UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

x

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021

2023

OR

¨o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

For the transition period from           to              
Commission file number 1-13165

ARTIVION, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

59-2417093

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

59-2417093
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1655 Roberts Boulevard N.W., Kennesaw, GA 30144
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)

1655 Roberts Boulevard N.W., Kennesaw, GA 30144
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (770) 419-3355

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $.01$0.01 par value

AORT

New York Stock Exchange

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 x No o

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 o No x

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 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 x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes x No

o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one).

Large accelerated filerx

x

Accelerated filero

Non-accelerated filero

o

Smaller reporting companyo

Emerging growth companyo

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 USC. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. x
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant's executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to § 240.10D-1(b).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes o No x

As of June 30, 20212023 the aggregate market value of the voting stock of the Registrant held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $1,069,799,941$666,252,083 computed using the closing price of $28.40$17.19 per share of Common Stock on June 30, 2021,2023, the last trading day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, based on management’s belief that Registrant has no affiliates other than its directors and executive officers.

As of February 18, 202216, 2024 the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the registrant was 40,115,521.

41,225,138.

Documents Incorporated By Reference

Document

Parts Into Which Incorporated

Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed within 120 days after December 31, 2021

2023

Part III




TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

PART I

Item 1.

Business

5

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

25

Item 1B.

4038

4038

4241

4241

5653

5855

9998

9998

99100

101102

SIGNATURESSIGNATURES



Forward-Looking Statements

This Form 10-K includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements give our expectations or forecasts of future events as of the date of this Form 10-K. In some cases, words such as “could,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “would,” “shall,” “should,” “pro forma,” “potential,” “pending,” “intend,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “future,” “assume,” and variations of these types of words or other similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this Form 10-K and reflect the views of management as of the date of this Form 10-K.

All statements included herein, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities, events, or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, or that reflect our beliefs about the future and/or expectations, are forward-looking statements, including statements about the following:

Our belief that new products, new indications, global expansion, and business development are the four growth areas that will drive our business in the future;

The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemicand similar pandemics and the wars in Ukraine and in the Gaza Strip and around Israel, may have on product demand for and sales of our product sales,products and services, business operations, manufacturing operations, supply chain, cash flow, workforce, clinical and regulatory timelines, and our research and development projects;

Our belief thatThe potential impact general global, regional, or national economic downturns and macroeconomic trends, including heightened inflation, interest rate and currency fluctuations, as well as general or localized economic slowdowns or recessions may have on demand for and sales of our products and services, including ordering trends for international distributors may delay or reduce purchases of products inbased on currency fluctuations against the US Dollars depending on the relative price of goods in their local currencies;dollar, and our business operations, manufacturing operations, supply chain, and workforce;

Our beliefs thatabout the userobustness of surgical adhesivesour global supply chain in light of current global and sealants, with or without suturesmacroeconomic conditions and staples, for certain indications can enhanceabout the efficacypotential impact of supply chain disruptions, particularly disruptions to single and cost-effectivenesssole source suppliers and third-party manufacturing partners;
Our beliefs about our R&D and product pipeline, including our beliefs about the timing of certain procedures through more effectiveour clinical trials and rapid wound closure;product launches;

Our beliefs and anticipation regarding the favorable attributes, benefits, and benefitsclinical advantages of our products and services, the basis on which our products and services compete, the benefits of our physician education activities, and the advantages of our relationships with organ and tissue procurement organizations and tissue banks,banks;
Our beliefs about the FDA classificationfuture regulatory status of our medical devices and processed tissues, our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and the advantages of our intellectual property and its significanceability to make timely transitions to our segmentsNotified Bodies and obtain renewals for our Conformité Européenne Mark product certification impacted by Brexit and the transition to the Medical Device Regulation in Europe, and the impact these transitions, renewals, and related processes may have on our business, including any impact on our customers' ordering patterns and our business as a whole, our relations with our employees, timelines regarding product launches and regulatory certifications, clearances, renewals, and approvals;ability to supply products;

Our beliefs about potential competition and competitive products, potential adverse regulatory consequences, potential security vulnerabilities, and the associated potential adverse effects on our business;

Our beliefs about the impact of the contaminated saline solution and the tissue processed with contaminated saline solution we identified in the fourth quarter of 2020;

Our beliefs regarding our global expansion efforts, including the international growth opportunity that would be provided by obtaining regulatory approval for BioGlue in China;

Our beliefs regarding the impact lower INR anticoagulation therapy and transcatheter heart valve replacement may have on the number of patients choosing On-X mechanical heart valves;
Our beliefs about the advantages of our intellectual property and its significance to our segments and our business as a whole, and our beliefs about the present value and potential impairment of our intangible assets and leases;
Our beliefs about our workforce, including our ability to attract and retain talent at all levels, and about our relationship with our workforce, including our works council in Germany and union in Brazil;
Our beliefs about potential information security vulnerabilities, and the associated potential adverse effects on our business;
The dependencies affecting our ability to realize the anticipated business opportunities, growth prospects, synergies, and other benefits of the agreements with Endospan and Baxter and our acquisition of Ascyrus, and our beliefs about the costs and timelines for certain regulatory approvals and clinical trial milestones for the regulatory approvals of the NEXUS stent graft system in the US and the AMDS globally;milestones;

Our beliefs regarding the fair value of our acquisitions, divestitures, and other business development activities and the estimates and assumptions about the future achievements of milestones and future revenues and cash flows related to those business development activities, including our ability to achieve the milestones in the Ascyrus and Baxter Transaction;transactions;

Our beliefs about the anticipated benefits from our corporate reincorporation and rebranding and the risks posed by the same;

Our beliefs about the present value and potential impairment of our intangible assets and leases;

Our beliefs about the timing for handpiece availability and CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy revenue;

Our beliefs regarding the impact alternative anticoagulation therapy may and transcatheter heart valve replacement have on the number of patients choosing On-X mechanical heart valves;

Our beliefs about our ability to make timely transitions to our notified bodies and obtain renewals for our CE Marks impacted by Brexit and the transition to the Medical Device Regulation (“MDR”) in Europe, our ability to obtain derogations related to the same, and the impact these renewals and derogations may have on our business;

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Our beliefs about our R&D and product pipeline, including our beliefs about the timing of our clinical trials and product launches;

