Risk Factors Summary
Our business is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those described in Part I, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should carefully consider these risks and uncertainties when investing in our securities. Principal risks and uncertainties include:
• We derive a significant portion of our revenues from non-U.S. sales and from products manufactured at our non-U.S. facilities which are then imported to the U.S. We are therefore subject to risks of doing business in other countries, including those related to tariffs, retaliatory counter measures and further escalation of trade tensions.
• If we are unable to compete successfully with our competitors, we may be unable to maintain market share, in which case our sales may not grow and our profitability may be adversely affected.
• If demand for our products were to decline significantly, we might not be able to recover the cost of our expensive automated molding and assembly equipment and tooling, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
• Product development requires substantial investment that may be difficult for us to fund and may be challenging to recover through commercial product sales.
• H eightened inflation, higher interest rates and foreign currency rate fluctuations as a result of global macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions have had and could in the future have a material adverse effect on our operations.
• Significant changes in U.S. trade, tax or other policies that restrict imports or increase import tariffs for certain countries, particularly Mexico and Costa Rica, can escalate trade wars and could have a meaningful adverse effect on our results of operations.
• Continuing pressures to reduce healthcare costs and inadequate coverage and reimbursement may adversely affect our prices and volume. If we cannot reduce manufacturing costs of existing and new products to counteract such pricing pressures, our sales may not grow and our profitability may decline.
• Our ability to market, distribute and sell our products in the U.S. and other countries may be adversely affected if our products fail to comply with the existing laws and regulations, and applicable requirements of the FDA, governmental agencies in other countries, and notified bodies.
• If we fail to comply with the FDA's Quality Management System Regulation or Good Manufacturing Practice regulations or other requirements, our manufacturing operations could be interrupted, and our product sales and operating results could suffer.
• Disruptions at the FDA, other government agencies or notified bodies caused by funding shortages, policy changes, or personnel turnover could hinder their ability to hire, retain, or deploy key leadership and other personnel, or otherwise
prevent new or modified products from being developed, cleared, approved, certified, or commercialized in a timely manner, or at all, which could negatively impact our business.
• Failure to protect our information technology systems against security breaches, service interruptions, or misappropriation of data could disrupt operations, compromise sensitive data, and expose us to liability, possibly causing our business and reputation to suffer.
• Damage to, or interruptions at, any of our manufacturing facilities or our suppliers' facilities could impair our ability to produce our products.
• We are dependent on single and limited source third-party suppliers, which subjects our business and results of operations to risks of supplier business interruptions, and a loss or degradation in performance in our suppliers could have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
• We may not be successful in achieving expected operating efficiencies or expense reductions associated with cost reduction and restructuring efforts and may experience a decline in our profitability, business disruptions or other adverse consequences to our business as a result.
• Significant sales through distributors expose us to risks that could have a material effect on our results of operations.
• Actual or perceived failures to comply with foreign, federal, and state data privacy and security laws, regulations and standards may adversely affect our business, operations and financial performance.
• We are subject to certain fraud and abuse and transparency laws, which, if violated, could subject us to substantial penalties. Additionally, any challenge to or investigation into our practices under these laws could cause adverse publicity and be costly to respond to, and thus could harm our business.
• Our business could be materially and adversely affected if we fail to defend and enforce our patents or other proprietary rights, if our products are found to infringe patents or other proprietary rights owned by others or if the cost to protect our patents or other proprietary rights becomes excessive or as our patents expire.
• Our operations may be adversely impacted by our exposure to risks related to foreign currency exchange rates.
• International sales pose additional risks related to competition with larger international companies and established local companies and higher credit risk.
• The Smiths Medical acquisition completed in January 2022 has resulted in organizational changes and an increase in size to our business. If we fail to effectively complete the integration of our business in a manner that preserves our reputation with customers and the key aspects of our corporate culture, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.
• For the Smiths Medical acquisition, we incurred a substantial amount of debt to finance the cash consideration portion and certain other amounts paid in connection with the Smiths Medical acquisition, which could adversely affect our business, including by restricting our ability to engage in additional transactions or incur additional indebtedness.
See Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the detailed discussion of the above risk factors.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
First person pronouns used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, such as “we,” “us,” and “our,” refer to ICU Medical, Inc. (“ICU”) and its subsidiaries unless context requires otherwise.
Company Background and Overview of Business
ICU develops, manufactures and sells innovative medical products used in infusion therapy, vascular access, and vital care applications. Our team is focused on providing quality, innovation and value to our clinical customers worldwide. ICU's product portfolio includes ambulatory, syringe, and large volume IV pumps and safety software; dedicated and non-dedicated IV sets, needlefree IV connectors, peripheral IV catheters, sharps safety products, and sterile IV solutions offered on behalf of our joint venture; closed system transfer devices and pharmacy compounding systems; as well as a range of respiratory, anesthesia, patient monitoring, and temperature management products.
Headquartered in San Clemente, California, ICU was founded in 1984. Our primary customers are acute care hospitals, wholesalers, ambulatory clinics and alternate site facilities, such as outpatient clinics, home health care providers, and long-term care facilities. Since our inception we have grown organically and through acquisitions.
In February 2017, we acquired Pfizer Inc.’s (“Pfizer”) Hospira Infusion Systems (“HIS”) business. The HIS acquisition complemented our legacy non-dedicated infusion sets and oncology business by expanding our product portfolio to include a complete intravenous infusion therapy product-line from IV solutions to IV pumps to non-dedicated infusion sets.
In November 2019, we acquired Pursuit Vascular, Inc. (“Pursuit”). Pursuit was a privately-held medical device company with a primary focus on innovative catheter disinfecting products and technologies to reduce costly bloodstream infections and lower healthcare costs. Pursuit’s primary product is the ClearGuard ® HD cap, which is used for the maintenance of hemodialysis catheters.
In January 2022, we acquired Smiths Medical 2020 Limited (“Smiths Medical”), the holding company of Smiths Group plc’s ("Smiths") global medical device business. The Smiths Medical acquisition complemented and broadened our preexisting product portfolio by adding syringe and ambulatory infusion devices, vascular access, and vital care products, and we believe has significantly strengthened and expanded our global market reach.
In November 2024, we entered into a purchase agreement (the "Agreement") with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory America, Inc. (“OPF”), a global IV solutions manufacturing subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd., to divest a controlling interest in our IV Solutions business. In April 2025, pursuant to the Agreement, ICU Medical Pearl LLC (n/k/a Otsuka ICU Medical LLC (the "joint venture")) was formed, and the assets, liabilities and operations comprising the IV Solutions product line were transferred to the joint venture. In May 2025, upon the closing under the Agreement, we sold a 60% ownership interest in the joint venture to OPF and the Company retained a 40% ownership interest in the business. Pursuant to commercial agreements, a services agreement and a license agreement, we sell and distribute products to customers on behalf of the joint venture.
Products
Our primary product offerings are described below.
Consumables
Our Consumables business unit includes Infusion Therapy, Oncology, Vascular Access and Tracheostomy products.
Infusion Therapy
Our Infusion Therapy products include non-dedicated infusion sets, extension sets, needle-free connectors, and disinfection caps. Infusion sets used in hospitals and ambulatory clinics consist of flexible sterile tubing running from an IV bag or bottle containing a drug product or solution to a catheter inserted in a patient’s vein that may or may not be used with an infusion pump. Disinfection caps are used to actively disinfect access points into the infusion sets and catheters. Our primary Infusion Therapy products are:
• Clave™ needlefree products, including the MicroClave, MicroClave Clear, and NanoClave™ brand of connectors, accessories, extension and administration sets used for the administration of IV fluids and medications;
• Neutron™ catheter patency device, used to help maintain patency of central venous catheters;
• Tego™ needlefree connector utilized to access catheters for hemodialysis and apheresis applications; and
• ClearGuard™, SwabCap™ and SwabTip™ disinfection caps.
Oncology
Closed System Transfer Devices ("CSTD") and hazardous drug compounding systems are used to prepare and deliver hazardous IV medications such as those used in chemotherapy, which, if released, can have harmful effects on the healthcare worker and environment. Our primary Oncology products are:
• ChemoLockTM CSTD (“ChemoLock”), which utilizes a proprietary needlefree connection method, is used for the preparation and administration of hazardous drugs. ChemoLock is used to limit the escape of hazardous drug or vapor concentrations, block the transfer of environmental contaminants into the system, and eliminates the risk of needlestick injury;
• ChemoClaveTM (“ChemoClave”), an ISO Connection standard and universally compatible CSTD used for the preparation and administration of hazardous drugs. ChemoClave utilizes standard ISO luer locking connections, making it compatible with all brands of needlefree connectors and pump delivery systems. ChemoClave also is used to limit the escape of hazardous drug or vapor concentrations, block the transfer of environmental contaminants into the system, and eliminate the risk of needlestick injury; and
• Deltec® GRIPPER® non-coring needles for portal access.
The preparation of hazardous drugs typically takes place in a pharmacy where drugs are removed from vials and prepared for delivery to a patient. Those prepared drugs are then transferred to a nursing unit where the chemotherapy is administered via an infusion pump set to a patient. Components of the ChemoClave and ChemoLock product lines are used both in pharmacies and on the nursing floors for the preparation and administration of hazardous drugs.
Vascular Access
Our Vascular Access products are used by clinicians to access the patients' bloodstream to deliver fluids and medication or to obtain blood samples. Our primary Vascular Access products are:
• Jelco® safety and conventional peripheral IV catheters and sharps safety devices for hypodermic injection, designed to help prevent accidental needlestick injury;
• Safe-T Wing® venipuncture and blood collection devices;
• Port-A-Cath® implantable ports;
• Portex® arterial blood sampling syringes;
• PowerWand® midline catheters; and
• Cleo® subcutaneous infusion catheters and sets.
Tracheostomy
Our tracheostomy products are used in the placement of a secure airway using both surgical and percutaneous insertion techniques. Our primary Tracheostomy products are:
• Portex BLUselect® PVC tracheostomy tubes, which feature an inner cannula as well as a Suctionaid option for above the cuff suctioning and vocalization capability;
• Portex Bivona® silicone tracheostomy tubes, which offer the added benefits of comfort and mobility and come in a variety of configurations suited to meet the clinical needs of neonatal through adult patients; and
• Portex BLUperc® percutaneous insertion kits, which allow for safe placement of the tracheostomy tube at the bedside.
Infusion Systems
We offer a comprehensive portfolio of infusion pumps, dedicated IV sets, software and professional services to meet the wide range of infusion needs. Our primary Infusion System products are:
Large Volume Pump ("LVP") Hardware:
• Plum Duo™ and Plum Solo™ precision infusion pumps (together, the "Plum precision pumps") are single-channel and dual-channel infusion pump systems that received FDA 510(k) clearance in April 2025. The Plum precision pumps are designed to deliver compatible intravenous medications through a single or dual channel, with the dual channel configuration capable of delivering up to four compatible medications through a single pump. The Plum precision pumps are designed to provide delivery accuracy of ±3%, independent of medication bag, pump placement, or patient positioning. The systems incorporate features to support clinic workflows, including reduced alarm and setup requirements and on-screen guidance. Combined with LifeShield™ IV safety software, Plum precision pumps are designed to support IV-EHR interoperability and provide a platform intended to support safety and efficiency across all intravenous medication delivery processes.
• Plum 360™ infusion pumps feature the unique Plum cassette system that helps to enhance patient safety and workflow efficiency. PlumSet™ dedicated IV sets include an air trap to help minimize interruptions and a direct connection to the secondary line that eliminates the risk of common setup errors and enables concurrent delivery of two compatible medications through a single line. Plum 360 has been named Best in KLAS for eight years in a row (2018, 2019, 2020, 2023 – Best in KLAS Smart Pump Traditional; 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Best in KLAS Smart Pump EMR Integrated) and was the first medical device to be awarded UL Cybersecurity Assurance Program Certification.
Ambulatory Infusion Hardware:
• CADD™ ambulatory infusion pumps and disposables, including administration sets and medication cassette reservoirs, serve as a single pain management platform across all types of IV pain management therapies and all clinical care areas from the hospital to outpatient treatment. The Company has filed a 510(k) application for new clearance for a refreshed CADD™ infusion pump in July 2025.
Syringe Infusion Hardware:
• Medfusion™ syringe infusion pumps are designed for the administration of fluids and medication to address the needs of the most vulnerable patients requiring precisely controlled infusion rates. Focused on delivery accuracy, the Medfusion™ 4000 can deliver from a comprehensive portfolio of syringes to meet syringe pump guidance to deliver medication from the smallest syringe size possible. The Company has filed a 510(k) application for new clearances for the next generation MedFusion™ infusion pump in July 2025.
IV Medication Safety Software:
• LifeShield™ infusion safety software for Plum infusion pumps (Plum Solo, Plum Duo) is an enterprise-wide platform designed with the input of pharmacists, nurses and administrators. The software is designed to support intravenous medication management across health systems. The system utilizes hybrid architecture that includes cloud-based functionality for remote access and on-premise system management providing security and control.
• ICU Medical MedNet™ software is an enterprise-class medication management platform that can help reduce medication errors, improve quality of care, streamline workflows and maximize revenue capture. ICU Medical MedNet connects our industry-leading Plum 360 smart pumps to a hospital’s electronic health record ("EHR"), asset tracking systems, and alarm notification platforms to further enhance infusion safety and efficiency.
• PharmGuard™ medication safety software for Medfusion 4000 syringe and CADD-Solis™ pumps allows for customized drug libraries to support the standardization of protocols for medication administration throughout the facility.
Professional Services:
• In addition to the products above, our teams of clinical and technical experts work with customers to develop safe and efficient infusion systems, providing customized and personalized configuration, implementation, and data analytics services to optimize our infusion hardware and software.
Vital Care
Our Vital Care business unit includes IV Solutions, Hemodynamic Monitoring, General Anesthesia and Respiratory, Temperature Management Solutions and Regional Anesthesia/Pain Management products.
IV Solutions
On May 1, 2025, at the closing of our transaction with OPF, we transferred certain interests, including our IV Solutions product line, to OPF. We sell and distribute IV Solutions products to customers on behalf of the joint venture pursuant to a commercial agreement.
The IV Solutions products include a broad portfolio of injection, irrigation, nutrition and specialty IV solutions including:
• IV Therapy and Diluents, including Sodium Chloride, Dextrose, Balanced Electrolyte Solutions, Lactated Ringer's, Ringer's, Mannitol, Sodium Chloride/Dextrose and Sterile Water.
• Irrigation, including Sodium Chloride Irrigation, Sterile Water Irrigation, Physiologic Solutions, Ringer's Irrigation, Acetic Acid Irrigation, Glycine Irrigation, Sorbitol-Mannitol Irrigation, Flexible Containers and Pour Bottle Options.
Hemodynamic Monitoring
Our Hemodynamic Monitoring products are designed to help clinicians get accurate real-time access to patients’ hemodynamic and cardiac status with an extensive portfolio of monitoring systems and advanced sensors & catheters. Measurements provided by our systems help clinicians determine how well the heart is pumping blood and how efficiently oxygen from the blood is being used by the tissues. Our Hemodynamic Monitoring products include:
• Cogent™ 2-in-1 hemodynamic monitoring system;
• CardioFlo™ hemodynamic monitoring system;
• TDQ™ and OptiQ™ cardiac output monitoring catheters;
• TriOx™ venous oximetry catheters;
• Transpac™ blood pressure transducers;
• SafeSet™ closed blood sampling and conservation system; and
• MEDEX® LogiCal® Pressure Monitoring System and components.
General Anesthesia & Respiratory
We offer a broad range of anesthesia systems and devices and breathing circuits, ventilation, respiratory and specialty airway products that maintain patients’ airways before, during and after surgery. Our primary Anesthesia & Respiratory products are:
• Portex® acapella® bronchial hygiene products used to mobilize pulmonary secretions to facilitate the opening of airways in patients with chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, asthma and cystic fibrosis.
Temperature Management Solutions
Temperature Management solutions systems are used in perioperative and critical care settings to help monitor and regulate patient temperature. Our primary Temperature Management products include:
• Level 1® rapid infusion, fluid warming, routine blood and fluid warming, irrigation fluid warming, convective patient warming and temperature probes.
