Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes thereto set forth in Item 8 of this report.
Overview
We design, develop, manufacture, market and sell medical products for interventional and diagnostic procedures. For financial reporting purposes, we report our operations in two operating segments: cardiovascular and endoscopy. Our cardiovascular segment consists of four product categories: peripheral intervention, cardiac intervention, custom procedural solutions, and OEM. Within these product categories, we sell a variety of products, including cardiology and radiology devices (which assist in diagnosing and treating coronary arterial disease, peripheral vascular disease and other nonvascular diseases), as well as embolotherapeutic, cardiac rhythm management, electrophysiology, critical care, breast cancer localization and guidance, biopsy, and interventional oncology and spine devices. Our endoscopy segment consists of gastroenterology and pulmonology devices which assist in the palliative treatment of expanding esophageal, tracheobronchial and biliary strictures caused by malignant tumors.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we reported sales of $1.257 billion, up $106.4 million or 9.2%, compared to 2022 sales of $1.151 billion. Our revenue results for the year ended December 31, 2023 were driven primarily by stronger-than-anticipated demand in the U.S. and more favorable than anticipated international sales trends, particularly in the EMEA and “Rest of World” (“ROW”) regions.
Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 46.4% for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 45.1% for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $94.4 million, or $1.62 per share, as compared to $74.5 million, or $1.29 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2022.
In June 2023, we completed the acquisition of a portfolio of dialysis catheter products and the BioSentry Biopsy Tract Sealant System from AngioDynamics and acquisition of the Surfacer Inside-Out Access Catheter System from Bluegrass.
On November 10, 2020, we introduced a corporate transformation initiative known as “Foundations for Growth” with multi-year financial targets for growth and improved profitability. We completed the final year of our Foundations for Growth Program, delivering or exceeding each of the financial targets we outlined for the three-year period ending December 31, 2023. We are introducing the “Continued Growth Initiatives” Program and new multi-year financial targets for the three-year period ending December 31, 2026.
On December 8, 2023, we closed an offering of $747.5 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Convertible Notes”). We intend to use the proceeds from the Notes offering for general corporate purposes, which may include repayment or reduction of existing debt, sales and marketing activities, medical affairs and educational efforts, research and development, clinical studies, working capital, capital expenditures and investments in and acquisitions of other companies, products or technologies in the future.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth certain operational data as a percentage of sales for the years indicated:
2023
2022
2021
Net sales
100
%
100
%
100
%
Gross profit
46.4
45.1
45.2
Selling, general and administrative expenses
29.7
29.8
31.2
Research and development expenses
6.6
6.6
6.6
Legal settlement
—
—
0.9
Impairment charges
—
0.2
0.4
Contingent consideration expense
0.1
0.4
0.3
Acquired in-process research and development expense
0.1
0.6
—
Income from operations
9.9
7.6
5.7
Other expense — net
(0.9)
(0.4)
(0.7)
Income before income taxes
8.9
7.2
5.0
Net income
7.5
6.5
4.5
Sales
Listed below are the sales by product category within each operating segment for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands, other than percentage changes):
% Change
2023
% Change
2022
% Change
2021
Cardiovascular
Peripheral Intervention
14.2
%
$
502,220
8.6
%
$
439,810
18.6
%
$
405,116
Cardiac Intervention
4.4
%
358,451
7.0
%
343,186
14.6
%
320,641
Custom Procedural Solutions
2.7
%
195,333
(1.9)
%
190,194
(4.6)
%
193,942
OEM
13.5
%
164,556
17.4
%
145,034
12.5
%
123,528
Total
9.2
%
1,220,560
7.2
%
1,118,224
11.7
%
1,043,227
Endoscopy
Endoscopy Devices
12.4
%
36,806
3.9
%
32,757
6.2
%
31,524
Total
9.2
%
$
1,257,366
7.1
%
$
1,150,981
11.5
%
$
1,074,751
Cardiovascular Sales. Our cardiovascular sales for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $1.221 billion, up 9.2%, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 of $1.118 billion. Sales for the year ended December 31, 2023 were favorably affected by increased sales of:
(a) Peripheral intervention products, which increased by $62.4 million, or 14.2%, from the corresponding period of 2022. This increase was driven primarily by sales of our access, drainage, radar localization, and biopsy products.