Our belief that revenues for preservation services, particularly revenues for certain high-demand cardiac tissues, can vary from quarter to quarterquarter-to-quarter and year to yearyear-to-year due to a variety of factors including: quantity and type of incoming tissues, yields of tissue through the preservation process, timing of receipt of donor information, staffing levels, timing of the release of tissues to an implantable status, demand for certain tissue types due to the number and type of procedures being performed, and pressures from competing products or services;

Our beliefs regarding the seasonal nature of the demand for some of our products and services and the reasons for such seasonality, if any, and regarding the impact of consignment inventory on product sales, if any;

Our belief that our cash from operations and existing cash and cash equivalents will enable us to meet our current operational liquidity needs for at least the next twelve months, our expectations regarding future cash requirements, and the impact that our cash requirements might have on our cash flows for the next twelve months;

Our expectation regarding the impact on cash flows of undertaking significant business development activities and the potential need to obtain additional debt financing or equity financing;

Our belief that we will incur expenses for research and development projects, including for clinical research projects to gain regulatory approvals for products or indications, including On-X, aortic stents and stent grafts, and BioGlue products, and for research and development for new products despite reduced planned spending due to COVID-19 and that our efforts to develop new products and technologies which will likely require additional investment, research, and new clinical studies or data;

Our beliefs about pending and potential legal or other governmental or regulatory proceedings;

Our expectations regarding the timing and impact of clinical research work and regulatory approvals for and expected distribution ofcertain products or indications, including On-X, aortic stents and stent grafts, and BioGlue products, and the CryoValve SGPVSG pulmonary heart valve if the FDAUS Food and Drug Administration reclassifies allograft heart valves as Class III medical devices;

Our beliefs and expectations regarding the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards from our acquisitions of JOTEC, On-X Life Technologies, Inc., Hemosphere, Inc., and Cardiogenesis Corporation;

Our beliefs about our operating results which may fluctuate significantly on a periodic basis as a result of internal and external factors, including reduced demand for our products, the potential impact of GLP-1 drugs, healthcare workforce trends and labor disputes, regulatory challenges, the availability of products, materials, and supplies, strategic actions we take such as acquisitions or divestitures, unanticipated costs and expenses, market reception of our new or improved product offerings, and interest rate and currency fluctuations; and

Other statements regarding projections of future financial and business performance; anticipated growth and trends in our business and the markets relevant to our business, including ashow our growth relates to our competitors; the robustness and reliability of our workforce and supply chain; future production capacity and product supply; the availability and benefits of our products in the future; and the expected timing and impact of our strategic initiatives.


These and other forward-looking statements reflect the views of management at the time such statements are originally made based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, estimates, and assumptions. Whether actual results and developments will conform with our expectations and predictions however, is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from our expectations, including, without limitation, in addition to those specified in the text surrounding such statements, the risk factors discussed in Item 1A of this Form 10-K and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this Form 10-K are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized, or even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business or operations. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in this Form 10-K and in other documents we file from time to time with the SEC that disclose risks and uncertainties that may affect our business. Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the forward-looking statements in this Form 10-K do not reflect the potential impact of any divestitures, mergers, acquisitions, or other business combinations that have not been completed as of the date of this filing. We assume no obligation, and expressly disclaim any duty, to update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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PART I

Item 1. Business.

Overview

Artivion, Inc. (“Artivion,” the “Company,” “we,” or “us”), is a leader in the manufacturing, processing, and distribution of medical devices and implantable human tissues used in cardiac and vascular surgical procedures for patients with aortic disease. We have four major product families: aortic stents and stent grafts, surgical sealants, On-X® mechanical heart valves and related surgical products (“On-X” products), and implantable cardiac and vascular human tissues. Aortic stents and stent grafts include JOTEC®aortic arch stent grafts, abdominal stent grafts, and surgical products (collectively, “JOTEC Products”),synthetic vascular grafts. Aortic arch stent grafts include our E-vita® Open NEO, E-vita Open Plus, the Ascyrus Medical Dissection Stent (“AMDS”) hybrid prosthesis,, and the NEXUS® endovascular stent graft system (“NEXUS”), the NEXUS DUO.TM aortic arch stent graft (“NEXUS DUO”), and E-vita Thoracic 3G products. Abdominal stent grafts include our E-xtra Design Engineering (including ArtivexTM), E-nsideTM, E-tegraTM, E-ventusTM BX, and E-liacTM products. Surgical sealants include our BioGlue®Surgical Adhesive products (“BioGlue”) products. . In addition to these four major product families, we sell or distribute PhotoFix® bovine surgical patches (“PhotoFix”) and CardioGenesis® cardiac laser therapy Therion® chorioamniotic allografts (previously marketed(prior to our abandonment of the business as NeoPatch®),of June 30, 2023). We began to manufacture and supply PerClot® hemostatic powder (prior to(“PerClot”) during the sale to a subsidiarysecond quarter of 2023 (as part of the Transitional Manufacturing and Supply Agreement (“TMSA”) of the Baxter International, Inc (“Baxter”))Transaction, described below).

On January 1, 2022 we converted our state of incorporation from Florida to Delaware, and on January 18, 2022 we changed our name from CryoLife, Inc. to Artivion, Inc. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol of “AORT” and traded under the symbol “CRY” prior to January 24, 2022.

Corporate Structure

Our main operating subsidiaries include JOTEC GmbH (“JOTEC”), a Hechingen, Germany-based endovascular and surgical products company acquired on December 1, 2017, and On-X Life Technologies, Inc. (“On-X”On-X LTI”), an Austin, Texas-based mechanical heart valve company acquired on January 20, 2016, Ascyrus Medical GmbH, a manufacturing entity founded in September 2020, as well as separateapproximately twenty additional country entities to support direct sales operations in Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. Additionally, we have entities in Australia, China, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, to provide sales and marketing support forthroughout the Asia Pacific region.

world.

Segments and Geographic Information

We have two reportable segments organized according to our products and services: Medical Devices and Preservation Services. The Medical Devices segment includes revenues from sales of aortic stents and stent grafts, surgical sealants, On-X products, and other product revenues. The Preservation Services segment includes services revenues from the preservation of cardiac and vascular implantable human tissues. See Part II, Item 8, Note 1816 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for further information on our segments and for our geographic information.

