UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016
or
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to .
Commission File Number: 0-19961
ORTHOFIX INTERNATIONAL N.V.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Curaçao |
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98-1340767 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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7 Abraham de Veerstraat Curaçao |
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N/A |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
599-9-4658525
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common Stock, $0.10 par value |
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Nasdaq Global Select Market |
(Title of Class) |
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(Name of Exchange on Which Registered) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer |
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Accelerated filer |
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Non-accelerated filer |
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Smaller reporting company |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates, based upon the closing price of the common stock on the last business day of the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016, as reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market, was approximately $767.8 million.
As of February 24, 2017, 17,946,539 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Certain sections of the registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A in connection with the 2016 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report.
Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2016
Table of Contents
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PART I |
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Item 1. |
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4 |
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Item 1A. |
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18 |
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Item 1B. |
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29 |
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Item 2. |
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29 |
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Item 3. |
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Item 4. |
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PART II |
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Item 5. |
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30 |
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Item 6. |
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Item 7. |
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
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Item 7A. |
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Item 8. |
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Item 9. |
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Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
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Item 9A. |
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Item 9B. |
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PART III |
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Item 10. |
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Item 11. |
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Item 12. |
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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
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Item 13. |
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Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence |
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Item 14. |
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PART IV |
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Item 15. |
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Item 16. |
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This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“the Exchange Act”), and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to our business and financial outlook, which are based on our current beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue” or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of our future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including the risks described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors”. Therefore, our actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof, unless it is specifically otherwise stated to be made as of a different date. We undertake no obligation to further update any such statement, to reflect new information, the occurrence of future events or circumstances or otherwise.
Trademarks
Solely for convenience, our trademarks and trade names in this report are referred to without the ® and ™ symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights thereto.
In this report, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Orthofix,” “the Company” and “our Company” refer to the combined operations of Orthofix International N.V. and its consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates, unless the context requires otherwise.
Company Overview
We are a diversified, global medical device company focused on improving patients’ lives by providing superior reconstructive and regenerative orthopedic and spine solutions to physicians worldwide. Headquartered in Lewisville, Texas, we have four strategic business units (“SBUs”): BioStim, Biologics, Extremity Fixation and Spine Fixation. Our products are widely distributed by our sales representatives, distributors and subsidiaries. In addition, we are collaborating on research and development activities with leading clinical organizations such as Brown University, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Cleveland Clinic, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (“MTF”).
We have administrative and training facilities in the United States (“U.S.”), Italy, Brazil, the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), France, Germany, and Puerto Rico and manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Italy. We directly distribute products in the U.S., Italy, the U.K., Germany, France, Brazil, and Puerto Rico. In several of these and other markets, we also distribute our products through independent distributors.
Orthofix International N.V. was formed in 1987 and is a limited liability company operating under the laws of Curaçao. Our executive offices in Curaçao are located at 7 Abraham de Veerstraat, Curaçao.
Available Information and Orthofix Website
Our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and Annual Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A and amendments to those reports, are available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information on our website or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference into this report. Our Internet website is located at www.orthofix.com. Our SEC filings are also available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
Business Segments
We manage our business by our four SBUs: BioStim, Biologics, Extremity Fixation, and Spine Fixation, which accounted for 43%, 14%, 25%, and 18%, respectively, of our total net sales in 2016. The chart below presents net sales, which includes product sales and marketing service fees, by SBU for each of the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014.
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Financial information regarding our reportable business segments and certain geographic information is included in Part II, Item 7 of this report under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this report.
BioStim
The BioStim SBU manufactures, distributes, and provides support services for market-leading bone growth stimulation devices that enhance bone fusion. These class III medical devices are indicated as an adjunctive, noninvasive treatment to improve fusion success rates in the cervical and lumbar spine as well as a therapeutic treatment for non-spine fractures that have not healed (non-unions). These devices utilize Orthofix’s patented pulsed electromagnetic field (“PEMF”) technology, the safety and efficacy of which is supported by basic mechanism of action data in the scientific literature as well as published data from level one randomized controlled clinical trials. We currently have research and clinical studies underway to identify potential clinical indications for treating odontoid fractures and osteoarthritis of the knee. This SBU uses distributors and direct sales representatives to sell its devices to hospitals, healthcare providers, and patients.
BioStim Strategy
Our strategy for the BioStim SBU is to expand patient access to bone growth therapy devices that deliver noninvasive treatment for promoting healing in fractured bones and spinal fusions. Our key initiatives are:
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Invest in basic science, clinical and evidence-based research to support broader indications for our stimulation products; |
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Invest in product development for next generation bone growth therapy technology; and |
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Expand patient access to our stimulation products through improved insurance coverage policies. |
BioStim Products
The following table and discussion identify our principal BioStim products by trade name and describe their primary applications:
Product |
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Primary Application |
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CervicalStim |
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Pulsed electromagnetic field (“PEMF”) non-invasive cervical spinal fusion therapy used to enhance bone growth |
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SpinalStim |
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PEMF non-invasive lumbar spinal fusion therapy used to enhance bone growth |
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PhysioStim |
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PEMF non-invasive long bone healing therapy used to enhance bone growth in non-union factures |
Spinal Therapy
Our bone growth therapy devices used in spinal applications are designed to enhance bone growth and the success rate of certain spinal fusions by stimulating the body’s own natural healing mechanism post-surgically. These non-invasive portable devices are intended to be used as part of a home treatment program prescribed by a physician.
We offer two spinal fusion therapy devices: the SpinalStim and CervicalStim devices. Our stimulation products use a PEMF technology designed to enhance the growth of bone tissue following surgery and are placed externally over the site to be healed. Research data shows that our PEMF signal induces mineralization and results in a process that stimulates new regeneration at the spinal fusion site. We have sponsored independent research at Cleveland Clinic, New York University and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, where scientists conducted animal and cellular studies to identify the mechanisms of action of our PEMF signals on bone and efficacy of healing. From this effort, a total of six studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals. Among other insights, the studies illustrate positive effects of PEMF on callus formation and bone strength as well as proliferation and differentiation of cells involved in regeneration and healing. Furthermore, we believe that the research work with Cleveland Clinic, allowing for characterization and visualization of the Orthofix PEMF waveform, is paving the way for signal optimization for a variety of new applications and indications. This collection of pre-clinical data, along with additional clinical data, could represent new clinical indication opportunities for our regenerative stimulation solutions.
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Some spine fusion patients are at greater risk of not achieving a solid fusion of new bone around the fusion site. These patients typically have one or more risk factors such as smoking, obesity or diabetes, or their surgery involves the revision of a failed fusion or the fusion of multiple levels of vertebrae in one procedure. For these patients, post-surgical spinal fusion therapy has been shown to significantly increase the probability of fusion success. The SpinalStim device is a non-invasive spinal fusion stimulator system that has been commercially available in the U.S. since 1990. It is designed for the treatment of the lower thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine. The device uses proprietary technology and a wavelength to generate a PEMF signal. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) has approved the SpinalStim system as a spinal fusion adjunct to increase the probability of fusion success and as a non-operative treatment for salvage of failed spinal fusion at least nine months post-operatively.
Our CervicalStim product remains the only FDA-approved bone growth stimulator on the market indicated for use as an adjunct to cervical (upper) spine fusion surgery in patients at high-risk for non-fusion. The FDA approved this device in 2004, and it has been commercially available in the U.S. since 2005.
In January 2017, we announced the FDA and European Commission CE mark approval for our next-generation SpinalStim and CervicalStim bone growth stimulators. The CervicalStim and SpinalStim systems available in the U.S. will be accompanied by a new application for mobile devices called Stim onTrack. Designed for use with smartphones and other mobile devices, the Stim onTrack tool helps patients follow their prescription, including daily treatment reminders and a device usage calendar. The mobile app also includes a first-to-market feature that enables physicians to receive real-time data on how their patients are adhering to prescribed treatment protocols. The Stim onTrack app is free and available through the iTunes App Store. In addition to the app, the next-generation bone growth stimulators include patient enhancements aimed at improving fit, comfort and ease of use.
In late 2016, the North American Spine Society (“NASS”) issued first-of-its-kind coverage recommendations for electrical bone growth stimulators. These evidence-based coverage policy recommendations support the use of PEMF devices as an adjunct to spinal fusion surgery. The issued NASS coverage policy recommends the use of electrical stimulation for spinal fusion healing in all regions of the spine, including cervical and lumbar regions. Currently, Orthofix is the only company with a bone growth stimulator approved by the FDA as a noninvasive, adjunctive treatment option for cervical fusion. We expect the validation of PEMF electrical stimulation from this leading surgical society will further support our efforts to expand the availability and use of the therapy to the many patients who can benefit from it.
Orthopedic Therapy
Our PhysioStim bone healing therapy products use PEMF technology similar to that used in our spine stimulators. The primary difference is that the PhysioStim physical configuration is designed for use on long bones.
A bone’s regenerative power results in most fractures healing naturally within a few months. In certain situations, however, fractures do not heal or heal slowly, resulting in “non-unions.” Traditionally, orthopedists have treated such fracture conditions surgically, often by means of a bone graft with fracture fixation devices, such as bone plates, screws or intramedullary rods. These are examples of “invasive” treatments. Our patented bone healing therapy products are designed to use a low level of PEMF signals to activate the body’s natural healing process.
Our systems offer portability, rechargeable battery operation, integrated component design, patient monitoring capabilities and the ability to cover a large treatment area without factory calibration for specific patient application.
Biologics
The Biologics SBU provides a portfolio of regenerative products and tissue forms that allow physicians to successfully treat a variety of spinal and orthopedic conditions. This SBU specializes in the marketing of the Company’s regeneration tissue forms. Biologics markets its tissues primarily in the U.S. through a network of independent sales representatives to supply to hospitals and healthcare providers. Our partnership with MTF allows us to exclusively market the Trinity Evolution and Trinity ELITE tissue forms for musculoskeletal defects to enhance bony fusion.
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In order to drive further adoption and use of our products, our strategy for the Biologics SBU is to educate physicians, both directly and through our sales force, of the surgical and patient benefits of using our portfolio of regenerative tissues and products to augment their surgical procedures and results. Our key initiatives are:
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Continue to focus our sales and marketing efforts on the Trinity ELITE tissue form and leverage its market acceptance; |
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Enhance and expand our distribution network through an increase in distributor partners in underpenetrated U.S. markets; |
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Expand the accepted utilization of the Trinity ELITE tissue form in additional surgical applications; and |
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Invest in and accelerate new tissue development projects with MTF. |
Biologics Products
The following table and discussion identify our principal Biologics products by trade name and describe their primary applications:
Product |
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Primary Application |
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AlloQuent Structural Allografts |
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Interbody devices made of cortical bone (or cortical-cancellous grafts) that are designed to restore the space that has been lost between two or more vertebrae due to a degenerated disc during a spinal fusion procedure |
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Trinity ELITE |
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A fully moldable allograft with viable cells used during surgery that is designed to enhance the success of a spinal fusion or bone fusion procedure |
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Trinity Evolution |
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An allograft with viable cells used during surgery that is designed to enhance the success of a spinal fusion or bone fusion procedure |
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VersaShield |
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A thin hydrophilic amniotic membrane designed to serve as a wound or tissue covering for a variety of surgical demands |
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Collage Synthetic Osteoconductive Scaffold |
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A synthetic bone void filler |
The regenerative solutions offered as part of the Biologics SBU’s portfolio include solutions for a variety of musculoskeletal defects used in spinal and extremity orthopedic procedures.
Regenerative Solutions
The premier biologics tissues we market include the Trinity ELITE and Trinity Evolution tissue forms, which are cortical cancellous allografts that contain viable cells and are used during surgery in the treatment of musculoskeletal defects for bone reconstruction and repair. These allografts are intended to offer a viable alternative to an autograft procedure as harvesting autograft has been shown to add risk of an additional surgical procedure and related patient discomfort in conjunction with a repair surgery.
To provide structural support and facilitate bone growth in spine fusion procedures, we offer a full line of AlloQuent allograft structural spacers derived from human cadaveric bone. These spacers are used to restore the height lost between vertebral bodies when discs are removed in fusion procedures and to facilitate spine fusion.
We offer the Collage product as an osteoconductive scaffold and a bone graft substitute product. The product is a combination synthetic bone graft substitute comprised of beta tri-calcium phosphate and type 1 bovine collagen.
We also market the VersaShield tissue form, a thin hydrophilic amniotic membrane designed to serve as a wound or tissue covering for a variety of surgical demands. Amniotic tissue forms derived from donated human placenta are used in a wide variety of applications and are valued for their healing properties, scar reduction and anti-adhesion characteristics. The VersaShield tissue is derived from the human placental layers amnion and chorion; these thin elastic membranes allow the tissue to conform to the surface of the surgical site.
