs.
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To attract, retain and motivate qualified employees, we may utilize equity-based incentive awards such as employee stock options.
−Removed: If the value of such equity incentive awards does not appreciate as measured by the performance of the price of our Class A common stock, as seen in current market conditions, and ceases to be viewed as a valuable benefit, our ability to attract, retain and motivate our employees could be adversely impacted, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and/or require us to increase the amount we expend on cash and other forms of compensation.
+Added: If the value of such equity incentive awards does not appreciate as measured by the performance of the price of our Class A common stock, as seen in current market conditions, such awards may cease to be viewed as valuable and our ability to attract, retain and motivate our employees could be adversely impacted, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and/or require us to increase the amount we expend on cash and other forms of compensation.
If we fail to properly manage growth, our business could suffer.
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In particular, our sales force and distributor network require significant management, training, financial and other supporting resources.
−Removed: Any failure by us to manage our growth effectively could have an adverse effect on our ability to achieve our development and commercialization goals.
+Added: Any failure by us to manage our growth effectively could adversely affect our ability to achieve our development and commercialization goals.
To achieve our long-term revenue goals, we also will need to successfully increase supply of our products to meet expected customer demand.
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Our top three single-source third-party manufacturers supply us with our HA products and constituted 43%, 42% and 51% of total net sales for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
−Removed: Exogen undergoes final assembly with components procured from various suppliers, including a transducer, which is a key component that is supplied by a single source supplier.
Many of the acquired Bioness and Misonix products are also dependent on a limited number of suppliers for these products and their components.
We may not be able to renew or enter into new contracts with our existing suppliers following the expiration of such contracts on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.
−Removed: Additionally, our PNS, advanced rehabilitation and Surgical Ultrasonic devices require circuit boards and other electronic components that are periodically in short supply.
+Added: Additionally, certain of our devices require circuit boards and other electronic components that could be in short supply.
The unavailability of such components from our suppliers may impact our ability to meet the customer demand for these products.
−Removed: The success of certain Surgical and Wound solution products depends on our suppliers continuing to have access to donated human cadaveric tissue, as well as the maintenance of high standards in their processing methodology.
+Added: The success of certain Surgical products depends on our suppliers continuing to have access to donated human cadaveric tissue, as well as the maintenance of high standards in their processing methodology.
The supply of such donors can fluctuate over time.
−Removed: We cannot be certain that our current suppliers who rely on allograft bone, skin and amniotic tissue, plus any additional sources that our suppliers identify in the future, will be sufficient to meet our product needs.
+Added: We cannot be certain that our current suppliers who rely on allograft bone, plus any additional sources that our suppliers identify in the future, will be sufficient to meet our product needs.
Our dependence on a limited number of third-party suppliers and the challenges that they may face in obtaining adequate supplies of allograft bone tissue involve several risks, including limited control over pricing, availability, quality and delivery schedules.
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Loss of this manufacturing capability would limit our ability to sell some of our products.
−Removed: The manufacturing of our products may not be easily transferable to other sites in the event that any of our third-party manufacturers experience breakdown, failure or substandard performance of equipment, disruption of supply or shortages of, or quality issues with, components of our products and other supplies, labor problems, power outages, adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, global pandemics, such as COVID-19, or the need to comply with environmental and other directives of governmental agencies.
+Added: The manufacturing of our products may not be easily transferable to other sites in the event that any of our third-party manufacturers experience breakdown, failure or substandard performance of equipment, disruption of supply or shortages of, or quality issues with, components of our products and other supplies, labor problems, power outages, adverse weather conditions, natural disasters (including natural events caused by or intensified by climate change), global pandemics, or the need to comply with environmental and other directives of governmental agencies.
From time to time, a third-party manufacturer may experience financial difficulties, bankruptcy or other business disruptions, which could disrupt our supply of finished goods or require that we incur additional expense by providing financial accommodations to the third-party manufacturer or taking other steps to seek to minimize or avoid supply disruption, such as establishing a new third-party manufacturing arrangement with another provider.
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However, these contracts may not continue in effect past their current term or we may not be able to negotiate satisfactory contracts in the future with current or new business partners, which may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
−Removed: Actual or attempted breaches of security, unauthorized disclosure of information, denial of service attacks or the perception that personal and/or other sensitive or confidential information in our possession or control is not secure, could result in a material loss of business, substantial legal liability or significant harm to our reputation.
−Removed: We receive, collect, process, use and store a large amount of information, including personally identifiable information, protected health information and other sensitive and confidential information.
+Added: Actual or attempted breaches of security, unauthorized access to or disclosure of information, cyberattacks, or other incidents or the perception that personal and/or other sensitive or confidential information in our possession or control or in the possession or control of our third-party vendors or service providers is not secure, could result in a material loss of business, substantial legal liability or significant harm to our reputation.
+Added: We receive, collect, process, use and store directly and through third-party vendors and service providers a large amount of information, including personally identifiable information, protected health information and other sensitive and confidential information.
This data is often accessed by us through transmissions over public and private networks, including the Internet.
The secure transmission of such information over the Internet and other mechanisms is essential to maintain confidence in our information technology systems.
−Removed: Despite the privacy and security measures we have in place to comply with applicable laws, regulations and contractual requirements, our facilities and systems, and those of our third-party vendors and service providers, are vulnerable to privacy and security incidents including, but not limited to, computer hacking, breaches, acts of vandalism or theft, computer viruses and other malware, including ransomware or other forms of cyber-attack, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors or other similar events.
−Removed: A party, whether internal or external, that is able to circumvent our security measures could, among other things, misappropriate or misuse sensitive or confidential information, user information or other proprietary information, or cause significant interruptions in our operations.
−Removed: Internal or external parties have and will continue to attempt to circumvent our security systems, and we expect that we may in the future continue to experience, among other things, external attacks on our network, and attempts to gain unauthorized access to sensitive and confidential information, such as reconnaissance probes, denial of service attempts, malware attacks, malicious software attacks and phishing attacks, such as an external phishing incident that occurred in January 2023, targeting an employee with plausible-sounding prompts to send information to Company leadership.
+Added: Despite the privacy and security measures we have in place to comply with applicable laws, regulations and contractual requirements, our facilities and systems, and those of our third-party vendors and service providers, are vulnerable to privacy and security incidents including, but not limited to, computer hacking, breaches, acts of vandalism or theft, computer viruses and other malware, including ransomware and other forms of cyberattacks, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors, and other similar events.