Strategy

Artivion is committed to partnering with surgeons and cardiologists to deliver innovative technologies of unsurpassed quality that restore the health of patients with aortic disease. Our strategic plan is focused on four growth areas that we expect to drive our business in the future. We plan to drive growth through:

New Products – Through product development and commercialization of new and next-generation products and services focused on aortic repair;

New Indications – Through regulatory approvals in new markets and for new products, and through approvals for expanded indications for our existing products and services;

Global Expansion – By entering new international markets, establishing new international direct sales territories, and developing our commercial infrastructure in new markets, including emerging markets, such as China and Brazil; and

Business Development – By pursuing select acquisitions, licensing, and distribution opportunities that are aligned to our objectives and complement our existing products, services, and infrastructure. Examples include our acquisitions of JOTEC, On-X LTI, and Ascyrus Medical LLC (“Ascyrus”), and our distribution agreement and purchase option for NEXUS.NEXUS and NEXUS DUO (the “NEXUS Products”). To the extent that we identify, develop, or acquire non-core products or applications, we may dispose of these assets or pursue licensing or distribution agreements with third-party partners for development or commercialization such as with the sale of the PerClot product line.

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Markets, Products, Services, and Competition

Our medical devices and preservation services are primarily used by cardiac and vascular surgeons to treat patients with aortic disease, including heart valve disease, aortic aneurysms and dissections, and, to a lesser extent, other conditions in cardiac and vascular surgery.

We face competition from several domestic and international medical device, pharmaceutical, and biopharmaceutical companies and from both for-profit and non-profit tissue processors. Many of our current and potential competitors have greater financial and personnel resources than we have. Some of these competitors might have greater experience in developing products, procuring tissues, conducting clinical trials, and obtaining regulatory approvals, and they might have large contracts with hospitals under which they can obtain purchase requirements that place our products at a disadvantage. Some of these competitors might obtain patent protection or approval or clearance by the US Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or foreign regulators sooner than we do. Some might have superior manufacturing efficiency, tissue processing capacity, and/or marketing capabilities. We cannot assureensure that our current or future competitors will not succeed in developing alternative technologies, products, or services that have advantages over those that have been, or are being, developed by us or that would render our products or technologies obsolete or non-competitive. Any of these competitive disadvantages could materially, adversely affect us.

We discuss the disease states in which we compete and our products, services, and technologies that treat these diseases below.

Aortic Disease

Aortic Valve Disease

Patients with heart disease can experience valve insufficiency, regurgitation, or stenosis that may require heart valve repair or replacement surgery. Patients with congenital cardiac defects such as Tetralogytetralogy of Fallot, Truncus Arteriosus,fallot, truncus arteriosus, and Pulmonary Atresiapulmonary atresia can require complex cardiac reconstructive surgery to repair the defect. A variety of tissues and synthetic materials are implanted in these cardiac procedures. Implantable human tissues (homografts)(allografts) and animal tissues (xenografts) as well as other synthetic materials may be used in cardiac procedures. Implantable devices may be entirely synthetic, such as mechanical heart valves, or contain both synthetic materials and xenograft tissue components, such as bioprosthetic heart valves. These devices may be implanted surgically through open heart surgery, or in some cases, without sternotomy through transcatheter valve replacement.
Mechanical heart valves are durable and often last for the remainder of a patient’s life without replacement, even for relatively young patients with long life expectancies. Mechanical heart valves are readily available and are a less expensive solution for those requiring a heart valve replacement. PatientsPatients who receive mechanical heart valves are required to undergo long-term blood thinning or anticoagulation drug therapy to minimize the risk of thromboembolism, stroke, or other complications from the formation of blood clots.

Bioprosthetic heart valves are readily available and are a relatively inexpensive solution for those requiring a valve replacement. Bioprosthetic heart valves contain bovine, equine, or porcine tissues that are typically processed with glutaraldehyde, which may result in progressive calcification, or hardening of the tissue over time, reducing the lifespan of the device. Bioprosthetic heart valves usually have a life of 7 to 2015 years, after which the valve typically must be replaced. These valves typically contain a synthetic sewing ring to facilitate surgical implantation. Patients receiving a bioprosthetic heart valve may not require long-term anticoagulation drug therapy, although some of these patients may require anticoagulation drug therapy for other heart or vascular conditions that are common in this patient population.

Multiple heart valve replacements, each requiring open heart surgery, can be a significant concern for patients, particularly younger patients that tend to choose mechanical heart valves over bioprosthetic heart valves. On the other hand, the requirement that mechanical heart valve recipients undergo long-term anticoagulation drug therapy can be a concern for patients that tends to causemay lead some patients to choose bioprosthetic heart valves over mechanical heart valves.
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Both mechanical heart valves and bioprosthetic heart valves contain a synthetic sewing ring to facilitate surgical implantation of the device. The sewing rings of both mechanical and bioprosthetic heart valves are synthetic materials that may harbor bacteria and lead to endocarditis and infection that can be difficult to treat with antibiotics. Patients with an infected mechanical or bioprosthetic heart valve may require valve replacement surgery. The 2013 Society of Thoracic Surgeons Guidelines, as published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, have increased the indication (from Class II to Class I) and broadened the scope for using an aortic homograft,allograft, or a human heart valve, during aortic valve replacement surgery due to endocarditis. The Class

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I indication means that an aortic homograftallograft is the recommended course of treatment when endocarditis has functionally destroyed the aortic valve annulus. The previous Class II indication meant that it was an acceptable course of treatment. Consequently, for many physicians, human heart valves are the preferred alternative to animal-derived and mechanical valves for patients who have, or are at risk to contract, endocarditis.

Human heart valves are used in valve replacement procedures. Human heart valves allow for more normal blood flow, often provide higher cardiac output than mechanical and bioprosthetic heart valves, and do not require long-term anticoagulation drug therapy. Human tissue responds better to treatment for infections, and consequently, for many physicians, human heart valves are the preferred alternative to animal-derived and mechanical heart valves for patients who have, or are at risk to contract, endocarditis. Human tissue valves also are also not as susceptible to progressive calcification as glutaraldehyde-fixed bioprosthetic tissues. A Ross Procedure may be a preferred surgical technique by physicians and patients, particularly for young patients, due to the human heart valve’s long-term resistance to calcification and the patient’s relative freedom from re-intervention surgery. In a Ross Procedure, a diseased aortic valve is replaced with a patient’s own pulmonary valve, which is in turn replaced with a donated human pulmonary valve.
Human tissue patches are used in a variety of cardiac repair procedures. Human vascular tissues are used in cardiac and vascular bypass surgery. The transplant of any human tissue that has not been preserved, however, must be accomplished within extremely short time limits. Cryopreservation, or cooling and storing at extremely cold temperatures, expands the treatment options available by extending these timelines. Cryopreserved human tissue patches and human vascular tissues are available for use in a variety of cardiac and vascular procedures.