Regional Anesthesia/Pain Management Trays
We offer a comprehensive range of Portex® regional anesthesia/pain management trays and components. Our primary products include:
• Epidural Trays;
• Spinal Trays;
• Combined (CSE) Trays;
• Peripheral Nerve Block Trays; and
• Specialty Trays (Lumbar Puncture, Amniocentesis, Myelogram).
Financial information relating to our reporting segment and primary product lines is set forth in Part II, Item 7. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Manufacturing
Facilities
Our manufacturing facilities are concentrated in the United States, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Czech Republic. See Part I, Item 2 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Additionally, we have historically relied on certain outside manufacturers for certain product lines in Infusion Systems.
We operate regional device service centers, in a number of locations, including Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., Grasbrunn, Germany; San Laurent; Quebec, Canada; Taipei, Taiwan and Rydalmere, Australia. See Part I, Item 2 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Raw Materials
We purchase many of the components and raw materials used in manufacturing our products from numerous suppliers in various countries. Certain components and raw materials are available only from a single supplier. We currently attempt to manage the risk associated with such suppliers by means of inventory management, relationship management and evaluation of alternative sources when feasible. See Item 1A. Risk Factors - We are dependent on single and limited source third-party suppliers, which subjects our business and results of operations to risks of supplier business interruptions, and a loss or degradation in performance in our suppliers could have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
Sales, Marketing and Administration
We sell globally through our own direct sales force and through independent distributors. We currently serve customers in over 100 countries throughout the world. The majority of our sales is denominated in U.S. dollars and we have sales denominated in Euros, Canadian dollars, Japanese Yen, British Pound and Australian dollars as well as other currencies. In 2025, 2024, and 2023, we had worldwide net sales to a single distributor of 18%, 18%, and 16% of consolidated net sales, respectively.
Distribution
Our products are marketed and distributed in the U.S. and internationally to medical product manufacturers, independent distributors and directly to end users.
The distribution of our products in the U.S. is supported by a network of owned and leased distribution centers, which include King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; Los Angeles, California; Dallas, Texas and Olive Branch, Mississippi. We also utilize a number of public warehouses as part of our supply chain.
Internationally, we manage distribution by utilizing international regional hubs and through independent distributors.
Government Regulation
Our products and operations are subject to extensive and rigorous regulation by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and other federal, state and local authorities, as well as foreign regulatory authorities. The FDA regulates, among other things, the research, development, testing, manufacturing, approval, labeling, storage, recordkeeping, advertising, promotion and marketing, distribution, post-approval monitoring and reporting and import and export of drug products, medical devices and combination drug/device products in the U.S. to assure the safety and effectiveness of such medical products for their intended uses and otherwise meet the applicable requirements of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (“FDC Act”). The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") also regulates the advertising of our products. Further, we are subject to laws directed at preventing fraud and abuse, which subject our sales and marketing, training and other practices to government scrutiny.
Medical Device Regulation in the U.S.
The majority of our products are regulated by the FDA as medical devices in the U.S. Unless an exemption applies, each new or significantly modified medical device we seek to commercially distribute in the U.S. will require either a pre-market notification to the FDA requesting permission for commercial distribution under Section 510(k) of the FDC Act, also referred to as a 510(k) clearance, or approval from the FDA of a pre-market approval ("PMA") application. Under the FDC Act, medical devices are classified into one of three classes—Class I, Class II or Class III—depending on the degree of risk associated with each medical device and the extent of manufacturer and regulatory control needed to ensure its safety and effectiveness. Class I devices are those that pose the lowest risk to the patient and are those for which safety and effectiveness can be assured by adherence to the FDA's General Controls for medical devices, which include compliance with the applicable portions of current good manufacturing practices ("cGMPs") for medical devices currently known as the Quality Management System Regulation ("QMSR"), facility registration and product listing, reporting of adverse medical events, and truthful and non-misleading labeling, advertising, and promotional materials. Class II devices are subject to the FDA's General Controls, and special controls as deemed necessary by the FDA to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the device. Devices deemed by the FDA to pose the risks, such as life sustaining, life supporting or some implantable devices, or devices that have a new intended use, or use advanced technology that is not substantially equivalent to that of a legally marketed device, are placed into Class III.
Manufacturers of most Class II devices are required to obtain from the FDA a 510(k) clearance for permission to commercially distribute the device. Class III devices require approval of a PMA application evidencing safety and effectiveness of the device.
Under the 510(k) process, applicants must demonstrate to the FDA that the device is as safe and effective as, or substantially equivalent to, a legally marketed device, the "predicate" device. A predicate device is a legally marketed device that is not subject to pre-market approval, i.e., a device that was legally marketed prior to May 28, 1976 (pre-amendments device) and for which a PMA is not required, a device that has been reclassified from Class III to Class II or I, or a device that was found substantially equivalent through the 510(k) process. Applicants must submit performance data to establish substantial equivalence. In some instances, data from human clinical trials must also be submitted in support of a 510(k) pre-market notification. If so, these data must be collected in a manner that conforms to the applicable Investigational Device Exemption ("IDE") regulations. If the FDA agrees that the device is substantially equivalent to a lawfully marketed predicate device, it will grant 510(k) clearance to authorize the device for commercialization. If the FDA determines that the device is "not substantially equivalent," the device is automatically designated as a Class III device. The device sponsor must then fulfill more rigorous PMA requirements, or can request a risk-based classification determination for the device in accordance with the de novo classification process, which is a route to market for novel medical devices that are low to moderate risk and are not substantially equivalent to a predicate device.
After a device receives 510(k) clearance, any modification that could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness, or that would constitute a major change or modification in its intended use, will require a new 510(k) clearance or, depending on the modification, PMA approval or de novo classification. The FDA requires each manufacturer to determine whether the
proposed change requires submission of a 510(k), de novo classification request or a PMA in the first instance, but the FDA can review any such decision and disagree with a manufacturer’s determination. If the FDA disagrees with a manufacturer’s determination not to seek a new 510(k) or other form of marketing authorization for the modification to the 510(k)-cleared product, the FDA can require the manufacturer to cease marketing and/or request the recall of the modified device until 510(k) clearance or PMA approval is obtained or a de novo classification is granted.
In the PMA application process, the applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA that the device is safe and effective for its intended use. This approval process applies to most Class III devices, and generally requires clinical data to support the safety and effectiveness of the device, obtained in adherence with IDE requirements. Following receipt of a PMA application, the FDA determines whether the application is sufficiently complete to permit a substantive review. If FDA accepts the application for review, it has 180 days under the FDC Act to complete its review of a PMA, although in practice, the FDA's review often takes significantly longer, and can take up to several years. An advisory panel of experts from outside the FDA may be convened to review and evaluate the application and provide recommendations to the FDA as to the approvability of the device. The FDA may or may not accept the panel's recommendation. In addition, the FDA will generally conduct a pre-approval inspection of the applicant or its third-party manufacturers' or suppliers' facilities to ensure compliance with the QMSR,. The FDA will approve the new device for commercial distribution if it determines that the data and information in the PMA constitute valid scientific evidence and that there is reasonable assurance that the device is safe and effective for its intended use(s). The FDA may approve a PMA with post-approval conditions intended to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the device, including, among other things, restrictions on labeling, promotion, sale and distribution, and collection of long-term follow-up data from patients in the clinical study that supported PMA approval or requirements to conduct additional clinical studies post-approval. Certain changes to an approved device, such as changes in manufacturing facilities, methods, or quality control procedures, or changes in the design performance specifications, which affect the safety or effectiveness of the device, require submission of a PMA supplement, or in some cases a new PMA.
After a device is cleared or approved or otherwise authorized for marketing, numerous pervasive regulatory requirements continue to apply unless explicitly exempt. These include:
• establishment registration and device listing with the FDA;
• QMSR requirements, which require manufacturers, including third-party manufacturers, to follow stringent design, testing, control, documentation and other quality assurance procedures during all aspects of the design and manufacturing process;
• clearance or approval of product modifications to 510(k)-cleared devices that could significantly affect safety or effectiveness or that would constitute a major change in intended use of cleared devices;
• medical device reporting regulations, which require that a manufacturer report to the FDA if a device it markets may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury, or has malfunctioned and the device or a similar device that it markets would be likely to cause or contribute to a death or serious injury, if the malfunction were to recur;
• correction, removal and recall reporting regulations, which require that manufacturers report to the FDA field corrections and product recalls or removals if undertaken to reduce a risk to health posed by the device or to remedy a violation of the FDC Act that may present a risk to health;
• complying with requirements governing Unique Device Identifiers on devices and also requiring the submission of certain information about each device to the FDA's Global Unique Device Identification Database;
• the FDA's recall authority, whereby the agency can order device manufacturers to recall from the market a product that is in violation of governing laws and regulations; and
• post-market surveillance activities and regulations, which apply when deemed by the FDA to be necessary to protect public health or to provide additional safety and effectiveness data for the device.
Post-Market Enforcement in the U.S.
The FDA may withdraw marketing authorizations for drugs or medical devices if compliance with regulatory requirements and standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the market. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in revisions to the approved labeling to
add new safety information, imposition of post-market studies or clinical studies to assess new safety risks, or imposition of distribution restrictions or other restrictions. Other potential consequences include, among other things: complete withdrawal of the product from the market, product recalls, fines, warning letters, untitled letters, clinical holds on clinical studies, refusal of the FDA to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications, product seizures or detention, refusal to permit the import or export of products, consent decrees, corporate integrity agreements, debarment or exclusion from federal healthcare programs, the issuance of corrective information, injunctions, or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.
In addition, the FDA closely regulates the marketing, labeling, advertising and promotion of medical devices. A company can make only those claims relating to safety and efficacy, that are cleared or approved by the FDA and in accordance with the provisions of the authorized label. The FDA and other agencies actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in, among other things, adverse publicity, warning letters, corrective advertising and potential civil and criminal penalties.
Regulation of Medical Devices in the European Union
The European Union ("EU") has adopted specific directives and regulations regulating the design, manufacture, clinical investigation, conformity assessment, labeling and adverse event reporting for medical devices.
Until May 25, 2021, medical devices were regulated by Council Directive 93/42/EEC (the "EU Medical Devices Directive") which has been repealed and replaced by Regulation (EU) No 2017/745 (the "EU Medical Devices Regulation"). Our current certificates have been granted under the EU Medical Devices Directive. In accordance with the EU Medical Devices Regulation’s recently extended transitional provisions, both (i) devices lawfully placed on the market pursuant to the EU Medical Devices Directive prior to May 26, 2021 and (ii) legacy devices lawfully placed on the EU market after May 26, 2021 in accordance with the EU Medical Devices Regulation transitional provisions may generally continue to be made available on the market or put into service, provided that the requirements of the transitional provisions are fulfilled as may be assessed by the notified body. However, even in this case, manufacturers must comply with a number of new or reinforced requirements set forth in the EU Medical Devices Regulation with regard to registration of economic operators and of devices, post-market surveillance and vigilance requirements.
In the EU, there is currently no premarket government review of medical devices. However, the EU requires that all medical devices placed on the market in the EU must meet the general safety and performance requirements laid down in Annex I to the EU Medical Devices Regulation including the requirement that a medical device must be designed and manufactured in such a way that, during normal conditions of use, it is suitable for its intended purpose. Medical devices must be safe and effective and must not compromise the clinical condition or safety of patients, or the safety and health of users and – where applicable – other persons, provided that any risks which may be associated with their use constitute acceptable risks when weighed against the benefits to the patient and are compatible with a high level of protection of health and safety, taking into account the generally acknowledged state of the art. The European Commission has adopted various standards applicable to medical devices. These include standards governing common requirements, such as sterilization and safety of medical electrical equipment and product standards for certain types of medical devices. There are also harmonized standards relating to design and manufacture. While not mandatory, compliance with these standards is viewed as the easiest way to satisfy the general safety and performance requirements as a practical matter as it creates a rebuttable presumption that the device that general safety and performance requirements.
Compliance with the general safety and performance requirements of the EU Medical Devices Regulation is a prerequisite for European Conformity marking (“CE mark”) without which medical devices cannot be marketed or sold in the EU. To demonstrate compliance with the general safety and performance requirements, medical device manufacturers must undergo a conformity assessment procedure, which varies according to the type of medical device and its (risk) classification. As a general rule, demonstration of conformity of medical devices and their manufacturers with the general safety and performance requirements must be based, among other things, on the evaluation of clinical data supporting the safety and performance of the products during normal conditions of use. Specifically, a manufacturer must demonstrate that the device achieves its intended performance during normal conditions of use, that the known and foreseeable risks, and any adverse events, are minimized and acceptable when weighed against the benefits of its intended performance, and that any claims made about the performance and safety of the device are supported by suitable evidence. Except for low-risk medical devices (Class I), where the manufacturer can issue an EC declaration of conformity based on a self-assessment of the conformity of its products with the general safety and performance requirements (except for any parts which relate to sterility, metrology or reuse aspects), a conformity assessment procedure requires the intervention of a notified body. Notified bodies are independent organizations designated by EU member states to assess the conformity of devices before being placed on the market. A notified body would typically audit and examine a product’s technical dossiers and the manufacturer’s quality system (notified body must presume that quality systems which implement the relevant harmonized standards – which is ISO 13485:2016 for
Medical Devices Quality Management Systems – conform to these requirements). If satisfied that the relevant product conforms to the relevant general safety and performance requirements, the notified body issues a certificate of conformity, which the manufacturer uses as a basis for its own declaration of conformity. The manufacturer may then apply the CE mark to the device, which allows the device to be placed on the market throughout the EU.
Throughout the process of the product authorization in accordance with the EU Medical Devices Directive, the manufacturer will be subject to, by the notified body, periodic surveillance audits and other certifications to verify continued compliance with the applicable requirements of the EU Medical Devices Directive. Among other activities, in particular, there will be a new audit by the notified body before it will renew the relevant certificate(s).
The EU Medical Devices Regulation requires that before placing a device, other than a custom-made device, on the market, manufacturers (as well as other economic operators such as authorized representatives and importers) must register by submitting identification information to the electronic system ("Eudamed"), unless they have already registered. The information to be submitted by manufacturers (and authorized representatives) also includes the name, address and contact details of the person or persons responsible for regulatory compliance. The new Regulation also requires that before placing a device, other than a custom-made device, on the market, manufacturers must assign a unique identifier to the device and provide it along with other core data to the unique device identifier ("UDI") database. These new requirements aim at ensuring better identification and traceability of the devices. Each device – and as applicable, each package – will have a UDI composed of two parts: a device identifier ("UDI-DI") specific to a device, and a production identifier ("UDI-PI") to identify the unit producing the device. Manufacturers are also notably responsible for entering the necessary data on Eudamed, which includes the UDI database, and for keeping it up to date. The obligations for registration in Eudamed will become applicable on May 28, 2026 (for the four first modules related to (i) economic actor and (ii) UDI/devices registrations, (iii) notified bodies and certificates, and (iv) market surveillance). Until Eudamed is fully functional, the corresponding provisions of the EU Medical Devices Directive continue to apply for the purpose of meeting the obligations laid down in the provisions regarding exchange of information, including, and in particular, information regarding registration of devices and economic operators.
All manufacturers placing medical devices on the market in the EU must comply with the EU medical device vigilance system which has been reinforced by the EU Medical Devices Regulation. Under this system, serious incidents and Field Safety Corrective Actions ("FSCAs") must be reported to the relevant authorities of the EU member states. These reports will have to be submitted through Eudamed – once functional – and aim to ensure that, in addition to reporting to the relevant authorities of the EU member states, other actors such as the economic operators in the supply chain will also be informed. Until Eudamed is fully functional, the corresponding provisions of the EU Medical Devices Directive continue to apply. Manufacturers are required to take FSCAs, which are defined as any corrective action for technical or medical reasons to prevent or reduce a risk of a serious incident associated with the use of a medical device that is made available on the market. A serious incident is any malfunction or deterioration in the characteristics or performance of a device on the market (e.g., in the information supplied by the manufacturer, side-effect), which, directly or indirectly, might lead to either the death or of the health of a patient, user, or other persons, or to a public health . An FSCA may include the , modification, exchange, or retrofitting of the device. FSCAs must be communicated by the manufacturer or its legal representative to its customers and/or to the end users of the device through Field Safety Notices. For similar that occur with the same device or device type and for which the root cause has been identified or a FSCA implemented or where the are common and well documented, manufacturers may provide periodic summary reports instead of individual reports.