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We receive marketing fees through our collaboration with MTF for the Trinity Evolution, Trinity ELITE, and VersaShield tissues. MTF processes the tissues, maintains inventory, and invoices hospitals and surgery centers and other points of care for service fees, which are submitted by customers via purchase orders. We have exclusive worldwide rights to market the Trinity Evolution and Trinity ELITE tissue forms. We market the VersaShield tissue under a private label brand via a non-exclusive marketing agreement for the tissue form.
To date, our Biologics products are offered primarily in the U.S. market due in part to restrictions on providing U.S. human donor tissue in other countries.
Extremity Fixation
The Extremity Fixation SBU offers products and solutions that allow physicians to successfully treat a variety of orthopedic conditions unrelated to the spine. This SBU specializes in the design, development, and marketing of the Company’s orthopedic products used in fracture repair, deformity correction and bone reconstruction procedures. Extremity Fixation distributes its products globally through a network of distributors and sales representatives to sell orthopedic products to hospitals and healthcare providers.
Extremity Fixation Strategy
Our strategy for the Extremity Fixation SBU is to continue to provide highly valued external and internal temporary to definitive fixation devices used in fracture repair, deformity correction and bone reconstruction. Our key initiatives are:
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Continue to focus our sales efforts on driving adoption of TL-HEX TrueLok Hexapod System and Galaxy Fixation System product lines; |
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Develop and acquire premium products for temporary fixation, deformity correction, pediatric applications and foot and ankle procedures; and |
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Increase global acceptance and use of our products through education and sales force expansion. |
Extremity Fixation Products
The following table and discussion identify our principal Extremity Fixation products by trade name and describe their primary applications:
Product |
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Primary Application |
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Fixator |
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External fixation and internal fixation, including the Sheffield Ring, limb-lengthening systems, DAF, ProCallus, XCaliber and Gotfried P.C.C.P |
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Eight-Plate Guided Growth System |
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Treatment for bowed legs or knock knees of children |
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LRS Advanced Limb Reconstruction System |
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External fixation for limb lengthening and corrections of deformity |
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TrueLok |
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Ring fixation system for limb lengthening and deformity correction |
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TL-HEX TrueLok Hexapod System(“TL-HEX”) |
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Hexapod external fixation system for trauma and deformity correction with associated software |
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Galaxy Fixation System |
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External fixation system for temporary and definitive fracture fixation, including anatomical specific clamps |
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PREFIX and PREFIX 2 |
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External fixation range for temporary fixation of fractures in trauma |
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VeroNail Trochanteric Nailing System |
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Trochanteric titanium nailing system for hip fractures |
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Centronail Titanium Nailing System |
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Complete range of intramedullary nails including the Humeral Nail |
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Cemex |
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Bone cement |
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Product |
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Primary Application |
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Ultrasonic bone cement removal |
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Centronail Ankle Compression Nailing System (“ACN”) |
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An extension of the Centronail range of intermedullary nails |
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Ankle Hindfoot Nail (“AHN”) |
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A differentiated solution for hindfoot fusions |
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Contours Lapidus Plating System (“LPS”) |
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A plate design contoured specifically for a tarsometatarsal (“TMT”) fusion |
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Contours PHP Proximal Humeral Plate (“PHP”) |
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An innovative plating solution for fraction fixation of the proximal humerus |
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Contours VPS Volar Plating System III |
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The 3rd generation of plates to treat distal radius fractures |
We provide internal and external fixation solutions for extremity repair and deformity correction, both for adults and children. Our fracture repair products consist of fixation devices designed to stabilize a broken bone until it can heal. With these devices, we can treat simple and complex fracture patterns along with achieving deformity corrections.
External Fixation
External fixation devices are used to stabilize fractures from outside the skin with minimal invasion into the body. These fixation devices use screws that are inserted into the bone on either side of the fracture site, to which the fixator body is attached externally. The bone segments are aligned by manipulating the external device using patented ball joints and, when aligned, are locked in place for stabilization. External fixation may also be used as temporary devices in complex trauma cases to stabilize the fracture prior to treating it definitively. We believe external fixation is among the most minimally invasive surgical options for fracture management. Also, we believe external fixation is the ideal treatment option for highly complex fractures, patients who have fractures close to joints, or patients with known risk factors or co-morbidities.
The LRS Advanced Limb Reconstruction System uses callus distraction to lengthen bone in a variety of procedures, including monofocal lengthening and corrections of deformity. Its multifocal procedures include bone transport, simultaneous compression and distraction at different sites, bifocal lengthening and correction of deformities with shortening. In 2009, improvements on size, flexibility and ease of use were implemented for the release of the LRS Advanced Limb Reconstruction System.
The Galaxy Fixation System, which was released in 2012, incorporates a streamlined combination of clamps with both pin-to-bar and bar-to-bar coupling capabilities that provide a complete range of applications and reduce inventory. It also includes specific units for the elbow, shoulder and wrist. While the rigidity and stability allows for use in definitive fixation, the design also addresses the need for rapid stabilization for temporary fixation in large trauma centers.
The TrueLok Ring Fixation System is a surgeon-designed, lightweight external fixation system for limb lengthening and deformity correction. In essence, a ring fixation construct consists of circular rings and semi-circular external supports centered on the patient’s limb and secured to the bone by crossed, tensioned wires and half pins. The rings are connected externally to provide stable bone fixation. The main external connecting elements are threaded rods, linear distractors, or hinges and angular distractors, which allow the surgeon to adjust the relative position of rings to each other. The ring positions are manipulated either acutely or gradually in precise increments to perform the correction of the deformity, limb lengthening, or bone segment transportation as required by the surgeon. Created with pre-assembled function blocks, the TrueLok is a simple, stable, versatile ring fixation system.
Building on the TrueLok brand, the TL-HEX TrueLok Hexapod System was released in 2012 in international markets and in 2015 in the U.S. TL-HEX is a hexapod-based system designed at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children as a three-dimensional bone segment reposition module to augment the previously developed TrueLok frame. The system consists of circular and semi-circular external supports secured to the bones by wires and half pins and interconnected by six struts. This allows multi-planar adjustment of the external supports. The rings’ position is adjusted either rapidly or gradually in precise increments to perform bone segment repositioning in three-dimensional space. All the basic components from the TrueLok Ring Fixation System (wire and half pin fixation bolts, posts, threaded rods, plates as well as other assembly components and instrumentation) can be utilized with TL-HEX; therefore, external supports from both systems can be connected to each other when building fixation blocks.
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Another one of our external fixation devices is the XCaliber fixator, which is made from a lightweight radiolucent material and provided in three configurations to cover long bone fractures, fractures near joints and ankle fractures. The radiolucency of XCaliber fixators allows X-rays to pass through the device and provides the surgeon with improved X-ray visualization of the fracture and alignment. These three configurations cover a broad range of fractures. The XCaliber fixators are provided pre-assembled in sterile kits to decrease time in the operating room.
Our proprietary XCaliber bone screws are designed to be compatible with our external fixators and reduce inventory for our customers. Some of these screws are covered with hydroxyapatite, a mineral component of bone that reduces superficial inflammation of soft tissue and improves bone grip. Other screws in this proprietary line do not include the hydroxyapatite coating, but offer different advantages such as patented thread designs for better adherence in hard or poor quality bone. We believe we have a full line of bone screws to meet the demands of the market. Adding to the XCaliber bone screw product line are also cylindrical screws first released for the US market and which we expect will be following in international markets. The type of screw is geared towards the trauma applications of the Galaxy Fixation System.
Internal Fixation
Internal fixation devices come in various sizes, depending on the bone that requires treatment, and consist of either long rods, commonly referred to as nails, or plates that are attached with the use of screws. A nail is inserted into the medullary canal of a fractured long bone of the human arm or leg (e.g., humerus, femur or tibia). Alternatively, a plate is attached by screws to an area such as a broken wrist, hip or foot. Examples of our internal fixation devices include:
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The Centronail Titanium Nailing System, which is designed to stabilize fractures in the femur, tibia, supracondylar and humerus. Its main advantages are it is made of titanium, offers improved mechanical distal targeting and instrumentation and has a design that requires significantly less inventory. |
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The Ankle Hindfoot Nail from Orthofix, which is an arthrodesis nailing system designed to improve upon the stability, simplicity, and flexibility of current hindfoot nails. |
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The VeroNail product, which marks Orthofix’s entry into the intramedullary hip nailing market. Designed for use in hip fractures, the product provides a minimally-invasive screw and nail design intended to reduce surgical trauma and allow patients to begin walking again shortly after the operation. It uses a dual screw configuration that we believe provides more stability than previous single screw designs. |
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The Contours LPS (Lapidus Plating System), which is sold in the U.S. and is intended for the correction of moderate to severe forefoot hallus valgus (HV), accompanying bunions and associated instability. The Lapidus Plating System consists of plates, screws and instrumentation. The anatomical plates are low-profile, titanium, (left and right) designed specifically for 1st metatarsocuneiform joint arthrodesis allowing compression across the joint achieved through a delta-shaped hole and compression screws. Lapidus Plating System screws are titanium, low-profile and self-tapping, and include locking, non-locking, and bone compression screws in a variety of lengths. |
In addition to treating bone fractures, we also design, manufacture and distribute devices intended to treat congenital bone conditions, such as angular deformities (e.g., bowed legs in children), or degenerative diseases, as well as conditions resulting from a previous trauma. An example of a product offered in this area is the Eight-Plate Guided Growth System.
Spine Fixation
The Spine Fixation SBU specializes in the design, development and marketing of a portfolio of implant products used in surgical procedures of the spine. Spine Fixation distributes its products globally through a network of distributors and sales representatives to sell spine products to hospitals and healthcare providers.
Spine Fixation Strategy
Our strategy for the Spine Fixation SBU is to accelerate the sales pace of our portfolio of surgical products that allow physicians to successfully treat a variety of spinal conditions. Our key initiatives are:
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Continue to expand U.S. sales force coverage, engagement and exclusivity; and |
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Increase our new product introduction pace through product acquisitions, licensing agreements, and a more streamlined and productive new product development process. |
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The following table and discussion identify our key Spine Fixation products by trade name and describe their primary applications:
Product |
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Primary Application |
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Hallmark Anterior Cervical Plate System |
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A cervical plating system implanted during anterior cervical spine fusion procedures |
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Ascent LE Posterior Occipital Cervico-Thoracic (“POCT”) System |
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A system of pedicle screws and rods implanted during a posterior spinal fusion procedure involving the stabilization of several degenerated or deformed cervical vertebrae |
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CONSTRUX Mini PEEK / Titanium Composite (“PTC”) Spacer System |
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A cervical interbody with 3D printed porous titanium end plates that may promote bone ingrowth and a Polyetheretherketones (“PEEK”) core to maintain imaging characteristics |
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PILLAR PL & TL PEEK Vertebral Body Replacement (“VBR”) System |
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Interbody devices for Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (“PLIF”) and Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (“TLIF”) procedures |
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FORZA Spacer System |
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Interbody devices for PLIF and TLIF procedures |
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FORZA PTC Spacer System
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A posterior lumbar interbody with 3D printed porous titanium end plates that may promote bone ingrowth and a Polyetheretherketones (“PEEK”) core to maintain imaging characteristics |
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PILLAR SA PTC PEEK Spacer System |
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A standalone ALIF lumbar interbody with 3D printed porous titanium end plates that may promote bone ingrowth and a PEEK core to maintain imaging characteristics |
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Firebird / Firebird NXG Spinal Fixation System |
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A system of rods, crossbars and modular pedicle screws designed to be implanted during a posterior lumbar spine fusion procedure |
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Firebird Deformity Correction System |
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An extension to the Firebird Spinal Fixation System that provides additional instrument and implant options for complex thoracolumbar spine procedures |
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Phoenix Minimally Invasive Spinal Fixation System |
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A multi-axial extended reduction screw body used with the Firebird Spinal Fixation System designed to be implanted during a posterior thoracolumbar spine fusion procedure |
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JANUS Midline Fixation Screw |
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An addition to the Firebird Spinal Fixation System designed to achieve more cortical bone purchase in the medial to lateral trajectory when compared to traditional pedicle screws and provides surgeons with the option of a midline approach |
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Samba-Screw System |
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A minimally invasive screw system that is intended for fixation of sacroiliac joint disruptions in skeletally mature patients |
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LONESTAR Cervical Stand Alone (“CSA”) |
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A stand-alone spacer system designed to provide the biomechanical strength to a tradition or minimal invasive Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (“ACDF”) procedure with less disruption of patient anatomy and preserve the anatomical profile |
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SKYHAWK Lateral Interbody Fusion System & Lateral Plate System |
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Provides a complete solution for the surgeon to perform a Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion, an approach to spinal fusion in which the surgeon access the intervertebral disc space using a surgical approach from the patient’s side that disturbs fewer structures and tissues |
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CENTURION Posterior Occipital Cervico-Thoracic (“POCT”) System |
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A multiple component system comprised of a variety of non-sterile, single use components made of titanium alloy or cobalt chrome that allow the surgeon to build a spinal implant construct |
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We provide a wide array of implants designed for use primarily in cervical, thoracic and lumbar fusion surgeries. These implants are made of either metal or a thermoplastic compound called Polyetheretherketones (“PEEK”). The majority of the implants that we offer are made of titanium metal. This includes the 3°, Reliant and Hallmark cervical plates. Additionally, the Spinal Fixation System (“SFS”), the Firebird Spinal Fixation System, the Phoenix Minimally Invasive Spinal Fixation System, the Ascent, Ascent LE, and the Centurion POCT Systems are sets of rods, cross connectors and screws which are implanted during posterior fusion procedures. The Firebird Modular and pre-assembled Spinal Fixation System is designed to be used in either open or minimally-invasive posterior lumbar fusion procedures with our product ProView MAP System. To complement our plate and screw based fixation options we offer an entire portfolio of cervical and thoracolumbar PEEK interbody devices within our Pillar and Forza product lines. This interbody portfolio includes two stand-alone devices, Lonestar and Pillar SA, as well as the Construx Mini PTC system, a novel titanium composite spacer which offers a superior alternative to other plasma spray coated options currently available on the market. We also offer specialty plates and screws that are used in less common procedures, and as such, are not manufactured by many device makers. These specialty implants include the New Bridge Laminoplasty Fixation System that is designed to expand the cervical vertebrae and relieve pressure on the spinal canal, the Samba-Screw System used in sacroiliac joint fixation, as well as the Unity plate which is used in anterior lumbar fusion procedures.