We currently market the On-X aortic and mitral mechanical heart valves for valve replacement procedures. We also market our cardiac preservation services, including our CryoValve® and CryoValve SG human tissues, for heart valve replacement surgeries and our CryoPatch® and CryoPatch SG human tissues for cardiac repair procedures. Our PhotoFix product is a bovine patch device used for cardiac and vascular repair.

Aortic Aneurysms

The aorta is the main artery that carries blood out of the heart throughfrom the aortic valve to the rest of the body. It extends upwards from the heart through the aortic arch and then down through the chest and into the abdomen, where it divides into arteries that supply each leg. leg. The aorta is comprised of five segments: ascending, arch, thoracic, thoraco-abdominal, and abdominal. In some patients, part of the aorta can become abnormally large or bulge, referred to as an “aneurysm.”

An aneurysm results from a weakening in the wall of an aorta, which causes the aorta to progressively “balloon” or expand in size. Although an aneurysm can develop anywhere along the aorta, most occur in the section running through the abdomen (abdominal aortic aneurysms or “AAA”). Others occur in the section that runs through the chest (thoracic aortic aneurysms or “TAA”) or the area between the chest and the abdomen (thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms or “TAAA”). The precise cause of aortic aneurysms is uncertain, but risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and being male. As an aneurysm grows, the wall of the aorta is progressively weakened until it can split or tear resulting in a ruptured aorta or an aortic dissection. Left untreated, aortic aneurysms can result in a ruptured aorta, leading to death.

There are two types of aortic aneurysm repair: open surgical repair and endovascular repair. Open surgical repair can result in reasonable long-term survival but carries risks especially in older patients and those with other serious medical conditions. During open surgical repair, a vascular graft is implanted from above the aneurysm to below the aneurysm in the aorta. Blood will then flow through the graft. This surgery reinforces the diseased aorta and reduces the chance of vessel rupture.

Endovascular repair is a minimally invasive procedure, during which a stent graft is delivered through the femoral artery to the area in the aorta needing repair. The stent graft expands inside the aorta and becomes the new channel for blood flow. The stent graft shields the aneurysm and helps prevent more pressure from building on it, thus preventing it from rupturing.
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Following our acquisition of JOTEC, we began commercialization of a broad portfolio of endovascular products for repair of aortic aneurysms. These include highly differentiated products, such as E-xtra Design Engineering,, a portfolio of stent grafts tailor-made for a patient’s anatomy for TAAA repair, and the E-liacTM for repair of aneurysms in the iliac arteries, as well as less differentiated products, including the E-vita® Thoracic 3G for TAA repair and the E-tegraTM for AAA repair.

Aortic Dissections

An aortic dissection occurs when the innermost layer of the aorta tears and blood surges through the tear separating the inner layer from the outer layers of the aorta. Younger patients with inherited connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan Syndrome,syndrome, and patients with bicuspid aortic valves (two leaflets on the valve instead of three) are more likely to develop aortic dissection.dissection. In addition, asas an aneurysm grows, the wall of the aorta is progressively weakened until it can split or tear, resulting in a ruptured aorta or an aortic dissection.dissection. Left untreated, an aortic dissection often results in a ruptured aorta, leading to death.

Aortic dissections often begin in the ascending aorta or aortic arch and may also have an aneurysm or an aortic dissection extending down the descending thoracic aorta. Often, the dissection in the aortic arch and the condition in the descending thoracic aorta are repaired in a two-stage procedure, with one open surgical procedure to repair the arch followed by another procedure to repair the descending thoracic aorta.aorta. We sell the E-vita Open Plus, E-vita Open Neo,NEO, and AMDS as well as distribute the NEXUS Products to treat these conditions impacting the aortic arch and thoracic aorta.

Other Disease States – Peripheral Vascular Disease and End Stage Renal Disease

Patients with peripheral vascular disease can experience reduced blood flow, usually in the arms and legs. This can result in poor circulation, pain, and sores that do not heal. Failure to achieve revascularization of an obstructed vessel may result in the loss of a limb or even death of the patient. When patients require peripheral bypass surgery, the surgeon’s first choice generally is a graft of the patient’s own tissue (an autograft). In cases of advanced vascular disease, however, patients may not have suitable vascular tissue for transplantation. Other vascular repair procedures include procedures related to infected abdominal aortic grafts, vascular access for dialysis patients, carotid endarterectomy, and vessel repair. These procedures may include the use of bioprosthetic grafts or patches, synthetic grafts or patches, or donated human vascular tissues. Alternative treatments may include the repair, partial removal, or complete removal of the damaged tissue.

End-stage renal disease (“ESRD”) refers to the stage of renal disease when the kidneys do not work well enough for the patient to live without on-going dialysis or kidney transplant.transplant. Patients with ESRD often undergo hemodialysis through an access site with an implanted vascular graft. We market our CryoVein® femoral vein and CryoArtery® femoral artery vascular preservation services for vascular access.

Bioprosthetic vascular grafts and patches,, including those made of bovine or porcine tissue, can be used for a variety of vascular repair procedures. Bioprosthetic grafts are readily available and are a relatively inexpensive solution for those requiring a vascular repair procedure. Bioprosthetic tissues are typically processed with glutaraldehyde, which may result in progressive calcification.

Synthetic vascular grafts and patches can be used for a variety of vascular repair procedures. Synthetic grafts are readily available and are a relatively inexpensive solution for those requiring a vascular repair procedure. Synthetic grafts and patches, however, are generally not suitable for use in infected areas because they may harbor bacteria and are difficult to treat with antibiotics. Synthetic vascular grafts have a tendency to obstruct over time, particularly in below-the-knee surgeries.

Human vascular tissues tend to respond better to treatment for infection and remain open and accessible for longer periods of time and, as such, are used in indications where synthetic grafts typically fail, such as in infected areas and for below-the-knee surgeries. Human vascular and arterial tissues are also used in a variety of other reconstruction procedures such as cardiac bypass surgery and as vascular access grafts for hemodialysis patients.patients. The transplant of human tissue that has not been preserved must be accomplished within extremely short time limits. Cryopreservation expands the treatment options available by extending these timelines.

