Haemonetics (HAE) Risk Factors

Our products are relied upon by medical personnel in connection with the treatment of patients and the collection of blood or blood components from donors. In the event that patients or donors sustain injury or death in connection with their condition or treatment, we, along with others, may be sued and whether or not we are ultimately determined to be liable, we may incur significant legal expenses. These claims may be brought by individuals seeking relief on their own behalf or purporting to represent a class. In addition, we may be subject to claims against us even if the apparent injury is due to the actions of others or the pre-existing health of the patient. For example, we rely on physicians and healthcare providers to properly and correctly use our products on patients. If these physicians or healthcare providers are not properly trained, are negligent in using our products or use our products "off-label," the capabilities of our products may be diminished or the patient may suffer critical injury. We cannot prevent a physician from using our products for off-label applications. In addition, we cannot guarantee that physicians are trained by us or their peers prior to utilizing our products. Complications resulting from the use of our products off-label or use by physicians who have not been trained appropriately, or at all, may expose us to product liability claims and harm our reputation. Any such complications or adverse safety outcomes following use of VASCADE or VASCADE MVP may result in higher payments to our customers under a Performance Guarantee program applicable to those products, which would harm our business and results of operations. In addition, product liability claims may be asserted against us in the future based on events we are not aware of at the present time. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against pending or future product liability claims and other litigation (including class actions and stockholder derivative actions), we may incur substantial liabilities or be required to limit or halt commercialization of our products. Even successful defenses require significant financial and management resources. Regardless of the merits or eventual outcome, such litigation could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity and further could damage our reputation and, therefore, impair our ability to market our products and make applicable insurance coverage more costly or difficult to obtain. While we believe that our current product liability insurance coverage is sufficient, there is no assurance that such coverage will be adequate to cover incurred liabilities or that we will be able to obtain acceptable product and professional liability coverage in the future. Additionally, we do not maintain third-party insurance coverage for all categories of potential liability, which increases our exposure to unanticipated claims and adverse decisions and these losses could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

The long-term effects of climate change are difficult to predict and may be widespread. Extreme weather or other conditions could adversely impact our operations and supply chain, including the variability and cost of raw materials and components required for the operation of our business. In addition, access to and pricing of certain natural resources, such as water, could impact our manufacturing operations. There has been increased focus by federal, international, state and local regulatory and legislative bodies to combat and/or limit the effects of climate change. If legislation or regulations are enacted in jurisdictions in which we do business that are more stringent than our current obligations, we and companies in our supply chain may experience increased compliance burdens and costs to meet these obligations, which could cause disruption in the sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of our products and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Additionally, the impacts of climate change may further include customer preferences and requirements. Failure to meet these preferences or requirements could potentially result in loss of market shares.

Our ability to compete effectively depends on our ability to attract and retain key employees, including people in senior management, sales, marketing and R&D positions, and to facilitate seamless leadership transitions for key positions. Our ability to recruit and retain key talent will depend on a number of factors, including hiring practices of our competitors, compensation and benefits, work location, work environment, hybrid work environment policies and industry economic conditions. If we fail to attract and retain key personnel in senior management and other positions, or if our succession planning efforts are not effective, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We face risks related to the price, composition and availability of plastic raw materials used in our disposable products, which represent a substantial portion of our revenues. Material or sustained increases in the price of petroleum or petroleum derivatives could have an adverse impact on the costs to procure plastic raw materials. Additionally, our results of operations could be negatively impacted by volatility in the cost or availability of these and other raw materials and components used in our products that, in turn, increase the costs of producing and distributing our products. In recent years, we have experienced inflationary pressures that have significantly increased the cost of raw materials, transportation, construction, services and energy necessary for the production and distribution of our products. Continued uncertainty around inflationary pressures, rising interest rates and macroeconomic conditions have increased the risk of creating new, or exacerbating existing, economic challenges we face. While we have implemented cost containment measures, selective price increases and taken other actions to offset these inflationary pressures in our global supply chain, we may not be able to completely offset all the increases in our operational costs. Additionally, climate change (including laws or regulations passed in response thereto) could increase our supply costs, including energy and transportation/freight-related expenses, or reduce the availability of raw materials. The composition of the plastic we purchase is also important. Due to regulatory changes and evolving customer expectations, we may be required to remove materials such as phthalates or PFAS from our devices, find alternative materials which then need to be validated or obtain regulatory approvals from the regulatory authorities for a number of products. While we have not experienced significant shortages in the past, any interruption in the supply for certain plastics could have a material impact on our business by limiting our ability to manufacture and sell the products that represent a significant portion of our revenues. These outcomes may in turn result in customers transitioning to available competitive products, loss of market share, negative publicity, reputational damage, loss of customer confidence or other negative consequences (including a decline in stock price).