(b) Cardiac intervention products, which increased by $15.3 million, or 4.4%, from the corresponding period of 2022. This increase was driven primarily by sales of our access, hemostasis, angiography, and cardiac rhythm management/electrophysiology (“CRM/EP”) products, partially offset by a decrease in sales of our intervention products.
(c) Custom procedural solutions products, which increased by $5.1 million, or 2.7% from the corresponding period of 2022. This increase was driven primarily by increased sales of our kits and critical care products , offset partially by decreased sales of trays.
(d) OEM products, which increased by $19.5 million, or 13.5% from the corresponding period of 2022. This increase was driven primarily by sales of our CRM/EP, angiography, intervention and coating products as well as our kits, partially offset by a decrease in sales of our fluid management products.
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Our cardiovascular sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $1.118 billion, up 7.2%, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 of $1.043 billion. Sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 were favorably affected by increased sales of:
(a) Peripheral intervention products, which increased by $34.7 million, or 8.6%, from the corresponding period of 2021. This increase was driven primarily by sales of our access , embolotherapy, and radar localization products .
(b) Cardiac intervention products, which increased by $22.5 million, or 7.0%, from the corresponding period of 2021. This increase was driven primarily by sales of our intervention, CRM/EP, and angiography products, partially offset by a decrease in sales of our fluid management products.
(c) OEM products, which increased by $21.5 million, or 17.4% from the corresponding period of 2021. This increase was driven primarily by sales of our access, angiography, fluid management, intervention, coating products and kits, partially offset by a decrease in sales of our CRM/EP products.
The foregoing increase in sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 was partially offset by decreased sales of:
(d) Custom procedural solutions products, which decreased by $(3.7) million, or (1.9)% from the corresponding period of 2021. This decrease was driven primarily by decreased sales of our critical care products , offset partially by increased sales of trays .
Endoscopy Sales. Our endoscopy sales for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $36.8 million, up 12.4%, when compared to sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 of $32.8 million. Sales for the year ended December 31, 2023 were favorably affected by increased sales of our EndoMAXX fully covered esophageal stent, Elation Balloon Dilator, and AERO Mini tracheobronchial stent, partially offset by a decrease in sales of our probes.
Our endoscopy sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $32.8 million, up 3.9%, when compared to sales for the corresponding period in 2021 of $31.5 million. Sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 were favorably affected by increased sales of our Elation Balloon Dilator and other stents, partially offset by a decrease in sales of our EndoMAXX fully covered esophageal stent .
Geographic Sales
Listed below are sales by geography for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 (in thousands, other than percentage changes):
% Change
2023
% Change
2022
% Change
2021
United States
11.7
%
726,989
6.8
%
650,559
10.7
%
608,878
International
6.0
%
530,377
7.4
%
500,422
12.6
%
465,873
Total
9.2
%
$
1,257,366
7.1
%
$
1,150,981
11.5
%
$
1,074,751
United States Sales: U.S. sales for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $727.0 million, or 57.8% of net sales, up 11.7% when compared to 2022. The increase in our domestic sales in 2023 was driven primarily by our U.S. direct, OEM and oncology businesses. U.S. sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $650.6 million, or 56.5% of net sales, up 6.8% when compared to 2021. The increase in our domestic sales in 2022 was driven primarily by our U.S. direct, sensors and OEM businesses.
International Sales . International sales for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $530.4 million, or 42.2% of net sales, up 6.0% when compared to 2022. The increase in our international sales during 2023 was primarily a result of higher sales in EMEA, which increased $18.0 million or 8.3%, higher rest of world sales which increased $7.0 million or 16.6%, and higher sales in APAC, which increased $4.9 million or 2.1%, compared to the corresponding period of 2022. International sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $500.4 million, or 43.5% of net sales, up 7.4% when compared to 2021. The increase in our international sales during 2022 was primarily a result of higher sales in APAC, which increased $13.3 million or 5.9%, higher sales in EMEA, which increased $11.4 million or 5.5%, and higher rest of world sales which increased $9.9 million or 30.8%, compared to the corresponding period of 2021.