We market our vascular preservation services, including our CryoVein and CryoArtery tissues, and a synthetic surgical graft portfolio for peripheral vascular reconstruction surgeries.
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Product Categories and Products

On-X Mechanical Heart Valves

The On-X product line includes the On-X prosthetic aortic and mitral heart valves and the On-X ascending aortic prosthesis (“AAP”). We also distribute CarbonAid® CO2 diffusion catheters and sell Chord-X® ePTFE sutures for mitral chordal replacement, and we offer pyrolytic carbon coating services to other medical device manufacturers as part of the On-X family of products.

On-X heart valves are bileaflet mechanical valves composed of a graphite substrate coated with On-X’sour silicon-free pyrolytic carbon coating that provides a smooth microstructure surface. We believe that the smooth pyrolytic carbon surface and other characteristics of the valve, such as full, 90-degree leaflet opening of the valve and flared valve inlet, contribute to the flow dynamics of the On-X valve. The On-X AAP is an On-X aortic valve combined with a synthetic vascular graft to allow physicians to more conveniently treat patients requiring both an aortic valve replacement and replacement of a portion of the ascending aorta with an aortic graft. Each device is available in a range of valve sizes in a variety of sewing ring options to suit physicians’ preferences, along with dedicated instruments to facilitate valve sizing and implantation. On-X heart valves are FDA approved for the replacement of diseased, damaged, or malfunctioning native or prosthetic heart valves in the aortic and mitral positions and are classified as a Class III medical device. We also hold a Conformité Européene Mark product certification (“CE Mark”) for On-X heart valves.

All mechanical heart valve patients require long-term anticoagulation drug therapy with a drug called warfarin to reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke. Because warfarin can also cause a risk of harmful bleeding, dosage must be monitored and may require adjustment over time. Certain dietary restrictions may also be imposed on warfarin patients.

PROACT was a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial comparing a reduced versus standard warfarin dose for On-X heart valve recipients.

In the aortic valve replacement arm of PROACT, the reduced warfarin dose group had 60% fewer bleeding events without an increased risk of stroke. As a consequence, in 2015 the FDA approved the On-X aortic valve for use with a lower INR (International Normalized Ratio), which means that patients with On-X aortic heart valves can be managed on lower doses of warfarin for anticoagulation. This new indication was, and still is, unique to the On-X aortic valve.valve and was based on a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial called PROACT comparing a reduced versus standard warfarin dose for On-X heart valve recipients. In the aortic valve replacement arm of the trial, the reduced warfarin dose group had 60% fewer bleeding events without an increased risk of stroke. The 2020 American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology guidelines specifically mentioned On-X aortic heart valves as the only mechanical aortic heart valve that can be managed at a low INR of 1.5-2.0. Recent real-world data from 510 On-X aortic heart valve patients was presented at the 2023 Annual European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Conference and showed one-year outcomes of On-X aortic heart valves at low INR (1.5-2.0) reduces risk of major bleeding by more than 84%, proving safe for patients with no significant increase in thromboembolic events and no valve thrombosis.

While use of a lower INR has been approved for the On-X aortic heart valve, such use for the On-Xin mechanical mitral heart valve was submitted tovalves has not been approved by the FDA in mid-2021 and is still under FDA review. We currently anticipate receiving FDA approval in 2022.

While patients with an On-X aortic heart valve can be safely maintained at a lower INR, patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valves would still benefit by elimination of the need for warfarin anticoagulation therapy, due to warfarin’s significant drawbacks for patients including the need to frequently draw blood for monitoring and to observe certain dietary and alcohol restrictions. We believe that providing an acceptable alternative to warfarin anticoagulation may increase the number of patients choosing an On-X aortic heart valve not only due to the valve’s existing durability and clinical superiority, but also due to the ability to avoid warfarin.

As a result, Artivion initiated the PROACT Xa clinical trial to determine if patients with an On-X aortic valve can be maintained safely and effectively on apixaban as an alternative to warfarin, given the drawbacks associated with warfarin.  This prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial is on-going with enrollment anticipated to be completed in 2022.

FDA.

On-X heart valves compete primarily with mechanical valves from Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic, plc. (“Medtronic”), and CORCYMCorcym S.r.l. (who completed acquisition of the LivaNova heart valve business in June 2021) (“Corcym”). On-X heart valves compete with these products based on their features and benefits, such as full, 90-degree leaflet opening, pure pyrolytic carbon, flared inlet, and approved labeling claim for reduced INR for aortic valves.

We began selling On-X heart valves in January 2016 following our acquisition of On-X.On-X LTI. We sell On-X heart valves throughout the world including North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (collectively, “EMEA”), Asia Pacific (“APAC”), and Latin America (“LATAM”).

Aortic Stents and Stent Grafts

Hybrid stent grafts, surgical grafts, and endovascular stent grafts can be used in the treatment of complex and thoracic and abdominal aortic disease, such as aortic dissections and aortic aneurysms, as well as in other aortic and peripheral procedures.

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Thoracic Stents and Stent Grafts

E-vita Open Neo andNEO
The E-vita Open NEO is the next generation of the E-vita Open Plus

hybrid stent graft, with an updated delivery system and improved handling. We obtained a CE Mark for E-vita Open PlusNEO in the first quarter of 2020 and began limited distribution of E-vita Open NEO in the second quarter of 2020 with full product launch in the fourth quarter of 2020.
E-vita Open NEO is a hybrid stent graft system used in the treatment of patients with either an aneurysm or dissection in the aortic arch and in the descending thoracic aorta. The E-vita Open PlusNEO stent graft system enables a one-stage treatment to repair this condition through a combined surgical and endovascular treatment, providing a more cost-effective solution for the healthcare system and allowing the patient to avoid an additional operation.

operation.
We hold aobtained marketing approvals in addition to the CE Mark for the E-vita Open Plus and additional marketing approvals have been grantedNEO in other countries throughout the world. The E-vita Open PlusNEO competes outside the US with products from Terumo Medical Corporation (“Terumo”), formerly Vascutek) and two smaller competitors.companies. We do not currently sell E-vita Open Plus in the US and we believe there are no competitive products currently being commercializedNEO in the US. The E-vita Open Plus NEO competes in the EUEurope primarily on its proven stent graft technology and long-term clinical data.

The E-vita Open Neo is the next generation hybrid stent graftCE Mark for the E-vita Open Plus that has an improved handlingexpired in 2022 and delivery system. We obtained a CE Mark for E-vita Open Neo in the first quarter of 2020 and began limited distribution of E-vita Open Neo inproduct will be discontinued when the second quarter of 2020 with full product launch in the fourth quarter of 2020.remaining inventory is depleted.