The advertising and promotion of medical devices are subject to some general principles set forth in EU legislation. According to the EU Medical Devices Regulation, only devices that are CE marked may be marketed and advertised in the EU in accordance with their intended purpose. Directive 2006/114/EC concerning misleading and comparative advertising and Directive 2005/29/EC on unfair commercial practices, while not specific to the advertising of medical devices, also apply to the advertising thereof and contain general rules, for example, requiring that advertisements are evidenced, balanced and not misleading. Specific requirements are defined at a national level. EU member states' laws related to the advertising and promotion of medical devices, which vary between jurisdictions, may limit or restrict the advertising and promotion of products to the general public and may impose limitations on promotional activities with healthcare professionals.
Many EU member states have adopted specific anti-gift statutes that further limit commercial practices for medical devices, in particular vis-à-vis healthcare professionals and organizations. Additionally, there has been a recent trend of increased regulation of payments and transfers of value provided to healthcare professionals or entities and many EU member states have adopted national "Sunshine Acts" which impose reporting and transparency requirements (often on an annual basis), similar to the requirements in the U.S., on medical device manufacturers. Certain countries also mandate implementation of commercial compliance programs.
In the EU, regulatory authorities have the power to carry out announced and, if necessary, unannounced inspections of companies, as well as suppliers and/or sub-contractors and, where necessary, the facilities of professional users. Failure to comply with regulatory requirements (as applicable) could require time and resources to respond to the regulatory authorities’ observations and to implement corrective and preventive actions, as appropriate. Regulatory authorities have broad compliance and enforcement powers and, if such issues cannot be resolved to their satisfaction, can take a variety of actions, including untitled or warning letters, fines, consent decrees, injunctions, or civil or criminal penalties.
The aforementioned EU rules are generally applicable in the European Economic Area ("EEA") which consists of the 27 EU member states plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. Pursuing marketing of medical devices in the EU will notably require that our devices be certified under the new regime set forth in the EU Medical Devices Regulation and comply with the requirements of notified bodies. We are currently complying with the new regulations and working closely with our notified bodies.
Manufacturing Regulation
We must also comply with FDA and International Organization for Standardization ("ISO") governing medical device manufacturing practices. The FDA, state, foreign agencies and ISO require manufacturers to register and subject manufacturers to periodic FDA, state, foreign agencies and notified bodies and ISO inspections and audits of their manufacturing facilities. We are a FDA and ISO registered medical device manufacturer, and must demonstrate that we and our contract manufacturers comply with the FDA's QMSR, cGMPs and similar foreign requirements. The FDA, other regulatory agencies and notified bodies outside the U.S. monitor compliance with these requirements through inspections and audits of manufacturing facilities. If an inspector observes conditions that might be violative, the manufacturer must correct those conditions or explain them satisfactorily, or face potential regulatory action that might include physical removal of the product from the marketplace.
Other Healthcare Laws
We are subject to additional healthcare regulation and enforcement by the federal government and by authorities in the states and foreign jurisdictions in which we conduct our business. These laws include:
• the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering or paying remuneration, directly or indirectly, in exchange for or to induce either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, order or recommendation of, any good or service for which payment may be made under federal healthcare programs, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. A person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute or specific intent to violate it to have committed a violation;
• federal false claims laws which prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment from Medicare, Medicaid or other federal third-party payors that are false or fraudulent. In addition, the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the False Claims Act;
• the federal Civil Monetary Penalties Law, which prohibits, among other things, offering or transferring remuneration to a federal healthcare beneficiary that a person knows or should know is likely to influence the beneficiary’s decision to order or receive items or services reimbursable by the government from a particular provider or supplier;
• federal criminal laws that prohibit executing a scheme to defraud any federal healthcare benefit program or making false statements relating to healthcare matters. Similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, 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;
• the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, which governs the conduct of certain electronic healthcare transactions and protects the security and privacy of protected health information;
• the federal Physician Payment Sunshine Act, which requires manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (with certain exceptions) to report annually to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS") information related to payments or other "transfers of value" made to physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors), certain non-physician health care professionals (physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, anesthesiologist assistants, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse
midwives), and teaching hospitals and ownership and investment interests held by the physicians described above and their immediate family members; and
• analogous state and foreign law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers; state laws that require pharmaceutical and device companies to comply with the industry's voluntary compliance guidelines and the applicable compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government or otherwise restrict payments that may be made to healthcare providers and other potential referral sources; state laws that require device manufacturers to track and report information related to payments and other "transfers of value" to physicians and other healthcare providers or pricing, marketing expenditures and information.
Violations of any of the laws described above include civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, the curtailment or restructuring of an entity’s operations, the debarment, suspension or exclusion from federal and state healthcare programs and/or imprisonment.
Coverage and Reimbursement
Our profitability and operations are subject to changes in legislative, regulatory and reimbursement policies and decisions as well as changes in private payer reimbursement coverage and payment decisions and policies. Our products are purchased by hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers that typically bill various third-party payors, such as governmental programs, private insurance plans and managed care plans, for the healthcare services and products provided to their patients. The ability of our customers to obtain appropriate coverage and reimbursement for healthcare services and products from third-party payors is critical because it affects which products customers purchase and the prices they are willing to pay since our products are not separately reimbursed by any third-party payor. Third-party payors are increasingly reducing coverage and reimbursement for certain healthcare services and products and challenging prices charged for healthcare services and products.
Health Care Reform in the U.S.
In the U.S., there have been, and we expect that there will continue to be, a number of federal and state proposals to limit payments by governmental payors for medical devices, and the procedures in which medical devices are used. For example, in March 2010, comprehensive healthcare reform legislation was enacted through the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education and Reconciliation Act (the "ACA"), which, among other things, provided incentives to programs that increase the federal government’s comparative effectiveness research, and implemented payment system reforms including a national pilot program on payment bundling to encourage hospitals, physicians and other providers to improve the coordination, quality and efficiency of certain healthcare services through bundled payment models.
Since its enactment, there have been judicial, executive and Congressional challenges to certain aspects of the ACA. On June 17, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the most recent judicial challenge to the ACA brought by several states without specifically ruling on the constitutionality of the ACA.
In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the Affordable Care Act was enacted. On August 2, 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011 was signed into law, which, among other things, included reductions to Medicare payments to providers, which went into effect on April 1, 2013, and will stay in effect through 2032, with the exception of a temporary suspension from May 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022 unless additional Congressional action is taken. On January 2, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, was signed into law, which, among other things, further reduced Medicare payments to several providers, including hospitals. More recently, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”), which was enacted in July 2025, imposes significant reductions in the funding of the Medicaid program. Such reductions are expected to decrease the number of persons enrolled in Medicaid and reduce the services covered by Medicaid, which could adversely affect our sales of our products. We cannot predict whether future healthcare initiatives will be implemented at the federal or state level or internationally, or the effect any future legislation or regulation will have on us. Such legislation and regulation of healthcare costs may, however, result in decreased lower reimbursements by governmental and private payors to our customers, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
EU Healthcare Reform
Additional healthcare reform measures in the EU may be adopted in the future as well. For instance, in December 2021, Regulation (EU) No 2021/2282 on Health Technology Assessment (“HTA”) amending Directive 2011/24/EU, was
adopted. The Regulation entered into force in January 2022 and has been applicable since January 2025, with phased implementation based on the type of product i.e., certain high-risk medical devices as of 2026. The Regulation intends to boost cooperation among EU member states in assessing health technologies, including certain high-risk medical devices, and provide the basis for cooperation at the EU level for joint clinical assessments in these areas. It will permit EU member states to use common HTA tools, methodologies, and procedures across the EU, working together in four main areas, including joint clinical assessment of the innovative health technologies with the highest potential impact for patients, joint scientific consultations whereby developers can seek advice from HTA authorities, identification of emerging health technologies to identify promising technologies early, and continuing voluntary cooperation in other areas. Individual EU member states will continue to be responsible for assessing non-clinical (e.g., economic, social, ethical) aspects of health technology, and making decisions on pricing and reimbursement.
Data Privacy and Security
Medical device companies may be subject to U.S. federal and state and foreign data privacy, security and data breach notification laws governing the collection, use, disclosure and protection of health-related and other personal information. In the U.S., numerous federal and state laws and regulations, including data breach notification laws, health information privacy and security laws and consumer protection laws and regulations govern the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of health-related and other personal information. In addition, certain foreign laws govern the privacy and security of personal data, including health-related data. Privacy and security laws, regulations, and other obligations are constantly evolving, may conflict with each other to complicate compliance efforts, and can result in investigations, proceedings, or actions that lead to significant civil and/or criminal penalties and restrictions on data processing.
Competition
Our industry is highly competitive. We believe our ability to effectively compete in this industry is determined by our ability to provide a wide breadth of cost-effective, high quality products. We believe the added breadth of our acquired product portfolios have increased our competitiveness as we can now provide a one-stop shop for customers and offer more flexible competitive pricing. We also believe our infusion pump product offering will enable us to achieve sales of a larger volume of higher margin infusion consumables, and we believe we have a wider customer reach through our unified distribution channels.
Consumables
We believe that our ability to effectively compete in the Consumables market depends upon our ability to differentiate our products based on continued innovation, safety, quality, convenience, reliability, patent protection, ease of use and the pricing of our products, in addition to the access to distribution channels. We encounter significant competition in this market both from global, large, established medical device manufacturers and from smaller companies. We compete with products and systems marketed by Becton Dickinson ("BD"), Baxter International ("Baxter"), B. Braun Medical, Inc. ("B. Braun"), Angiodynamics, Teleflex, EquaShield and Medtronic.
Infusion Systems
We face strong global competitors in the Infusion Systems market. In the U.S. our competitors include BD, Baxter, B. Braun, Moog Medical, and Fresenius Kabi, a division of Fresenius Group. Outside of the U.S., our primary competitors are BD, B. Braun, Fresenius, and a large number of local market pump manufacturers. These competitors benefit from greater financial, research and development and marketing resources than we have. The smart pump market in recent years has been troubled with security concerns and product recalls. We believe our ability to effectively compete will be determined by our ability to build our brand strength using the development of technological advancements aimed at increasing the quality, reliability, safety and security of our pumps while at the same time focusing on manufacturing efficiency and cost-effectiveness, which are operationally challenging with evolving product lines.
Vital Care
The products that we sell and distribute on behalf of the joint venture are sold in the U.S. and Canada and compete in the U.S. with Baxter and B. Braun.
Our other Vital Care products compete with numerous competitors due to our broad product portfolio. Our primary competitors include Edwards Lifesciences, Belmont, Medical Technologies and Intersurgical plc.
Our ability to compete in this market will depend on our ability to continue to make technological advances to our products, thereby increasing customer efficiency, and our ability to provide product support and successful customer training aimed at improving clinical decision-making that ultimately enhances patient safety and focuses on demonstrable patient outcomes.
Patents
Many of our product lines rely on patent protection. We have obtained U.S. and foreign patents relating to certain of the technologies found in our products, and are pursuing additional patent applications. There is however, no single patent or group of patents that we own that we believe is material in relation to our business as a whole.
Our success will depend in part on our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent protection for our products and to operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of third parties. While we have obtained certain patents and applied for additional U.S. and foreign patents covering certain of our products, there is no assurance that the scope of any patent protection will prevent competitors from introducing similar or competing devices or that any of our patents will be held valid if subsequently challenged. We can also lose patent protection through expiration. The inability to obtain effective patent protection or the loss of patent protection on a specific product line could adversely affect our ability to exclude other companies from producing effective competitive products. The loss of a significant portion of our patent portfolio could have an adverse impact on our financial results.
The fact that a patent is issued to us does not eliminate the possibility that patents owned by others may contain claims that are infringed by our products.
There has been substantial litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in the medical device industry. Litigation, which would result in substantial cost to us and diversion of our resources, may be necessary to defend us against claimed infringement of the rights of others and to determine the scope and validity of the proprietary rights of others. Adverse determinations in such litigation could subject us to significant liabilities to third parties or could require us to seek licenses from third parties and could prevent us from manufacturing, selling or using our products, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, we have initiated litigation, and may continue to initiate litigation in the future, to enforce our intellectual property rights against those we believe to be on our patents. Such could result in substantial cost and of resources.
Seasonality/Quarterly Results
Our business is not significantly impacted by seasonal aspects. We can, however, experience fluctuations in net sales as a result of variations in the ordering patterns of our largest customers, which can be driven by global health crisis or pandemics, as well as fluctuations due to supply constraints as a result of other macroeconomic and global geopolitical events. Our expenses do not typically fluctuate in the same manner as net sales, which may cause fluctuations in operating income that are disproportionate to fluctuations in our revenue.
Research and Development
We continue to invest in certain research and development ("R&D") projects to drive future growth and to remain competitive in our product lines. Our main R&D facilities are located in the U.S and India. Our R&D costs primarily relate to headcount and employment expense in support of the ongoing development of new products. Research and development costs were $87.5 million in 2025, $88.6 million in 2024 and $85.3 million in 2023.
Human Capital Management
We believe our employees are the foundation of our business and are key to executing our strategy globally. The knowledge, skills and abilities of our workforce is paramount in upholding our mission of connecting patients and caregivers through safe, life-saving, life enhancing IV therapy products, systems, and services.
We believe the health and well-being of our employees are cornerstones for our successful operations. Whether you are a machine operator in one of our manufacturing locations, a material handler in a distribution center, a service technician supporting our products in the field, or a clinician training customers on the use of our products in a hospital, we strive to prioritize the safety of our team members. This includes designing our work environments intended to prioritize safety first, providing personal protective equipment and safety training beginning day one.
Our ability to attract and retain talented individuals globally begins with our commitment to offer a career that gives people a unique opportunity to work in an exhilarating, fast-paced, inspiring, and collaborative environment where what they do makes a difference. We believe we offer competitive salaries and benefit packages to our employees as well as select participation in incentive plans based on individual and company performance.
We believe the development of our workforce is critical for personal growth and the success of our company as well. We reinforce this with challenging, yet rewarding assignments, continued learning and training programs through our global iLearning platform, and support continued education globally through tuition reimbursement programs. Our team believes in collaboration and removing barriers to communication—all with the goal of creating an environment where innovation and creativity can flourish. This is principal for us in attracting, developing, retaining and rewarding talent on a global scale.
Finally, we believe that our leadership team, with its broad, and deep category knowledge and averaging approximately 23 years of experience in IV therapy has the necessary experience to effectively lead the execution of our strategy.
At December 31, 2025, we had approximately 13,000 employees located in over 35 countries.
Geographic Data
Information regarding financial data by geography is set forth in Part II, Item 8. "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K in Notes [4] and [5] to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Available Information
Our website address is http://www.icumed.com. We make available our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings and amendments thereto those reports, free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after filing or furnishing them with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). We also have our code of ethics posted on our website (http://www.icumed.com). The information on our website is not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We use our Investor Relations website as a means of disclosing material information. Accordingly, investors should monitor our Investor Relations website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts.
The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC on its website (http://www.sec.gov).
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
In evaluating an investment in our common stock, investors should consider carefully, among other things, the following risk factors, as well as the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.
Market and Other External Risks
If we are unable to compete successfully with our competitors, we may be unable to maintain market share, in which case our sales may not grow and our profitability may be adversely affected.
The consumable medical device segment of the health care industry and in particular the infusion products market is intensely competitive and continues to experience both horizontal and vertical consolidation. We believe that our ability to compete depends upon numerous factors including, among other things, continued product innovation, the quality, convenience and reliability of our products, including demand for more environmentally friendly products and focus on using materials of concern, access to distribution channels, patent protection and pricing. The ability to compete effectively depends on our ability to differentiate our products based on these factors, as well as our ability to perceive and respond to changing customer needs. We encounter significant competition in our markets both from large established medical device manufacturers and from smaller companies. Many of these companies have introduced competitive products with features not provided by the conventional products and methods they are intended to replace. Most of our current and prospective competitors have economic and other resources substantially greater than ours and are well established in the healthcare industry. Several large, established competitors offer broad product lines and have been successful in obtaining full-line contracts with a significant number of hospitals and group purchasing organizations to supply all of their infusion product requirements. Due to the highly
competitive nature of the group purchasing organizations ("GPOs") or integrated delivery networks ("IDNs") contracting processes, we may not be able to obtain or maintain contract positions with major GPOs and IDNs across our products portfolio. Furthermore, the increasing leverage of organized buying groups may reduce market prices for our products thereby affecting our profitability. While having a contract with a GPO or IDN can facilitate sales to members of that GPO or IDN, it is no assurance that the sales volume of those products will be maintained. The members of such groups may choose to purchase from our competitors due to the price or quality offered by such competitors, which could result in a decline in our sales and profitability. In addition, distributors of our products may begin to negotiate terms of sale more aggressively in an effort to increase their profitability. Failure to negotiate distribution arrangements having advantageous pricing or other terms of sale could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, if we fail to implement distribution arrangements , it could cause us to market share to our competitors. Moreover, there is no assurance that our competitors will not substantially increase resources devoted to the development, manufacture and marketing of products competitive with our products. The implementation of such a strategy by one or more of our competitors could materially and affect us.