+Added: A party, whether internal or external, that is able to circumvent our security measures or those of our third-party vendors and service providers could, among other things, misappropriate or misuse sensitive or confidential information, misappropriate user information or other proprietary information, or cause significant interruptions in our operations.
+Added: Internal or external parties have and will continue to attempt to circumvent our security systems and those of our vendors and service providers, and we expect that we may in the future continue to experience, among other things, external attacks on our network, and attempts to gain unauthorized access to sensitive and confidential information, such as reconnaissance probes, denial of service attempts, malware attacks, malicious software attacks and phishing attacks, such as an external phishing incident that occurred in January 2023, targeting an employee with plausible-sounding prompts to send information to Company leadership.
This security incident did not expose protected health information, or affect any of the company’s systems, and was reported to authorities in the relevant regions.
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We may also experience security breaches that may remain undetected for an extended period.
−Removed: Recent, well-publicized attacks of prominent companies have resulted in the theft of significant amounts of sensitive and confidential information and demonstrate the sophistication of the threat actors and magnitude of the threat posed to companies across the nation, including the health care industry.
−Removed: If someone is able to gain unauthorized access to our systems, they could access, acquire, or alter any information located therein or cause interruptions to our operations.
+Added: Recent, well-publicized cyberattacks on companies have resulted in the unauthorized access to and acquisition of significant amounts of sensitive and confidential information and the disruption of important systems and services.
+Added: These incidents demonstrate the sophistication of the threat actors and magnitude of the threat posed to companies across the nation, including the health care industry.
+Added: For example, a third-party vendor recently informed us that Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group that acts as an intermediary for processing certain of our claims for reimbursement related to our Exogen device to commercial payers, experienced an incident in which a cybersecurity threat actor gained access to some of its information technology systems.
+Added: As a result of the Change Healthcare incident, certain of our patient billing and collections processes have been disrupted.
+Added: While we have identified an alternative claim processing intermediary and have resumed claims submissions to some payers, this event may cause delays in a portion of our claims submissions to some commercial payers thereby delaying the related cash remittances to us.
+Added: As of the date of this Annual Report, UnitedHealth Group is still investigating this incident, including any potential impact on claims and patient data.
+Added: On March 7, 2024, UnitedHealth Group issued a statement indicating that it expects to begin testing and reestablish connectivity to the effected claims network to restore service beginning March 18, 2024.
+Added: We do not presently believe that the Change Healthcare incident has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company, including with respect to our claims collection and cash flows.
+Added: We continue to evaluate the impact of the Change Healthcare incident on our Company.
+Added: If someone is able to gain unauthorized access to our systems or those of our third-party vendors or service providers, they could access, acquire, or alter any information located therein or cause interruptions to our operations.
Security breaches and attempted security breaches thereof could also damage our reputation and expose us to a risk of monetary loss and/or litigation, fines, sanctions, and reputational damage.
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Additionally, the costs incurred to remediate any data security or privacy incident could be substantial.
−Removed: We cannot assure you that our third-party service providers with access to our or our customers’, suppliers’, trial patients’, and employees’ personally identifiable and other sensitive or confidential information in relation to which we are responsible will not breach contractual obligations imposed by us, or that they will not experience data security breaches, cyber-attacks or other incidents negatively impacting the privacy or security of sensitive or confidential information or our service providers’ ability to provide services to us, which could have a corresponding effect on our business including putting us in breach of our obligations under privacy laws and regulations and/or which could in turn adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
+Added: We cannot assure you that our third-party service providers or service providers with access to our or our customers’, suppliers’, trial patients’, and employees’ personally identifiable and other sensitive or confidential information in relation to which we are responsible will not breach contractual obligations imposed by us, or that they will not experience data security breaches, cyber-attacks or other incidents negatively impacting the privacy or security of sensitive or confidential information or our service providers’ ability to provide services to us, which could have a corresponding effect on our business including putting us in breach of our obligations under privacy laws and regulations and/or which could in turn adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
While we attempt to address the associated risks by performing security assessments and detailed due diligence, we cannot assure you that these contractual measures and our own privacy and security-related due diligence safeguards will protect us from the risks associated with the processing, storage and transmission of such information by service providers and others acting on our behalf.
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Any service outages or delays due to the installation of any new or upgraded technology (and customer issues therewith), or the impact on the reliability of our data from any new or upgraded technology could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
+Added: The ongoing conflict in Israel could have an adverse impact our business and the extent to which the conflict will impact our future operations and financial condition remains uncertain.
+Added: We have a manufacturing facility in Hod Hasharon, Israel which produces certain of our rehabilitation products, including with product components from third-party suppliers located elsewhere in Israel.
+Added: Together, these products account for less than 10% of our total net sales for the year ended December 31, 2023.
+Added: In October 2023, Hamas infiltrated Israel’s southern border from the Gaza Strip and conducted a series of attacks on civilian and military targets.
+Added: Hamas also launched extensive rocket attacks on the Israeli population and industrial centers located along Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip and in other areas within the State of Israel.
+Added: Following the attack, Israel’s security cabinet declared war against Hamas.
+Added: In addition, the clash between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, may escalate in the future into a greater regional conflict.
+Added: Hostilities involving Israel could have an adverse impact on our future operations and financial condition.
+Added: In the event that the Company’s facility in Hod Hasharon is damaged or otherwise materially disrupted as a result of hostilities in Israel, the Company’s ability to manufacture and deliver certain rehabilitation products to its customers could be materially adversely affected.
+Added: The conflict in Israel also could cause situations where medical product certifying or auditing bodies cannot visit our manufacturing facility in Israel in order to review relevant certifications or clearances, which could lead to temporary suspensions or even cancellations of our product clearances or certifications.
+Added: The conflict in Israel could result in parties with whom we have agreements involving performance in Israel claiming that they are not obligated to perform their commitments under those agreements pursuant to force majeure provisions in such agreements.
+Added: Delays and disruptions as related to exports from Israel also may be imposed in the future and adversely impact our ability to manufacture and deliver some rehabilitation products in a timely manner.
+Added: In addition, approximately 25 of our employees currently reside in Israel and work at the manufacturing facility in Hod Hasharon.
+Added: Government-imposed restrictions on movement and travel and other precautions taken to address the ongoing conflict may temporarily disrupt our employees’ ability to effectively perform their daily tasks.