AMDS

TM

We acquired Ascyrus Medical LLC (“Ascyrus”) in September 2020. Ascyrus has developed the AMDS hybrid prosthesis, the world's first aortic arch remodeling device for use in the treatment of acute Type A aortic dissection. Hemi-arch reconstruction is the standard of care for the treatment of acute Type A aortic dissection. AMDS is used as a complement to, and in conjunction with, hemi-arch reconstruction without adding technical complexity to this life-saving procedure. The design of the AMDS allows for rapid deployment of the graft in the aortic arch during a standard replacement of the ascending aorta, adding on average less than fivefifteen minutes to the procedure time. The deployment of the AMDS preserves the native arch, potentially allowing for minimally invasive re-interventions as needed, including the repair of additional entry tears, rather than an invasive arch repair. In the Dissected Aorta Repair Through Stent (“DARTS”) clinical trial supporting its CE Mark and Health Canada approvals, the AMDS was shown to reduce mortality, complications, and reoperations compared to the standard of care, thereby improving the care of patients and offering significant cost savings for the health care system.

AMDS indirectly competes with other manufacturers’ standard open surgical repair and hybrid procedures including aortic debranching and frozen elephant trunk technique for total arch replacement.

We began selling AMDS in September 2020 following the acquisition of Ascyrus. We sell AMDS outside of the US, including in EMEA, Canada, APAC, and LATAM. We have begun Enrollment for the PERSEVERE clinical trial to gain US approval andwas completed in November of 2023. We currently anticipate first enrollmentreceiving a Premarket Approval (“PMA”) from the FDA for the AMDS in late 2025.
NEXUS Products
We distribute the first half of 2022.

NEXUS

We acquired the exclusive distribution rights Products in certain countries in Europe for NEXUS in September 2019 fromunder an exclusive distribution agreement with Endospan Ltd. (“Endospan”), an Israeli corporation (“Endospan”).corporation. Endospan holds a CE Mark for NEXUS which is the only endovascular stent graft system approved for the repair of both aneurysms and dissections in the aortic arch and markets the NEXUS DUO as a custom-made alternative for flexible aortic arch repair. NEXUS DUO is a low profile, custom made aortic arch system designed to treat a range of aortic arch pathologies including chronic dissection, aortic aneurysm, penetrating aortic ulcer, as well as intramural hematoma. Unlike the NEXUS off-the-shelf device, NEXUS DUO includes a secondary branch designed to minimize surgical preparation for patients undergoing endovascular repair of the aortic arch. While open surgical repair remains the standard of care for complete aortic arch replacement, endovascular repair offers an alternative, less invasive procedure to treat the aortic arch with decreased surgical morbidity and mortality. The ability to repair the aortic arch with an endovascular approach is especially advantageous for elderly patients who are not suited for open surgery and for patients who were previously treated for a Type A dissection in an open surgical approach. The addition of the NEXUS Products to our highly differentiated aortic stent graft portfolio further strengthens our position as a leader in the aortic repair market.
Several
Several other manufacturers are introducing competitive products through the custom-made device process in Europe and the early feasibility process within the United States,US, including Cook, Gore, and Bolton Medical.Terumo. The NEXUS Products also competescompete with other manufacturers’ standard open repair and hybrid procedures including aortic debranching, frozen elephant trunk, and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (“TEVAR”) with chimneys or snorkels.
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We began distribution of NEXUS in the fourth quarter of 2019 in EMEA.

The first implant of the next generation NEXUS DUO, the dual branch graft system in the NEXUS product line, occurred in the fourth quarter of 2022 as a limited market release.

We also entered into a securities purchase option agreement with Endospan in September 2019 which provides us the option to purchase all the outstanding securities of Endospan from Endospan’s securityholders at the time of acquisition (or the option to acquire all of Endospan’s assets) up through a certain period of time after FDA approval of NEXUS. Endospan is currently enrolling patients in their US pivotal IDE trial, TRIOMPHE.

E-vita Thoracic 3G

The E-vita Thoracic 3G is a stent graft system that enables endovascular treatment of TAAs. Its unique spring configuration gives the stent graft flexibility, helping the stent graft adapt to the vessel's shape and ensuring a good seal at the landing zone, even in the case of complex vascular anatomy. Compared to its competing products, its different proximal and distal stent graft configurations, as well as straight and conical designs, enable individual treatment of the diseased aorta. The product line includes a wide portfolio of tapered versions from proximal to distal. The wide variety ensures the possibility of adapting the stent graft to the native course of the descending aorta.aorta. The E-vita Thoracic 3G is sometimes used in conjunction with the E-vita Open PlusNEO and E-xtra Design Engineering.

We holdEngineering.

Until 2022 we held a CE Mark for the E-vita Thoracic 3G andadditional marketing approvals have been granted in several other countries throughout the world. The E-vita Thoracic 3G competes primarily with products from Medtronic, Gore, Terumo, and Cook.

E-nya

The E-nya is a thoracic stent graft system for the minimally invasive repair of lesions of the descending aorta, including thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. The E-nya system was designed to give physicians more options and control while treating both simple and challenging anatomies. The E-nya builds upon JOTEC’s experience in the thoracic endovascular aortic repair market and increases the number of options to treat a broader range of patients.  The system offers both bare spring and covered proximal configurations with tip capture technology, enhancing control and predictability during deployment while achieving optimal outcomes.  The lower profile graft material leverages JOTEC’s expertise in textile manufacturing and is designed for both flexibility in conformance and long-term durability.E-nya competes primarily with products from Medtronic, Gore, Cook, and Terumo.

We obtained a CE Mark for E-nya in the fourth quarter of 2019 and began limited distribution of E-nya in the second quarter of 2020. We have temporarily suspended this limited release while we implement modifications in response to customer feedback and hope to resume limited market release in early 2023.

AbdominalCook.