If demand for our products were to decline significantly, we might not be able to recover the cost of our expensive automated molding and assembly equipment and tooling, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our production tooling is relatively expensive, with each "module," which consists of an automated assembly machine and the molds and molding machines that mold the components, costing several million dollars. The modules are utilized for certain products. If the demand for these products changes significantly, which could happen with the loss of customers or a change in product mix, it may be necessary for us to recognize an impairment charge for the value of the production tooling because its cost may not be recovered through production of saleable product, which could adversely affect our financial condition.
We have been and will be ordering production molds and equipment for our new products. We expect to order semi-automated or fully automated assembly machines for certain products in 2026. If we do not achieve significant sales of these new/transitioned products, it might be necessary for us to recognize an impairment charge for the value of the production tooling because its costs may not be recovered through production of saleable product, which could adversely affect our financial condition.
Product development requires substantial investment that may be difficult for us to fund and may be challenging to recover through commercial product sales.
Innovations generally require a substantial investment in product development before we can determine their commercial viability, and we may not have the financial resources necessary to fund these innovations. Even if we succeed in creating new product candidates from these innovations, we may still fail to successfully commercialize such products. The success of new medical device products depends on several factors, including our ability to anticipate and meet customers' or patients' needs, obtain timely regulatory approvals, clearances or certifications, and manufacture quality products in an economic and timely manner. Even if we are able to develop successful new products or enhancements, we may not produce sales exceeding the costs of development, and we may not avoid infringing the proprietary rights of third parties. Moreover, innovations may not be due to encountered in clinical outcomes, meeting safety, efficacy or other regulatory requirements of government agencies or notified bodies, or obtaining pricing on those products. Finally, may not be accepted in the marketplace quickly or at all because of, among other things, entrenched patterns of clinical practice and uncertainty over third-party reimbursement.
If we do not successfully develop and commercialize enhanced or new products that remain competitive with new products or alternative technologies developed by others, we could lose revenue opportunities and customers, and our ability to grow our business would be impaired.
The medical device industry is characterized by rapid product development and technological advances, which places our products at risk of obsolescence. Our long-term success and profit margins depend upon the development and successful commercialization of new products, new or improved technologies and additional applications of our technology. The research and development process is time-consuming and costly, and may not result in products or applications that we can successfully commercialize. We can give no assurance that we will be able to successfully develop and commercialize enhanced or new products or that they will be accepted in the marketplace. Even if we successfully develop and commercialize enhanced or new products, they may be quickly rendered obsolete by competitors’ , changing customer preferences, or changing industry or regulatory standards.
Cost volatility or loss of supply of our raw materials could have an adverse effect on our profitability.
Most of the materials used in our products are resins, plastics and other material that depend upon oil or natural gas as their raw material. Crude oil and natural gas prices have been volatile in recent years. Crude oil markets have historically been affected by political uncertainty in the Middle East and more recently, by the conflict in Ukraine. As the current conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine continues and geopolitical tensions rise in the region or globally, there is no assurance that crude oil supplies will not be interrupted or crude oil prices will not rise in the future. New laws or regulations adopted in response to climate change could also increase energy costs as well as the costs of certain raw materials and components. Any such regulations or interruptions could have an adverse effect on our ability to produce, or the cost to produce, our products. Our suppliers have historically passed some of their cost increases on to us, and if such prices are sustained or increase further, our suppliers may pass further cost increases on to us. In addition to the effect on resin prices, transportation costs have increased because of the effect of higher crude oil prices, and we believe most of these costs have been passed on to us. Our ability to recover these increased costs may depend upon our ability to raise prices on our products. In certain cases, we may be to pass along increased costs to our customers if they are under long-term fixed price contracts. In the past, we have rarely raised prices and it is uncertain that we would be to raise them to recover higher prices from our suppliers. Our to raise prices in those circumstances, or to otherwise recover these costs, could have an effect on our .
If we cannot obtain additional custom tooling and equipment on a timely basis to enable us to meet demand for our products, we might be unable to increase our sales or might lose customers, in which case our sales could decline.
We expanded our manufacturing capacity substantially in recent years, and we expect that continued expansion may be necessary. Molds and automated assembly machines generally have a long lead-time with vendors, often nine months or longer. Inability to secure such tooling in a timely manner, or unexpected increases in production demands, could cause us to be unable to meet customer orders. Such inability could cause customers to seek alternatives to our products, which would adversely affect our sales.
Heightened inflation, higher interest rates and foreign currency rate fluctuations as a result of global macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions have had and could in the future have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Global macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical tensions and resulting impacts therefrom, for example, heightened inflation, higher interest rates and capital costs, and currency rate fluctuations have resulted in, and may continue to result in, increased raw material costs, higher shipping costs, higher labor costs, and global supply chain disruptions. In 2022, we experienced these supply chain disruptions, increased raw material costs and shipping costs, as prices on several commodities, including oil and gas, increased as a result of the conflict in Ukraine and its impact on the global economy. Although these costs were less volatile in 2025 and 2024, we may continue to experience these inflationary increases in our manufacturing costs and operating expenses, including higher materials and labor costs, as well as negative impacts on our operating results from the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies weakening exchange rates. See the risk factor titled “Our operations may be adversely impacted by our exposure to risks related to foreign currency exchange rates” under the “Geographic Risks” subsection for a discussion of risks related to foreign currency exchange rates.
Additionally, the majority of our sales are conducted pursuant to long-term contracts. Our efforts to minimize the impact of inflation on our business through contractual protections may not prove effective, and the presence of longer pricing periods within our contracts along with sustained or higher than anticipated inflation increases the likelihood that the contract protections do not adequately mitigate the financial impact of inflation. If our contractual protections do not adequately protect us in the context of substantial cost increases and inflationary pressures, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Heightened inflation may also reduce or delay orders for our products and for certain products we may be unable to satisfy demand, both of which could have a material adverse impact on our sales and results of operations.
Our operating results may be adversely affected by unfavorable economic conditions that affect our customers’ ability to buy our products and our suppliers' demand for payment terms.
Disruptions in financial markets worldwide and other worldwide macro-economic challenges have caused and may in the future cause our customers and suppliers to experience cash flow concerns. If job losses and the resulting loss of health insurance and personal savings cause individuals to forego or postpone treatment, the resulting decreased hospital use could affect the demand for our products. As a result, customers may modify, delay or cancel plans to purchase our products and suppliers may increase their prices, reduce their output or change terms of sales. Additionally, if customers’ or suppliers’ operating and financial performance deteriorates, or if they are unable to make scheduled payments or obtain credit, customers may not be able to pay, or may delay payment of, accounts receivable owed to us and suppliers may impose different payment
terms that are less favorable to us. Any inability of current and/or potential customers to pay us for our products or any demands by suppliers for different payment terms may adversely affect our earnings and cash flow.
Continuing pressures to reduce healthcare costs and inadequate coverage and reimbursement may adversely affect our prices and volume. If we cannot reduce manufacturing costs of existing and new products to counteract such pricing pressures, our sales may not grow and our profitability may decline.
Increasing awareness of healthcare costs, public interest in healthcare reform and continuing pressure from Medicare, Medicaid, GPOs and other payors, both domestic and international, to reduce costs in the healthcare industry, as well as increasing competition from other protective products, could make it more difficult for us to sell our products at current prices. Our products are purchased by hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers that typically bill various third-party payors, such as governmental programs, private insurance plans and managed care plans, for the healthcare services and products provided to their patients. The ability of our customers to obtain appropriate coverage and reimbursement for healthcare services and products from third-party payors is critical because it affects the kinds of products customers purchase and the prices they are willing to pay. Because there is often no separate reimbursement for supplies used in surgical procedures, the additional cost associated with the use of our products can affect the profit margin of the hospital or surgery center where the procedure is performed. Some of our target customers may be unwilling to adopt our products in light of the additional associated cost. Further, any decline in the amount payors are willing to reimburse our customers could make it difficult for existing customers to continue using or to adopt our products and could create additional pricing pressure for us. If we are to lower the price we charge for our products or if the costs to manufacture our products exceeds the price at which we are to sell our products, our gross margins will decrease, which could have a material effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to grow our business.
Third-party payors are developing increasingly sophisticated methods of controlling healthcare costs. In addition, no uniform policy of coverage and reimbursement for procedures using our products exists among third-party payors. Therefore, coverage and reimbursement for procedures using our products can differ significantly from payor to payor. Payors continually review new and existing technologies for possible coverage and can, without notice, deny or reverse coverage for new or existing products and procedures. There can be no assurance that third-party payor policies will provide coverage for procedures in which our products are used. If we are not successful in reversing existing non-coverage policies, or if third-party payors that currently cover or reimburse our products and related procedures reverse or limit their coverage in the future, or if other third-party payors issue similar policies, this could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Further, we believe that future coverage and reimbursement may be subject to increased restrictions, such as additional prior authorization requirements. Third-party coverage and reimbursement for procedures using our products or any of our products in development for which we may receive regulatory approval or certification may not be available or adequate, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and impair our ability to grow our business.
Implementation of further legislative or administrative reforms in the reimbursement system in the U.S. and abroad or adverse decisions relating to coverage or reimbursement could have an impact on acceptance of and demand for our products and the prices that our customers are willing to pay for them. In the event that the market will not accept current prices for our products, our sales and profits could be adversely affected. We believe that our ability to increase our market share and operate profitably in the long term may depend in part on our ability to reduce manufacturing costs on a per unit basis through high volume production using highly automated molding and assembly systems. If we are unable to reduce unit manufacturing costs, we may be unable to increase our market share for our products or may lose market share to alternative products, including competitors’ products. Similarly, if we cannot reduce unit manufacturing costs of new products as production volumes increase, we may not be able to sell new products profitably or gain any meaningful market share. Any of these results would affect our future results of operations.
Disruptions at the FDA, other government agencies or notified bodies caused by funding shortages, policy changes, or personnel turnover could hinder their ability to hire, retain, or deploy key leadership and other personnel, or otherwise prevent new or modified products from being developed, cleared, approved, certified, or commercialized in a timely manner, or at all, which could negatively impact our business.
The ability of the FDA, foreign regulatory authorities and notified bodies to review and approve or certify new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, statutory, regulatory and policy changes, a government agency's ability to hire and retain key leadership and other personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and other events that may otherwise affect the government's ability to perform routine functions. Average review
times at the FDA, other government agencies, foreign regulatory authorities and notified bodies have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of other government agencies that fund research and development activities is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable. For example, in recent years, the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA, have had to furlough critical FDA employees and stop critical activities. In addition, the current U.S. Presidential administration has issued certain policies and Executive Orders directed towards reducing the employee headcount and costs associated with U.S. administrative agencies, including the FDA, and it remains unclear the degree to which these efforts may limit or otherwise adversely affect the FDA’s ability to conduct routine activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, or if funding shortages, policy modifications, staffing limitations or similar factors hinder or prevent the FDA or other regulatory authorities from conducting their regular inspections, reviews, or other regulatory activities, such events could significantly impact the ability of the FDA or other such regulatory authorities to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material effect on our business.
For instance, in the European Union ("EU"), notified bodies must be officially designated to certify products and services in accordance with the EU Medical Devices Regulation. Their designation process, which is significantly stricter under the new Regulation, has experienced considerable delays. Despite a recent increase in designations, the current number of notified bodies designated under the new Regulation remains significantly lower than the number of notified bodies designated under the previous regime. The current designated notified bodies are therefore facing a backlog of requests as a consequence of which review times have lengthened. This situation may impact the way we are conducting our business in the EU and the European Economic Area ("EEA") and the ability of our notified body to timely review and process our regulatory submissions and perform its audits.
Failure to protect our information technology systems against security breaches, service interruptions, or misappropriation of data could disrupt operations, compromise sensitive data, and expose us to liability, possibly causing our business and reputation to suffer.
We collect and maintain information in digital form that is necessary to conduct our business, and we depend heavily on information technology infrastructure and systems to achieve our business objectives. In the ordinary course of our business, we collect, store and transmit large amounts of confidential information, including intellectual property, proprietary business information, preclinical and clinical trial data, and personal information (collectively, “Confidential Information”) of customers and our employees and contractors. It is critical that we do so in a secure manner to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of such Confidential Information. Any incident that impairs or compromises this infrastructure, including security breaches, malicious attacks or more general service interruptions, could impede our ability to process orders, manufacture and ship product in a timely manner, protect sensitive data and otherwise carry on business in the normal course. Any such events could result in the loss of customers, revenue, or both, and could require us to incur significant expense to remediate, including legal or proceedings. Further, as cybersecurity related continue to evolve, and regulatory focus on these issues continues to expand, additional investment in protective measures, and remediation, may be required.
Our ability to execute our business strategy depends, in part, on the continued and uninterrupted performance of our information technology systems and those of our third-party service providers, strategic partners and other contractors or consultants, which support our operations. Despite the implementation of security measures, our information technology systems, and those of third parties on which we rely, are vulnerable to attack, interruption and damage from, among others, computer viruses, malware (e.g. ransomware), misconfigurations, “bugs” or other vulnerabilities, malicious code, natural disasters, terrorism, war, telecommunication and electrical failures, hacking, cyber-attacks or cyber-intrusions over the Internet, phishing and other social engineering schemes, human error, theft or misuse by persons inside our organization, or persons with access to systems inside our organization, fraud, denial or of service attacks and sophisticated nation-state and nation-state-supported actors or similar . We have also outsourced elements of our information technology infrastructure, and as a result a number of third-party vendors may or could have access to our confidential information. The risk of a security or , particularly through cyber-attacks or cyber-, including by computer hackers, foreign governments, and cyber terrorists, has generally increased as the number, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have increased. Because the techniques used to obtain access, disable or service, or systems change frequently and often are not foreseeable or recognized until launched a target, we may be to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. We may also experience security that may remain for an extended period. Even if identified, we may be to or remediate or due to attackers increasingly using tools and techniques (including artificial intelligence) that are designed to controls, to avoid detection, and to remove or obfuscate forensic evidence. There can also be no assurance that our and our third-party service providers’, strategic partners’, contractors’, consultants’, CROs’ and ’ cybersecurity risk management program and processes, including policies, controls or
procedures, will be fully implemented, complied with or effective in protecting our systems, networks and Confidential Information.
We and certain of our service providers have been in the past and may from time to time in the future be subject to cyberattacks and security incidents. Data security breaches and other cybersecurity incidents may result from, for example, non-technical means (e.g., actions by employees or contractors), system failure, accident or unauthorized access. Any such security breach may compromise information stored on our networks or those of third parties on which we rely and may result in significant data losses or theft of personally identifiable information. Any compromise of our security could result in a violation of applicable security, privacy or data protection, consumer and other laws, legal claims and proceedings (such as class actions), regulatory or other governmental investigations, enforcement actions, disruption of our internal operations, and financial exposure, including potential contractual liability, and , reputational impacts that cause us to existing or future customers, and/or significant response, system restoration or remediation and future compliance costs. A number of proposed and enacted federal, state and international laws and regulations obligate companies to notify individuals of security involving particular personally identifiable information, which could result from experienced by us or by third parties, including , vendors, contractors or other organizations with which we expect to form strategic relationships. Any such compromise could also result in to our reputation and a of confidence in our security and privacy or data protection measures. Any of these effects could materially and affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our cyber liability insurance may not be sufficient to cover the financial, legal, business or reputational that may result from such an or . Furthermore, there can be no assurance that our cybersecurity risk management program and processes, including our policies, controls or procedures, will be fully implemented, complied with or in protecting our systems and information.
Our business could suffer if we lose the services of key personnel.