We increasingly rely on information technology systems, including cloud-based computing, to process, transmit and store electronic information for our day-to-day operations and for our customers, including sensitive personal information and proprietary or confidential information. Additionally, certain of our products collect data regarding patients and donors and connect to our systems for maintenance and other purposes or are actively managed by Haemonetics on behalf of specific customers. Similar to other large multi-national companies, the size and complexity of our information technology systems makes them vulnerable to a cyber-attack, malicious intrusion, breakdown, destruction, loss of data privacy, or other significant disruption. We also outsource certain elements of our information technology systems to third parties that, as a result of this outsourcing, could have access to certain confidential information and whose systems may also be vulnerable to these types of attacks or disruptions. While we conduct security risk assessments prior to engaging third party suppliers and other vendors and business partners to validate that they maintain appropriate safeguards to protect our and their information systems in connection with the services they provide, it is possible that they suffer a cyber-attack that impacts us. Security threats, including cyber and other attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, frequent, and adaptive and, like other large multi-national companies, we have experienced cyber incidents in the past and may experience them in the future. Accordingly, our information systems require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain, protect and enhance existing systems and develop new systems to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology, evolving systems and regulatory standards, the increasing need to protect patient and customer information and changing customer patterns. Based on the information available as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we are not aware of any risks from cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any previous cybersecurity incidents, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect us, including our business strategy, results of operation or financial condition. While we have invested and continue to invest in the protection of personal information and proprietary or confidential information, there can be no assurance that our efforts will prevent cyber-attacks, intrusions, breakdowns or other incidents or ensure compliance with all applicable securities and privacy laws, regulations, standard standards. In addition, third parties may attempt to hack into our products to obtain data relating to patients with our products or our proprietary information. Emerging technologies such as generative AI may be used by malicious actors to create more targeted phishing narratives or otherwise strengthen social engineering capabilities, which may increase our threat landscape. Any failure by us or third parties we work with to maintain or protect our respective information technology systems and data integrity, including from cyber-attacks, intrusions or other breaches, could result in the unauthorized access to patient data and personally identifiable information, theft of intellectual property or other misappropriation of assets, or otherwise compromise our confidential or proprietary information and disrupt our operations. Any of these events, in turn, may cause us to lose existing customers, have difficulty preventing, detecting and controlling fraud, have disputes with customers, physicians and other healthcare professionals, be subject to legal claims and liability, have regulatory sanctions or penalties imposed, have increases in operating expenses, incur expenses or lose revenues as a result of a data privacy breach or theft of intellectual property, or suffer other adverse consequences, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Additionally, the legal and regulatory environment surrounding information security and privacy is increasingly demanding, with the imposition of new and changing requirements across businesses, including rules requiring timely public disclosure of cybersecurity incidents. We are required to comply with increasingly complex and changing legal and regulatory requirements that govern the collection, use, storage, security, transfer, disclosure and other processing of personal data in the United States and in other countries, including, but not limited to, HIPAA, HITECH, the California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA, the California Privacy Rights Act, and the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. The GDPR imposes stringent EU data protection requirements and provides for significant penalties for noncompliance. HIPAA also imposes stringent data privacy and security requirements and the regulatory authority has imposed significant fines and penalties on organizations found to be out of compliance. CCPA provides consumers with a private right of action against companies who have a security breach due to lack of appropriate security measures, and several other U.S. states have introduced or proposed similar privacy laws which may apply to us directly or indirectly through our customers, manufacturers, suppliers or other third-party partners. In addition, new information security and privacy laws have also come into effect in China and other countries where we conduct business. We or our third-party providers and business partners may also be subjected to audits or investigations by one or more domestic or foreign government agencies relating to compliance with information security and privacy laws and regulations, and noncompliance with the laws and regulations could results in material fines or litigation.