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Our international sales are subject to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations between the natural currency of a foreign country and the U.S. Dollar. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, calculated by using the applicable average foreign exchange rates for the prior year decreased sales (0.5)% for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to 2022 and decreased sales (2.2)% for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to 2021.
Gross Profit
Our gross profit as a percentage of sales was 46.4%, 45.1%, and 45.2% for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of sales for 2023, as compared to 2022, was primarily due to increased sales combined with changes in standard costs and product mix, lower freight expenses due to focus on increasing ocean freight and lowering air shipments, partially offset by higher royalty costs associated with sales and higher intangible amortization expense as a percentage of sales associated with acquisitions. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of sales for 2022, as compared to 2021, was primarily due to less favorable manufacturing variances and higher freight costs as a percentage of sales, partially offset by more favorable changes in standard cost and product mix, decreased intangible amortization expense as a percentage of sales, and lower obsolescence expense, among other factors.
Operating Expenses
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses . Our selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased $31.2 million, or 9.1%, for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to 2022 and increased $6.8 million, or 2.0%, for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to 2021. SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales were 29.7%, 29.8% and 31.2% for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The increase in SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily related to increased labor-related costs associated with an increase in headcount and higher variable compensation linked to company performance, increase in loss for disposal of equipment associated with restructuring, higher travel related expenses as restrictions from the pandemic continued to decline, and an increase in depreciation and amortization associated with acquisitions .
The increase in SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily related to an increase in labor-related costs, including a $6.6 million increase for severance associated with restructuring and site closures, and higher travel related expenses as restrictions from the pandemic continued to decline; partially offset by a decrease of approximately $6 million for contract termination costs incurred in 2021 to renegotiate certain terms of our September 1, 2017 share purchase agreement with IntelliMedical Technologies Pty. Ltd. (“IntelliMedical”). In addition, f or the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded $1.0 million of expense in connection with the negotiated settlement of a shareholder derivative lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Utah against Merit, our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and certain of our directors .
Research and Development Expenses . Our research and development (“R&D”) expenses as a percentage of sales were 6.6%, 6.6% and 6.6% for the years ended December 31 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. R&D expenses increased by $7.2 million or 9.6% to $82.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $75.5 million in 2022. The increase in R&D expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily related to labor-related costs consistent with an increase in headcount and an increase in regulatory expense and costs for clinical trials.
R&D expenses increased by $4.3 million or 6.0% to $75.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $71.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in R&D expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily related to labor-related costs consistent with an increase in headcount. We also incurred increased outside service and consulting costs due to higher costs from clinical trials and the implementation of the MDR in the E.U.
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Legal Settlement . For the year ended December 31, 2021, we recorded approximately $10 million of net expense in connection with an agreement in principle to settle the securities class action lawsuit in December 2019 against Merit, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer in the United States District Court for the Central District of California (the “Class Action Litigation”). This expense includes $18.25 million of settlement related costs, net of $8.2 million of insurance proceeds .
Impairment Charges . For the year ended December 21, 2023, we recorded impairment charges of $270 thousand due to the acquisition and subsequent write-off of our equity investment in Bluegrass Vascular Technologies, Inc. (“Bluegrass”).
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded impairment charges of $2.2 million. These impairments included $1.7 million of intangible assets for our divestiture of the STD Pharmaceutical Products Limited (“STD Pharmaceutical”) business acquired in our August 2019 acquisition of Fibrovein Holdings and $0.5 million impairment of our equity investment in XableCath, Inc. as this business ceased operations.
For the year ended December 31, 2021 we recorded impairment charges of $4.3 million. These impairments included $1.6 million of intangible asset and $1.3 million of property and equipment due to the planned discontinuance of the Advocate™ Peripheral Angioplasty Balloon product line, sold under our license agreements with ArraVasc Limited (“ArraVasc”) and $1.4 million of impairments of certain right-of-use (“ROU”) operating lease assets due to site consolidation decisions and changes in our projected cash flows for the underlying lease assets.