+Added: The Israel Defense Force (the “IDF”), the national military of Israel, is a conscripted military service, subject to certain exceptions.
+Added: Some of our employees may be subject to military service in the IDF and may be called to serve.
+Added: It is possible that there will be further military reserve duty call-ups in the future, which may affect our business due to a shortage of skilled labor at our manufacturing facility in Israel.
+Added: The ultimate impact of the ongoing hostilities in Israel on our operations and financial condition remains uncertain and depends on many factors, including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the conflict in Israel, the extent to which we can successfully rely on our other manufacturing facilities and third-party suppliers with respect to certain of our rehabilitation products and the cost of any necessary mitigation efforts.
+Added: To the extent the conflict in Israel adversely impacts our business, operations and financial condition, they may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in our SEC filings.
Our business subjects us to economic, political, regulatory and other risks associated with international sales and operations that could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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We anticipate that net sales from international operations will continue to represent a portion of our total net sales.
−Removed: In addition, a number of our third-party manufacturing facilities and suppliers of our products are located outside the United States.
−Removed: Accordingly, our future results could be harmed by a variety of factors, including:
+Added: In addition, some of our manufacturing facilities and suppliers of our products and product components are located outside the United States, including in Israel.
+Added: Accordingly, our future results could be harmed by a variety of factors associated with international sales and operations, including:
• economic weakness, including inflation, or political instability in particular foreign economies and markets;
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• production shortages resulting from any events affecting material supply or manufacturing capabilities abroad;
−Removed: • business interruptions resulting from geopolitical actions, including war and terrorism, global pandemics or natural disasters including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and fires.
−Removed: If the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalates or spills over to or otherwise impacts additional regions, it could heighten many of the other risk factors included in this Item 1A.
+Added: • business interruptions resulting from geopolitical actions, including war and terrorism (including the current conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas), global pandemics or natural disasters including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and fires.
+Added: If the current conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas escalate or spill over to or otherwise impacts additional regions, it could heighten many of the other risk factors included in our SEC filings.
In addition, further expansion into new international markets may require significant resources and the efforts and attention of our management and other personnel, which may divert resources from our existing business operations.
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has previously enacted, and it or other countries may in the future enact legislation that limits or prohibits the use of foreign manufactured equipment or supplies from China, such as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which imposes a ban on virtually all imports from the Xinjiang region of China unless companies are able to prove that the products were not made with forced labor, which is expected to have an adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business and our results of operations.
−Removed: Uncertainty relating to the LIBOR calculation process and potential phasing out of LIBOR in the future may adversely affect our financing costs.
−Removed: Our Amended 2019 Credit Agreement utilizes the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), or various alternative methods to calculate interest on any borrowings, which may be subject to regulatory guidance and/or reform that could cause interest rates under our current or future debt agreements to perform differently than in the past or cause other unanticipated consequences.
−Removed: Some tenors of LIBOR were discontinued on December 31, 2021.
−Removed: Although we expect that the capital and debt markets will cease to use LIBOR as a benchmark in the near future and the administrator of LIBOR has announced its intention to extend the publication of most tenors of LIBOR for U.S.
−Removed: dollars through June 30, 2023, we cannot predict whether or when LIBOR will actually cease to be available, whether the Secured Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”), will become the market benchmark in its place or what impact such a transition may have on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks related to government regulation
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Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG”) to resolve potential liabilities associated with a self-disclosure we made to the OIG in November 2018 regarding violations of certain Medicare claim submission requirements.
−Removed: See Part I, Item 1A Risk Factors—Risks related to government regulation—We are subject to federal, state and foreign laws and regulations relating to our healthcare business, and could face substantial penalties if we are determined not to have fully complied with such laws, which would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
+Added: See Part I, Item 1A.
+Added: Risk Factors—Risks related to government regulation—We are subject to federal, state and foreign laws and regulations relating to our healthcare business, and could face substantial penalties if we are determined not to have fully complied with such laws, which would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Moreover, Medicare contractors and state Medicaid agencies periodically conduct pre- and post-payment reviews and other audits of claims and are under increasing pressure to more closely scrutinize healthcare claims and supporting documentation.
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We cannot determine what effect changes in regulations, statutes, legal interpretation or policies, when and if promulgated, enacted or adopted may have on our business in the future.
−Removed: Such changes could, among other things, require:
−Removed: additional testing prior to obtaining clearance or approval;
+Added: Such changes could, among other things, require additional testing prior to obtaining clearance or approval;
changes to manufacturing methods;
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Device, biologic or drug HCT/Ps must comply both with the requirements exclusively applicable to Section 361 HCT/Ps and, in addition, with other requirements, including requirements for marketing authorization, such as 510(k) clearance or PMA or BLA approvals before marketing.
−Removed: Except as described below with regard to MOTYS, we believe our HCT/Ps are regulated solely under Section 361 of the PHSA, and therefore, we have not sought or obtained 510(k) clearance, PMA approval, or licensure through a BLA for such HCT/Ps.
+Added: We believe our HCT/Ps are regulated solely under Section 361 of the PHSA, and therefore, we have not sought or obtained 510(k) clearance, PMA approval, or licensure through a BLA for such HCT/Ps.
The FDA could disagree with our determination that these human tissue products are Section 361 HCT/Ps and could determine that these products are biologics requiring a BLA or medical devices requiring 510(k) clearance or PMA approval, and could require that we cease marketing such products and/or recall them pending appropriate clearance, approval or licensure from the FDA.
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HCT/Ps that do not meet the criteria of Section 361 are regulated under Section 351 of the PHSA.
−Removed: HCT/Ps regulated as “351” HCT/Ps are subject to premarket review and approval by the FDA.
+Added: HCT/Ps regulated as “Section 351” HCT/Ps are subject to premarket review and approval by the FDA.
In November 2017, the FDA released a guidance document entitled “Regulatory Considerations for Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue—Based Products:
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We cannot prevent a physician from using our products outside of such cleared or approved indications for use, known as off-label uses.
−Removed: While we do not analyze the ordering practices of physicians with respect to off-label uses, we are aware of certain off-label uses of our EXOGEN product.
+Added: While we do not analyze the ordering practices of physicians with respect to off-label uses, we are aware of certain off-label uses of our EXOGEN and StimRouter products.