Product Development
Our research and development departments are responsible for new product development. Our primary research and development facilities are located in Verona, Italy and Lewisville, Texas. We work with leading hospital research institutions as well as with physicians and other consultants on the long-term scientific planning and evolution of our products and therapies.
We maintain interactive relationships with spine and orthopedic centers in the U.S. and Europe, including research and clinical organizations such as Brown University, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Cleveland Clinic, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and MTF. Several of the products that we market have been developed through these collaborations. In addition, we periodically receive suggestions for new products and product enhancements from the scientific and medical community, some of which result in Orthofix entering into assignment or license agreements with physicians and third parties. We also receive occasional requests for the production of customized items, some of which have resulted in new products. We believe our policy of accommodating such requests enhances our reputation in the medical community.
In 2016, 2015 and 2014 we incurred $28.8 million, $26.4 million and $25.0 million, respectively, of research and development expense.
Patents, Trade Secrets, Assignments and Licenses
We rely on a combination of patents, trade secrets, assignment and license agreements, and non-disclosure agreements to protect our proprietary intellectual property. We own numerous U.S. and foreign patents, have numerous pending patent applications and have license rights under patents held by third parties. Our primary products are patented in the major markets in which they are sold. No assurance can be giving that pending patent applications will result in issued patents, that patents issued or assigned to or licensed by us will not be challenged or circumvented by competitors or that such patents will be found to be valid or sufficiently broad to protect our technology or to provide us with any competitive advantage or protection. Third parties might also obtain patents that would require assignments to or licensing by us to conduct our business. We rely on confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements with key employees, consultants and other parties to protect, in part, trade secrets and other proprietary technology.
We obtain assignments or licenses of varying durations for certain of our products from third parties. We typically acquire rights under such assignments or licenses in exchange for lump-sum payments or arrangements under which we pay a percentage of sales to the licensor. However, while assignments or licenses to us generally are irrevocable, no assurance can be given that these arrangements will continue to be made available to us on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. The terms of our license and assignment agreements vary in length from a specified number of years to the life of product patents or the economic life of the product. These agreements generally provide for royalty payments and termination rights in the event of a material breach.
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Corporate Compliance and Ethics Program
It is a fundamental policy of our Company to conduct business in accordance with the highest ethical and legal standards. We have a comprehensive compliance and ethics program, which is overseen by our Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer who reports directly to our Chief Executive Officer. The program is intended to promote legal compliance and ethical business practices throughout our domestic and international businesses. It is designed to meet U.S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines for effective organizational compliance and ethics programs and to prevent and detect violations of applicable federal, state and local laws. Key elements of the program include:
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Organizational oversight by senior-level personnel responsible for the compliance function within our Company; |
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Written standards and procedures, including a Corporate Code of Conduct; |
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Methods for communicating compliance concerns, including anonymous reporting mechanisms; |
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Investigation and remediation measures to ensure prompt response to reported matters and timely corrective action; |
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Compliance education and training for employees and contracted business associates; |
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Auditing and monitoring controls to promote compliance with applicable laws and assess program effectiveness; |
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Disciplinary guidelines to enforce compliance and address violations; |
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Exclusion lists screening of employees and contracted business associates; and |
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Risk assessments to identify areas of compliance risk. |
Government Regulation
Classification and Approval of Products by the FDA and other Regulatory Authorities
Our research, development and clinical programs, and our manufacturing and marketing operations, are subject to extensive regulation in the U.S. and other countries. Most notably, all of our products sold in the U.S. are subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Services Act as implemented and enforced by the FDA. The regulations that cover our products and facilities vary widely from country to country. The amount of time required to obtain approvals or clearances from regulatory authorities also differs from country to country.
Unless an exemption applies, each medical device we commercially distribute in the U.S. is covered by either premarket notification (“510(k)”) clearance, letter to file, approval of a premarket approval application (“PMA”), or some other approval from the FDA. The FDA classifies medical devices into one of three classes, which generally determine the type of FDA approval required. Devices deemed to pose low risk are placed in class I, while devices that are considered to pose moderate risk are placed in class II devices deemed to pose the greatest risks, such as life-sustaining, life-supporting or implantable devices, or devices deemed not substantially equivalent to a device that previously received 510(k) clearance (as described below), are placed in class III. Our Spine Fixation and Extremity Fixation products are, for the most part, class II devices and our BioStim bone growth therapy products are classified as class III by the FDA, and have been approved for commercial distribution in the U.S. through the PMA process.
Our Biologics SBU markets tissue for bone repair and reconstruction under the brand names Trinity Evolution and Trinity ELITE, our allogeneic bone matrices comprised of cancellous bone containing viable stem cells and a demineralized cortical bone component. These allografts are regulated under FDA’s Human Cell, Tissues and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products, or HCT/P, regulatory paradigm and not as a medical device or as a biologic or as a drug. The Biologics SBU also distributes certain surgical implant products known as “allograft” products that are derived from human tissues and which are used for bone reconstruction or repair and are surgically implanted into the human body. These tissues are regulated by the FDA as minimally-manipulated tissue and covered by FDA’s “Good Tissues Practices” regulations, which cover all stages of allograft processing. There can be no assurance our suppliers of the Trinity Evolution, Trinity ELITE and allograft products will continue to meet applicable regulatory requirements or that those requirements will not be changed in ways that could adversely affect our business. Further, there can be no assurance these products will continue to be made available to us or that applicable regulatory standards will be met or remain unchanged. Moreover, products derived from human tissue or bones are from time to time subject to recall for certain administrative or safety reasons and we may be affected by one or more such recalls. For a description of these risks, see Item 1A Risk Factors.
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The medical devices we develop, manufacture, distribute and market are subject to rigorous regulation by the FDA and numerous other federal, state and foreign governmental authorities. The process of obtaining FDA clearance and other regulatory approvals to develop and market a medical device, particularly from the FDA, can be costly and time-consuming, and there can be no assurance such approvals will be granted on a timely basis, if at all. While we believe we have obtained all necessary clearances and approvals for the manufacture and sale of our products and that they are in material compliance with applicable FDA and other material regulatory requirements, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue such compliance.
Accreditation Requirements
The European Commission (“EC”) has harmonized national regulations for the control of medical devices through European Medical Device Directives with which manufacturers must comply. Under these new regulations, manufacturing plants must have received a full Quality Assurance Certification from a “Notified Body” in order to be able to sell products within the member states of the European Union. This Certification allows manufacturers to stamp the products of certified plants with a “CE” mark. Products covered by the EC regulations that do not bear the CE mark cannot be sold or distributed within the European Union. We have received certification for all currently existing manufacturing facilities.
In addition, our subsidiary Orthofix Inc. has been accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (“ACHC”) for medical supply provider services with respect to durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (“DMEPOS”). ACHC, a private, not-for-profit corporation, which is certified to ISO 9001:2000 standards, was developed by home care and community-based providers to help companies improve business operations and quality of patient care. Although accreditation is generally a voluntary activity where healthcare organizations submit to peer review their internal policies, processes and patient care delivery against national standards, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) required DMEPOS suppliers to become accredited. By attaining accreditation, Orthofix Inc. has demonstrated its commitment to maintain a higher level of competency and strive for excellence in its products, services, and customer satisfaction.
Certain Other Product and Manufacturing Regulations
After a device is placed on the market, numerous regulatory requirements continue to apply. Those regulatory requirements include: product listing and establishment registration; Quality System Regulation (“QSR”), which require manufacturers, including third-party manufacturers, to follow stringent design, testing, control, documentation and other quality assurance procedures during all aspects of the manufacturing process; labeling regulations and governmental prohibitions against the promotion of products for uncleared, unapproved or off-label uses or indications; clearance of product modifications that could significantly affect safety or efficacy or that would constitute a major change in intended use of one of our cleared devices; approval of product modifications that affect the safety or effectiveness of one of our PMA approved devices; Medical Device Adverse Event Reporting regulations, which require that manufacturers report to the FDA and other foreign governmental agencies if their device may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury, or has malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if the malfunction of the device or a similar device were to recur; post-approval restrictions or conditions, including post-approval study commitments; post-market surveillance regulations, which apply when necessary to protect the public health or to provide additional safety and effectiveness data for the device; the FDA’s recall authority, whereby it can ask, or under certain conditions order, device manufacturers to recall from the market a product that is in violation of governing laws and regulations; regulations pertaining to voluntary recalls; and notices of corrections or removals.
We and certain of our suppliers also are subject to announced and unannounced inspections by the FDA and European Notified Bodies to determine our compliance with FDA’s QSR and other international regulations. If the FDA were to find that we or certain of our suppliers have failed to comply with applicable regulations, the agency could institute a wide variety of enforcement actions, ranging from a public warning letter to more severe sanctions such as: fines and civil penalties against us, our officers, our employees or our suppliers; unanticipated expenditures to address or defend such actions; delays in clearing or approving, or refusal to clear or approve, our products; withdrawal or suspension of approval of our products or those of our third-party suppliers by the FDA or other regulatory bodies; product recall or seizure; interruption of production; operating restrictions; injunctions; and criminal prosecution. In addition to the domestic FDA inspections, all manufacturing facilities of the Company are subject to annual Notified Body inspections.
Moreover, governmental authorities outside the U.S. have become increasingly stringent in their regulation of medical devices. Our products may become subject to more rigorous regulation by non-U.S. governmental authorities in the future. U.S. or non-U.S. government regulations may be imposed in the future that may have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.
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Third-Party Payor Requirements
Our products may be reimbursed by third-party payors, such as government programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare or private insurance plans and healthcare networks. Third-party payors may deny reimbursement if they determine that a device provided to a patient or used in a procedure does not meet applicable payment criteria or if the policyholder’s healthcare insurance benefits are limited. Also, non-government third-party payors are increasingly challenging the medical necessity and prices paid for our products and services. The Medicare program is expected to continue to implement a new payment mechanism for certain DMEPOS items via the implementation of its competitive bidding program. Bone growth stimulation products are currently exempt from this competitive bidding process.
Laws Regulating Healthcare Fraud and Abuse; State Healthcare Laws
Our sales and marketing practices are also subject to a number of U.S. laws regulating healthcare fraud and abuse such as the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and the federal Physician Self-Referral Law (known as the “Stark Law”), the Civil False Claims Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) as well as numerous state laws regulating healthcare and insurance. These laws are enforced by the Office of Inspector General within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Justice, and other federal, state and local agencies. Among other things, these laws and others generally: (1) prohibit the provision of anything of value in exchange for the referral of patients for, or the purchase, order, or recommendation of, any item or service reimbursed by a federal healthcare program, (including Medicare and Medicaid); (2) require that claims for payment submitted to federal healthcare programs be truthful; (3) prohibit the transmission of protected healthcare information to persons not authorized to receive that information; and (4) require the maintenance of certain government licenses and permits.
Laws Protecting the Confidentiality of Health Information
In addition, U.S. federal and state laws protect the confidentiality of certain health information, in particular individually identifiable information such as medical records, and restrict the use and disclosure of that protected information. At the federal level, the Department of Health and Human Services promulgates health information privacy and security rules under HIPAA. These rules protect health information by regulating its use and disclosure, including for research and other purposes. Failure of a HIPAA “covered entity” to comply with HIPAA regarding such “protected health information” could constitute a violation of federal law, subject to civil and criminal penalties. Covered entities include healthcare providers (including certain of those that sell devices or equipment) that engage in particular electronic transactions, including, as we do, the transmission of claims to health plans. Consequently, health information that we access, collect, analyze, and otherwise use and/or disclose includes protected health information that is subject to HIPAA. As noted above, many state laws also pertain to the confidentiality of health information. Such laws are not necessarily preempted by HIPAA in particular those state laws that afford greater privacy protection to the individual than HIPAA. These state laws typically have their own penalty provisions, which could be applied in the event of an unlawful action affecting health information.