We are dependent upon the management and leadership of our executive team, as well as other members of our senior management team. If one or more of these individuals were unable or unwilling to continue in his or her present position, our business would be disrupted and we might not be able to find replacements on a timely basis or with the same level of skill and experience, which could have an adverse effect on our business. We do not have "key person" life insurance policies on any of our employees.
The price of our common stock has been and may continue to be highly volatile due to many factors.
The public equity market can be highly volatile, and we have experienced significant volatility in the price of our common stock in the past. We believe that factors such as quarter-to-quarter fluctuations in financial results, differences between stock analysts’ expectations and actual quarterly and annual results, new product introductions by us or our competitors, acquisitions or divestitures, changing regulatory environments, litigation, changes in healthcare reimbursement policies, sales or the perception in the market of possible sales of common stock by insiders, market rumors, general macroeconomic trends (including as a result of pandemics or other health outbreaks, geopolitical tensions and uncertainties) and substantial product orders could contribute to the volatility in the price of our common stock.
Most of our common stock is held by, or included in accounts managed by, institutional investors or managers. Several of those institutions own or manage a significant percentage of our outstanding shares, with the ten largest interests accounting for approximately 70% of our outstanding shares at the end of 2025. If one or more of the institutions or if our other large stockholders should decide to reduce or eliminate their position in our common stock, it could cause a significant decrease in the price of our common stock.
Climate-related events and other events could harm our business .
Natural disasters, disease outbreaks and pandemics, power shortages, terrorism, political unrest, telecommunications failure, vandalism, geopolitical instability, war, climate-related events, and other events beyond our control could negatively impact our operations or otherwise harm our business. Such events may result in damage or loss of service to assets that our operations rely on or cause delays in product manufacturing or distribution, any of which may adversely impact our operations.
In addition, the impacts of climate-related events on the global economy and our industry are rapidly evolving. Physical impacts of climate-related events (including but not limited to floods, droughts, more frequent and/or intense storms and wildfires), or chronic changes (such as droughts, heat waves or sea level changes) in climate patterns can adversely impact our operations, as well as the operations of our suppliers and customers.
If a catastrophic event occurs at or near any of our manufacturing facilities or our suppliers’ facilities, or utility providers or public health officials take certain actions (e.g., shut off power to our or our suppliers’ facilities), our operations may be interrupted, which could adversely impact our business and results of operations. Transitions to address climate-related events may subject us to increased regulations, reporting requirements, standards or expectations regarding the environmental impacts of our business. Any of such adverse impacts from these or other climate-related events may also adversely affect our reputation, business, or financial performance.
The evolving and varied views on sustainability and environmental, social and governance ("ESG") initiatives could increase our costs, harm our reputation and adversely impact our financial results.
Investors, patients, the media, governmental and nongovernmental organizations and other stakeholders have evolving and varied views on sustainability and ESG matters. We may experience conflicting pressures to make commitments relating to sustainability matters that affect us, including the design and implementation of risk mitigation strategies related to sustainability. Expectations regarding the management of ESG initiatives also continue to evolve. While we may from time to time engage in various initiatives (including but not limited to voluntary disclosures, policies or goals) to improve our ESG profile or respond to certain stakeholder expectations, we cannot guarantee that these initiatives will have the desired effect. If we are not effective in addressing sustainability and ESG matters affecting our business, or setting and meeting relevant goals, our reputation and financial results may suffer. In addition, even if we are effective at addressing such matters, we may experience increased costs as a result of executing upon our sustainability and ESG goals that may not be offset by any benefit to our reputation. Moreover, if we are effective at addressing such matters, we may also attract attention from stakeholders and regulators with diverging views on ESG and sustainability. These outcomes could have an impact on our business, operations and financial condition.
In addition, we operate in various jurisdictions that have adopted or proposed laws and regulations related to sustainability and ESG reporting. For example, we and our subsidiaries may be subject to the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive ("CSRD"), which requires in-scope entities to provide detailed reporting on various climate change and sustainability topics. For certain U.S. companies with subsidiaries in the EU, CSRD will become effective in 2027 through a phased approach, following the European Parliament’s approval of the Omnibus package on December 16, 2025. Similarly, California’s Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act ("SB 253"), Climate-Related Financial Risk Act ("SB 261"), both of which are being challenged in federal courts, and Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures Act would respectively require third-party assurance of greenhouse gas emissions information for certain entities, climate-related financial risk reporting and disclosures regarding carbon reduction claims. On November 18, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted a motion for an injunction on SB 261, enjoining the California Air Resources Board’s from enforcing SB 261, and scheduled a hearing for January 9, 2026. This decision does not impact SB 253, which is still in effect. The court has yet to decide post-hearing whether to issue a preliminary SB 261 and/or SB 253, and the case will return to the Central District of California for further proceedings, with summary judgment briefing planned for the summer. We are assessing the necessary measures to comply with the climate-related reporting requirements. We may also be subject to the International Sustainability Standards Board’s sustainability and climate disclosure standards, to the extent adopted by jurisdictions in which we operate, among other regulations or requirements. We are assessing our reporting obligations in the jurisdictions where we operate. Operating in more than one jurisdiction is likely to make our compliance with sustainability and ESG rules more complex and expensive, and potentially us to levels of legal risks associated with our compliance. Our to comply with any applicable rules or regulations could lead to and impact our reputation, customer attraction and retention, access to capital and employee retention. Such sustainability and ESG matters may also impact our suppliers and customers, which may augment or cause additional impacts on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Business and Operating Risks
We derive a significant portion of our revenues from non-U.S. sales and from products manufactured at our non-U.S. facilities which are then imported to the U.S. We are therefore subject to risks of doing business in other countries, including those related to tariffs, retaliatory counter measures and further escalation of trade tensions.
The imposition of tariffs by the U.S. government and retaliatory tariffs imposed by other foreign governments is expected to increase our costs. Where possible, we may address increasing supply chain costs in pricing; however, we operate to a large extent under long-term contracts whereby pricing is fixed for a set period of time. The tariffs as currently implemented are likely to have a material impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations; however, the extent to which the imposition of tariffs, possible delays and exemptions may have a material impact remains fluid.
Additionally, the imposition of higher tariffs could undermine the competitiveness of a U.S. based company in the global market and could result in termination of orders by customers, lower demand for products and the loss of market share.
A meaningful portion of our global revenues is from products manufactured in our Costa Rica and Mexico manufacturing facilities which are then imported into the U.S. We expect revenues from goods manufactured in Costa Rica and Mexico and imported to the U.S. to remain a significant portion of our revenues for the foreseeable future.
The U.S. administration has continued to engage in trade discussions and impose tariffs on imports from other countries. Certain of these tariffs have been subsequently paused or modified, and the situation remains highly fluid. For example, most recently, on July 31, 2025, the U.S. announced that the 10% baseline reciprocal tariff on imports from all countries would be raised to 15% for certain countries, including Costa Rica. As to the majority of products manufactured in our Mexico facilities, these are currently exempted from tariffs under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement ("USMCA"). If, however, the USMCA exemptions were eliminated in the future, our tariff expense for products manufactured in Mexico would increase substantially.
In September 2025, the U.S. Commerce Department ("the Department") initiated a national security investigation into imports of medical consumables and equipment under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act (the "Act"). The Act allows the President to negotiate tariffs to promote international trade. Section 232 of the Act specifically grants the President the authority to impose tariffs if the Department determines imports threaten U.S. national security. The Department has 270 days to deliver its policy recommendations to the President, who then has up to 90 days to decide on potential action and 15 days to implement it. If the probes conducted determine these imports, which comprise the vast majority of our product portfolio, pose a national security risk, it could result in potential tariffs imposed in addition to the country-based tariffs and/or could reduce the benefits we receive from currently available exemptions such as the USMCA.
These actions have resulted, and are expected to further result, in retaliatory measures on U.S. goods by other foreign governments. If maintained, these recently announced tariffs, and the potential escalation of trade disputes could pose a risk to our business that could further affect our financial condition or results of operations and/or cash flows, as well as, our long-term investment strategies. The extent and duration of the tariffs and the resulting impact on general economic conditions and on our business are uncertain and are expected to be impacted by various factors, such as negotiations between U.S. and affected countries, the responses of other countries or regions, exemptions or exclusions that already exist or may be granted, availability and cost of alternative sources of our products and materials, and our ability to offset the effects of any tariffs that might be imposed.
Damage to, or interruptions at, any of our manufacturing facilities or our suppliers' facilities could impair our ability to produce our products.
A severe weather event, including climate change-related severe weather or disasters, other natural or man-made disasters, or any other significant disruption, such as global epidemics/pandemics, the impact of war or political instability, work stoppages, labor shortages and similar interruptions affecting our manufacturing facilities or our suppliers and logistics partners could materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, the impact of COVID-19 caused us to temporarily shut down some of our facilities in 2021.
We have a single manufacturing facility for our Clave products located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Our Salt Lake City facility also produces other components on which our manufacturing operations in Ensenada, Mexico and Costa Rica rely. We also operate various other manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Mexico, Italy and Czech Republic. In addition, the IV Solutions products that we sell and distribute on behalf of the joint venture are manufactured at a facility in Austin, Texas owned by the joint venture, in which we own a 40% equity interest. If our facilities or our suppliers' facilities are inoperable, for even a short period of time, it could adversely affect our ability to manufacture and distribute our products in a timely or cost-effective manner, and our ability to make product sales. Furthermore, our facilities and the equipment we use to perform our manufacturing processes could be unavailable or costly and time-consuming to repair or replace.
Damage to, or interruptions at, any of our facilities or our suppliers' facilities due to work stoppages or labor shortages could render us unable to manufacture our products or require us to reduce the output of products at such facilities. Several of our manufacturing facilities are located near known earthquake fault zones and are vulnerable to damage from earthquakes. We carry insurance for damage to our property and disruption of our business, but this insurance may not be adequate to cover all of the risks associated with damage or disruption to our facilities and business, may not provide coverage in amounts sufficient to cover our potential losses and may not continue to be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all.
We are dependent on single and limited source third-party suppliers, which subjects our business and results of operations to risks of supplier business interruptions, and a loss or degradation in performance in our suppliers could have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
We currently rely on a single source supplier for the supply of certain materials (such as resins) that are critical to our ability to manufacture our products. Our risk mitigation plans employed with such key supplier, or that we may use with other key suppliers, may not suffice to ensure that we are able to receive requisite materials as and when needed and in sufficient quantity. We cannot be certain that our current suppliers will continue to provide us with the quantities of materials that we require or satisfy our anticipated specifications and quality requirements on a timely basis or at all. Any supply interruption in limited or sole sourced raw materials could materially harm our ability to manufacture our products until a new source of supply, if any, could be identified and qualified. Upon identification, the qualification process of new suppliers and component materials can take a considerable amount of time. We may be unable to find a sufficient alternative supply channel in a reasonable time or on commercially reasonable terms. Additionally, we are subject to FDA and foreign regulations, which could further delay our ability to obtain a qualified alternative supplier. The price and supply of these materials may be impacted or for reasons beyond our control including supplier , transportation , inflationary pricing pressures, work , labor , extreme weather events, geopolitical developments, global economic uncertainty or , sanctions and trade restrictions, and other governmental regulatory actions. Furthermore, our contract manufacturers could require us to move to another one of their production facilities. We have experienced, and may continue to experience, significant to our global transportation channels and other aspects of the global supply chain network, including the cost and availability of raw materials and components due to and resulting cost inflation. If we encounter or in securing these components, materials or services and, if we cannot then obtain an acceptable substitute on a timely basis, our commercial operations could be , and we could experience an effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Additionally, any performance failure on the part of our suppliers could delay the development and manufacture of our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Due to the highly competitive nature of the healthcare industry and the cost controls of our customers and third-party payors, as well as entering into long-term fixed price contracts, we may be unable to pass along cost increases for any key components or raw materials through higher prices to our customers. If the cost of key components or raw materials increases and we are unable to fully recover those increased costs through price increases or offset these increases through other cost reductions, we could experience an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
We may not be successful in achieving expected operating efficiencies or expense reductions associated with cost reduction and restructuring efforts and may experience a decline in our profitability, business disruptions or other adverse consequences to our business as a result.
We have engaged in restructuring activities in the past and may engage in other restructuring activities in the future. For example, since the Smiths Medical acquisition, we have taken realignment and cost reduction initiatives to achieve operating efficiencies for the combined company. These types of cost reduction and restructuring activities are complex. If we do not successfully manage our current restructuring activities, or any other restructuring activities that we may take in the future, any expected efficiencies and benefits might be delayed or not fully realized, and our operations and business could be disrupted. In addition, the costs associated with implementing restructuring activities might exceed expectations, which could result in additional future charges.
The agreements governing our debt contain a number of restrictive covenants which limit our flexibility in operating our business, finance future operations or pursue our business strategies.
The credit agreement governing our New Credit Facilities contains, among other things, certain customary restrictive covenants that limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness and liens, merge with other companies or consummate certain changes of control, acquire other companies, make certain investments, pay dividends, enter into certain transactions with affiliates, and transfer or dispose of assets as well as financial covenants. While we have not previously breached and are not currently in breach of these or any other covenants contained in our credit agreement, our ability to comply with these
covenants may be affected by events beyond our control, including health crises and global pandemics, other geopolitical events, supply chain interruptions or general economic environment, including high inflation and interest rates. These covenants could also limit our ability to seek capital through the incurrence of new indebtedness or, if we are unable to meet our obligations, require us to repay any outstanding amounts with sources of capital we may otherwise use to fund our business. As such, these restrictive covenants contained in our New Credit Facilities may restrict our ability to pursue our business strategies.
Significant sales through distributors expose us to risks that could have a material effect on our results of operations.
For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, business from a single distributor accounted for approximately 18% of our consolidated revenues. We may rely on one or more key distributors for a product, and the loss of these distributors could reduce our revenue. Additionally, distributors may face financial difficulties, including bankruptcy, which could harm our collection of accounts receivable and financial results. Failure to manage risks related to our use of distributors may reduce sales, increase expenses, and weaken our competitive position, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Legal, Compliance, and Regulatory Risks
Our ability to market, distribute and sell our products in the U.S. and other countries may be adversely affected if our products fail to comply with the existing laws and regulations, and applicable requirements of the FDA, governmental agencies in other countries, and notified bodies.
We and our products are subject to extensive regulation in the U.S. and elsewhere, including by the FDA and its foreign counterparts. The FDA and foreign regulatory agencies and notified bodies regulate, among other things, with respect to medical devices: design, development and manufacturing; testing, labeling, content and language of instructions for use and storage; clinical trials; product safety; establishment registration and device listing; marketing, sales and distribution; pre-market clearance, approval and certification; record keeping procedures; advertising and promotion; recalls and field safety corrective actions; post-market surveillance, including reporting of deaths or serious injuries and malfunctions that, if they were to recur, could lead to death or serious injury; post-market approval studies; and product import and export.
In the U.S., our medical device products are subject to clearance or approval by the U.S. FDA under the FDC Act. Before we can market a new medical device, or a new use of, new claim for, or significant modification to, an existing product, we must first receive either clearance under Section 510(k) of the FDC Act or approval of PMA application from the FDA, unless an exemption applies. Under the 510(k) process, the manufacturer must submit to the FDA a pre-market notification, demonstrating that the device is "substantially equivalent," as defined in the FDC Act, to a legally marketed predicate device. To be "substantially equivalent," the proposed device must have the same intended use as the predicate device, and either have the same technological characteristics as the predicate device or have different technological characteristics and not raise different questions of safety or effectiveness than the predicate device. If the manufacturer is unable to demonstrate substantial equivalence to FDA's satisfaction, or if there is no available predicate device, then the manufacturer may be required to seek approval through the PMA application process, which is generally more costly and time consuming than the 510(k) process. Through the PMA application process, the applicant must submit data and information demonstrating reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device for its intended use to the FDA's . Accordingly, a PMA application typically includes, but is not limited to, extensive technical information regarding device design and development, pre-clinical and clinical trial data, manufacturing information, labeling and financial disclosure information for the clinical investigators in device studies.
We currently market certain products that have received 510(k) clearance, and we may pursue 510(k) clearance for future products. However, certain of our new products may require a longer time for clearance than we have experienced in the past and there can be no assurance that a PMA application will not be required. For example, in 2022, we acquired Smiths Medical, which has marketed its PORT-A-CATH implantable access systems pursuant to PMA approval, and there is no assurance that other new products developed by us or any manufacturers that we might acquire will be eligible for 510(k) clearance rather than undergoing a more time consuming pre-market approval procedure, such as the PMA approval process, or that, in any case, they will receive clearance or approval from the FDA. FDA regulatory processes are time consuming and expensive. Uncertainties as to the time required to obtain FDA clearances or approvals could adversely affect the timing and expense of new product introductions.