As a result, we could be subject to regulatory or enforcement actions if we are determined to have engaged in promotion of our products for off-label uses, or otherwise determined to have made false or misleading statements about our products.
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Furthermore, the use of our products for indications other than those cleared, approved or certified by the FDA or any foreign regulatory authority or notified body may not effectively treat such conditions, which could harm our reputation in the marketplace among physicians and patients.
−Removed: In addition, physicians may misuse our products or use improper techniques if they are not adequately trained, potentially leading to injury and an increased risk of product liability.
+Added: In addition, physicians may misuse our products or use improper techniques if they are not adequately trained, potentially leading to injury and an increased liability risks to us for product and medical malpractice related claims.
If our products are misused or used with improper technique, we may become subject to costly litigation by our customers or their patients.
−Removed: Product liability claims could divert management’s attention from our core business, be expensive to defend and result in sizeable damage awards against us that may not be covered by insurance.
+Added: Product liability and related claims could divert management’s attention from our core business, be expensive to defend and result in sizeable damage awards against us that may not be covered by insurance.
Further, our promotional materials and training methods must comply with FDA and other applicable laws and regulations, including the prohibition of the promotion of off-label use.
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The FDA enforces the QSR through periodic announced or unannounced inspections of manufacturing facilities, and both we and our third-party manufacturers and suppliers are subject to such inspections.
−Removed: Similarly, the devices we distribute on behalf of third-party manufacturers that are regulated as Section 361 HCT/Ps must be manufactured in compliance with cGTP requirements and other related requirements.
+Added: Similarly, the devices we distribute on behalf of third-party manufacturers that are regulated as Section 361 HCT/Ps must be manufactured in compliance with FDA’s cGTP requirements and other related requirements.
Moreover, should any of our HA products be re-classified as drugs, such products would be required to comply with a different set of manufacturing requirements under FDA’s cGMP requirements for drugs.
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In addition, we have in the past and may in the future decide to voluntarily recall our products if certain deficiencies are found.
−Removed: For example, we are currently undertaking a voluntary Class II recall of certain vials of ultrasound gel that we provide with our Exogen system due to particulates, which were microbial in nature, found in the gel.
−Removed: The gel is manufactured by a third-party supplier, and we have discontinued the use of that suppliers’ gel and have replaced that gel with that of another manufacturer.
−Removed: We have identified the affected lots and have notified patients to discard gel bottles from those lots.
+Added: For example, in December 2020 we undertook a voluntary Class II recall of certain vials of ultrasound gel that we provide with our Exogen system due to particulates, which were microbial in nature, found in the gel.
+Added: The gel was manufactured by a third-party supplier, and we have discontinued the use of that suppliers’ gel and have replaced that gel with that of another manufacturer and notified patients to discard gel bottles from affected lots.
A government-mandated or voluntary recall could occur as a result of an unacceptable risk to health, component failures, malfunctions, manufacturing errors, design or labeling defects or other deficiencies and issues.
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If any of our relationships with these third parties terminate, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative third parties or to do so on commercially reasonable terms.
−Removed: In addition, our third-parties are not our employees, and except for remedies available to us under our agreements with them, we cannot control whether or not they devote sufficient time and resources to our on-going clinical, nonclinical and preclinical programs.
−Removed: Switching or adding additional third-parties involves additional cost and requires management time and focus.
+Added: In addition, our third-party contractors are not our employees, and except for remedies available to us under our agreements with them, we cannot control whether or not they devote sufficient time and resources to our on-going clinical, nonclinical and preclinical programs.
+Added: Switching or adding additional third-party contractors involves additional cost and requires management time and focus.
In addition, there is a natural transition period when a new CRO or other third-party vendor commences work.
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By way of example, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, enacted on April 16, 2015, repealed the formula by which Medicare made annual payment adjustments to physicians and replaced the former formula with fixed annual updates and a new system of incentive payments that are based on various performance measures and physicians’ participation in alternative payment models such as accountable care organizations.
−Removed: Legislative and regulatory reforms intended to reduce the costs of prescription drugs and medical devices are also ongoing in the United States and abroad.
+Added: Legislative and regulatory reforms and executive actions intended to reduce the costs of prescription drugs and medical devices are also ongoing in the United States and abroad.
It is unclear what effect new quality and payment programs, such as MACRA, may have on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
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We are subject to federal, state and foreign laws and regulations relating to our healthcare business, and could face substantial penalties if we are determined not to have fully complied with such laws, which would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
−Removed: Both in our capacity as a pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturer and/or as a supplier of covered items and services to federal health care program beneficiaries, with respect to which items and services we submit claims for reimbursement from such programs, we are subject to healthcare fraud and abuse regulation and enforcement by federal, state and foreign governments, which could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
+Added: In our capacity as a pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturer, as a supplier of covered items and services to federal health care program beneficiaries, and with respect to items and services for which we submit claims for reimbursement from such programs, we are subject to healthcare fraud, waste and abuse regulation and enforcement by federal, state and foreign governments, which could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Healthcare fraud and abuse and health information privacy and security laws potentially applicable to our operations include:
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A person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it to have committed a violation.
−Removed: • the federal physician self-referral law, the Stark Law, which, subject to certain enumerated statutory and regulatory exceptions, prohibits physicians from referring Medicare or Medicaid patients to an entity for the provision of certain designated health services, or “DHS”, if the physician or a member of such physician’s immediate family has a direct or indirect financial relationship (including an ownership interest or a compensation arrangement) with the entity, and prohibits the entity from billing Medicare or Medicaid for such DHS;
+Added: Penalties for violating the AKS include civil penalties of up to $120,816 per violation plus three times the amount of the improper remuneration, criminal penalties up to $100,000 per violation, prison terms of up to ten years, and exclusion from participation in the Federal health care programs.
+Added: Under the Civil Monetary Penalties statute, physicians who pay or accept kickbacks also face penalties of up to $50,000 per kickback plus three times the amount of the prohibited remuneration;
+Added: • the federal physician self-referral law, the Stark Law, which, subject to certain enumerated statutory and regulatory exceptions, prohibits physicians from referring Medicare or Medicaid patients to an entity for the provision of certain designated health services, or “DHS”, which includes both prescription drugs and medical devices, if the physician or a member of such physician’s immediate family has a direct or indirect financial relationship (including an ownership interest or a compensation arrangement) with the entity, and prohibits the entity from billing Medicare or Medicaid for such DHS.