Physician Payments Sunshine Provision of the Affordable Care Act
The Physician Payments Sunshine Provision of the Affordable Care Act (Section 6002), which was enacted in 2010 and became subject to final CMS rules in 2013, requires public disclosure to the United States government of payments to physicians and teaching hospitals, including in-kind transfers of value such as gifts or meals. The Act also provides penalties for non-compliance. The Act requires that we file an annual report on March 31st of a calendar year for the transfers of value incurred for the prior calendar year. Non-compliance is subject to civil monetary penalties.
Sales, Marketing and Distribution
General Trends
We believe that demographic trends, principally in the form of a better informed, more active and aging population in the major healthcare markets of the U.S., Western Europe and Japan, together with opportunities in emerging markets such as the Asia-Pacific Region and Latin America, as well as our focus on innovative products, will continue to have a positive effect on the demand for our products.
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Our revenues are generated from the sales of products in our four SBUs: BioStim, Biologics, Extremity Fixation, and Spine Fixation. See the chart below for the distribution of sales between each of our SBUs for each of the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014.
Sales, Marketing and Distributor Network
We have a broad distribution network comprised of direct sales representatives and distributors. This established distribution network provides us with a platform to introduce new products and expand sales of existing products. We distribute our products worldwide in over 70 countries.
In our largest market, the U.S., our sales, marketing and distribution network is comprised of several sales forces addressing different business units. A hybrid distribution network of direct sales representatives and independent distributors sells products in our BioStim SBU, while primarily independent distributors sell products in our Biologics, Extremity Fixation and Spine Fixation SBUs.
Outside the U.S., we employ direct sales representatives and contract with independent distributors. In order to provide support to our independent distribution network, we have sales and marketing specialists who regularly visit independent distributors to provide training and product support.
Marketing and Product Education
We market and sell our products principally to physicians, hospitals, integrated health delivery systems and other purchasing organizations.
We support our sales force through specialized training workshops in which physicians and sales specialists participate. We also produce marketing and training materials, including materials outlining surgical procedures, for our customers, sales force and distributors in a variety of languages using printed, video and multimedia formats.
To provide additional advanced training for physicians, consistent with the AdvaMed Code of Ethics (“AdvaMed Code”) and the MedTech Europe Code of Ethical Business Practice (“MedTech Code”), we organize regular multilingual teaching seminars in multiple locations. Those places include our facility in Verona, Italy, various locations in Latin America and in Lewisville, Texas. In recent years, thousands of surgeons from around the world attended these product education seminars, which included a variety of lectures from specialists as well as demonstrations and hands-on workshops.
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Our bone growth therapy products, which are part of our Biologics and BioStim SBUs, compete principally with similar products marketed by Zimmer Biomet, Inc.; DJO Global; and Bioventus. The Spine Fixation and Biologics HCT/P products we market compete with products marketed by Medtronic, Inc.; DePuy Synthes, a division of Johnson and Johnson; Stryker Corp.; Zimmer Biomet, Inc.; NuVasive, Inc.; Globus Medical Inc.; and various smaller public and private companies. For Extremity Fixation devices, our principal competitors include DePuy Synthes; Zimmer Biomet, Inc.; Stryker Corp.; and Smith & Nephew plc.
We believe we enhance our competitive position by focusing on product features such as ease of use, versatility, cost and patient acceptability. We attempt to avoid competing based solely on price. Overall cost and medical effectiveness, innovation, reliability, after-sales service and training are the most prevalent methods of competition in the markets for our products, and we believe we compete effectively.
Manufacturing and Sources of Supply
We generally design, develop, assemble, test and package our stimulation and orthopedic products, and subcontract the manufacture of a substantial portion of the component parts. We design and develop our spinal implant and AlloQuent Allograft HCT/Ps and subcontract the manufacture of a significant portion of our parts and instruments. Through subcontracting a portion of our manufacturing, we attempt to maintain operating flexibility in meeting demand while focusing our resources on product development, education and marketing as well as quality assurance standards. Although certain of our key raw materials are obtained from a single source, we believe alternate sources for these materials are available. Further, we believe an adequate inventory supply is maintained to avoid product flow interruptions. We have not experienced difficulty in obtaining the materials necessary to meet our production schedules.
The Trinity Evolution and Trinity ELITE HCT/Ps, for which we have exclusive marketing rights, are allograft tissue forms that are supplied to customers by MTF in accordance with orders received directly from us. MTF sources, processes and packages the tissue forms and is the sole supplier of the Trinity Evolution and Trinity ELITE HCT/Ps to our customers.
Our products are currently manufactured and assembled in the U.S. and Italy. We believe our plants comply in all material respects with the requirements of the FDA and all relevant regulatory authorities outside the U.S. For a description of the laws to which we are subject, see Item 1—Business—Corporate Compliance and Government Regulation. We actively monitor each of our subcontractors in order to maintain manufacturing and quality standards and product specification conformity. In addition, we do not consider the backlog of firm orders to be material.
Employees
At December 31, 2016, we had 938 employees worldwide. Of these, 632 were employed in the U.S. and 306 were employed at other non-U.S. locations. Our relations with our Italian employees, who numbered 181 at December 31, 2016, are governed by the provisions of a National Collective Labor Agreement setting forth mandatory minimum standards for labor relations in the metal mechanic workers industry. We are not a party to any other collective bargaining agreement. We believe we have good relations with our employees.
eNeura Debt Security
On March 4, 2015, we entered into an Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) with eNeura, Inc. (“eNeura”), a privately held medical technology company that is developing devices for the treatment of migraines. The Option Agreement provided us with an exclusive option to acquire eNeura (the “Option”) during the 18-month period following the grant of the Option, which expired in September 2016 without us exercising the Option. In consideration for the option, (i) we paid a non-refundable $0.3 million fee to eNeura, and (ii) we loaned eNeura $15 million pursuant to a convertible, secured Promissory Note (the “eNeura Note”) that was issued to us. The principal amount of the eNeura Note is $15.0 million and interest accrues at 8.0%. The eNeura Note will mature on March 4, 2019 and interest is due when the eNeura Note matures, provided that if a change in control of eNeura (generally defined as a third-party acquisition of fifty percent or more of eNeura’s voting equity or all or substantially all of eNeura’s assets) occurs prior to the maturity date, the eNeura Note will automatically convert into preferred stock of eNeura. The investment is recorded in other long-term assets as an available for sale debt security and interest is recorded in interest income. For additional discussion see Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this report.
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In addition to the other information contained in this report and the exhibits hereto, you should carefully consider the risks described below. These risks are not the only ones that we may face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial may also impair our business operations. This report also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks faced by us described below or elsewhere in this report.
Risks Related to our Legal and Regulatory Environment
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls or discover material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately or detect fraud, which could harm our business and the trading price of our Common Stock.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important in our effort to prevent financial fraud. We are required to periodically evaluate the effectiveness of the design and operation of our internal controls. As has occurred in several years prior, including in connection with our prior restatements of financial statements, these evaluations may result in the conclusion that enhancements, modifications or changes to our internal controls are necessary or desirable. While management evaluates the effectiveness of our internal controls on a regular basis, these controls may not always be effective. There are inherent limitations on the effectiveness of internal controls, including collusion, management override, and failure of human judgment. Because of this, control procedures are designed to reduce rather than eliminate business risks. If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls or if management or our independent registered public accounting firm were to discover material weaknesses in our internal controls, we may be unable to produce reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, which could harm our financial condition and operating results, and could result in a loss of investor confidence and a decline in our stock price.
If we fail to comply with the terms of our Corporate Integrity Agreement (and a related term of probation) we may be subject to criminal prosecution and/or exclusion from federal healthcare programs.
On June 6, 2012, in connection with our settlement of a U.S. government investigation and related qui tam complaint related to our bone growth therapy business, and our settlement of a U.S. government investigation and related qui tam complaint related to Blackstone Medical, Inc. (“Blackstone”), we entered into a five-year corporate integrity agreement (the “CIA”) with the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS-OIG”). The CIA requires that we continue to maintain, during the term of the CIA, a compliance program designed to promote compliance with federal healthcare and FDA requirements. The CIA requires that we conduct certain compliance-related activities during the term of the CIA, including various training and monitoring procedures, and maintaining a disciplinary process for compliance obligations. We are also subject to periodic reporting and certification requirements attesting that the provisions of the CIA are being implemented and followed, as well as certain document and record retention mandates. The CIA provides that in the event of an uncured material breach of the CIA, we could be excluded from participation in federal healthcare programs and/or subject to prosecution and subject to other monetary penalties, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
In connection with this settlement and the guilty plea of our subsidiary, Orthofix Inc., to one felony count of obstruction of a federal audit (18 U.S.C. §1516), the court imposed a five-year term of probation on Orthofix Inc., with special conditions that mandate certain non-disparagement obligations and order Orthofix Inc. to continue complying with the terms of the CIA through the expiration of its term. In the event that we fail to satisfy these terms of probation, we could be subject to additional criminal penalties or prosecution, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
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We have previously settled violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and any future violations could further subject us to adverse consequences.
In 2013, we self-reported to the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) and the SEC an internal investigation of improper payments by our Brazilian subsidiary, Orthofix do Brasil Ltda., regarding non-compliance by such subsidiary with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”). This followed a prior matter that we self-reported to the DOJ and SEC in 2011, and settled in 2012, involving FCPA-related non-compliance by our then Mexican subsidiary, Promeca S.A. de C.V. In January 2017 we consented to a cease-and-desist order with the SEC to settle the Brazil-related violations, pursuant to which we agreed to pay approximately $6.1 million in disgorgement and penalties, and agreed to retain an independent compliance consultant for one year to review and test our FCPA compliance program.
The FCPA and similar anti-bribery laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to foreign government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. The FCPA also imposes accounting standards and requirements on U.S. publicly traded entities and their foreign affiliates, which are intended to prevent the diversion of corporate funds to the payment of bribes and other improper payments. Because of the predominance of government-sponsored healthcare systems around the world, many of our customer relationships outside of the United States are with governmental entities and are therefore subject to such anti-bribery laws.
In connection with our self-reported FCPA violations, we instituted extensive remediation measures, including terminating employees, as well as relationships with third-party representatives and distributors, conducting a global review of our anti-corruption and anti-bribery program, implementing regular audits of our third-party distributors and sales agents and developing and implementing new global accounting policies to provide further structure and guidance to foreign subsidiaries, establishing an internal audit function, expanding our Compliance department in both number and quality of personnel, and implementing enhanced anti-corruption compliance training for employees and certain third parties. However, notwithstanding these efforts to make FCPA-related compliance a priority, our compliance policies and procedures may not always protect us from reckless or criminal acts committed by our employees, distributors or agents.
Any failure to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations in the United States or abroad could adversely affect us in a variety of ways that include, but are not limited to, significant criminal, civil and administrative penalties, including imprisonment of individuals, fines and penalties, denial of export privileges, seizure of shipments and restrictions on certain business activities, disgorgement and other remedial measures, disruptions of our operations, and significant management distraction. Also, the failure to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations could result in the disruption of our distribution and sales activities. Any reduction in international sales, or our failure to further develop our international markets, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse laws, and could face substantial penalties if we are determined not to have fully complied with such laws.
Healthcare fraud and abuse regulation by federal and state governments impact our business. Healthcare fraud and abuse laws potentially applicable to our operations include:
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the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering or paying remuneration, directly or indirectly, in exchange for or to induce the purchase or recommendation of an item or service reimbursable under a federal healthcare program (such as the Medicare or Medicaid programs); |
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federal false claims laws, which prohibit, among other things, knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment from Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal government payors that are false or fraudulent; and |
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state laws analogous to each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws that may apply to items or services reimbursed by non-governmental third-party payors, including commercial insurers. |
Due to the breadth of some of these laws, there can be no assurance that we will not be found to be in violation of any such laws, and as a result we may be subject to penalties, including civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, the curtailment or restructuring of our operations or the exclusion from participation in federal or state healthcare programs. Any penalties could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our financial results. Any action against us for violation of these laws, even if we successfully defend against them, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert our management’s attention from the operation of our business.
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Reimbursement policies of third parties, cost containment measures and healthcare reform could adversely affect the demand for our products and limit our ability to sell our products.
Our products are sold either directly by us or by independent sales representatives to customers or to our independent distributors and purchased by hospitals, healthcare providers, and patients. These products may be reimbursed by third-party payors, such as government programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare, or private insurance plans and healthcare networks. Major third-party payors for medical services in the U.S. and internationally continue to work to contain health care costs and are increasingly challenging the policies and the prices charged for medical products and services. Any medical policy developments that eliminate, reduce or materially modify coverage of our reimbursement rates for our products could have an impact on our ability to sell our products. In addition, third-party payors may deny reimbursement if they determine that a device or product provided to a patient or used in a procedure does not meet applicable payment criteria or if the policyholder’s healthcare insurance benefits are limited. These policies and criteria may be revised from time-to-time.