Contingent Consideration Expense . For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we recorded $1.7 million, $4.6 million and $3.2 million, respectively, of net contingent consideration expense from changes in the estimated fair value of our contingent consideration obligations stemming from our previously disclosed business acquisitions. The expense in each fiscal year relates to changes in the probability and timing of achieving certain revenue and operational milestones, as well as expense for the passage of time.
Acquired In-process Research and Development . During the year ended December 31, 2023, we incurred in-process research and development charges of $1.6 million p rimarily associated with the assets we acquired from Advanced Radiation Therapy, LLC (“ART”) on May 1, 2023. We incurred $6.7 million for in-process research and development charges associated with our acquisition of Restore Endosystems, LLC (“Restore Endosystems”) during the year ended December 31, 2022 . We did not incur in-process research and development charges during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Operating Income
Our operating profit by operating segment for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was as follows (in thousands):
Operating Income
2023
2022
2021
Cardiovascular
$
114,440
$
80,946
$
53,415
Endoscopy
9,504
6,617
7,501
Total operating income
$
123,944
$
87,563
$
60,916
Cardiovascular Operating Income. Our cardiovascular operating income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $114.4 million, compared to cardiovascular operating income of $80.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase in cardiovascular operating income was primarily related to higher sales and gross profit, decreased impairment charges ($270 thousand in 2023 compared to $2.2 million in 2022), decreased acquired in-process research and development charges, and decreased contingent consideration expense ($1.7 million in 2023 compared to $4.6 million in 2022), partially offset by higher SG&A and R&D expenses.
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Our cardiovascular operating income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $80.9 million, compared to cardiovascular operating income of $53.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase in cardiovascular operating income was primarily related to higher sales, decreased legal settlement costs, including $10 million in 2021 in connection with an agreement in principle to settle a securities class action lawsuit, and decreased impairment charges within our cardiovascular operating segment ($2.2 million in 2022 compared to $4.3 million in 2021), partially offset by increased labor-related and travel costs, and increased contingent consideration expense ($4.6 million in 2022 compared to $3.2 million in 2021).
Endoscopy Operating Income. Our endoscopy operating income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $9.5 million, compared to operating income of $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase in endoscopy operating income relative to 2022 was primarily due to higher sales and gross profit, partially offset by higher SG&A expenses.
Our endoscopy operating income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $6.6 million, compared to operating income of $7.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. This decrease in endoscopy operating income relative to 2021 was primarily due to decreased gross margin percentage as a result of changes in product mix and higher shipping costs and higher labor-related costs, partially offset by higher sales.
Other Income (Expense)
Our other expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $11.9 million, $4.9 million, and $7.0 million, respectively. The increase in other expense for 2023 compared to 2022 was principally the result of an increase in interest expense associated with increased borrowings under our Credit Agreement, issuance of convertible debt and rising interest rates, partially offset by an increase in interest income associated with an increase in cash and cash equivalents.
The decrease in other expense for 2022 compared to 2021 was principally the result of an increase in other income associated with realized and unrealized foreign currency gain (loss), partially offset by an increase in interest expense associated with rising interest rates and an increase in other expense related to the divestiture of the STD Pharmaceutical business.
Effective Tax Rate
Our provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was a tax expense of $17.7 million, $8.1 million and $5.5 million, respectively, which resulted in an effective income tax rate of 15.8%, 9.8%, and 10.1%, respectively. The increase in the effective income tax rate for 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily the result of decreased benefit from items such as stock-based compensation, the foreign-derived intangible income (FDII) deduction, as well as the foreign tax credits being utilized. The decrease in the effective income tax rate for 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily the result of a benefit from the change in foreign withholding taxes on unremitted foreign earnings due to the restructuring of our foreign entities, more foreign tax credits being utilized, as well as additional benefit from the FDII deduction.