+Added: In addition to reimbursing the government any associated overpayment, violations of the Stark Law can lead to:
+Added: (1) civil penalties of nearly $29,000 per claim (in 2023, adjusted annually for inflation);
+Added: (2) three times the amount of damages suffered by the government;
+Added: and (3) potential exclusion from participation in federal healthcare programs;
• the False Claims Act, or “FCA”, which imposes civil and criminal liability on individuals or entities that knowingly submit false or fraudulent claims for payment to the government or knowingly make, or cause to be made, a false statement in order to have a false claim paid, including qui tam or whistleblower suits.
+Added: Penalties for a violation of the FCA include fines up to $27,894 for each false claim, plus up to three times the amount of damages caused by each false claim.
In addition, the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the AKS or Stark Law constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the FCA;
−Removed: • the Civil Monetary Penalties Law, which prohibits, among other things, an individual or entity from offering remuneration to a federal healthcare program beneficiary that the individual or entity knows or should know is likely to influence the beneficiary to order or receive healthcare items or services from a particular provider;
+Added: • the beneficiary inducement provisions of the Civil Monetary Penalties Law, which prohibits, an individual or entity from offering remuneration to a federal healthcare program beneficiary that the individual or entity knows or should know is likely to influence the beneficiary to order or receive healthcare items or services from a particular provider.
+Added: Violations of the CMPL may result in administrative penalties ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 per violation depending on the conduct involved;
• the criminal healthcare fraud provisions of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or “HIPAA”, and related rules that prohibit knowingly and willfully executing a scheme or artifice to defraud any healthcare benefit program or falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any material false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services.
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• the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which requires certain applicable manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under certain federal healthcare programs, to monitor and report to CMS, certain payments and other transfers of value to physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors), certain other healthcare providers (physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, anesthesiologist assistants, certified registered nurse anesthetists, anesthesiology assistants and certified nurse midwives) and teaching hospitals, and applicable manufacturers and group purchasing organizations, to report annually ownership and investment interests held by such physicians and their immediate family members.
+Added: Civil monetary penalties of up to $1,000,000 as adjusted annually may be imposed on reporting entities if they fail to report information in a timely, accurate or complete manner;
• federal consumer protection and unfair competition laws, which broadly regulate marketplace activities and activities that potentially harm customers;
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federal statutes and requirements governing the Medicare program in related to improper completion of Certificate for Medical Necessity (“CMN”) forms.
−Removed: In November 2018, we made a voluntary self-disclosure to the Office of Inspector General of the U.S.
−Removed: Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG”) pursuant to the OIG’s Provider Self-Disclosure Protocol related to this matter.
−Removed: After settlement discussions with the Office of the United States Attorney in the Middle District of North Carolina (“USAO”) and OIG, on February 22, 2021, we entered into a formal settlement agreement, which included releases from associated False Claims Act liability and further Civil Monetary Penalties that are customary in self-disclosures of this type, and agreed to pay $3.6 million.
+Added: In November 2018, we made a voluntary self-disclosure related to this matter to the Office of Inspector General of the U.S.
+Added: Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG”) pursuant to the OIG’s Provider Self-Disclosure Protocol.
+Added: After settlement discussions with the Office of the United States Attorney in the Middle District of North Carolina (“USAO”) and OIG, on February 22, 2021, we entered into a formal settlement agreement, which included releases from associated False Claims Act liability and further Civil Monetary Penalties that are customary in self-disclosures of this type, and agreed to pay $3.6 million in resolution of this matter.
We are subject to governmental regulation and other legal obligations, particularly related to privacy, data protection and information security, and we are subject to consumer protection laws that regulate our marketing practices and prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices.
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We are subject to diverse laws and regulations relating to privacy and data security, including, in the United States, HIPAA and, in the EU, the GDPR.
−Removed: New privacy rules are being enacted in the United States, particularly at the state level and globally, and existing ones are being updated and strengthened.
+Added: New privacy laws and regulations are being enacted in the United States, particularly at the state level, and globally, and existing ones are being updated and strengthened.
Complying with these numerous, complex and often changing regulations is expensive and difficult.
We strive to comply with all applicable laws and other legal obligations relating to privacy, data security, and data protection.
−Removed: However, given that the scope, interpretation, and application of these laws and regulations are often uncertain and may be conflicting, it is possible that these obligations may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another and/or in a manner that conflicts our practices.
+Added: However, given that the scope, interpretation, and application of these laws and regulations are often uncertain and may be conflicting, it is possible that these obligations may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another and/or in a manner that conflicts with our practices.
Failure or perceived failure by us or our service providers to comply with any privacy, data security, or data protection laws or other obligations, or any security incident or data breach experienced by us, one of our service providers, or another party, could adversely affect our business.
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and injunctive relief.
−Removed: In the United States, HIPAA, as amended, and regulations implemented thereunder (collectively referred to as “HIPAA”) imposes, among other things, certain standards relating to the privacy, security, transmission and breach reporting of individually identifiable health information on certain healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, known as covered entities, as well as their business associates that perform certain services that involve creating, receiving, maintaining or transmitting protected health information (“PHI”) for or on behalf of such covered entities, and their covered subcontractors.
−Removed: HIPAA requires covered entities, such as us, as well as business associates to develop and maintain policies with respect to the protection of, use and disclosure of PHI, including the adoption of administrative, physical and technical safeguards to protect such information, and certain notification requirements in the event of a breach of unsecured PHI.
−Removed: Additionally, under HIPAA, covered entities must report breaches of unsecured PHI to affected individuals without unreasonable delay, not to exceed 60 days following discovery of the breach by a covered entity or its agents.
+Added: In the United States, HIPAA, as amended, and regulations implemented thereunder (collectively referred to as “HIPAA”) imposes, among other things, certain standards relating to the privacy, security, transmission and breach reporting of protected health information (“PHI”) on certain healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, known as covered entities, as well as their business associates that perform certain services that generally involve creating, receiving, maintaining or transmitting PHI for or on behalf of such covered entities, and their covered subcontractors.
+Added: HIPAA requires covered entities, such as us, as well as business associates to develop and maintain administrative, physical and technical safeguards to protect PHI, and meet certain notification requirements in the event of a breach of unsecured PHI.
+Added: Additionally, under HIPAA, covered entities must report breaches of unsecured PHI to affected individuals without unreasonable delay, not to exceed 60 days following discovery of the breach or, if earlier, the date on which the breach would have been discovered through the exercise of reasonable diligence.