Limits put on reimbursement could make it more difficult to buy our products and substantially reduce, or possibly eliminate, patient access to our products. In addition, should governmental authorities continue to enact legislation or adopt regulations that affect third-party coverage and reimbursement, access to our products and coverage by private or public insurers may be reduced with a consequential material adverse effect on our sales and profitability.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”), in its ongoing implementation of the Medicare program, has obtained a related technical assessment of the medical study literature to determine how the literature addresses spinal fusion surgery in the Medicare population. The impact that this information will have on Medicare coverage policy for our products is currently unknown, but we cannot provide assurances that the resulting actions will not restrict Medicare coverage for our products. There can be no assurance that we or our distributors will not experience significant reimbursement problems in the future related to these or other proceedings. Globally, our products are sold in many countries, such as the U.K., France, and Italy, which have publicly funded healthcare systems. The ability of hospitals supported by such systems to purchase our products is dependent, in part, upon public budgetary constraints. Any increase in such constraints may have a material adverse effect on our sales and collection of accounts receivable from such sales.
As required by law, CMS has continued efforts to implement a competitive bidding program for selected durable medical equipment, prosthetic, orthotic supplies (“DMEPOS”) items paid for by the Medicare program. In this program, Medicare rates are based on bid amounts for certain products in designated geographic areas, rather than the Medicare fee schedule amount. Bone growth stimulation products are currently exempt from this competitive bidding process. We cannot predict which products from any of our businesses may ultimately be affected or whether or when the competitive bidding process may be extended to our businesses. There can be no assurance that the implementation of the competitive bidding program will not have an adverse impact on the sales of some of our products.
We and certain of our suppliers may be subject to extensive government regulation that increases our costs and could limit our ability to market or sell our products.
The medical devices we manufacture and market are subject to rigorous regulation by the FDA and numerous other federal, state and foreign governmental authorities. These authorities regulate the development, approval, classification, testing, manufacturing, labeling, marketing and sale of medical devices. Likewise, our use and disclosure of certain categories of health information may be subject to federal and state laws, implemented and enforced by governmental authorities that protect health information privacy and security. For a description of these regulations, see Item 1, “Business,” under the subheading “Government Regulation.”
The approval or clearance by governmental authorities, including the FDA in the U.S., is generally required before any medical devices may be marketed in the U.S. or other countries. We cannot predict whether, in the future, the U.S. or foreign governments may impose regulations that have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The process of obtaining FDA clearance and other regulatory clearances or approvals to develop and market a medical device can be costly and time-consuming, and is subject to the risk that such approvals will not be granted on a timely basis, if at all. The regulatory process may delay or prohibit the marketing of new products and impose substantial additional costs if the FDA lengthens review times for new devices. The FDA has the ability to change the regulatory classification of a cleared or approved device from a higher to a lower regulatory classification, or to reclassify an HCT/P, either of which could materially adversely impact our ability to market or sell our devices. For example, the FDA included Class III bone growth stimulator products in its 2015 strategic priority work plan, as part of a list of 21 product categories it would review for possible down classification. Shortly after the issuance of the work plan, the Company, together with other manufacturers of bone growth stimulator products, submitted a public comment letter opposing
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the possible down classification. The FDA did not respond to the comment letter and has not taken any action with respect to the bone growth stimulator product category since publication of the 2015 work plan. If a down classification were to occur and new entrants to the market were able to create technology with comparable efficacy to our devices, our BioStim SBU could face additional competition, which could negatively affect its future sales.
In addition, we may be subject to compliance actions, penalties or injunctions if we are determined to be promoting the use of our products for unapproved or off-label uses, or if the FDA challenges one or more of our determinations that a product modification did not require new approval or clearance by the FDA. Device manufacturers are permitted to promote products solely for the uses and indications set forth in the approved product labeling. A number of enforcement actions have been taken against manufacturers that promote products for “off-label” uses, including actions alleging that federal health care program reimbursement of products promoted for “off-label” uses are false and fraudulent claims to the government. The failure to comply with “off-label” promotion restrictions can result in significant administrative obligations and costs, and potential penalties from, and/or agreements with, the federal government.
We and certain of our suppliers also are subject to announced and unannounced inspections by the FDA to determine our compliance with FDA’s QSR and other regulations. If the FDA were to find that we or certain of our suppliers have failed to comply with applicable regulations, the agency could institute a wide variety of enforcement actions, ranging from a public warning letter to more severe sanctions such as: fines and civil penalties against us, our officers, our employees or our suppliers; unanticipated expenditures to address or defend such actions; delays in clearing or approving, or refusal to clear or approve, our products; withdrawal or suspension of approval of our products or those of our third-party suppliers by the FDA or other regulatory bodies; product recall or seizure; interruption of production; operating restrictions; injunctions; and criminal prosecution. The FDA also has the authority to request repair, replacement or refund of the cost of any medical device manufactured or distributed by us. Any of the foregoing actions could have a material adverse effect on our development of new laboratory tests, business strategy, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Moreover, governmental authorities outside the U.S. have become increasingly stringent in their regulation of medical devices, and our products may become subject to more rigorous regulation by non-U.S. governmental authorities in the future. U.S. or non-U.S. government regulations may be imposed in the future that may have a material adverse effect on our business and operations. The European Commission (“EC”) has harmonized national regulations for the control of medical devices through European Medical Device Directives with which manufacturers must comply. Under these new regulations, manufacturing plants must have received a full Quality Assurance Certification from a “Notified Body” in order to be able to sell products within the member states of the European Union. This Certification allows manufacturers to stamp the products of certified plants with a “CE” mark. Products covered by the EC regulations that do not bear the CE mark cannot be sold or distributed within the European Union. We have received certification for all currently existing manufacturing facilities.
The impact of the Affordable Care Act and other United States healthcare reform legislation on us remains uncertain.
In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, or collectively the ACA, was enacted, which made a number of substantial changes in the way healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers. The ACA is far-reaching and is intended to expand access to health insurance coverage, improve quality and reduce costs over time. Among other things, the ACA:
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requires certain medical device manufacturers to pay an excise tax equal to 2.3% of the price for which such manufacturer sells its medical devices; this excise tax is currently suspended until 2018; |
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establishes a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee and identify priorities in comparative clinical effectiveness research in an effort to coordinate and develop such research; |
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implements 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; and |
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establishes an Independent Payment Advisory Board that will submit recommendations to reduce Medicare spending if projected Medicare spending exceeds a specified growth rate. |
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The 2016 federal elections are likely to result in significant changes in and uncertainty with respect to implementation of the ACA and related regulations and policies, including possible repeal and replacement of the ACA. We cannot predict with any certainty the content, timing or effect of any legislation, regulations or policies seeking to amend, repeal and/or replace the ACA. However, it is possible that such legislation could adversely affect our business, cash flows, financial condition and/or results of operations.
We are subject to differing customs and import/export rules in several jurisdictions in which we operate.
We import and export our products to and from a number of different countries around the world. These product movements involve subsidiaries and third parties operating in jurisdictions with different customs and import/export rules and regulations. Customs authorities in such jurisdictions may challenge our treatment of customs and import/export rules relating to product shipments under aspects of their respective customs laws and treaties. If we are unsuccessful in defending our treatment of customs and import/export classifications, we may be subject to additional customs duties, fines or penalties that could adversely affect our profitability.
Risks Related to our Business and Industry
Our business may be adversely affected if consolidation in the healthcare industry leads to demand for price concessions or if a group purchasing organization or similar entity excludes us from being a supplier.
Because healthcare costs have risen significantly over the past decade, numerous initiatives and reforms have been launched by legislators, regulators and third-party payors to curb these costs. As a result, there has been a consolidation trend in the healthcare industry to create larger companies, including hospitals, with greater market power. As the healthcare industry consolidates, competition to provide products and services to industry participants has become and may continue to become more intense. This has resulted and may continue to result in greater pricing pressures and the exclusion of certain suppliers from important markets as group purchasing organizations (“GPOs”), independent delivery networks and large single accounts continue to use their market power to consolidate purchasing decisions. If a GPO were to exclude us from their supplier list, our net sales could be adversely impacted. We expect that market demand, government regulation, third-party reimbursement policies and societal pressures will continue to change the worldwide healthcare industry, which may exert further downward pressure on the prices of our products.
The industry in which we operate is highly competitive. New developments by others could make our products or technologies non-competitive or obsolete.
The medical devices industry is highly competitive. We compete with a large number of companies, many of which have significantly greater financial, manufacturing, marketing, distribution and technical resources than we do. Many of our competitors may be able to develop products and processes competitive with, or superior to, our own. Furthermore, we may not be able to successfully develop or introduce new products that are less costly or offer better performance than those of our competitors, or offer purchasers of our products payment and other commercial terms as favorable as those offered by our competitors. For more information regarding our competitors, see Item 1, “Business,” under the subheading “Competition.”
In addition, the orthopedic medical device industry in which we compete is undergoing, and is characterized by, rapid and significant technological change. We expect competition to intensify as technological advances are made. New technologies and products developed by other companies are regularly introduced into the market, which may render our products or technologies non-competitive or obsolete.
Our ability to market products successfully depends, in part, upon the acceptance of the products not only by consumers, but also by independent third parties.
Our ability to market our BioStim, Biologics, Extremity Fixation and Spine Fixation products successfully depends, in part, on the acceptance of the products by independent third parties (including hospitals, physicians, other healthcare providers and third-party payors) as well as patients. Unanticipated side effects or unfavorable publicity concerning any of our products could have an adverse effect on our ability to maintain hospital approvals or achieve acceptance by prescribing physicians, managed care providers and other retailers, customers and patients.
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Our allograft and mesenchymal stem cell allografts could expose us to certain risks that could disrupt our business.
Our Biologics business markets allograft tissues that are derived from human cadaveric donors, and our ability to market the tissues depends on our supplier continuing to have access to donated human cadaveric tissue, as well as the maintenance of high standards by the supplier in its processing methodology. The supply of such donors is inherently unpredictable and can fluctuate over time. The allograft tissues are regulated under the FDA’s HCT/P regulatory paradigm and not as a medical device or as a biologic or drug. There can be no assurance that the FDA will not at some future date re-classify the allograft tissues, and the reclassification of this product from a human tissue to a medical device could have adverse consequences for us or for the supplier of this product and make it more difficult or expensive for us to conduct this business by requiring premarket clearance or approval as well as compliance with additional post-market regulatory requirements.
We may not be able to successfully introduce new products to the market, and market opportunities that we expect to develop for our products may not be as large as we expect.
During 2016, we continued to make improvements in revenues related to several new products we introduced to the market over the past three years, including the TL-HEX TrueLok Hexapod System, Galaxy Fixation System, Firebird NXG Spinal Fixation System, FORZA PTC Spacer System, Samba-Screw System, LONESTAR CSA, SKYHAWK Lateral Interbody Fusion System & Lateral Plate System, and CENTURION POCT System, among others. Despite our planning, the process of developing and introducing new products (including product enhancements) is inherently complex and uncertain and involves risks, including the ability of such new products to satisfy customer needs, gain broad market acceptance (including by physicians) and obtain regulatory approvals, which can depend, among other things, on the product achieving broad clinical acceptance, the level of third-party reimbursement and the introduction of competing technologies. If the market opportunities that we expect to develop for our products, including new products, are not as large as we expect, it could adversely affect our ability to grow our business.
Growing our business requires that we properly educate and train physicians regarding the distinctive characteristics, benefits, safety, clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of our products.
Acceptance of our products depends in part on our ability to (i) educate the medical community as to the distinctive characteristics, benefits, safety, clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of our products compared to alternative products, procedures and therapies, and (ii) train physicians in the proper use and implementation of our products. We support our sales force and distributors through specialized training workshops in which surgeons and sales specialists participate. We also produce marketing materials, including materials outlining surgical procedures, for our sales force and distributors in a variety of languages using printed, video and multimedia formats. To provide additional advanced training for surgeons, consistent with the AdvaMed Code and the MedTech Code, we organize monthly multilingual teaching seminars in multiple locations. However, we may not be successful in our efforts to educate the medical community and properly train physicians. If physicians are not properly trained, they may misuse or ineffectively use our products, which may result in unsatisfactory patient outcomes, patient injury, negative publicity or lawsuits against us. In addition, a failure to educate the medical community regarding our products may impair our ability to achieve market acceptance of our products.
We may be adversely affected by any disruption in our information technology systems, which could adversely affect our cash flows, operating results and financial condition.
Our operations are dependent upon our information technology systems, which encompass all of our major business functions. We rely upon such information technology systems to manage and replenish inventory, to fill and ship customer orders on a timely basis, to coordinate our sales activities across all of our products and services and to coordinate our administrative activities. A substantial disruption in our information technology systems for any prolonged time period (arising from, for example, system capacity limits from unexpected increases in our volume of business, outages or delays in our service) could result in delays in receiving inventory and supplies or filling customer orders and adversely affect our customer service and relationships. Our systems might be damaged or interrupted by natural or man-made events or by computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins and similar disruptions affecting the global Internet. There can be no assurance that such delays, problems, or costs will not have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, operating results and financial condition.
