Danaher (DHR)

Risks

• The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted, and may continue to adversely impact, certain elements of our business and our financial statements.
• We face intense competition and if we are unable to compete effectively, we may experience decreased demand and decreased market share. Even if we compete effectively, we may be required to reduce the prices we charge.
• Our growth depends in part on the timely development and commercialization, and customer acceptance, of new and enhanced products and services based on technological innovation.
• The health care industry and related industries that we serve have undergone, and are in the process of undergoing, significant changes in an effort to reduce (and increase the predictability of) costs, which can adversely affect our business and financial statements.
• International economic, political, legal, compliance, social and business factors can negatively affect our business and financial statements.
• Our growth can suffer if the markets into which we sell our products and services decline, do not grow as anticipated or experience cyclicality.
• Certain of our businesses rely on relationships with collaborative partners and other third-parties for development, supply and marketing of certain products, potential products and technologies, and such collaborative partners or other third-parties could fail to perform sufficiently.
• Any inability to consummate acquisitions at our historical rate and at appropriate prices, and to make appropriate investments that support our long-term strategy, could negatively impact our business.
• Our acquisition of businesses, investments, joint ventures and other strategic relationships can negatively impact our business and financial statements.
• The indemnification provisions of acquisition agreements by which we have acquired companies may not fully protect us and as a result we may face unexpected liabilities.
• Divestitures or other dispositions could negatively impact our business, and contingent liabilities from businesses that we or our predecessors have disposed could adversely affect our business and financial statements.
• Potential indemnification liabilities pursuant to the Communications Disposition, the Fortive Disposition or the Envista Disposition could adversely affect our business and financial statements.
• We could incur significant liability if any of the Communications Disposition, the Fortive Disposition or the Envista Disposition is determined to be a taxable transaction.
• Significant disruptions in, or breaches in security of, our information technology systems or data or violation of data privacy laws can adversely affect our business and financial statements.
• Defects and unanticipated use or inadequate disclosure with respect to our products or services, or allegations thereof, can adversely affect our business and financial statements.
• If we suffer loss to our facilities, supply chains, distribution systems or information technology systems due to catastrophe or other events, our operations could be seriously harmed.
• Climate change, or legal or regulatory measures to address climate change, may negatively affect us.
• The manufacture of many of our products is a highly exacting and complex process, and if we directly or indirectly encounter problems manufacturing products, our business and financial statements could suffer.
• If we cannot adjust our manufacturing capacity or the purchases required for our manufacturing activities to reflect changes in market conditions and customer demand, our business and financial statements may suffer. In addition, our reliance upon sole or limited sources of supply for certain materials, components and services can cause production interruptions, delays and inefficiencies.
• Adverse changes in our relationships with, or the financial condition, performance, purchasing patterns or inventory levels of, key distributors and other channel partners can adversely affect our business and financial statements.
• Our financial results are subject to fluctuations in the cost and availability of the supplies that we use in, and the labor we need for, our operations.
• Our success depends on our ability to recruit, retain and motivate talented employees representing diverse backgrounds, experiences and skill sets.
• Our restructuring actions can have long-term adverse effects on our business and financial statements.
• Work stoppages, union and works council campaigns and other labor disputes could adversely impact our productivity and results of operations.
• If we are unable to adequately protect our intellectual property, or if third-parties infringe our intellectual property rights, we may suffer competitive injury or expend significant resources enforcing our rights. These risks are particularly pronounced in countries in which we do business that do not have levels of protection of intellectual property comparable to the United States.
• Third-parties from time to time claim that we are infringing or misappropriating their intellectual property rights and we could suffer significant litigation expenses, losses or licensing expenses or be prevented from selling products or services.
• The U.S. government has certain rights with respect to incremental production capacity and/or the intellectual property we have developed using government financing.
• Our outstanding debt has increased significantly as a result of acquisitions, and we may incur additional debt in the future. Our existing and future indebtedness may limit our operations and our use of our cash flow and negatively impact our credit ratings; and any failure to comply with the covenants that apply to our indebtedness could adversely affect our business and financial statements.
• We may be required to recognize impairment charges for our goodwill and other intangible assets.
• Foreign currency exchange rates can adversely affect our financial statements.
• Changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liabilities or assessments can affect our profitability. In addition, audits by tax authorities can result in additional tax payments for prior periods.
• Changes in tax law relating to multinational corporations could adversely affect our tax position.
• Legal, political, and economic uncertainty surrounding the exit of the United Kingdom from the EU could have an adverse effect on our business and financial statements.
• Our defined benefit pension plans are subject to financial market risks that could adversely affect our financial statements.
• Significant developments or changes in U.S. laws or policies can have an adverse effect on our business and financial statements.
• Our business and financial statements can be impaired by improper conduct by any of our employees, agents or business partners.
• Our businesses are subject to extensive regulation; failure to comply with those regulations could adversely affect our business and financial statements.
• We are subject to or otherwise responsible for a variety of litigation and other legal and regulatory proceedings in the course of our business that can adversely affect our business and financial statements.
• Certain of our businesses are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and by comparable agencies of other countries, as well as laws regulating fraud and abuse in the healthcare industry and the privacy and security of health information. Failure to comply with those regulations could adversely affect our business and financial statements.
• Our products can be subject to human clinical trials, the results of which may be unexpected, or perceived as unfavorable by the market, and could adversely affect our business and financial statements.
• Off-label marketing of our products could result in substantial penalties.
• Certain modifications to our products may require new 510(k) clearances or other marketing authorizations and may require us to recall or cease marketing our products.
• Our operations, products and services expose us to the risk of environmental, health and safety liabilities, costs and violations that could adversely affect our business and financial statements.
• Changes in governmental regulations can reduce demand for our products or services or increase our expenses.
• Exclusive forum provisions in our By-laws could limit our stockholders’ ability to choose their preferred judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.