A significant element of our strategy is to increase revenue growth by focusing on innovation and new product development. The medical device markets in which we participate, however, are highly competitive. We encounter significant competition across our product lines and in each market in which our products are sold from various medical device companies, some of whom have greater financial and marketing resources than we do. In addition, the medical device markets in which we participate and healthcare industry generally are characterized by extensive research and development and rapid technological change. New product development requires significant investment in research and development, clinical trials and regulatory approvals. The results of our product development efforts may be affected by a number of factors, including our ability to anticipate customer needs, innovate and develop new products and technologies, effectively use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities, successfully complete clinical trials, obtain regulatory approvals in the United States and abroad, manufacture products in a cost-effective manner, obtain appropriate intellectual property protection for our products, and gain and maintain market acceptance of our products. In addition, patents attained by others could preclude or delay our commercialization of a product. There can be no assurance that any products now in development or that we may seek to develop in the future will achieve technological feasibility, obtain regulatory approval or gain market acceptance. If we fail to develop new products or enhance existing products, or if competitive technologies or therapeutic alternatives to plasma-derived pharmaceuticals in development, such as FcRn-targeted therapies, emerge and gain market acceptance, such events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, a delay in the timing of the launch of next-generation products and the overall performance of, and continued customer confidence in, those products may result in declines in our market share and have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We do business in over 90 countries and have distributors in approximately 80 of these countries. This exposes us to currency fluctuation, geopolitical risk, economic volatility, anti-corruption laws, export and import restrictions, local regulatory authorities and the laws and medical practices in foreign jurisdictions. U.S. legislation aimed at boosting competitiveness of U.S. businesses may have unintended effects on our business. Tariffs and other protectionist measures directed at China and other markets, as well as prolonged uncertainty regarding such measures as administrations change, may have adverse effects on our ability to source, manufacture and distribute products, or receive payments, in a timely and cost effective manner, thereby adversely affecting our business. In addition to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, discussed below, our business in markets outside the United States is subject to changing political, social and geopolitical conditions, such as tensions between China and Taiwan and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, including any political instability resulting from war, terrorism, insurrections and civil unrest, and changing economic conditions in these markets, such as inflation, deflation, interest rate volatility and credit availability. Additionally, a number of factors, including U.S. relations with the governments of the foreign countries in which we operate, changes to international trade agreements and treaties, changes in tax laws and regulations, economic sanctions (including those imposed by the U.S. and other governments against Russia), export controls, restrictions on the ability to transfer capital across borders, tariffs and other increases in trade protectionism and barriers to market participation, or the weakening or loss of certain intellectual property protection rights in some countries, may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Many of these risks are rapidly evolving and subject to an accelerating pace of change. We are continuing to monitor the situation in Ukraine and globally as well as assess its potential impact on our business. Although our business in Russia accounted for only about 1% of fiscal 2024 net revenues, a significant escalation or further expansion of the conflict's current scope or related disruptions to the global markets could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Our international operations are governed by the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, and other similar anti-corruption laws in other countries. Generally, these laws prohibit companies and their business partners or other intermediaries from making improper payments to foreign governments and government officials in order to obtain or retain business. Global enforcement of such anti-corruption laws has increased in recent years, including aggressive investigations and enforcement proceedings. While we have an active compliance program and various other safeguards to discourage impermissible practices, we have distributors in approximately 80 countries, several of which are considered high risk for corruption. As a result, our global operations carry some risk of unauthorized impermissible activity on the part of one of our distributors, employees, agents or consultants. Any alleged or actual violation could subject us to government scrutiny, severe criminal or civil fines, or sanctions on our ability to export product outside the U.S., which could adversely affect our reputation and financial condition. Export of U.S. technology or goods manufactured in the U.S. to some jurisdictions requires special U.S. export authorization or local market controls that may be influenced by factors, including political dynamics, outside our control. Finally, any other significant changes in the competitive, legal, regulatory, reimbursement or economic environments of the jurisdictions in which we conduct our international business could have a material impact on our business.

There is additional risk in selling our products through agents or distributors, particularly in public tenders. If they misrepresent our products, do not provide appropriate service and delivery, or commit a violation of local or U.S. law, our reputation could be harmed and we could be subject to fines, sanctions or both.

Global pandemics or other public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, could adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations, and those of our customers and suppliers, and any such future pandemics or public health crises could include disruptions in global economic activity, global supply chains and labor markets, operational challenges such as site shutdowns, workplace disruptions or limited provider capacity to perform procedures using our products, volatile financial market dynamics and significant volatility in price and availability of goods and services.

International revenues and expenses account for a substantial portion of our operations. In fiscal 2024, our international revenues accounted for 25.9% of our total revenues. The exposure to fluctuations in currency exchange rates takes different forms. Reported revenues, as well as manufacturing and operational costs denominated in foreign currencies by our international businesses, fluctuate due to exchange rate movement when translated into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. Fluctuations in exchange rates could adversely affect our profitability in U.S. dollars of products and services sold by us into international markets, where payment for our products and services and related manufacturing and operational costs is made in local currencies.