Notification also must be made to the U.S.
−Removed: Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and, in certain circumstances involving large breaches, to the media.
−Removed: Business associates must report breaches of unsecured PHI to covered entities within 60 days of discovery of the breach by the business associate or its agents.
−Removed: All states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands have enacted data breach notification laws.
+Added: Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and, in certain circumstances, to the media.
+Added: Business associates must report breaches of unsecured PHI to covered entities within 60 days of discovery of the breach by the business associate or its agents or, if earlier, the date on which the breach would have been discovered through the exercise of reasonable diligence.
+Added: states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.
+Added: Virgin Islands have enacted data breach notification laws.
Some of these breach notification laws impose notification obligations that are in addition to, or inconsistent with, the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule, which can present compliance challenges.
−Removed: Entities that are found to be in violation of HIPAA as the result of a breach of unsecured PHI, a complaint about privacy practices or an audit by the U.S.
+Added: Entities that are found to be in violation of HIPAA, which may occur in connection with, among other things, a breach of unsecured PHI, a complaint about privacy practices or an audit by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), may be subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative fines and penalties and/or additional reporting and oversight obligations if required to enter into a resolution agreement and corrective action plan with HHS to settle allegations of HIPAA non-compliance.
The HHS Office for Civil Rights actively enforces HIPAA and frequently issues significant fines and penalties.
−Removed: HIPAA also authorizes state Attorneys General to file suit on behalf of their residents.
+Added: HIPAA also authorizes state Attorneys General to file suit on behalf of residents of their states.
Courts may award damages, costs and attorneys’ fees related to violations of HIPAA in such cases.
While HIPAA does not create a private right of action allowing individuals to sue us in civil court for violations of HIPAA, its standards have been used as the basis for duty of care in state civil suits such as those for negligence or recklessness in the misuse or breach of PHI.
−Removed: Certain states have also adopted comparable privacy and security laws and regulations, some of which may be more stringent than HIPAA.
+Added: states have adopted various privacy and security laws and regulations, some of which may be more stringent than HIPAA.
Such laws and regulations will be subject to interpretation by various courts and other governmental authorities, thus creating potentially complex compliance issues for us and our future customers and strategic partners.
−Removed: For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) went into effect on January 1, 2020.
−Removed: The CCPA creates individual privacy rights for California consumers and increases the privacy and security obligations of entities handling certain personal information.
+Added: For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) creates individual privacy rights for California residents and increases the privacy and security obligations of entities handling certain personal information.
The CCPA provides for civil penalties for violations, as well as a private right of action for data breaches that is expected to increase data breach litigation.
−Removed: Further, the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”) took effect on January 1, 2023.
−Removed: The CPRA imposes additional data protection obligations on covered businesses, including additional consumer rights processes, limitations on data uses, new audit requirements for higher risk data, and opt-out rights for certain uses of sensitive data.
−Removed: It will also create a new California data protection agency authorized to issue substantive regulations and could result in increased privacy and information security enforcement.
−Removed: Similar laws have passed in Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut and Utah and have been proposed in other states and at the federal level, reflecting a trend toward more stringent privacy legislation in the United States.
+Added: Further, the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”), which amended the CCPA, imposes additional data protection obligations on covered businesses, including additional consumer rights processes, limitations on data uses, new audit requirements for higher risk data, and opt-out rights for certain uses of sensitive data.
+Added: It also created the California Privacy Protection Agency, which is authorized to issue substantive regulations and enforce law.
+Added: Additional states, including Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia have enacted similar comprehensive privacy laws.
+Added: Other states, including Nevada and Washington, have recently enacted robust health privacy laws.
+Added: Legislation has been proposed in other states and at the federal level, reflecting a trend toward more stringent privacy legislation in the United States.
+Added: These developments are likely to result in increased privacy and data security enforcement.
Additional compliance investment and potential business process changes may be required, and the enactment of new laws could have potentially conflicting requirements that would make compliance challenging and burdensome.
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The FTC expects a company’s data security measures to be reasonable and appropriate in light of the sensitivity and volume of consumer information it holds, the size and complexity of its business, and the cost of available tools to improve security and reduce vulnerabilities.
−Removed: A recent FTC decision imposed personal civil liability on a company’s CEO, marking the first time the agency has held a company officer personally liable for a privacy or security violation.
+Added: In addition to enforcing against organizations, the FTC has made clear that it may seek to hold officers personally liable for privacy or security violations of their organizations, having done so in the past.
In Europe, the GDPR imposes strict requirements for processing the personal data of individuals within the EEA.
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The European Commission issued revised SCCs on June 4, 2021 to account for the decision of the CJEU and recommendations made by the European Data Protection Board (“EDPB”).
−Removed: In light of guidance issued by the EDPB, there is some uncertainty around whether the revised clauses will serve as an appropriate data transfer mechanism in certain contexts, including certain transfers to the United States.
−Removed: Additionally, the Biden Administration proposed a new international transfer network to replace the Privacy Shield.
−Removed: The European Commission is currently reviewing the proposed framework to determine if it is adequate under the GDPR.
+Added: The United States and the EU recently agreed to a new data transfer mechanism to replace the Privacy Shield known as the EU-U.S.
+Added: Data Privacy Framework, which may be subject to legal challenges.
As supervisory authorities issue further guidance on personal data export mechanisms, including circumstances where the SCCs cannot be used, and take additional enforcement actions, we could suffer additional costs, complaints and/or regulatory investigations or fines, and/or if we are otherwise unable to transfer personal data between and among countries and regions in which we operate, it could affect the manner in which we provide our services, the geographical location or segregation of our relevant systems and operations, and could adversely affect our financial results.
−Removed: Additionally, from January 1, 2021, following the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU, we have had to comply with the GDPR and the UK GDPR (i.e.
−Removed: the GDPR as implemented into UK law).
+Added: Additionally, from January 1, 2021, following the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU, we have had to comply with the GDPR and the UK GDPR (i.e., the GDPR as implemented into UK law).
Failure to comply with the UK GDPR can result in fines up to the greater of £17.5 million (approximately $21 million), or 4% of global revenue.
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Therefore, there can be no assurance that our employees and agents, or those companies to which we outsource certain of our business operations, have not and will not take actions that violate our policies or applicable laws, for which we may be ultimately held responsible.