Thoraco-abdominal Stents and Stent Grafts

E-xtra Design Engineering

E-xtra Design Engineering is a comprehensive range of stent graft systems for the treatment of aortic vascular diseases that enables surgeons to quickly and efficiently respond to an individual patient’s therapeutic requirements. E-xtra Design Engineering stent graft systems are tailor-made for individual patients based on imaging of the patient’s own aorta. There are currently only limited off-the-shelf products to treat aneurysms in the thoraco-abdominal aorta due to the many side branches in this anatomy where blood flow to vital organs would be obstructed by unbranched stent grafts. JOTEC hasWe have pioneered a service whereby it manufactureswe can manufacture a customized thoraco-abdominal stent graft within 3 weeks.in three weeks or less. Our custom E-xtra Design Engineering stent graft systems aresystem includes TAAA and ArtivexTM Thoracic Extension Stent Graft System (“Artivex”). Our custom TAAA is often used in conjunction with E-vita Thoracic 3G, as well as the AAA offering, the E-tegra, or in combination with both.

We sell In December 2023 we launched Artivex as part of our E-xtra Design Engineering stent graft systems in EMEA. Artivex is indicated for use in both thoraco-abdominal aneurysms and dissections extending into the thoraco-abdominal aorta.

We sell custom TAAA, and anticipate selling Artivex during fiscal year 2024, in EMEA and in a limited number of other countries around the world. E-xtra Design Engineering TAAA competes with customized product offerings from Cook and Terumo. Artivex competes with other thoracic extension products marketed by Medtronic, Gore, Terumo, and Cook.


E-nside TM

The E-nside TAAA multibranch stent graft system is an off-the-shelf stent graft with pre-cannulated inner branches indicated for treatment of patients with thoraco-abdominal disease. The E-nside’s pre-cannulated inner branches are designed to reduce the overall procedure time which reduces the patient’s exposure to radiation. The vast majority of patients with thoraco-abdominal disease are treated with risky, invasive open surgical procedures, characterized by lengthy hospitalization periods and prolonged recuperation, or with custom-made stent grafts which can take up to 90 days to manufacture. We believe the addition of E-nside positions us well to capture share in the European aortic stent graft market because E-xtra Design Engineering provides patient-specific solutions, and E-nside provides an off-the-shelf solution. Further, there are synergies between E-nside and our portfolio of thoracic and abdominal stent grafts. E-nside competes with products from Cook and Terumo.

Cook.

We obtained a CE Mark for E-nside in the fourth quarter of 2019 and began limited selling of E-nside in the second quarter of 2020. We fully launched E-nside in 2021.
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Abdominal and Peripheral Stents and Stent Grafts
E-tegra TM

The E-tegra is a AAA stent graft system with special stent design for secure sealing that makes difficult vascular anatomies treatable, thus expanding endovascular treatment options for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. The design of the E-tegra enables optimal fixation and sealing. It is a proximal laser cut stent with anchors for suprarenal stent graft fixation. Its asymmetric stent design and seamless cover ensure excellent adaptation to the vessel. The product also features a low-profile delivery system with its unique squeeze-to-release mechanism supporting the user by ensuring excellent control during each phase of the implantation.implantation. The E-tegra is often used in combination with E-xtra Design Engineering and the E-liac.

We hold a CE Mark for the E-tegra and additionaladditional marketing approvals have been granted in several other countries throughout the world. The E-tegra competes with products from several companies including Medtronic, Gore, Terumo, Endologix, and Cook.

Cook.

E-ventus TM BX

E-ventus BX is a balloon-expandable peripheral stent graft indicated for the endovascular treatment of renal and pelvic arteries in cases of ruptures, dissections, and aneurysms. The E-ventus BX stent graft hasgrafts have a combination of high flexibility together with high radial strength through the combination of the microporous single-layer ePTFE cover and the cobalt chromium stent. The E-ventus BX stent graft featuresgrafts feature minimal recoil and foreshortening and enables secure fixation and positioning in the vessel. The E-ventus BX delivery system has a highly flexible catheter that allows easy advancement in the vessel and enables lesions to be reliably reached by the catheter. Radiopaque markers on the delivery system enable secure and accurate positioning of the stent graft.graft. The E-ventus BX is often used in conjunction with E-xtra Design Engineering products, E-nside stent graft,grafts, and the E-liac stent graft.

graft.

The E-ventus BX haswas manufactured by Bentley, who holds a CE Mark for that product and additionaladditional marketing approvals in several other countries throughout the world. The E-ventus BX competes with products from Maquet, Gore, BD, and Bentley InnoMed.

We received the final production lots of E-ventus BX in May 2023 and we anticipate substantially depleting the remaining inventory through the first quarter of fiscal year 2024.

E-liac TM

The E-liac is a stent graft used to treat aneurysmal iliac arteries as well as aneurysmal iliac side branches. The E-liac is a self-expanding stent graft characterized by easy and safe handling, which makes it possible to safely reach the lesion and accurately position the stent graft in the vessel. We estimate that 20% of patients who have an AAA also have an aneurysmal iliac artery, and as such, the E-liac is often used in conjunction with the E-tegra AAA device as well as one or two E-ventus BX devices.

devices.

We hold a CE Mark for the E-liac and additionaladditional marketing approvals have been granted in several other countries throughout the world. The E-liac competes with products from Gore and Cook.

Cook.
Synthetic Vascular Grafts

In addition to our endovascular stent graft offerings, we have a broad line of synthetic vascular grafts that are used in open aortic and peripheral vascular surgical procedures. Our offerings include ePTFE grafts and both woven and knitted polyester

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grafts. Not only are we able to manufacture and sell a broad line of synthetic vascular graft offerings, but also, we are able to manufacture our own nitinol stents, given our expertise incorporating nitinol in our synthetic graft systems.

Our synthetic surgical vascular grafts have CE Marks andadditional marketing approvals have been granted in several other countries throughout the world. Our synthetic grafts compete with products from Bard, a subsidiary of BD, Gore, LeMaitre, Vascutek,Terumo, and Maquet.