In addition, modification to a 510(k)-cleared device that could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness, or that would constitute a major change in its intended use, design or manufacture, requires a new 510(k) clearance or, possibly, approval of a PMA. The FDA requires every manufacturer to make this determination in the first instance, but the FDA may review any manufacturer’s decision. The FDA may not agree with our decisions regarding whether new clearances or approvals
are necessary. We have modified certain of our products subsequent to obtaining 510(k) clearance, and have determined based on our review of the applicable FDA guidance that in these instances new 510(k) clearances or pre-market approvals were not required. If the FDA disagrees with our determination and requires us to submit new 510(k) notifications or PMAs for modifications to our products or any other product for which we may obtain 510(k) clearance in the future, and for which we have concluded that new clearances or approvals are unnecessary, we may be required to cease marketing or to recall the modified product until we obtain clearance or approval, and we may be subject to significant regulatory fines or penalties. On April 4, 2025, we received a warning letter from the FDA regarding certain modifications we made to our cleared MedFusion™ Model 4000 Syringe Infusion Pump and CADD™ Solis VIP Ambulatory Infusion Pump, and since then we are working closely with the FDA to resolve all concerns identified in such letter, including the filing of new clearances for next generation MedFusion™ and a refreshed CADD™ Solis device (which are currently under review by the FDA), and though we believe we will be to ultimately close out this letter, there is no guarantee that we will be to do so in a timely manner, or that we will not receive similar notices in the future.
The regulations to which we are subject are complex and have tended to become more stringent over time. Regulatory changes could result in restrictions on our ability to continue or expand our operations, higher than anticipated costs, or lower than anticipated sales. The FDA enforces these regulatory requirements through periodic unannounced inspections. Even after we have obtained the proper regulatory clearance or approval to market a product, we have ongoing responsibilities under FDA regulations and applicable foreign laws and regulations. The FDA, state and foreign regulatory authorities have broad enforcement powers.
In addition, new and changing laws, regulations, executive orders and other governmental actions, particularly from the new presidential administration, may also create uncertainty about how laws and regulations will be interpreted and applied. Regulatory changes and other actions that materially affect our business may be announced with little or no advance notice, and we may be unable to effectively mitigate all adverse impacts from such measures. Differing interpretations of such legal obligations can expose us to significant fines, government investigations, litigation and reputational harm. If we are found to have violated laws, regulations, or executive orders, it could materially adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operations and financial condition.
We do not know whether we will pass or be found compliant in any future inspections by FDA or other regulatory authorities. Our failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements could result in enforcement action by the FDA, state or foreign regulatory authorities which may include any of the following sanctions:
• untitled letters or warning letters;
• fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties;
• recalls, termination of distribution, administrative detention, or seizure of our products;
• customer notifications or repair, replacement or refunds;
• operating restrictions or partial suspension or total shutdown of production;
• delays in or refusal to grant our requests for future 510(k) clearances, PMA approvals or foreign regulatory approvals or certifications of new products, new intended uses, or modifications to existing products;
• withdrawals or suspensions of current 510(k) clearances or PMAs or foreign regulatory approvals, resulting in prohibitions on sales of our products;
• FDA refusal to issue certificates to foreign governments needed to export products for sale in other countries; and
• criminal prosecution.
The FDA's and other regulatory authorities' policies may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval or certification of our product candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative action, either in the U.S. or abroad.
The FDA may change its clearance and approval policies, adopt additional regulations or revise existing regulations, or take other actions which may prevent or delay approval or clearance of our future products under development or otherwise increase the costs associated with compliance.
In addition, FDA and foreign regulations and guidance are often revised or reinterpreted by the FDA and foreign counterparts in ways that may significantly affect our business and our products. Any new statutes, regulations or revisions or reinterpretations of existing regulations may impose additional costs or lengthen review times of any future products or make it more difficult to obtain clearance, approval, or certification to manufacture, market or distribute our products. 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. Such changes could, among other things, require: additional testing prior to obtaining clearance, approval, or certification; changes to manufacturing methods; recall, replacement or discontinuance of our products; or additional record keeping. For example, on February 2, 2026, the FDA’s final rule implementing the QMSR became effective. The QMSR, which replaced the FDA’s former Quality System Regulation, sets forth the FDA’s cGMP requirements for medical devices, and among other things, incorporates by reference certain elements of the quality management system requirements of ISO 13485:2016. Although the FDA has stated that the standards contained in ISO 13485:216 are substantially similar to those set forth in the QSR, and although we have obtained ISO 13485:2016 certification for our quality management system, the FDA has indicated that ISO:13485 certification alone will not ensure compliance under the QMSR, nor will ISO certification exempt manufacturers from FDA inspection. The QMSR also includes certain compliance obligations, such as those relating to unique device identification, product traceability, and maintenance of complaint and service records, that align more closely with FDA’s existing medical device requirements than with ISO standards. Accordingly, it remains unclear the extent to which the QMSR may impose additional or different regulatory requirements on us that could increase the costs of compliance or otherwise affect our business. If we are to comply with QMSR or with any other changes in the laws or regulations enforced by FDA or comparable regulatory authorities, we may be subject to enforcement action, which could have an effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, the EU landscape concerning medical devices recently evolved, and continues to undergo legislative changes. On May 26, 2021, the EU Medical Devices Regulation became applicable and repealed and replaced the EU Medical Devices Directive. Unlike directives, which must be implemented into the national laws of the EU member states, regulations are directly applicable (i.e., without the need for adoption of EU member state laws implementing them) in all EU member states and are intended to eliminate current differences in the regulation of medical devices among EU member states. These requirements are in active implementation and may change as the European Commission adopts additional implementing acts and considers targeted revisions to related medical device rules. In addition, on December 16, 2025, the European Commission published a targeted revision proposal of the MDR to address structural issues, certification delays, and burdens on Small and medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”). The proposal will enter the ordinary legislative procedure and is not expected to be adopted before 2027.
In accordance with its extended transitional provisions, both (i) devices lawfully placed on the market pursuant to the EU Medical Devices Directive prior to May 26, 2021 and (ii) legacy devices lawfully placed on the EU market after May 26, 2021 in accordance with the EU Medical Devices Regulation transitional provisions may generally continue to be made available on the market or put into service, provided that the requirements of the transitional provisions are fulfilled as may be assessed by the notified body. However, even in this case, manufacturers must comply with a number of new or reinforced requirements set forth in the EU Medical Devices Regulation with regard to registration of economic operators and of devices, post-market surveillance, market surveillance and vigilance requirements and comply with the requirements of the notified body.
Subject to the transitional provisions and in order to sell our products in EU member states, our products must comply with the general safety and performance requirements of the EU Medical Devices Regulation, which repeals and replaces the EU Medical Devices Directive. All medical devices placed on the market in the EU must meet the general safety and performance requirements laid down in Annex I to the EU Medical Devices Regulation including the requirement that a medical device must be designed and manufactured in such a way that, during normal conditions of use, it is suitable for its intended purpose. Medical devices must be safe and effective and must not compromise the clinical condition or safety of patients, or the safety and health of users and – where applicable – other persons, provided that any risks which may be associated with their use constitute acceptable risks when weighed against the benefits to the patient and are compatible with a high level of protection of health and safety, taking into account the generally acknowledged state of the art. Compliance with these requirements is a prerequisite to be able to affix the European Conformity ("CE") mark to our products, without which they cannot be sold or marketed in the EU. See – Government Regulation. To demonstrate compliance with the general safety and performance requirements, we must undergo a conformity assessment procedure, which varies according to the type of medical device and its (risk) classification. Except for low-risk medical devices (Class I), where the manufacturer can self-assess the conformity of its products with the general safety and performance requirements (except for any parts which relate to sterility, metrology or reuse aspects), a conformity assessment procedure requires the intervention of a notified body. The notified body would typically audit and examine the technical file and the quality system for the manufacture, design and final inspection of our devices. If that the relevant product conforms to the relevant general safety and performance requirements, the notified body issues a certificate of conformity, which the manufacturer uses as a basis for its own declaration of conformity. The manufacturer may then apply the CE mark to the device, which allows the device to be placed on the market throughout the EU. If we to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we would be to affix the CE mark to our products, which would prevent us from selling them within the EU.
The aforementioned EU rules are generally applicable in the EEA. Non-compliance with the above requirements including as determined by a notified body would also prevent us from selling our products in these geographies.
If we or our comp onent manufacturers fail to comply with the FDA's Quality Management System Regulation or Good Manufacturing Practice regulations or other requirements, our manufacturing operations could be interrupted, and our product sales and operating results could suffer.
In the United States, we and some of our component manufacturers are required to comply with regulatory requirements known as the FDA's QMSR, a complex regulatory scheme which currently covers the procedures and documentation of the design, testing, production, control, quality assurance, inspection, complaint handling, recordkeeping, management review, labeling, packaging, sterilization, storage and shipping of our device products. The FDA audits compliance with these regulatory requirements through periodic announced and unannounced inspections of manufacturing and other facilities. The FDA may conduct inspections or audits at any time, and we are subject to such inspections. Although we believe our manufacturing facilities are in compliance with the QMSR requirements, and with other applicable cGMPs for our products, we cannot provide assurance that any future inspection will not result in adverse findings.
If our manufacturing facilities or those of any of our component suppliers are found to be in violation of applicable laws and regulations, or we or our suppliers have significant noncompliance issues or fail to timely and adequately respond to any adverse inspectional observations or product safety issues, or if any corrective action plan that we or our suppliers propose in response to observed deficiencies is not sufficient, the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities could take enforcement action, including any of the following sanctions:
• untitled letters or warning letters;
• fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties;
• customer notifications or repair, replacement, refunds, recall, detention or seizure of our products;
• operating restrictions or partial suspension or total shutdown of production;
• refusing or delaying our requests for clearance or approval or certifications of new products or modified products;
• withdrawing clearances, approvals, or certifications that have already been granted;
• refusal to grant export approval for our products; or
• criminal prosecution.
Any of these sanctions could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
To market our products in the EU, we must conform to additional requirements and demonstrate conformance to harmonized quality standards. A notified body would typically audit and examine a product's technical dossiers and the manufacturer's quality system (the notified body must presume that quality systems which implement the relevant harmonized standards – which is ISO 13485:2016 for Medical Devices Quality Management Systems – conform to these requirements). Subject to the transitional provisions, manufacturers of medical devices must also comply with the EU Medical Devices Regulation. Compliance with these requirements assure that medical devices are both safe and effective and do not compromise the clinical condition or safety of patients, or the safety and health of users and – where applicable – other persons and meet all applicable established standards prior to being marketed in the EU. There is no assurance that we will continue to meet the requirements for distribution of our products in the EU and the EEA.
As a result of these new requirements, we may be subject to risks associated with additional testing, modification, certification, or amendment of our existing certifications, or we may be required to modify products already installed at our customers' facilities to comply with the official interpretations of the EU Medical Devices Regulation.
Distribution of our products in other countries may be subject to regulation in those countries, and there is no assurance that we will obtain necessary approvals or certifications in countries in which we want to introduce our products.
Actual or perceived failures to comply with foreign, federal, and state data privacy and security laws, regulations and standards may adversely affect our business, operations and financial performance.
We are subject to various federal, state and foreign laws that govern the collection, use, disclosure, retention and security of personal information, including patient health information and information that we may collect in connection with clinical trials. The global data protection landscape is rapidly evolving, and implementation standards and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. This evolution may create uncertainty in our business, affect our or our collaborators', service providers' and contractors' ability to operate in certain jurisdictions or to collect, store, transfer,
use and share personal information, necessitate the acceptance of more onerous obligations in our contracts, result in liability or impose additional costs on us. In the U.S., numerous federal and state laws and regulations could apply to our operations or the operations of our partners, including state data breach notification laws, federal and state health information privacy laws, and federal and state consumer protection laws and regulations (e.g. Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (the "FTC Act")). For example, the privacy, security and breach notification rules promulgated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, and regulations implemented thereunder (collectively ("HIPAA") establish a set of national privacy and security standards for the protection of protected health information ("PHI") by health plans, health care clearinghouses and certain health care providers, called covered entities, and the business associates with whom such covered entities contract for services that involve creating, receiving, maintaining or transmitting PHI, as well as their covered subcontractors. HIPAA also requires covered entities to provide individuals with certain rights with respect to their PHI, and requires covered entities to enter into a written business associate contract or other arrangement with the business associate that establishes specifically what the business associate has been engaged to do and requires the business associate to comply with the requirements of HIPAA.
HIPAA requires the notification of patients, and other compliance actions, in the event of a breach of unsecured PHI. If notification to patients of a breach is required, such notification must be provided without unreasonable delay and in no event later than 60 calendar days after discovery of the breach. In addition, if the PHI of 500 or more individuals is improperly used or disclosed, we would be required to report the improper use or disclosure to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") which would post the violation on its website, and to the media.
Penalties for failure to comply with a requirement of HIPAA vary significantly depending on the nature of violation and could include civil monetary or criminal penalties. HIPAA authorizes state attorneys general to file suit on behalf of their residents for violations. Courts are able to 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 file suit against us in civil court for violations of HIPAA, its standards have been used as the basis for duty of care cases in state civil suits such as those for negligence or recklessness in the misuse or breach of PHI.
Certain states have also adopted privacy and security laws and regulations, which govern the privacy, processing and protection of health-related and other personal information. Such laws and regulations are 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. For example, California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (the "CCPA"), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (collectively, the CCPA) which requires covered businesses that process the personal information of California residents to, among other things: (i) provide certain disclosures to California residents regarding the business’s collection, use, and disclosure of their personal information; (ii) receive and respond to requests from California residents to access, delete, and correct their personal information, or to opt out of certain disclosures of their personal information;, and (iii) enter into specific contractual provisions with service providers that process California resident personal information on the business’s behalf. Additional compliance investment and potential business process changes may be required. Similar laws have passed in other states, reflecting a trend toward more stringent privacy legislation in the U.S. The enactment of such laws could have potentially conflicting requirements that would make compliance challenging. If we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations we could be subject to or sanctions, including if we obtain or individually identifiable health information from a covered entity in a manner that is not authorized or permitted by HIPAA or applicable state laws.
Furthermore, the FTC and many state Attorneys General continue to enforce federal and state consumer protection laws against companies for online collection, use, dissemination and security practices that appear to be unfair or deceptive. For example, according to the FTC, failing to take appropriate steps to keep consumers' personal information secure can constitute unfair acts or practices in or affecting commerce in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act. 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. Additionally, federal and state consumer protection laws are increasingly being applied by FTC and states’ attorneys general to regulate the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of personal or personally identifiable information, through websites or otherwise, and to regulate the presentation of website content.
Foreign data protection laws, including the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (the "EU GDPR") and the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (the "UK GDPR") (the EU GDPR and UK GDPR together referred to as the "GDPR", may also apply to health-related and other personal data obtained outside of the U.S. or in the context of our establishments outside of the U.S.. The GDPR imposes strict requirements for processing the personal data of individuals within the EEA and the UK or in the context of our activities within the EEA and the UK, including by mandating potentially burdensome documentation requirements and granting certain rights to individuals to control how we collect, use, disclose,
retain and process data about them. Fines for non-compliance with the GDPR are significant - the greater of €20 million/£17.5 million or 4% of global turnover. In addition to fines, a breach of the GDPR may result in regulatory investigations, reputational damage, orders to cease/ change our data processing activities, enforcement notices, assessment notices (for a compulsory audit) and/ or civil claims (including class actions). The GDPR provides that EU and EEA member states or the UK may impose further obligations relating to the processing of genetic, biometric or health data, which could limit our ability to collect, use and share personal data, or could cause our compliance costs to increase, ultimately having an adverse impact on our business. Among other requirements, the GDPR regulates transfers of personal data subject to the GDPR to third countries that have not been found to provide adequate protection to such personal data, including the United States, and the efficacy and longevity of current transfer mechanisms between the EEA, and the United States remains uncertain. Case law from the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) states that reliance on the standard contractual clauses - a standard form of contract approved by the European Commission as an adequate personal data transfer mechanism - alone may not necessarily be sufficient in all circumstances and that transfers must now be assessed on a case-by-case basis. We expect the existing legal complexity and uncertainty regarding international personal data transfers to continue, and international transfers to the United States and to other jurisdictions more generally to continue to be subject to by regulators. As the regulatory guidance and enforcement landscape in relation to data transfers continue to develop, we could additional costs, and/or regulatory or , and/or if we are otherwise to transfer personal data between and among countries and regions in which we operate, it could affect the manner in which we operate our business, the geographical location or segregation of our relevant systems and operations, and could affect our financial results.