−Removed: Any violation of the FCPA and related policies could result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
+Added: Any violation of the FCPA, other anti-bribery legislation, including the UK Bribery Act and the Brazil Clean Company Act, or related policies could result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Furthermore, we are subject to the export controls and economic embargo rules and regulations of the United States, including, but not limited to, the Export Administration Regulations and trade sanctions against embargoed countries, which are administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control within the Department of the Treasury, as well as the laws and regulations administered by the Department of Commerce and the Department of State.
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Given the additional requirements of the MDR, the renewal of our existing CE mark certificates once they expire or obtaining certifications for new products is more challenging, time consuming and costly.
−Removed: For example, technical documentation for certain of our products requiring recertification, such as our single injection HA treatment Durolane®, and EXOGEN Bone Healing System have been submitted to our notified body.
+Added: For example, technical documentation for certain of our products requiring recertification, such as our single injection HA treatment Durolane®, and EXOGEN Bone Stimulation System have been submitted to our notified body.
While we are actively engaged with our notified body to renew the CE marks for these and our other products, CE mark renewals for these products are still pending.
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We contract with third-party sterilizers to perform this service.
−Removed: Concerns about unsafe levels of ethylene oxide emissions in the air around some sterilization facilities have resulted in certain state environmental protection agency actions against those facilities that have impacted medical device manufacturers’ ability to use the ethylene oxide process to sterilize their devices.
+Added: Concerns about unsafe levels of ethylene oxide emissions in the air around some sterilization facilities have resulted in certain state environmental protection agency actions against those facilities that have impacted available capacity for medical device manufacturers’ to sterilize their devices.
For example, recently the operations of certain of our contracted sterilization providers were temporarily suspended by the supplier as a voluntary response to a state environmental agency investigation.
−Removed: While such actions have not disrupted our ability to supply products and the previously shut down facilities have been permitted to resume certain operations after implementation of increased emissions controls, it is uncertain as to whether these facilities will be shut down again for environmental, health and safety concerns, or whether any other sterilization facilities we may contract with in the future will be required to shut down for environmental, health and safety concerns, especially given the increased scrutiny on the use and emission of ethylene oxide for sterilization.
+Added: While such actions have not disrupted our ability to supply products and the previously shut down facilities have been permitted to resume certain operations after implementation of increased emissions controls, it is uncertain as to whether these facilities will be shut down or experience capacity reductions related to environmental, health and safety concerns.
+Added: Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new rules governing emissions from ethylene oxide sterilization facilities and has announced their intent to finalize the rule during 2024.
+Added: It is unknown whether any other sterilization facilities we may contract with in the future will experience reduced capacity related to new regulatory requirements or will be required to shut down, either temporarily related to upgrading emissions controls or permanently due to inability to comply with new environmental regulation.
To the extent that our third-party sterilizers are unable to sterilize our products, whether due to these regulatory or other limitations (such as capacity, reductions in operations, or availability of materials for sterilization), we may be unable to transition to other third-party sterilizers, sterilizer locations or sterilization methods in a timely or cost effective manner, or at all, which could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
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Our other facilities and equipment would be costly to replace and could require substantial lead-time to repair or replace.
−Removed: Our facilities may be harmed or rendered inoperable by natural or man-made disasters, including, but not limited to, tornadoes, flooding, fire and power outages.
+Added: Our facilities may be harmed or rendered inoperable by natural disasters (including events caused by or intensified by climate change) or man-made disasters, including, but not limited to, tornadoes, flooding, fire and power outages.
Such disasters may render it difficult or impossible to manufacture and commercialize our products and conduct our research and development activities for new products, line extensions and expanded indications.
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If any of our patents are challenged, invalidated or legally circumvented by third parties, and if we do not own other enforceable patents protecting our products, competitors could market products and use processes that are substantially similar to, superior to, or otherwise competitive with those of ours, and our business could suffer.
−Removed: In addition, the patents we own or have licenses to may not be of sufficient scope or strength to provide us with any meaningful protection or commercial advantage, and competitors may be able to design around our patents or develop products that provide outcomes comparable to those of ours without infringing on our intellectual property rights.
+Added: In addition, the patents we own or have licenses to may not be of sufficient scope or strength to provide us with any meaningful protection or commercial advantage, and competitors may be able to design around our patents or develop products that provide outcomes comparable to those of ours without infringing on our patent property rights.
Further, our patents may not be drafted or interpreted sufficiently broadly to prevent others from marketing products and services similar to ours or designing around our patents.
−Removed: Third-parties may assert that we or our licensors were not the first to make the inventions covered by our issued patents or pending patent applications.
+Added: Third- parties may assert that we or the inventors of any patents licensed to us were not the first to make the inventions covered by our issued patents or pending patent applications.
The claims of our issued patents or patent applications when issued may not cover our commercial technology or the future products and services that we develop.
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Non-compliance events that could result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application include, but are not limited to, failure to respond to official actions within prescribed time limits, non-payment of fees and failure to properly legalize and submit formal documents.
−Removed: If we or our licensors fail to maintain the patents and patent applications covering our products or procedures, we may not be able to stop a competitor from marketing products that are the same as or similar to our products, which would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
+Added: If we or the owners of any patent rights licensed to us fail to maintain the patents and patent applications covering our products or procedures, we may not be able to stop a competitor from marketing products that are the same as or similar to our products, which would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on our products in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive.
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We rely on our trademarks as one means to distinguish our products from the products of our competitors, and have registered or applied to register many of these trademarks.
−Removed: However, we may not be able to successfully secure trademark registrations for all such applications.
+Added: However, we may not be able to successfully secure trademark registrations for all such applications in each jurisdiction in which the product is marketed.
Third-parties may oppose our trademark applications, or otherwise challenge our use of both registered and unregistered trademarks.
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Further, we do not always retain complete control over our ability to enforce our licensed patent rights against third-party infringement.
−Removed: In those cases, we cannot be certain that our licensor will elect to enforce these patents to the extent that we would choose to do so, or in a way that will ensure that we retain the rights we currently have under our license.
−Removed: If our licensor fails to properly enforce the patents subject to our license in the event of third-party infringement, our ability to retain our competitive advantage with respect to our products may be materially and adversely affected.
+Added: In those cases, we cannot be certain that our licensor or other ultimate owner of such patents will elect to enforce these patents to the extent that we would choose to do so, or in a way that will ensure that we retain the rights we currently have under our license.