Net Income
Our net income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $94.4 million, $74.5 million, and $48.5 million, respectively. The increase in net income for 2023, when compared to 2022, was primarily related to higher sales, higher gross margin as a percentage of sales, decreased impairment charges ($270 thousand in 2023 compared to $2.2 million in 2022), decreased contingent consideration expense ($1.7 million in 2023 compared to $4.6 million in 2022), decreased acquired in-process research and development expense ($1.6 million in 2023 compared to $6.7 million in 2022); partially offset by higher SG&A and R&D expenses .
The increase in net income for 2022, when compared to 2021, was primarily related to higher sales, decreased legal settlement costs primarily due to the $10.0 million settlement in 2021 in connection with an agreement in principle to settle a securities class action lawsuit, and decreased impairment charges ($2.2 million in 2022 compared to $4.3 million in 2021); partially offset by higher SG&A expenses due to higher labor-related and travel costs , as well as increased contingent consideration expense of $4.6 million in 2022 compared to $3.2 million in 2021 .
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Capital Commitments and Contractual Obligations
Our most significant contractual obligations as of December 31, 2023 included total long-term debt obligations of $846.6 million, of which $0.0 million is recorded in current liabilities, interest payments on this debt, contingent consideration liabilities of $3.4 million, of which $0.4 million is recorded in current liabilities, and operating lease liabilities of $68.3 million, of which $12.1 million is recorded in current liabilities. Additional information about these obligations is contained in Notes 8, 15 and 17 to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report.
Cash Flows
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $589.1 million and $60.6 million respectively, of which $48.7 million and $49.6 million, respectively, were held by foreign subsidiaries. We do not consider our foreign earnings to be permanently reinvested. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, approximately $2.1 million and $2.1 million respectively, of our cash and cash equivalents represents restricted cash for the payment of certain import and other taxes for our subsidiary in China. Cash held by our subsidiary in China is subject to local laws and regulations that require government approval for the transfer of such funds to entities located outside of China. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, of $17.6 million and $26.1 million, respectively, held by our subsidiary in China.
Cash flows provided by operating activities. We generated cash from operating activities of $145.2 million, $114.3 million and $147.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities increased $30.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. Significant changes in operating assets and liabilities affecting cash flows during these years included:
● Net income was $94.4 million and $74.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
● Cash used for inventories was $(32.1) million and $(47.9) million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase in inventory was principally associated with our strategy to proactively invest in our inventory balances to encourage high customer service levels, as well as to build bridge inventory for production line transfers and increases in safety stock due to vendor supply delays .
● Cash provided by (used for) accounts payable was $(7.3) million and $12.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, primarily due to an increase in operating expenses and changes in the timing of vendor payments.
● Cash paid for income taxes was $31.5 million and $17.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, primarily due to increases in income before tax.
Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $32.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. Significant changes in operating assets and liabilities affecting cash flows during these years included:
● Net income was $74.5 million and $48.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. This improvement in net income was partially offset by an increase in the non-cash adjustment for deferred income taxes within the statement of cash flows of $(14.9) million and $(4.6) million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
● Cash (used for) accounts receivable was $(15.1) million and $(8.6) million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, due primarily to increases in sales volume,
● Cash provided by (used for) other receivables was $4.2 million and $(10.4) million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, due primarily to the collection of approximately $8.2 million of insurance proceeds in connection with the consolidated securities class action lawsuit we settled in April 2022,
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● Cash used for inventories was $(47.9) million and $(25.2) million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, due primarily to efforts to normalize inventory levels as well as build bridge inventory for production line transfers and increases in safety stock due to vendor supply delays, and
● Cash provided by (used for) accrued expenses was $(16.4) million and $36.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, primarily related to payment of a legal settlement accrual of $18.25 million in 2022 associated with the agreement in principle to settle the Class Action Litigation and increased labor-related cost accruals associated with higher commissions and bonus expense in the prior-year period, among other items.
Cash flows used in investing activities. We used cash in investing activities of $175.3 million, $57.4 million, and $37.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. We invested in capital expenditures for property and equipment of $34.3 million, $45.0 million, and $27.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Capital expenditures in each period were primarily related to investment in property and equipment to support development and production of our products. Historically, we have incurred significant expenses in connection with facility construction, production automation, product development and the introduction of new products. We anticipate that we will spend approximately $50 to $60 million in 2024 for property and equipment.