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As our operations grow in both size and scope, we will continuously need to improve and upgrade our systems and infrastructure while maintaining the reliability and integrity of our systems and infrastructure. An expansion of our systems and infrastructure may require us to commit substantial financial, operational and technical resources before the volume of our business increases, with no assurance that the volume of business will increase. In particular, we recently upgraded our financial reporting system and other information technology systems as part of our infrastructure initiative, Project Bluecore. These and any other upgrades to our systems and information technology, or new technology, now and in the future, require that our management and resources be diverted from our core business to assist in compliance with those requirements. There can be no assurance that the time and resources our management will need to devote to these upgrades, service outages or delays due to the installation of any new or upgraded technology (and customer issues therewith), or the impact on the reliability of our data from any new or upgraded technology will not have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, operating results and financial condition.
A significant portion of our operations run on a single Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) platform. To manage our international operations efficiently and effectively, we rely heavily on our ERP system, internal electronic information and communications systems and on systems or support services from third parties. Any of these systems are subject to electrical or telecommunications outages, computer hacking or other general system failure. It is also possible that future acquisitions will operate on different ERP systems and that we could face difficulties in integrating operational and accounting functions of new acquisitions. Difficulties in upgrading or expanding our ERP system or system-wide or local failures that affect our information processing could adversely affect our cash flows, operating results and financial condition.
We are dependent on third-party manufacturers for many of our products.
We contract with third-party manufacturers to produce many of our products, like many other companies in the medical device industry. If we or any such manufacturer fails to meet production and delivery schedules, it can have an adverse impact on our ability to sell such products. Further, whether we directly manufacture a product or utilize a third-party manufacturer, shortages and spoilage of materials, labor stoppages, product recalls, manufacturing defects and other similar events can delay production and inhibit our ability to bring a new product to market in timely fashion. For example, the supply of the Trinity Evolution and Trinity ELITE allografts are derived from human cadaveric donors, and our ability to market the tissues depends on our single supplier continuing to have access to donated human cadaveric tissue, as well as, the maintenance of high standards by the supplier in its processing methodology.
Termination of our existing relationships with our independent sales representatives or distributors could have an adverse effect on our business.
We sell our products in many countries through independent distributors. Generally, our independent sales representatives and our distributors have the exclusive right to sell our products in their respective territories and are generally prohibited from selling any products that compete with ours. The terms of these agreements vary in length, generally from one to ten years. Under the terms of our distribution agreements, each party has the right to terminate in the event of a material breach by the other party and we generally have the right to terminate if the distributor does not meet agreed sales targets or fails to make payments on time. Any termination of our existing relationships with independent sales representatives or distributors could have an adverse effect on our business unless and until commercially acceptable alternative distribution arrangements are put in place. In addition, we operate in areas of the world that have been disproportionately affected by the global recession and we bear risk that existing or future accounts receivable may be uncollected if these distributors or hospitals experience disruptions to their business that cause them to discontinue paying ongoing accounts payable or become insolvent.
We depend on our senior management team.
Our success depends upon the skill, experience and performance of members of our senior management team, who have been critical to the management of our operations and the implementation of our business strategy. We do not have key man insurance on our senior management team, and the loss of one or more key executive officers could have a material adverse effect on our operations and development.
In order to compete, we must attract, retain and motivate key employees, and our failure to do so could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
In order to compete, we must attract, retain and motivate executives and other key employees, including those in managerial, technical, sales, marketing, finance and support positions. Hiring and retaining qualified executives, engineers, technical staff and
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sales representatives are critical to our business, and competition for experienced employees in the medical device industry can be intense. To attract, retain and motivate qualified employees, we utilize stock-based incentive awards such as employee stock options. If the value of such stock awards does not appreciate as measured by the performance of the price of our common stock and ceases to be viewed as a valuable benefit, our ability to attract, retain and motivate our employees could be adversely impacted, which could negatively affect our results of operations and/or require us to increase the amount we expend on cash and other forms of compensation.
Our business is subject to economic, political, regulatory and other risks associated with international sales and operations.
Since we sell our products in many different countries, our business is subject to risks associated with conducting business internationally. We anticipate that net sales from international operations will continue to represent a substantial portion of our total net sales. In addition, a number of our manufacturing facilities and suppliers are located outside the U.S. Accordingly, our future results could be harmed by a variety of factors, including:
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changes in a specific country’s or region’s political or economic conditions; |
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trade protection measures and import or export licensing requirements or other restrictive actions by foreign governments; |
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consequences from changes in tax or customs laws; |
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difficulty in staffing and managing widespread operations; |
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differing labor regulations; |
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differing protection of intellectual property; |
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unexpected changes in regulatory requirements; and |
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violation by our independent agents of the FCPA or other anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws. |
Risks Related to our Intellectual Property
We depend on our ability to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights, but we may not be able to maintain the confidentiality, or assure the protection, of these assets.
Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to protect our current and future technologies and products and to defend our intellectual property rights. If we fail to protect our intellectual property adequately, competitors may manufacture and market products similar to, or that compete directly with, ours. Numerous patents covering our technologies have been issued to us, and we have filed, and expect to continue to file, patent applications seeking to protect newly developed technologies and products in various countries, including the U.S. Some patent applications in the U.S. are maintained in secrecy until the patent is issued. Because the publication of discoveries tends to follow their actual discovery by several months, we may not be the first to invent, or file patent applications on any of our discoveries. Patents may not be issued with respect to any of our patent applications and existing or future patents issued to, or licensed by, us and may not provide adequate protection or competitive advantages for our products. Patents that are issued may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors. Furthermore, our patent rights may not prevent our competitors from developing, using or commercializing products that are similar or functionally equivalent to our products.
We also rely on trade secrets, unpatented proprietary expertise and continuing technological innovation that we protect, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements with assignors, licensees, suppliers, employees and consultants. These agreements may be breached and there may not be adequate remedies in the event of a breach. Disputes may arise concerning the ownership of intellectual property or the applicability or enforceability of confidentiality agreements. Moreover, our trade secrets and proprietary technology may otherwise become known or be independently developed by our competitors. If patents are not issued with respect to our products arising from research, we may not be able to maintain the confidentiality of information relating to these products. In addition, if a patent relating to any of our products lapses or is invalidated, we may experience greater competition arising from new market entrants.
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Third parties may claim that we infringe on their proprietary rights and may prevent us from manufacturing and selling certain of our products.
There has been substantial litigation in the medical device industry with respect to the manufacture, use and sale of new products. These lawsuits relate to the validity and infringement of patents or proprietary rights of third parties. We may be required to defend against allegations relating to the infringement of patent or proprietary rights of third parties. Any such litigation could, among other things:
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require us to incur substantial expense, even if we are successful in the litigation; |
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require us to divert significant time and effort of our technical and management personnel; |
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result in the loss of our rights to develop or make certain products; and |
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require us to pay substantial monetary damages or royalties in order to license proprietary rights from third parties or to satisfy judgments or to settle actual or threatened litigation. |
Although patent and intellectual property disputes within the orthopedic medical devices industry have often been settled through assignments, licensing or similar arrangements, costs associated with these arrangements may be substantial and could include the long-term payment of royalties. Furthermore, the required assignments or licenses may not be made available to us on acceptable terms. Accordingly, an adverse determination in a judicial or administrative proceeding or a failure to obtain necessary assignments or licenses could prevent us from manufacturing and selling some products or increase our costs to market these products.
Risks Related to Litigation and Product Liability Matters
We may be subject to product and other liability claims that may not be covered by insurance and could require us to pay substantial sums. Moreover, fluctuations in insurance expense could adversely affect our profitability.
We are subject to an inherent risk of, and adverse publicity associated with, product liability and other liability claims, whether or not such claims are valid. We maintain product liability insurance coverage in amounts and scope that we believe are reasonable and adequate. There can be no assurance, however, that product liability or other claims will not exceed our insurance coverage limits or that such insurance will continue to be available on reasonable, commercially acceptable terms, or at all. A successful product liability claim that exceeds our insurance coverage limits could require us to pay substantial sums and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
In addition to product liability insurance coverage, we hold a number of other insurance policies, including directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, property insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. If the costs of maintaining adequate insurance coverage should increase significantly in the future, our operating results could be materially adversely impacted.
Risks Related to Our Financial Results and Need for Financing
Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate.
Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated significantly in the past. Our future quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly, and we may experience losses depending on a number of factors, including the extent to which our products continue to gain or maintain market acceptance, the rate and size of expenditures incurred as we expand our domestic and establish our international sales and distribution networks, the timing and level of reimbursement for our products by third-party payors, the extent to which we are subject to government regulation or enforcement and other factors, many of which are outside our control.
We have loaned $15 million to an early stage company and may not be able to recoup our investment or successfully complete the acquisition.
On March 4, 2015, we entered into an option agreement with eNeura, Inc., a privately held medical technology company that is developing devices for the treatment of migraines. The option agreement provided us with an exclusive option until September 2016 to acquire eNeura, which we ultimately did not exercise. In consideration for the option, (i) we paid a non-refundable $0.3 million fee to eNeura, and (ii) we loaned eNeura $15 million pursuant to a convertible, secured promissory note that was issued to us.
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eNeura is using the proceeds of our loan to fund product development work related to its business and to fund its ongoing operations and no assurance can be made that eNeura’s business will ultimately be successful. Although the promissory note is secured by many of eNeura’s assets (including its intellectual property assets), no assurance can be made that eNeura will be able to repay the promissory note when due in the event that the promissory note does not convert to equity. In such an event, we could lose all or a substantial portion of our $15 million loan investment.
We face risks related to foreign currency exchange rates.
Because some of our revenue, operating expenses, assets and liabilities are denominated in foreign currencies, we are subject to foreign exchange risks that could adversely affect our operations and reported results. To the extent that we incur expenses or earn revenue in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, any change in the values of those foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar could cause our profits to decrease or our products to be less competitive against those of our competitors. To the extent that our current assets denominated in foreign currency are greater or less than our current liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, we have potential foreign exchange exposure. The fluctuations of foreign exchange rates during 2016 have had an unfavorable impact of $2.6 million on net sales outside of the U.S. Although we seek to manage our foreign currency exposure by matching non-dollar revenues and expenses, exchange rate fluctuations could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the future. To minimize such exposures, we enter into currency hedges from time to time.
Our global operations may expose us to tax risks
We are subject to taxes in the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment and interpretation of tax laws are required to estimate our tax liabilities. Tax laws and rates in various jurisdictions may be subject to significant change as a result of political and economic conditions. Our effective income tax rate could be adversely affected by changes in those tax laws, including potential legislation to reform the U.S. taxation of international business; increases in non-deductible expenses; changes in the mix of earnings among tax jurisdictions; changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities; and the resolution of matters arising from tax audits.
Certain of our subsidiaries sell products directly to other Orthofix subsidiaries or provide marketing and support services to other Orthofix subsidiaries. These intercompany sales and support services involve subsidiaries operating in jurisdictions with differing tax rates, and we must determine the appropriate allocation of income to each jurisdiction based on current interpretations of complex income tax regulations. Tax authorities in these jurisdictions may challenge our treatment of such intercompany transactions. If we are unsuccessful in defending our treatment of intercompany transactions, we may be subject to additional tax liability or penalty, which could adversely affect our profitability.
Our subsidiaries, Orthofix Holdings, Inc. and Victory Medical Limited maintain a $125 million secured revolving credit facility secured by a pledge of substantially all of our property.
On August 31, 2015, the Company, through its subsidiaries, Orthofix Holdings, Inc. and Victory Medical Limited (collectively the “Borrowers”), entered into a credit agreement (the “2015 Credit Agreement”) providing for a five-year secured revolving credit facility of $125 million. No amounts have been drawn on the credit facility as of the date hereof, but the Company may draw on this facility in the future.
The Company and certain of its existing and future United States and United Kingdom domiciled subsidiaries (collectively, the “Guarantors”) are required to guarantee the repayment of the Borrowers’ obligations under the 2015 Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Borrowers and each of the Guarantors with respect to the 2015 Credit Agreement are secured by a pledge of substantially all of the tangible and intangible personal property of the Borrowers and each of the Guarantors, including accounts receivable, deposit accounts, intellectual property, investment property, inventory, equipment and equity interests in their subsidiaries.
The credit agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, grant or permit additional liens, make investments and acquisitions, merge or consolidate with others, dispose of assets, pay dividends and distributions, repay subordinated indebtedness and enter into affiliate transactions. In addition, the credit agreement contains financial covenants requiring us on a consolidated basis to maintain, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, a total leverage ratio of not more than 3.0 to 1.0 and an interest coverage ratio of at least 3.0 to 1.0. The credit agreement also includes events of default customary for facilities of this type, and upon the occurrence of such events of default, subject to customary cure rights, all outstanding loans under the facility may be accelerated and/or the lenders’ commitments terminated.