+Added: If our licensor or other ultimate owners of such patents fails to properly enforce the patents subject to our license in the event of third-party infringement, our ability to retain our competitive advantage with respect to our products may be materially and adversely affected.
Licensing of intellectual property is an important part of our business and involves complex legal, business and scientific issues.
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• others may be able to develop and/or practice technology that is similar to our technology or aspects of our technology, but that are not covered by the claims of the patents that we own or control, assuming such patents have issued or do issue;
−Removed: • we or our licensors or any future strategic partners might not have been the first to conceive or reduce to practice the inventions covered by the issued patent or pending patent application that we own or have exclusively licensed;
−Removed: • we or our licensors or any future strategic partners might not have been the first to file patent applications covering certain of our inventions;
+Added: • we, the inventors of any in-licensed patent rights, or any future strategic partners might not have been the first to conceive or reduce to practice the inventions covered by the issued patent or pending patent application that we own or have exclusively licensed;
+Added: • we, the investors of any in-licensed patent rights, or any future strategic partners might not have been the first to file patent applications covering certain of our inventions;
• others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies without infringing our intellectual property rights;
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Bioventus is controlled by the Original LLC Owners, whose interests may differ from those of our public stockholders.
−Removed: As of March 16, 2023, the Original LLC Owners control approximately 45.1% of the combined voting power of our common stock through their ownership of both Class A common stock and Class B common stock.
+Added: As of December 31, 2023, the Original LLC Owners control approximately 41.8% of the combined voting power of our common stock through their ownership of both Class A common stock and Class B common stock.
The Original LLC Owners will, for the foreseeable future, have the ability to substantially influence us through their ownership position over corporate management and affairs, and will be able to control virtually all matters requiring stockholder approval.
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As a result of this volatility, you might not be able to sell your Class A common stock common stock at or above the price at which you purchase it.
−Removed: From our initial public offering in February 2021 through March 16, 2023, the per share trading price of our Class A common stock has been as high as $19.94 and as low as $1.37.
+Added: From our initial public offering in February 2021 through February 27, 2024, the per share trading price of our Class A common stock has been as high as $19.94 and as low as $0.80.
It might continue to fluctuate significantly in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control.
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Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
−Removed: Failure to establish and maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could adversely affect our business and stock price.
−Removed: We are required to comply with the SEC’s rules implementing Sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which require management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting.
−Removed: Though we are required to disclose changes made in our internal controls and procedures on a quarterly basis and assess our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 until we are no longer an emerging growth company pursuant to the provisions of the JOBS Act.
−Removed: At such time, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which our controls are documented, designed or operating.
−Removed: To comply with the requirements of being a public company, we have undertaken various actions, and may need to take additional actions, such as implementing new internal controls and procedures and hiring additional accounting or internal audit staff.
−Removed: We cannot assure you that the measures we have taken to date, and actions we may take in the future, will be sufficient to prevent or avoid potential future material weaknesses and we have identified material weaknesses in the past.
−Removed: As previously reported in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 1, 2022, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the accounting for rebates from third-party payers.
−Removed: If we identify any additional material weaknesses in the future, the accuracy and timing of our financial reporting may be adversely affected.
−Removed: Testing and maintaining internal controls can also divert our management’s attention from other matters that are important to the operation of our business.
−Removed: Additionally, when evaluating our internal controls over financial reporting, we may identify material weaknesses that we may not be able to remediate in time to meet the applicable deadline imposed upon us for compliance with the requirements of Section 404.
−Removed: If we identify any material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting or are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or assert that our internal controls over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting once we are no longer an emerging growth company, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our Class A common stock could be adversely affected, and we could become subject to investigations by the stock exchange on which our securities are listed, the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.
−Removed: We are an emerging growth company and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our Class A common stock less attractive to investors.
−Removed: We continue to qualify as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the provisions of the JOBS Act.
−Removed: For as long as we are an “emerging growth company,” we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including, but not limited to, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, reduced disclosure obligations relating to the presentation of financial statements in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section and exemptions from the requirements of holding advisory “say-on-pay” votes on executive compensation and shareholder advisory votes on golden parachute compensation.
−Removed: We have availed ourselves of the reduced reporting obligations and executive compensation disclosure in our SEC filings and expect to continue to avail ourselves of the reduced reporting obligations available to emerging growth companies in future SEC filings.
−Removed: We cannot predict if investors will find our Class A common stock less attractive because we rely on these exemptions.
−Removed: If some investors find our Class A common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.
−Removed: In addition, an emerging growth company can delay its adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies.
+Added: We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company, and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to us will make our Class A common stock less attractive to investors.
+Added: We are an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the provisions of the JOBS Act.
+Added: For as long as we are an “emerging growth company,” we may take advantage of certain exemptions from reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including, for example, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, reduced disclosure obligations relating to the presentation of financial statements in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of our periodic reports, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding advisory “say-on-pay” votes on executive compensation and shareholder advisory votes on golden parachute compensation.
+Added: We have availed ourselves of some of these reduced reporting obligations and exemptions in our SEC filings and expect to continue to do so in future SEC filings.
+Added: In addition, emerging growth companies can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies.
However, we have chosen to “opt out” of such extended transition period, and as a result, we plan to comply with any new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which non-emerging growth companies must adopt such standards.
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• The last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of our IPO;
−Removed: The last day of our fiscal year in which have annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more;
+Added: • The last day of our fiscal year in which have annual gross revenues of at least $1.235 billion or more;
• The date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt;
• The date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer,” as such terms is defined in the Exchange Act rules.
−Removed: Unresolved Staff Comments.
+Added: Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we may still qualify as a smaller reporting company and rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies.
+Added: Specifically, as a smaller reporting company we may choose to present only the two most recent fiscal years of audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and, similar to emerging growth companies, smaller reporting companies have reduced disclosure obligations including regarding executive compensation.
+Added: We cannot predict if investors will find our Class A common stock less attractive because we may rely on the reduced disclosure requirements and exemptions applicable to emerging growth companies and/or smaller reporting companies.
+Added: investors find our Class A common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A common stock and our stock price may be more volatile
Compared sentence by sentence after normalising whitespace, quotation marks, case and digits, so re-formatting and restated figures do not read as changed language. Wording changes appear as one removal and one addition. The current filing and the prior one are authoritative.