Cash outflows invested in acquisitions for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $138.3 million and were primarily related to payments required by our asset purchase agreements with AngioDynamics ($100 million), Bluegrass ($32.7 million), and ART ($1.5 million), and our transaction with Solo Pace ($4.0 million). Cash outflows invested in acquisitions for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $8.3 million and were primarily related to our $3.0 million upfront payment in our purchase of Restore Endosystems, our $2.5 million payment in our purchase of BioTrace Medical, Inc., and our additional equity investment in FluidX Medical Technology, Inc. (“Fluidx”) of $1.4 million. Cash outflows invested in acquisitions for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $7.2 million and were primarily related to $4.1 million for the settlement of deferred payments and the working capital adjustment associated with our acquisition of KA Medical, LLC (“KA Medical”) completed in November 2020 and $2.7 million for an equity investment in Fluidx .
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities. Cash provided by (used in) financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $559.3 million, $(60.3) million, and $(98.4) million, respectively. In 2023 we issued convertible debt of $747.5 million, paid $66.5 million for the purchase of capped call options, and decreased our net borrowings under our Fourth Amended Credit Agreement by $99.1 million. In 2022 we decreased our net borrowings under our Third Amended Credit Agreement by $44.9 million and paid contingent consideration of $32.9 million, which is classified as a financing activity, principally related to our acquisitions of Cianna Medical Inc. (“Cianna Medical”) and Vascular Insights LLC (“Vascular Insights”). In 2021 we decreased our net borrowings under our Third Amended Credit Agreement by $108.5 million and paid contingent consideration of $10.7 million, which is classified as a financing activity, principally related to our acquisition of Vascular Insights.
As of December 31, 2023, we had outstanding borrowings of $846.6 million and issued letter of credit guarantees of $2.7 million, with additional available borrowings of approximately $626 million under the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, based on the leverage ratio required pursuant to the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement. Our interest rate as of December 31, 2023 was a fixed rate of 3.0% on our Convertible Notes, a fixed rate of 3.39% on $75 million as a result of an interest rate swap, and a variable floating rate of 7.21% on $24.1 million. Our interest rate as of December 31, 2022 was a fixed rate of 2.71% on $75 million as a result of an interest rate swap and a variable floating rate of 5.38% on $123.2 million. The foregoing fixed rates are exclusive of potential future changes in the applicable margin associated with our variable rate debt under the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement. See Note 8 and Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report for additional details regarding the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, Convertible Notes, and our interest rate swap.
We currently believe that our existing cash balances, anticipated future cash flows from operations and borrowings under our long-term debt agreements will be adequate to fund our current and currently planned future operations for the next twelve months and the foreseeable future. In the event we pursue and complete significant transactions or acquisitions in the future, additional funds may be required to meet our strategic needs, which may require us to raise additional funds in the debt or equity markets.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report. While these significant accounting policies affect the reporting of our financial condition and results of operations, the SEC has requested that all registrants address their most critical accounting policies. The SEC has indicated that a “critical accounting policy” is one which is both important to the representation of the registrant’s financial condition and results and requires management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. We base our estimates on past experience and on various other assumptions our management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results will differ and may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Additionally, changes in accounting estimates could occur in the future from period to period. The following paragraphs identify our most critical accounting policies:
Inventory Obsolescence. Our management reviews inventory quantities on hand and records provisions for estimated excess, slow moving and obsolete inventory. Based on this review, we provide adjustments for any slow-moving finished good products or raw materials that we believe will expire prior to being sold or used to produce a finished good and any products that are unmarketable. This review of inventory quantities for unmarketable and/or slow moving products is based on forecasted product demand derived from our historical experience of product sales and production raw material usage. If market conditions become less favorable than those projected by our management, additional inventory write-downs may be required. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we recorded obsolescence expense of approximately $11.5 million, $9.8 million, and $10.9 million, respectively, and wrote off approximately $11.9 million, $10.2 million, and $11.6 million, respectively. Based on this historical trend, we believe that our inventory balances as of December 31, 2023 have been accurately adjusted for any unmarketable and/or slow moving products that may expire prior to being sold.