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We believe that we were in compliance with the negative covenants, and there were no events of default, at December 31, 2016 (and in prior periods). However, there can be no assurance that the Company would be able to meeting such financial covenants in future fiscal quarters. The failure to do so could result in an event of default under such agreement, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position in the event that we have significant amounts drawn under the facility at such time.
Risks Related to Potential Acquisitions and Divestitures
Our efforts to increase growth by identifying, pursuing and implementing new business opportunities (including acquisitions) may be unsuccessful and may have an adverse effect on our business.
Our growth depends, in large part, on our ability to identify, pursue and implement new business opportunities that expand our product offerings, capabilities and geographic presence, and we compete with other medical device companies for these opportunities. Our efforts to identify such opportunities focus primarily on potential acquisitions of new businesses, products or technologies, licensing arrangements, commercialization arrangements and other transactions with third parties. We may not be able to identify business opportunities that meet our strategic criteria or are acceptable to us or our shareholders. Even if we are able to identify acceptable business opportunities, we may not be able to pursue or implement such business opportunities (or, in the case of acquisitions or other transactions, complete such acquisitions or other transactions) in a timely manner or on a cost-effective basis (or at all), and we may not realize the expected benefits of such business opportunities. If we are not able to identify, pursue and implement new business opportunities, it will adversely affect our ability to grow our business.
In addition, pursuing and implementing new business opportunities (particularly acquisitions) may involve significant costs and entail risks, uncertainties and disruptions to our business, especially where we have limited experience as a company developing or marketing a particular product or technology or operating in a particular geographic region. We may be unable to integrate a new business, product or technology effectively, or we may incur significant charges related to an acquisition or other business opportunity (for example, amortization of acquired assets or asset impairment charges), which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Newly acquired technology or products may require additional development efforts prior to commercial sale, including clinical testing and approval by the FDA and applicable foreign regulatory authorities; such additional development efforts may involve significant expense and ultimately be unsuccessful. Any cross-border acquisitions or transactions may involve unique risks in addition to those mentioned above, including those related to integration of operations across different cultures and languages, currency risks and the particular economic, political and regulatory risks associated with specific countries. To the extent we issue additional equity in connection with acquisitions, this may dilute our existing shareholders.
We may incur significant costs or retain liabilities associated with disposition activity.
We may from time to time sell, license, assign or otherwise dispose of or divest assets, the stock of subsidiaries or individual products, product lines or technologies, which we determine are no longer desirable for us to own, some of which may be material. Any such activity could result in our incurring costs and expenses from these efforts, some of which could be significant, as well as retaining liabilities related to the assets or properties disposed of even though, for instance, the income-generating assets have been disposed of. These costs and expenses may be incurred at any time and may have a material impact on our results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Domicile
Provisions of Curaçao law may have adverse consequences for our shareholders.
We are organized under the laws of Curacao and our corporate affairs are governed by our Articles of Association and the corporate law of Curaçao as laid down in Book 2 of the Curaçao Civil Code (“CCC”). Although certain of the provisions of the CCC resemble certain of the provisions of the corporation laws of a number of states in the U.S., principles of law relating to such matters as the validity of corporate procedures, the fiduciary duties of management and the rights of our shareholders may differ from those that would apply if the Company were incorporated in a jurisdiction within the U.S. For example, there is no statutory right of appraisal under Curaçao corporate law, nor is there a right for shareholders of a Curaçao corporation to sue a corporation derivatively. In addition, we have been advised by Curaçao counsel that it is unlikely that (1) the courts of Curaçao would enforce judgments entered by U.S. courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws and (2) actions can be brought in Curaçao in relation to liabilities predicated upon the U.S. federal securities laws.
28
None.
Our principal facilities as of December 31, 2016 are as follows:
Facility |
|
Location |
|
Approx. Square Feet |
|
|
Ownership |
|
Manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, research and development, and administrative facility for Corporate and all SBUs |
|
Lewisville, TX |
|
|
140,000 |
|
|
Leased |
Research and development, component manufacturing, quality control and training facility for fixation products and sales management, distribution and administrative facility for Italy |
|
Verona, Italy |
|
|
38,000 |
|
|
Owned |
International distribution center for Orthofix products |
|
Verona, Italy |
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
Leased |
Mechanical workshop for Orthofix products |
|
Verona, Italy |
|
|
9,000 |
|
|
Leased |
Sales management, distribution and administrative facility for United Kingdom |
|
Maidenhead, England |
|
|
8,068 |
|
|
Leased |
Sales management, distribution and administrative facility for Brazil |
|
Curitiba, Brazil |
|
|
1,065 |
|
|
Leased |
Sales management, distribution and administrative facility for Brazil |
|
São Paulo, Brazil |
|
|
21,617 |
|
|
Leased |
Sales management, distribution and administrative facility for France |
|
Arcueil, France |
|
|
8,500 |
|
|
Leased |
Sales management, distribution and administrative facility for Germany |
|
Ottobrunn, Germany |
|
|
16,145 |
|
|
Leased |
Sales management, distribution and administrative facility for Puerto Rico |
|
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico |
|
|
5,400 |
|
|
Leased |
For a description of our material pending legal proceedings, refer to Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this report.
Not applicable.
29
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities |
Market for Our Common Stock
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “OFIX.” As of February 24, 2017 we had 290 holders of record of our common stock. The closing price of our common stock on February 24, 2017 was $38.01. The following table shows the high and low sales prices for our common stock for each of the two most recent fiscal years.
|
|
High |
|
|
Low |
|
||
2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter |
|
$ |
35.89 |
|
|
$ |
28.31 |
|
Second Quarter |
|
|
37.84 |
|
|
|
31.84 |
|
Third Quarter |
|
|
40.41 |
|
|
|
31.83 |
|
Fourth Quarter |
|
|
41.71 |
|
|
|
32.51 |
|
2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter |
|
$ |
41.90 |
|
|
$ |
36.35 |
|
Second Quarter |
|
|
47.25 |
|
|
|
40.77 |
|
Third Quarter |
|
|
47.52 |
|
|
|
42.13 |
|
Fourth Quarter |
|
|
42.01 |
|
|
|
34.56 |
|
Dividends
We have not paid dividends to holders of our common stock in the past and have no present intention to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all of our consolidated earnings to finance the continued growth of our business.
In the event that we decide to pay a dividend to holders of our common stock in the future with dividends received from our subsidiaries, we may, based on prevailing rates of taxation, be required to pay additional withholding and income tax on such amounts.
Repurchases of Common Stock
The Company’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase plan in the fourth quarter of 2015 for the purchase of up to $75 million of our common stock through September 2017. We completed the share repurchase plan in the fourth quarter of 2016. Under the program, common shares repurchased consisted of open market transactions at prevailing market prices in accordance with the guidelines specified under Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“the Exchange Act”). Repurchases were made from cash on hand and cash generated from operations. The following table sets forth information with respect to shares of our common stock purchased by the Company during the fourth quarter of 2016.
Period |
|
Total Number of Shares Purchased |
|
|
Average Price Paid Per Share |
|
|
Total Number of Shares Purchased under Approved Stock Repurchase Program |
|
|
Maximum Dollar Value of Shares Yet to be Purchased under Approved Stock Repurchase Program |
|
||||
October 2016 |
|
|
211,671 |
|
|
$ |
39.82 |
|
|
|
211,671 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
November 2016 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
December 2016 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
211,671 |
|
|
$ |
39.82 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
We did not sell any unregistered securities during the fourth quarter of 2016.
30
The following performance graph is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act. This information will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate this information by reference.
The graph below compares the five-year total shareholder return on Orthofix common stock with the returns of two indexes: the Nasdaq Stock Market and Nasdaq stocks for surgical, medical, and dental instruments and supplies. The graph assumes that you invested $100 in Orthofix Common Stock and in each of the indexes on December 31, 2011. Points on the graph represent the performance as of the last business day of each of the years indicated.
31
The following selected financial data has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements.
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||||||||||
(U.S. Dollars, in thousands, except margin and per share data) |
|
2016 |
|
|
2015 |
|
|
2014 |
|
|
2013 |
|
|
2012 |
|
|||||
Consolidated operating results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales |
|
$ |
409,788 |
|
|
$ |
396,489 |
|
|
$ |
402,277 |
|
|
$ |
397,611 |
|
|
$ |
440,189 |
|
Gross profit |
|
|
321,935 |
|
|
|
309,964 |
|
|
|
303,365 |
|
|
|
290,699 |
|
|
|
339,463 |
|
Gross margin |
|
|
79 |
% |
|
|
78 |
% |
|
|
75 |
% |
|
|
73 |
% |
|
|
77 |
% |
Operating income (loss) (1) |
|
|
21,067 |
|
|
|
9,255 |
|
|
|
17,136 |
|
|
|
(11,192 |
) |
|
|
74,872 |
|
Net income (loss) from continuing operations |
|
|
3,497 |
|
|
|
(2,342 |
) |
|
|
(3,744 |
) |
|
|
(18,205 |
) |
|
|
45,121 |
|
Net loss from discontinued operations |
|
|
(441 |
) |
|
|
(467 |
) |
|
|
(4,793 |
) |
|
|
(10,607 |
) |
|
|
(2,269 |
) |
Net income (loss) (2) |
|
$ |
3,056 |
|
|
$ |
(2,809 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,537 |
) |
|
$ |
(28,812 |
) |
|
$ |
42,852 |
|
Net income (loss) per common share – basic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) from continuing operations |
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
$ |
(0.12 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.20 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.97 |
) |
|
$ |
2.38 |
|
Net loss from discontinued operations |
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
|
(0.03 |
) |
|
|
(0.26 |
) |
|
|
(0.57 |
) |
|
|
(0.12 |
) |
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
|
$ |
(0.15 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.46 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.54 |
) |
|
$ |
2.26 |
|
Net income (loss) per common share – diluted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) from continuing operations |
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
$ |
(0.12 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.20 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.97 |
) |
|
$ |
2.33 |
|
Net loss from discontinued operations |
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
|
(0.03 |
) |
|
|
(0.26 |
) |
|
|
(0.57 |
) |
|
|
(0.12 |
) |
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
|
$ |
(0.15 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.46 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.54 |
) |
|
$ |
2.21 |
|
(1) |
Includes the following: |
|
• |
Charges related to U.S. Government resolutions in 2016 and 2012 of $14.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively |
|
• |
Legal, accounting, and other professional fees incurred in 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013 of $2.0 million, $9.1 million and $15.6 million, and $12.9 million, respectively, in connection with the accounting review and restatements through March 2015 and legal fees associated with the SEC Investigation, Securities Class Action Complaint and Brazil subsidiary compliance review |
|
• |
Goodwill impairment charge in 2013 of $19.2 million |
(2) |
Dividends have not been paid in any of the years presented |
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
|||||||||||||||||
(U.S. Dollars, in thousands) |
|
2016 |
|
|
2015 |
|
|
2014 |
|
|
2013 |
|
|
2012 |
|
|||||
Consolidated financial position |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
372,103 |
|
|
$ |
400,222 |
|
|
$ |
392,956 |
|
|
$ |
411,975 |
|
|
$ |
464,546 |
|
Long-term debt |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
20,016 |
|
Shareholders’ equity |
|
|
263,477 |
|
|
|
290,311 |
|
|
|
299,627 |
|
|
|
295,863 |
|
|
|
356,439 |
|
32
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and result of operations should be read in conjunction with “Forward-Looking Statements” and our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
Executive Summary
We are a diversified, global medical device company focused on improving patients’ lives by providing superior reconstructive and regenerative orthopedic and spine solutions to physicians worldwide. Headquartered in Lewisville, Texas, we have four strategic business units (“SBUs”) that are also our reporting segments: BioStim, Biologics, Extremity Fixation and Spine Fixation. Our products are distributed by our sales representatives and distributors in over 70 countries.
Our corporate objectives include leveraging our significantly expanded distribution footprint in each of our SBUs and the new product pipelines in our Extremity Fixation and Spine Fixation businesses to accelerate growth in each of our SBUs. Additionally, we intend to increase the utilization of our BioStim products, which we estimate are currently only prescribed for one third of the patients who are on label and can benefit from its use. We believe the North American Spine Society’s (“NASS”) positive coverage recommendation, along with our recently launched next generation Spinal Stimulation and Cervical Stimulation devices, will help these patients gain access to this proven therapy.