We are subject to certain fraud and abuse and transparency laws, which, if violated, could subject us to substantial penalties. Additionally, any challenge to or investigation into our practices under these laws could cause adverse publicity and be costly to respond to, and thus could harm our business.
There are numerous U.S. federal and state, as well as foreign, laws pertaining to healthcare fraud and abuse, including anti-kickback, false claims and transparency laws regarding payments and other transfers of value made to physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals. Our business practices and relationships with providers are subject to scrutiny under these laws. The healthcare laws and regulations that may affect our ability to operate include, but are not limited to:
• the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons and entities from knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to induce either the referral of an individual or furnishing or arranging for a good or service, for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under federal healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. 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. The U.S. government has interpreted this law broadly to apply to the marketing and sales activities of manufacturers;
• the federal civil and criminal false claims laws, including the federal civil False Claims Act, which prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment from Medicare, Medicaid or other federal healthcare programs that are false or fraudulent. Private individuals can bring False Claims Act "qui tam" actions, on behalf of the government and such individuals, commonly known as "whistleblowers," may share in amounts paid by the entity to the government in fines or settlement. Moreover, the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a or claim for purposes of the federal civil Act;
• the federal Civil Monetary Penalties Law, which prohibits, among other things, offering or transferring remuneration to a federal healthcare beneficiary that a person knows or should know is likely to influence the beneficiary’s decision to order or receive items or services reimbursable by the government from a particular provider or supplier;
• the federal Physician Sunshine Act, which require certain applicable manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program ("CHIP") to report annually to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' CMS information related to 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, and certified nurse midwives, and teaching hospitals), and applicable manufacturers and GPOs, to report annually ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members;
• HIPAA, which created additional federal criminal statutes that prohibit, among other things, executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program and making false statements relating to healthcare matters. Similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, 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; and
• analogous state and foreign law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers or
patients; state laws that require device companies to comply with the industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the applicable compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government or otherwise restrict payments that may be made to healthcare providers and other potential referral sources; state laws that require device manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures; consumer protection and unfair competition laws, which broadly regulate marketplace activities and activities that potentially harm customers; and state laws related to insurance fraud in the case of claims involving private insurers.
These laws and regulations, among other things, constrain our business, marketing and other promotional activities by limiting the kinds of financial arrangements, including sales programs, we may have with hospitals, physicians or other potential purchasers of our products. Due to the breadth of these laws, the narrowness of statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors available, and the range of interpretations to which they are subject, it is possible that some of our current or future practices might be challenged under one or more of these laws.
To enforce compliance with the healthcare regulatory laws, certain enforcement bodies have recently increased their scrutiny of interactions between healthcare companies and healthcare providers, which has led to a number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and settlements in the healthcare industry. Responding to investigations can be time-and resource-consuming and can divert management's attention from the business. Additionally, as a result of these investigations, healthcare providers and entities may have to agree to additional compliance and reporting requirements as part of a consent decree or corporate integrity agreement. Any such investigation or settlement could increase our costs or otherwise have an adverse effect on our business. Even an unsuccessful challenge or investigation into our practices could cause publicity, and be to respond to. If our operations are found to be in of any of the healthcare laws or regulations described above or any other healthcare regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to , including administrative, civil and , , , exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, , contractual , reputational , and the or of our operations.
Healthcare regulation and reform measures could adversely affect our revenue and financial condition.
Our profitability and operations are subject to risks relating to changes in government and private reimbursement programs and policies and changes in legal requirements in the U.S. and in the world. There have been, and we expect there will continue to be, a number of legislative and regulatory changes to the healthcare system that could affect our future revenues and profitability in the U.S. and abroad. Federal and state lawmakers regularly propose and, at times, enact legislation that results in significant changes to the healthcare system, some of which are intended to contain or reduce the costs of medical products and services. For example, in 2010, the ACA was signed into law introducing comprehensive health insurance and healthcare reforms in the U.S. The ACA, among other things, provided incentives to programs that increase the federal government's comparative effectiveness research, and implemented payment system reforms including a national pilot program on payment bundling to encourage hospitals, physicians and other providers to improve the coordination, quality and efficiency of certain healthcare services through bundled payment models. Additionally, the ACA has expanded eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs and created a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research. Since its enactment, there have been judicial, executive and Congressional to certain aspects of the ACA. On June 17, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court the most recent judicial to the ACA brought by several states without specifically ruling on the constitutionality of the ACA.
In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA was enacted. On August 2, 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011 was signed into law, which, among other things, included reductions to Medicare payments to providers, which went into effect on April 1, 2013, and will remain in effect through 2032, with the exception of a temporary suspension from May 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022, unless additional Congressional action is taken. On January 2, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, was signed into law, which, among other things, further reduced Medicare payments to several providers, including hospitals. More recently, the OBBBA, which was enacted in July 2025, imposes significant reductions in the funding of the Medicaid program. Such reductions are expected to decrease the number of persons enrolled in Medicaid and reduce the services covered by Medicaid, which could adversely affect our sales of our products.
We anticipate there will continue to be proposals by legislators at both the federal state and foreign levels, regulators and commercial payors to reduce costs while expanding individual healthcare benefits. The ultimate implementation of any healthcare reform legislation and any new laws and regulations, and its impact on us, is impossible to predict, particularly in light of the new presidential administration. Any significant reforms made to the healthcare system in the U.S., or in other jurisdictions, may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
On December 13, 2021, Regulation No 2021/2282 on Health Technology Assessment (“HTA”) amending Directive 2011/24/EU, was adopted. The Regulation entered into force in January 2022 and has been applicable since January 2025, with phased implementation based on the type of product i.e., certain high-risk medical devices as of 2026. The Regulation intends to boost cooperation among EU member states in assessing health technologies, including certain high-risk medical devices, and provide the basis for cooperation at the EU level for joint clinical assessments in these areas. It will permit EU member states to use common HTA tools, methodologies, and procedures across the EU, working together in four main areas, including joint clinical assessment of the innovative health technologies with the highest potential impact for patients, joint scientific consultations whereby developers can seek advice from HTA authorities, identification of emerging health technologies to identify promising technologies early, and continuing voluntary cooperation in other areas. Individual EU member states will continue to be responsible for assessing non-clinical (e.g., economic, social, ethical) aspects of health technology, and making decisions on pricing and reimbursement.
Our business could be materially and adversely affected if we fail to defend and enforce our patents or other proprietary rights, if our products are found to infringe patents or other proprietary rights owned by others or if the cost to protect our patents or other proprietary rights becomes excessive or as our patents expire.
We rely on a combination of patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, business methods, software and nondisclosure agreements to protect our proprietary intellectual property. Our efforts to protect our intellectual and proprietary rights may not be sufficient. Further, there is no assurance that patents pending will issue or that the protection from patents which have issued or may issue in the future will be broad enough to prevent competitors from introducing similar devices, that such patents, if challenged, will be upheld by the courts or that we will be able to prove infringement and damages in litigation.
We generally have multiple patents covering various features of a product, and as each patent expires, the protection afforded by that patent is no longer available to us, even though protection of features that are covered by other unexpired patents may continue to be available to us. The loss of patent protection on certain features of our products may make it possible for others to manufacture and sell products with features identical or similar to ours, which could adversely affect our business.
If we fail to develop and successfully launch new products prior to the expiration of patents for our existing products, our sales and profits with respect to those products could decline significantly. We may not be able to develop and successfully launch more advanced replacement products before these and other patents expire.
In addition, our ability to enforce and protect our intellectual property rights may be limited in certain countries outside of the U.S., which could make it easier for competitors to obtain market position in such countries by utilizing technologies that are similar to those developed by us.
If others choose to manufacture and sell products similar to or substantially the same as our products, it could have a material adverse effect on our business through loss of unit volume or price erosion, or both, and could adversely affect our ability to secure new business.
There has been substantial litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in the medical device industry. We have in the past faced and may in the future face patent infringement claims. Patent infringement litigation, which may be necessary to enforce patents issued to us or to defend ourselves against claimed infringement of the rights of others, can be expensive and may involve a substantial commitment of our resources which may divert resources from other uses. Adverse determinations in litigation or settlements could subject us to significant liabilities to third parties, could require us to seek licenses from third parties, could prevent us from manufacturing and selling our products or could fail to prevent competitors from manufacturing products similar to ours. Any of these results could materially and adversely affect our business.
From time to time we become aware of newly issued patents on medical devices, which we review to evaluate any infringement risk. We are aware of a number of patents that have been issued to others. While we believe these patents will not affect our ability to market our products, there is no assurance that these or other issued or pending patents might not interfere with our right or ability to manufacture and sell our products.
The misuse or off-label use of our products may harm our reputation in the marketplace, result in injuries that lead to product liability suits or result in costly investigations, fines or sanctions by regulatory bodies if we are deemed to have engaged in the promotion of these uses, any of which could be costly to our business.
Our products have been cleared, approved or certified by the FDA, foreign regulatory authorities and notified bodies for specific indications of use. We train our marketing personnel and direct sales force to not promote our products for uses
outside of the FDA-cleared or approved indications for use, known as "off-label uses." We cannot, however, prevent a physician from using our products off-label, when in the physician's independent professional medical judgment he or she deems it appropriate. There may be increased risk of injury to patients if physicians attempt to use our products off-label. Furthermore, the use of our products for indications other than those cleared or approved by the FDA or approved by any foreign body may not effectively treat such conditions, which could harm our reputation in the marketplace among physicians and patients.
If the FDA or any foreign regulatory authorities determine that our promotional materials or training constitute promotion of an off-label use, it could request that we modify our training or promotional materials or subject us to regulatory or enforcement actions, including the issuance or imposition of an untitled letter, which is used for violators that do not necessitate a warning letter, injunction, seizure, civil fine or criminal penalties. It is also possible that enforcement authorities might take action under other regulatory authority, such as false claims laws, if they consider our business activities to constitute promotion of an off-label use, which could result in significant penalties, including, but not limited to, criminal, civil and administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs and the of our operations.
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. If our products are misused or used with improper technique, we may become subject to costly litigation by our customers or their patients.
Litigation, product liability claims or product recalls could be costly and could expose us to loss.
The use of our products exposes us to an inherent risk of product liability. Further, the medical device industry has historically been subject to extensive litigation and we cannot offer any assurance that we will not face product liability or other lawsuits in the future. Patients, healthcare workers, healthcare providers or others who claim that our products have resulted in injury could initiate product liability litigation seeking large damage awards against us. Costs of the defense of such litigation, even if successful, could be substantial. We maintain insurance against product liability and defense costs in the amount of $50 million per occurrence. However, legal proceedings are inherently unpredictable, and the outcome can result in judgments that affect how we operate our business, or we may enter into settlements of claims for monetary damages that exceed our insurance coverage, if any is available. A claim us in excess of insurance coverage could materially and affect us, and result in substantial liabilities and reputational including product or withdrawals from the market, withdrawal of clinical trial participants or clinical studies, the to commercialize our existing or new products, of management’s attention from our primary business or decreased demand for our products or, if cleared or approved, products in development.
Any attempts we take to manage our product liability exposure, for example, by proactively recalling or withdrawing from the market any defective products, and any required recall or market withdrawal of our products may delay the supply of those products to our customers and may impact our reputation. We can provide no assurance that we will be successful in initiating appropriate market recall or market withdrawal efforts that may be required in the future or that these efforts will have the intended effect of preventing product malfunctions and the accompanying product liability that may result. Such recalls and withdrawals may also be used by our competitors to harm our reputation for safety or be perceived by patients as a safety risk when considering the use of our products, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Additionally, we generally offer a limited warranty for product returns which are due to defects in quality and workmanship. We attempt to estimate our potential liability for future product returns and establish reserves on our financial statements in amounts that we believe will be sufficient to address our warranty obligations; however, our actual liability for product returns may significantly exceed the amount of our reserves. If we underestimate our potential liability for future product returns, or if unanticipated events result in returns that exceed our historical experience, our financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.
Our products may cause or contribute to adverse medical events or be subject to failures or malfunctions that we are required to report to the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities, and if we fail to do so, we would be subject to sanctions that could harm our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations. The discovery of serious safety issues with our products, or a recall of our products either voluntarily or at the direction of the FDA or another governmental authority, could have a negative impact on us.
We are subject to the FDA's medical device reporting regulations and similar foreign regulations, which require us to report to the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities when we receive or become aware of information that reasonably suggests that one or more of our products may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that, if the malfunction were to recur, it could cause or contribute to a death or serious injury. The timing of our obligation to report is triggered by the date we become aware of the adverse event as well as the nature of the event. We may fail to report adverse events of which we become aware within the prescribed timeframe. We may also fail to recognize that we have become aware of a reportable adverse event, especially if it is not reported to us as an adverse event or if it is an event that is or removed in time from the use of the product. If we to comply with our reporting obligations, the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities could take action, including letters, untitled letters, administrative actions, , imposition of civil monetary , of our device clearances, approvals or certifications, seizure of our products or in clearance, approval, or certification of future products.
The FDA and foreign regulatory bodies have the authority to require the recall of commercialized products in the event of material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacture of a product or in the event that a product poses an unacceptable risk to health. The FDA’s authority to require a recall must be based on a finding that there is reasonable probability that the device could cause serious injury or death. We may also choose to voluntarily recall a product if any material deficiency is found. A government-mandated or voluntary recall by us could occur as a result of an unacceptable risk to health, component failures, malfunctions, manufacturing defects, labeling or design , packaging or other or to comply with applicable regulations. Product or other may occur in the future. For example, in June 2024, Smiths Medical ASD initiated Class 1 with respect to certain tracheostomy tube kits, in May 2024, Smiths Medical ASD initiated Class 1 for certain paraPAC plus ventilators, and in April 2025 and February 2025, we initiated Class 1 for certain CADD Solis ambulatory infusion pumps and ProPort venous access systems and catheters, respectively. We can provide no assurance that our efforts to work with the FDA to complete, and ultimately close, these product , and any that may occur in the future, will be in a timely manner, or at all. In addition, the costs associated with conducting and these or any other product , including any liabilities we may incur, could have a material effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Depending on the corrective action we take to redress a product's deficiencies or defects, the FDA or foreign regulatory agencies may require, or we may decide, that we will need to obtain new clearances, approvals or certifications for the device before we may market or distribute the corrected device. Seeking such clearances, approvals or certifications may delay our ability to replace the recalled devices in a timely manner. Moreover, if we do not adequately address problems associated with our devices, we may face additional regulatory enforcement action, including FDA or foreign regulatory authorities warning letters, product seizure, injunctions, administrative penalties or civil or criminal fines.
Companies are required to maintain certain records of recalls and corrections, even if they are not reportable to the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities. We may initiate voluntary withdrawals or corrections for our products in the future that we determine do not require notification of the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities. If the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities disagree with our determinations, it could require us to report those actions as recalls and we may be subject to enforcement action. A future recall announcement could harm our reputation with customers, potentially lead to product liability claims against us and negatively affect our sales. Any corrective action, whether voluntary or involuntary, as well as defending ourselves in a lawsuit, will require the dedication of our time and capital, distract management from operating our business and may our reputation and financial results.
Geographic Risks
Significant changes in U.S. trade, tax or other policies that restrict imports or increase import tariffs for certain countries, particularly Mexico and Costa Rica, can escalate trade wars and could have a meaningful adverse effect on our results of operations.