Valuation of Goodwill and Intangible Assets. We allocate any excess purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination to goodwill. We base the fair value of identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination on valuations that use information and assumptions that a market participant would use, including assumptions for estimated revenue projections, growth rates, cash flows, discount rates, useful life, and other relevant assumptions.
We test our goodwill balances for impairment annually as of July 1, or whenever impairment indicators arise. When impairment indicators are identified, we may elect to perform an optional qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting units has fallen below their carrying value. During our annual impairment test performed as of July 1, we utilized four reporting units in evaluating goodwill for impairment using a quantitative assessment, which uses a combination of a guideline public company market-based approach and a discounted cash flow income-based approach. The quantitative assessment considers whether the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, in which case an impairment charge is recorded to the extent the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value. This analysis requires significant judgment, including estimation of the amount, timing and duration of future cash flows, which is based on internal forecasts, and a determination of a discount rate based on our weighted average cost of capital. During our annual test of goodwill balances in 2023, which was completed during the third quarter of 2023, we determined that the fair value of each reporting unit with goodwill exceeded the carrying amount by a significant amount.
We evaluate long-lived assets, including amortizing intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. We perform the impairment analysis at the asset group for which the lowest level of identifiable cash flows is largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. We first compare undiscounted cash flows to the carrying amount of the asset group to determine if impairment exists, and then determine the fair value of our amortizing assets based on estimated future cash flows discounted back to their present value using a discount rate that reflects the risk profiles of the underlying activities. This analysis requires similar significant judgments as those discussed above regarding goodwill. In-process technology intangible assets, which are not subject to amortization until projects reach commercialization, are assessed for impairment at least annually and more frequently if events occur that would indicate a potential reduction in the fair value of the assets below their carrying value.
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During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, we identified indicators of impairment associated with certain acquired intangible assets within the asset groups based on our qualitative assessment. During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, we recorded total impairment charges associated with intangible assets in our cardiovascular segment of $1.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively. We did not have any impairments for the year ended December 31, 2023. These expenses are reflected within impairment charges in our consolidated statements of income. The primary factors driving impairment of certain intangible assets were planned closure and restructuring activities and uncertainty about future product development and commercialization associated with certain acquired technologies. See Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report for additional details regarding impairments of intangible assets.
Contingent Consideration. Contingent consideration is an obligation by the buyer to transfer additional assets or equity interests to the former owner upon reaching certain performance targets. Certain of our business combinations involve the potential for the payment of future contingent consideration, generally based on a percentage of future product sales or upon attaining specified future revenue or other relevant milestones. In connection with a business combination, any contingent consideration is recorded at fair value on the acquisition date based upon the consideration expected to be transferred in the future. We base the fair value of contingent consideration obligations acquired in a business combination on valuations that use information and assumptions that a market participant would use, including assumptions for estimated revenue growth rates, discount rates, probabilities of achieving regulatory approval, performance, or revenue-based milestones and other relevant factors.
We re-measure the estimated liability each quarter and record changes in the estimated fair value through operating expense in our consolidated statements of income. Significant increases or decreases in our estimates could result in changes to the estimated fair value of our contingent consideration liability, as well as the result of changes in the timing and amount of revenue estimates and changes in the discount rate or periods. Our revenue milestones for the acquisition of Brightwater Medical, Inc. includes payment thresholds. This and other similar contract features of our contingent consideration liabilities create sensitivity regarding the occurrence, timing, and amount of future payments.
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we recognized contingent consideration expense of $1.7 million, $4.6 million and $3.2 million, respectively, from changes in the estimated fair value of our contingent consideration obligations stemming from our previously disclosed business acquisitions. Changes in the fair value of our contingent consideration liabilities were primarily attributable to changes in anticipated sales growth in the acquired products and the anticipated timing of milestone payments. See Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report for additional details regarding our contingent liabilities.
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