Notable highlights and accomplishments in 2016 include the following:
|
• |
Net sales were $409.8 million, an increase of 3.4% on a reported basis and 4.0% on a constant currency basis; specifically, we grew BioStim, our largest and most profitable SBU, and Extremity Fixation above the market growth rates. |
|
• |
Net margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, which is calculated by subtracting sales and marketing expense from gross profit, was $140.6 million, an increase of 6.6% from the prior year; net income from continuing operations was $3.5 million, an increase of $5.8 million from the prior year. |
|
• |
We received both US FDA and European Union CE Mark approval for our next generation of spinal and cervical stimulation devices. |
|
• |
We completed our $75 million share repurchase program. |
|
• |
We completed Project Bluecore, which positions us to explore and execute on strategic opportunities. |
|
• |
We initiated a planned restructuring, which primarily affects our Extremity Fixation SBU, to streamline costs, improve operational performance, and wind down a non-core business. |
|
• |
We are exiting an era of heavy investment with a rebuilt infrastructure, robust compliance program, and strong financial controls. |
Results of Operations
The following table presents certain items in our consolidated statements of operations as a percent of net sales:
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2016 (%) |
|
|
2015 (%) |
|
|
2014 (%) |
|
|||
Net sales |
|
|
100.0 |
|
|
|
100.0 |
|
|
|
100.0 |
|
Cost of sales |
|
|
21.4 |
|
|
|
21.8 |
|
|
|
24.6 |
|
Gross profit |
|
|
78.6 |
|
|
|
78.2 |
|
|
|
75.4 |
|
Sales and marketing |
|
|
44.2 |
|
|
|
44.9 |
|
|
|
41.4 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
18.2 |
|
|
|
22.0 |
|
|
|
19.6 |
|
Research and development |
|
|
7.0 |
|
|
|
6.7 |
|
|
|
6.2 |
|
Restatements and related costs |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
2.3 |
|
|
|
3.9 |
|
Charges related to U.S. Government resolutions |
|
|
3.6 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Operating income |
|
|
5.1 |
|
|
|
2.3 |
|
|
|
4.3 |
|
Net income (loss) from continuing operations |
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
|
(0.6 |
) |
|
|
(0.9 |
) |
Net loss from discontinued operations |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
(1.2 |
) |
Net income (loss) |
|
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
(0.7 |
) |
|
|
(2.1 |
) |
33
Net Sales by Strategic Business Unit
The following table presents net sales, which includes product sales and marketing service fees, by SBU:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage Change |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2016/2015 |
|
|
2016/2015 |
|
|
2015/2014 |
|
|
2015/2014 |
|
||||
(U.S Dollars, in thousands) |
|
2016 |
|
|
2015 |
|
|
2014 |
|
|
Reported |
|
|
Constant Currency |
|
|
Reported |
|
|
Constant Currency |
|
|||||||
BioStim |
|
$ |
176,561 |
|
|
$ |
164,955 |
|
|
$ |
154,676 |
|
|
|
7.0 |
% |
|
|
7.0 |
% |
|
|
6.6 |
% |
|
|
6.7 |
% |
Biologics |
|
|
57,912 |
|
|
|
59,832 |
|
|
|
55,881 |
|
|
|
-3.2 |
% |
|
|
-3.2 |
% |
|
|
7.1 |
% |
|
|
7.1 |
% |
Extremity Fixation |
|
|
102,683 |
|
|
|
96,034 |
|
|
|
109,678 |
|
|
|
6.9 |
% |
|
|
9.6 |
% |
|
|
-12.4 |
% |
|
|
1.0 |
% |
Spine Fixation |
|
|
72,632 |
|
|
|
75,668 |
|
|
|
82,042 |
|
|
|
-4.0 |
% |
|
|
-4.0 |
% |
|
|
-7.8 |
% |
|
|
-7.3 |
% |
Net sales |
|
$ |
409,788 |
|
|
$ |
396,489 |
|
|
$ |
402,277 |
|
|
|
3.4 |
% |
|
|
4.0 |
% |
|
|
-1.4 |
% |
|
|
2.4 |
% |
BioStim
BioStim manufactures, distributes, and provides support services of market leading devices that enhance bone fusion. BioStim uses distributors and sales representatives to sell its devices to hospitals, doctors and other healthcare providers, and patients.
2016 Compared to 2015
Net sales increased $11.6 million or 7.0%
|
• |
Increased order counts from an expanding customer base as the number of unique physicians who prescribed our products increased in 2016 by approximately 5% |
|
• |
Order to cash process improvements implemented within the past 18 months, which increased the overall percentage we collect on orders, resulting in an increase in collections from third-party payors of approximately 9% compared to the prior year |
2015 Compared to 2014
Net sales increased $10.3 million or 6.6% due to additional market penetration through our direct and distributor sales channels in 2015.
Biologics
Biologics provides a portfolio of regenerative products and tissue forms that allow physicians to successfully treat a variety of spinal and orthopedic conditions. Biologics markets its tissues primarily in the U.S. through a network of distributors and independent sales representatives to supply to hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers.
2016 Compared to 2015
Net sales decreased $1.9 million or 3.2%
|
• |
A growing number of competitors in the stem cell allograft market and an associated 2.4% reduction in average selling price for our products |
|
• |
Exclusion from a large national hospital group purchasing organization in the second quarter of 2016 |
|
• |
Partially offset by an increase in the total number of independent distributors in 2016 |
34
Net sales increased $4.0 million or 7.1%
|
• |
An increase in the total number of independent distributors in 2015 |
|
• |
Increased sales from existing distributors in 2015 |
|
• |
Partially offset by anticipated competitive pricing pressures, resulting in a 3.6% reduction in average selling price |
Extremity Fixation
Extremity Fixation offers products and solutions that allow physicians to successfully treat a variety of orthopedic conditions unrelated to the spine. Extremity Fixation distributes its products globally through a network of distributors and sales representatives to sell orthopedic products to hospitals, doctors, and other health providers.
2016 Compared to 2015
Net sales increased $6.6 million or 6.9%
|
• |
Includes the negative impact from foreign currency translation of $2.6 million in 2016; on a constant currency basis, net sales increased $9.2 million, or 9.6% |
|
• |
Increase in cash collections of approximately 18% in 2016 from distributors whose revenue is recognized upon cash receipt |
|
• |
Growth in the U.S. due to the onboarding of new distributors and the continued adoption of our TL-HEX product line, which grew by approximately 50% in the U.S. compared to the prior year |
2015 Compared to 2014
Net sales decreased $13.6 million or 12.4%
|
• |
Includes the negative impact from foreign currency translation of $14.7 million in 2015; on a constant currency basis, net sales increased $1.1 million, or 1.0%, due to increased demand for our products |
|
• |
Partially offset by the impact of macroeconomic challenges in certain of our markets |
Spine Fixation
Spine Fixation specializes in the design, development and marketing of a broad portfolio of implant products used in surgical procedures of the spine. Spine Fixation distributes its products globally through a network of distributors and sales representatives to sell spine products to hospitals, doctors and other healthcare providers.
2016 Compared to 2015
Net sales decreased $3.0 million or 4.0%
|
• |
Exclusion from a large national hospital group purchasing organization in the second quarter of 2016 |
|
• |
Loss of several key surgeon customers in early 2016 |
|
• |
Decrease in cash collections of approximately 6% in 2016 from distributors whose revenue is recognized upon cash receipt |
|
• |
Partially offset by revenue from additional distributors added in 2016 |
2015 Compared to 2014
Net sales decreased $6.4 million or 7.8%
|
• |
Short-term negative impact from our reorganization of the U.S. sales force in late 2014 |
|
• |
Decrease in cash collections in 2015 from distributors whose revenue is recognized upon cash receipt |
|
• |
Partially offset by revenue from additional distributors added in 2015 as part of our sales force rebuilding and expansion initiatives |
35
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage Change |
|
|||||
(U.S Dollars, in thousands) |
|
2016 |
|
|
2015 |
|
|
2014 |
|
|
2016/2015 |
|
|
2015/2014 |
|
|||||
Gross profit |
|
$ |
321,935 |
|
|
$ |
309,964 |
|
|
$ |
303,365 |
|
|
|
3.9 |
% |
|
|
2.2 |
% |
Sales and marketing |
|
|
181,287 |
|
|
|
178,080 |
|
|
|
166,547 |
|
|
|
1.8 |
% |
|
|
6.9 |
% |
Net margin |
|
$ |
140,648 |
|
|
$ |
131,884 |
|
|
$ |
136,818 |
|
|
|
6.6 |
% |
|
|
-3.6 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross margin |
|
|
78.6 |
% |
|
|
78.2 |
% |
|
|
75.4 |
% |
|
|
0.4 |
% |
|
|
2.8 |
% |
Net margin |
|
|
34.3 |
% |
|
|
33.3 |
% |
|
|
34.0 |
% |
|
|
1.1 |
% |
|
|
-0.7 |
% |
2016 Compared to 2015
Net margin increased $8.8 million
|
• |
Gross profit increased $12.0 million |
|
o |
Increase in sales for BioStim and Extremity Fixation, partially offset by a decrease in sales for Biologics and Spine Fixation |
|
o |
Improved operating efficiencies through the absorption of fixed costs |
|
o |
Increase in inventory reserves of $1.7 million for certain slower moving product lines and obsolete inventory, a portion of which is a result of our planned restructuring in Brazil |
|
• |
Sales and marketing expense increased $3.2 million |
|
o |
Increase in compensation and benefits costs, including commissions, as a result of the increase in net sales |
|
o |
Partially offset by a reduction of certain indirect tax liabilities of $3.1 million in 2016 |
|
o |
Also partially offset by a decrease in bad debt expense of $2.3 million related to Puerto Rico |
2015 Compared to 2014
Net margin decreased $4.9 million
|
• |
Gross profit increased $6.6 million |
|
o |
Increase in sales mix from our BioStim and Biologics SBUs, which have higher margins, relative to our other SBUs |
|
o |
Improved inventory management and operating efficiencies |
|
• |
Sales and marketing expense increased $11.5 million |
|
o |
Increase in sales and field-based training personnel as part of the rebuilding and expansion of our sales organization |
|
o |
Sales commission quota overachievement in certain territories, resulting in increased compensation costs, including commissions, of approximately $6.8 million |
|
o |
Increase in bad debt expense of $2.4 million, of which $2.0 million related to Puerto Rico |
The following table presents net margin by reporting segment. The reasons for the changes in net margin by SBU are generally consistent with the information provided above for gross profit and sales and marketing expense.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage Change |
|
|||||
(U.S Dollars, in thousands) |
|
2016 |
|
|
2015 |
|
|
2014 |
|
|
2016/2015 |
|
|
2015/2014 |
|
|||||
BioStim |
|
$ |
75,469 |
|
|
$ |
67,878 |
|
|
$ |
66,096 |
|
|
|
11.2 |
% |
|
|
2.7 |
% |
Biologics |
|
|
26,891 |
|
|
|
27,226 |
|
|
|
26,629 |
|
|
|
-1.2 |
% |
|
|
2.2 |
% |
Extremity Fixation |
|
|
30,526 |
|
|
|
29,493 |
|
|
|
31,586 |
|
|
|
3.5 |
% |
|
|
-6.6 |
% |
Spine Fixation |
|
|
8,650 |
|
|
|
8,547 |
|
|
|
14,243 |
|
|
|
1.2 |
% |
|
|
-40.0 |
% |
Corporate |
|
|
(888 |
) |
|
|
(1,260 |
) |
|
|
(1,736 |
) |
|
|
-29.5 |
% |
|
|
-27.4 |
% |
Net margin |
|
$ |
140,648 |
|
|
$ |
131,884 |
|
|
$ |
136,818 |
|
|
|
6.6 |
% |
|
|
-3.6 |
% |
36
General and Administrative Expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage Change |
|
|||||
(U.S Dollars, in thousands) |
|
2016 |
|
|
2015 |
|
|
2014 |
|
|
2016/2015 |
|
|
2015/2014 |
|
|||||
General and administrative |
|
$ |
74,404 |
|
|
$ |
87,157 |
|
|
$ |
79,074 |
|
|
|
-14.6 |
% |
|
|
10.2 |
% |
As a percentage of net sales |
|
|
18.2 |
% |
|
|
22.0 |
% |
|
|
19.6 |
% |
|
|
-3.8 |
% |
|
|
2.4 |
% |
2016 Compared to 2015
General and administrative expense decreased $12.8 million
|
• |
Decreases in professional fees of $7.9 million, largely associated with the completion in 2016 of our internal control remediation efforts and Project Bluecore, a company-wide infrastructure initiative to improve the reliability and efficiency of our systems, processes, and reporting |
|
• |
Reduced legal costs of $6.9 million, largely due to legal settlements incurred in the prior year and a commercial legal settlement in 2016 whereby we received $3.0 million |
|
• |
The moratorium on the medical device tax in 2016, which decreased expense by $1.3 million |
|
• |
Reduction in other controllable expenses |
|
• |
Overall decrease was partially offset by increased share-based compensation expense of $8.1 million, including $5.7 million associated with the determination in 2016 that achieving the performance criteria related to certain of our performance-based vesting restricted stock awards is probable |
2015 Compared to 2014
General and administrative expense increased $8.1 million
|
• |
Legal settlements totaling $5.3 million in 2015 |
|
• |
Increased spending of $1.6 million associated with the strengthening of our infrastructure as part of Project Bluecore |
|