A significant amount of our products are manufactured outside of the U.S. In certain years, the U.S. government has initiated substantial changes in U.S. trade policy and U.S. trade agreements, including the initiation of tariffs on certain foreign goods. In response to these tariffs, certain foreign governments, including Canada, China and Mexico, have retaliated imposing tariffs on certain U.S. goods. In January 2025, the current administration issued executive orders imposing additional tariffs on imported goods from Canada, Mexico, and China and in response Canada immediately announced similar tariffs on U.S. imports. In April 2025, the U.S. announced and began implementing "Liberation Day" reciprocal tariff measures, including a 10% baseline tariff on imports from many countries and certain higher country-specific tariff rates. Further, in July 2025, the U.S. announced that the 10% baseline reciprocal tariff on imports from all countries would be raised to 15% for certain countries, including Costa Rica. Imposed tariffs and retaliatory responses to these and further trade measures could prevent or make it difficult and will be more costly for us to import goods. They could also potentially disrupt our existing supply chains
and impose additional costs on our business, including, without limitation, costs with respect to raw materials upon which our business depends. The most significant potential impact to us is the additional tariffs on Costa Rican and Mexican imports, which could result in a meaningful impact to our results of operations due to our manufacturing facilities in these countries. Increased tariffs could require us to increase our prices, which likely could decrease demand for our products, and in many cases we may be unable to pass along increased costs to our customers if they are under long-term fixed price contracts. Additionally, we are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Any significant changes in current tax policies could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our operations may be adversely impacted by our exposure to risks related to foreign currency exchange rates.
We face exposure to adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates due to our operations in foreign markets through our foreign subsidiaries and other international distributors. Our primary foreign currency exchange rate exposures are currently with the Euro, Mexican Peso, Canadian Dollar, Czech Koruna, Costa Rican Colon, Japanese Yen, Chinese Renminbi, and the Australian Dollar against the U.S. dollar. Our income and expenses are based on a mix of currencies, and a decline in one currency relative to the other currencies could adversely affect our operating results. Furthermore, our operating results are reported in U.S. dollars, using the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date, or, for revenues and expenses, using the average monthly exchange rates during the year. Accordingly, our operating results have been and continue to be subject to volatility due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Generally, when the U.S. dollar weakens against these currencies, the dollar value of foreign-currency denominated revenue and expense increases, and when the U.S. dollar strengthens against these currencies, the dollar value of foreign-currency denominated revenue and expense decreases. We are also to foreign currency risk on outstanding foreign currency denominated receivables and payables. Currency exchange rates have been especially in the recent past. Accordingly, changes in foreign currency exchange rates have affected and may continue to affect our results of operations. For example, during 2025, we recorded $3.8 million in foreign exchange , net primarily related to the of the U.S. dollar relative to certain foreign currencies, including the Euro and British Pound, partially offset by the of the U.S. dollar relative to the Mexican Peso. See Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for a further discussion of the financial impact of exchange rate fluctuations on our results of operations. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates are caused by a number of factors that are beyond our control, including a country’s political and economic policies, inflationary conditions, in the financial markets, and global economic and geopolitical conditions.
We currently only partially hedge against our foreign currency exchange rate risks, related to certain forecasted foreign currency-denominated revenues and expenses. We, therefore, believe our exposure to these risks may be higher than if we entered into hedging transactions, including forward exchange contracts or similar instruments that covered the company on a consolidated basis. If we decide in the future to enter into additional forward foreign exchange contracts to attempt to reduce the risk related to foreign currency exchange rates, these contracts may not mitigate the potential adverse impact on our financial results due to the limitations and difficulty forecasting future activity. In addition, these types of contracts may themselves cause financial harm to us and have inherent levels of counter-party risk over which we would have no control. We attempt to mitigate a portion of foreign currency exchange rate risks through foreign currency hedging. Our hedging activities, however, may not sufficiently offset the adverse financial impact caused by unfavorable movement in foreign currency exchange rates applicable to our business, and such exchange rate impacts could materially adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations. See “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
International sales pose additional risks related to competition with larger international companies and established local companies and higher credit risk.
We have undertaken an initiative to increase our international sales, and have distribution arrangements in all the principal countries in Western Europe, the Pacific Rim, Middle East, Latin America, Canada and South Africa. We plan to sell in most other areas of the world. We export most of our products sold internationally primarily from the U.S. and Mexico and to a lesser extent Costa Rica. Our principal competitors in international markets consist of much larger companies as well as smaller companies already established in the countries into which we sell our products. Our cost structure is often higher than that of our competitors because of the relatively high cost of transporting products to some local markets as well as our competitors’ lower local labor costs in some markets.
Our international sales are subject to higher credit risks than sales in the U.S. Many of our distributors are small and may not be well capitalized. Payment terms are relatively long. The European hospitals tend to be significantly slower in payment which has resulted in and may continue to result in an increase to our days sales outstanding from previous years. Our prices to our international distributors, outside of Europe, for products shipped to the customers from the U.S., Costa Rica or Mexico are generally denominated in U.S. dollars, but their resale prices are set in their local currency. A decline in the value of the local currency in relation to the U.S. dollar has in prior years adversely affected and may in future years adversely affect
their ability to profitably sell in their market the products they buy from us, and has in prior years adversely affected and may in future years adversely affect their ability to make payment to us for the products they purchase. Legal recourse for non-payment of indebtedness may be uncertain. These factors all contribute to a potential for credit losses.
We are dependent on manufacturing in Mexico and could be adversely affected by that region's increased labor costs and any economic, social or political disruptions.
Most of the material we use in manufacturing is imported into Mexico, and substantially all of the products we manufacture in Mexico are exported. Business activity in the Ensenada area has expanded significantly, providing increased employment opportunities. This has had and may continue to have an adverse effect on our ability to hire or retain necessary personnel and has resulted in and may continue to result in higher labor costs. In addition, minimum wages in regions within which we operate have increased labor costs significantly. We continue to take steps to compete for labor through attractive employment conditions and benefits, but there is no assurance that these steps will continue to be successful or that we will not continue to face increasing labor costs in the future.
Any political or economic disruption in Mexico or a change in its local economies could have an adverse effect on our operations. We depend on our ability to move goods across borders quickly, and any disruption in the free flow of goods across national borders could have an adverse effect on our business. Additionally, political and social instability resulting from violence in certain areas of Mexico has raised concerns about the safety of our personnel. These concerns may hinder our ability to send domestic personnel abroad and to hire and retain local personnel. Such concerns may require us to conduct more operations from the U.S. rather than Mexico, which may negatively impact our operations and result in higher costs and inefficiencies.
We could be adversely affected by violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other worldwide anti-bribery laws.
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and anti-bribery laws in other jurisdictions generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or other commercial advantage. Our policies mandate compliance with these anti-bribery laws, which often carry substantial penalties, including criminal and civil fines, potential loss of export licenses, possible suspension of the ability to do business with the federal government, denial of government reimbursement for products and exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs. We operate in jurisdictions that have experienced governmental and private sector corruption to some degree, and, in certain circumstances, strict compliance with anti-bribery laws may conflict with certain local customs and practices. We cannot that our internal control policies and procedures always will protect us from or other acts committed by our affiliates, employees, distributors or other agents. of these laws, or of such , could have a material effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.
We are subject to risks associated with doing business outside of the U.S.
We operate in a global market and global operations are subject to a number of risks. Sales to customers outside of the U.S. composed approximately 39% of our revenues in 2025 and as our operations and sales located in Europe and other areas outside the U.S. increase, we may face new challenges and uncertainties, although we can give no assurance that such operations and sales will increase.
The risks associated with our operations outside the U.S. include, without limitation:
• economic and political uncertainty;
• changes in non-U.S. government programs;
• multiple non-U.S. regulatory requirements that are subject to change and that could restrict our ability to manufacture and sell our products;
• different local medical practices, product preferences and product requirements;
• possible failure to comply with trade protection and restriction measures and import or export licensing requirements;
• difficulty in establishing, staffing and managing non-U.S. operations;
• different labor regulations or work stoppages or strikes;
• changing geopolitical conditions arising from political instability and any actual or anticipated military or political conflicts;
• economic instability in other parts of the world and the impact on interest rates, inflation and the credit worthiness of our customers in foreign countries, such as the devaluation of the Argentine Peso;
• tariffs on products imported to the U.S.;
• uncertainties regarding judicial systems and procedures;
• minimal or diminished protection of intellectual property in some countries;
• natural disasters or outbreak of diseases or pandemics;
• fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
• changes to international trade agreements and trade relationships and conflicts between countries; and
• imposition of government controls, such as economic sanctions and export controls.
These risks, individually or in the aggregate, could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. The occurrence or allegation of these types of risks may adversely affect our business, performance, prospects, value, financial condition, and results of operations.
Risks Related to our Strategic Transactions
If we fail to effectively complete the integration of our acquired businesses in a manner that preserves our reputation with customers and the key aspects of our corporate culture, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.
The Smiths Medical acquisition was a significant acquisition for us and the product offerings within Smiths Medical are not product offerings that we previously offered. The success of our business will depend, in part, on our ability to realize our anticipated benefits, opportunities and synergies from combining our legacy businesses and Smiths Medical. We can provide no assurance that the anticipated benefits of the Smiths Medical acquisition will be fully realized in the time frame anticipated or at all. Integrating the operations of Smiths Medical with that of our legacy business has been and continues to be a complex, costly and time-consuming process. For example, we continue to execute several integration initiatives, including remaining enterprise systems conversions, manufacturing plant consolidation efforts and supply chain integration projects. The integration process may disrupt the businesses and, if implemented ineffectively, would restrict the realization of the full expected benefits. The failure to meet the challenges involved in integrating the two businesses could cause an interruption of, or a loss of momentum in, the activities of the combined businesses and could affect the results of operations of the combined businesses. Potential that may be encountered in the integration process include the following:
• challenges in preserving important strategic customer and other third-party relationships of both businesses;
• the diversion of management’s attention to integration matters;
• costs, delays and other difficulties consolidating corporate and administrative infrastructures and information systems and implementing common systems and procedures including, in particular, our internal controls over financial reporting; and
• coordinating and integrating a geographically dispersed organization, including operations in jurisdictions we did not operate in prior to the Smiths Medical transaction.
Any one or all of these factors may increase operating costs or lower anticipated financial performance. Achieving the anticipated benefits and the potential benefits underlying our reasons for the Smiths Medical business acquisition will depend on successful integration of the businesses. Because of the significance of the Smiths Medical business acquisition to us, our failure to successfully complete the integration of the Smiths Medical business with that of our own could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we are unable to effectively manage our internal growth or growth through acquisitions of companies, assets or products, our financial performance may be adversely affected.
We may expand our product offerings through acquisitions of companies or product lines from time to time. We can provide no assurance that we will be able to identify, acquire, develop or profitably manage additional companies or operations or successfully integrate such companies or operations into our existing operations without substantial costs, delays or other challenges. In 2022, we acquired the Smiths Medical business, which includes syringe and ambulatory infusion devices, vascular access, and vital care products, but we have made and continue to make significant integration efforts to achieve the anticipated benefits. See “ The Smiths Medical acquisition completed in January 2022 has resulted in organizational changes and an increase in size to our business. If we fail to effectively complete the integration of our business in a manner that preserves our reputation with customers and the key aspects of our corporate culture, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed . ”
We have additional production facilities outside the U.S. to reduce labor costs. We intend to continue to expand our marketing and distribution capability, which may include external expansion through acquisitions both in the U.S. and foreign markets. The expansion of our marketing, distribution and product offerings both internally and through acquisitions or by
contract may place substantial burdens on our management resources and financial controls. Decentralization of assembly and manufacturing could place further burdens on management to manage those operations and maintain efficiencies and quality control.
The increasing burdens on our management resources and financial controls resulting from internal growth and acquisitions could adversely affect our operating results. In addition, acquisitions may involve a number of special risks in addition to the difficulty of integrating cultures and operations and the diversion of management’s attention, including adverse short-term effects on our reported operating results, dependence on retention, hiring and training of key personnel, risks associated with unanticipated problems or legal liabilities, and amortization of acquired intangible assets, some or all of which could materially and adversely affect our operations and financial performance.
For the Smiths Medical acquisition, we incurred a substantial amount of debt to finance the cash consideration portion and certain other amounts paid in connection with the Smiths Medical acquisition, which could adversely affect our business, including by restricting our ability to engage in additional transactions or incur additional indebtedness.
In connection with the Smiths Medical transaction, we entered into our Existing Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank and certain other financial institutions to refinance the Term Loan A and the existing Revolving Credit Facility under the Credit Agreement dated as of January 6, 2022 (as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of October 5, 2022, the "Existing Credit Agreement," and as further amended by the Amendment, the "Amended Credit Agreement"), which resulted in us incurring additional borrowing costs. In October 31, 2025, we amended our Existing Credit Agreement to refinance our existing Term Loan A and Revolving Credit Facilities. The amended credit facility includes a new five-year term loan A facility of $750.0 million (the "Term Loan A"), and a new five-year revolving credit facility of $500.0 million (the "Revolving Credit Facility"). The proceeds from the new Term Loan A were primarily used by the lenders to (i) directly repay in full the $559.7 million of outstanding principal of the existing Term Loan A and (ii) directly repay $190.0 million of the outstanding balance of the Term Loan B under the Existing Credit Agreement. As a result of entering into the amended credit facility, we incurred additional borrowing costs. At December 31, 2025, our long-term debt outstanding was $1.3 billion. Our more leveraged financial position following the Smiths Medical transaction could make us more vulnerable to general economic downturns and industry conditions, and place us at a competitive disadvantage relative to our competitors. In the event that we do not have adequate capital to maintain or develop our business and need to seek additional financing, additional capital may not be available to us on a timely basis, on terms, or at all. Moreover, our New Credit Facilities (defined below) have certain restrictions that may limit how we operate our business, including our ability to engage in certain transactions and incur additional indebtedness, and our business may be materially and affected if these restrictions prevent us from implementing our business plan. See “Business and Operating Risks - The agreements governing our debt contain a number of restrictive covenants which limit our flexibility in operating our business, finance future operations or pursue our business strategies . ”
We have and may continue to acquire businesses, form strategic alliances, enter into joint ventures or make investments in businesses or technologies. Such transactions or investments could result in unforeseen operating difficulties or expenditures and require significant management resources, charges or write-downs that could adversely impact our business and operating results.
We have and may continue to seek to supplement our internal growth through acquisitions of complementary businesses, technologies, services, or products, as well as investments, joint ventures and strategic alliances. We compete for those opportunities with others including our competitors, some of which have greater financial or operational resources than we do. We may not be able to identify suitable acquisition candidates or strategic partners, we may have inadequate access to information or insufficient time to complete due diligence, and we may not be able to complete such transactions on favorable terms, if at all. Such transactions are inherently risky, and the integration of any newly-acquired business requires significant effort and management attention that otherwise would be available for ongoing development of our other businesses.
The success of any acquisition, investment, joint venture or alliance may be affected by a number of factors, including our ability to properly assess and value the potential business opportunity or to successfully integrate any business we may acquire into our existing business. Integration of an acquired business also may disrupt our ongoing operations and require management resources that we would otherwise focus on developing our existing business. For example, we acquired the HIS business in February 2017, which includes IV pumps, solutions, and devices in order to create a leading pure-play infusion therapy company, and we acquired Smiths Medical in January 2022, which includes syringe and ambulatory infusion devices, vascular access, and vital care products. We invested significant time and resources into the HIS integration in order to achieve the anticipated benefits of the transaction, and we have been and continue to do the same with the Smiths Medical integration.
More recently, in November 2024, we entered into a purchase agreement (the “Agreement”) with Otsuka to form a joint venture (the “joint venture”) for our IV Solutions product line. In May 2025, we announced the completion of our joint venture and the formation of ICU Medical, Pearl LLC (n/k/a Otsuka ICU Medical LLC) with Otsuka having 60% equity interest, and us being a minority holder with a 40% equity interest. The failure for the joint venture to meet our performance and financial expectations could adversely impact our ability to meet internal forecasts and expectations. Additionally, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, we do not have sole decision-making authority with matters related to the joint venture, or have the ability to control over the actions of Otsuka, which could result in impasses on decisions or decisions made by our partners, which we may be unable to resolve in a manner that will be favorable to us. Further, Otsuka may have economic or business interests that are, or may become, inconsistent with our interests.
Acquisitions, investments, joint ventures and alliances involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the failure to identify suitable acquisition candidates and partners, the ability to complete the transaction on acceptable terms and conditions, the incurrence of liabilities greater than anticipated or operating results that are less than anticipated, the inability to realize the projected value, and the inability to realize projected synergies, the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities or future write-offs of intangible assets or goodwill, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We may also experience losses related to investments in other companies, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. As such, there can be no assurance that any past or future transactions or investments will be successful.