Surgical Sealants

Closing internal wounds effectively following surgical procedures is critical to the restoration of the function of tissue and to the ultimate success of the surgical procedure. Failure to seal surgical wounds effectively can result in leakage of blood in cardiac surgeries, air in lung surgeries, and cerebrospinal fluid in neurosurgeries potentially resulting in prolonged hospitalization, greater post-operative pain, higher costs, and higher mortality rates.
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Sutures and staples facilitate healing by joining wound edges to allow the body to heal naturally. Sutures and staples, however, cannot consistently eliminate air and fluid leakage at the wound site, particularly when used to close tissues containing air or fluids under pressure, such as in blood vessels, the lobes of the lung, and the dural membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord. In some cases, the tissues may be friable, which complicates surgical wound closure. In addition, it can be difficult and time consuming for the physician to apply sutures and staples in minimally invasive surgical procedures where the physician must operate through small access openings. We believe that the use of surgical adhesives and sealants, with or without sutures and staples, in certain areas can enhance the efficacy of these procedures through more effective and rapid wound closure.
Our proprietary BioGlue product is a polymer consisting of bovine blood protein and an agent for cross-linking proteins, which was developed for use in cardiac, vascular, neurologic, and pulmonary procedures. BioGlue is stronger than other cardiovascular sealants with a tensile strength that is four to five times that of fibrin sealants. BioGlue begins to polymerize within 20 to 30 seconds, and reaches its bonding strength within two minutes, and it adheres to tissues in a wet field. BioGlue is dispensed through a controlled delivery system that consists of a disposable syringe and various applicator tips. BioGlue syringes are available in pre-filled 2ml, 5ml, and 10ml volumes with applicator tips suitable for various applications.
BioGlue is FDA approved as an adjunct to sutures and staples for use in adult patients in open surgical repair of large vessels. We distribute BioGlue under CE Mark for repair of soft tissues (which include cardiac, vascular, and pulmonary) (See also, “Government Regulation – International Approval Requirements” and Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors—Industry RisksOur products and tissues are highly regulated and subject to significant quality and regulatory risks.” for additional discussion about our BioGlue CE Mark). We also distribute BioGlue in Japan where it is approved for adhesion and support of hemostasis for aortotomy closure sites, suture/anastomosis sites (including aortic dissection and anastomosis sites with use of a prosthetic graft), and suture sites on the heart. Additional marketing approvals have been granted for specified applications in severalnumerous other countries throughout the world.
BioGlue competes primarily with surgical sealants from Baxter; Ethicon;Baxter, Ethicon, Grena Ltd, Integra LifeSciences;LifeSciences, and Bard, a subsidiary of BD. BioGlue competes with these products based on its features and benefits, such as its strength and ease of use.
We sell BioGlue throughout the world including North America, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM.

Preservation Services

Cardiac Preservation Services
Our proprietary preservation process involves our dissection, processing, preservation, and storage of donated human tissues until they are shipped to a hospital where they are implanted by physicians. The cardiac tissues we currently preserve include aortic and pulmonary heart valves and cardiac patches in three primary pulmonary anatomic configurations: hemi-artery, trunk, and branch. These tissues more closely resemble in structure, and simulate the performance of, the patient’s own tissue compared to non-human tissue alternatives. Our cardiac tissues are used in a variety of valve replacement and cardiac reconstruction surgeries. We believe the human tissues we distribute offer specific clinical advantages over mechanical, synthetic, and bioprosthetic alternatives. Depending on the alternative, the clinical advantages of our heart valves include more natural blood flow properties, better results in patients who have endocarditis, no requirement for long-term drug therapy to prevent excessive blood clotting, and a reduced risk of catastrophic failure, thromboembolism, (stroke),stroke, or deterioration due to calcification.

Our cardiac tissues include the CryoValve® SG pulmonary heart valve (“CryoValve SGPV”) and the CryoPatch® SG pulmonary cardiac patch (“CryoPatch SG”) which are both processed with our proprietary SynerGraft® decellularization technology. A multi-center study showed that, at 10 years, freedom from conduit dysfunction was significantly better in patients receiving our proprietary SynerGraft SGPV valves (83%) compared with patients receiving standard allografts (60%(58%).

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We believe that the human heart valves preserved by us compare favorably with bioprosthetic and mechanical valves for certain indications and patient populations, and that the human cardiac patches preserved by us compare favorably with xenograft small intestine submucosa (“SIS”) and glutaraldehyde fixed bovine pericardial patches due to the benefits of human tissue discussed above. Human tissue is preferred by many physicians as the replacement alternative with respect to certain medical conditions, such as pediatric cardiac reconstruction, congenital cardiac defect repair,, valve replacements for women in their child-bearing years, and valve replacements for patients with endocarditis. In addition, implantationimplantation of SynerGraft treated cardiac tissue reduces the risk for induction of Class I and Class II alloantibodies, based on Panel Reactive Antibody (“PRA”) measured at up to one year, compared to standard processed cardiac tissues. We believe that this reduced risk may provide a competitive advantage for CryoValve SGPV and CryoPatch SG for patients who later need a whole organ transplant, because an increased PRA can decrease the number of possible donors for subsequent organ transplants and increase time on transplant waiting lists.

lists.
Two other domestic tissue processors, LifeNet Health (“LifeNet”) and LeMaitre Vascular (“LeMaitre”), offer preserved human heart valves and patches in competition with us. We believe that we compete favorably on the basis of surgeon preference, documented clinical data, technology, and customer service, particularly with respect to the capabilities of our field representatives. Alternatives to human heart valves processed by us include valve repair and valve replacement with bioprosthetic valves or mechanical valves. We compete with bioprosthetic or mechanical valves from companies including Medtronic, Edwards Life Sciences, CORCYM (who completed acquisition of the LivaNova heart valve business in June 2021),Lifesciences, Corcym, and Abbott Laboratories. Laboratories. Alternatives to our human cardiac patches include xenograft SIS and glutaraldehyde fixed bovine pericardial patches. We compete with these xenograft products from companies including Aziyo Biologics, Edwards Life Sciences,Lifesciences, Anteris Technologies, Abbott Laboratories, and Baxter.

We ship human cardiac tissues to implanting institutions throughout the US. Our CryoValve SGPV and CryoPatch SG are distributed under 510(k) clearance from the FDA. We also ship limited tissues in Canada and other countries under special access programs.

Vascular Preservation Services
Our proprietary preservation process involves our dissection, processing, preservation, and storage of donated human tissues until they are shipped to a hospital for implantation by a physician. The vascular tissues currently preserved by us includesaphenous veins, aortoiliac arteries, and femoral veins and arteries. Each of these tissues maintains a structure which more closely resembles and simulates the performance of the patient’s own tissue compared to non-human tissue alternatives. Our vascular tissues are used to treat a variety of vascular reconstructions, such as peripheral bypass, hemodialysis access, and aortic infections, which have saved the lives and limbs of patients. We believe the human tissues we distribute offer specific advantages over synthetic and bioprosthesis alternatives, particularly for the treatment of infection in hemodialysis and peripheral bypass patients. Human tissue is not as susceptible to infection as synthetic alternatives and more closely simulates the performance of the patient’s own tissue and vasculature compared to non-human tissue alternatives.
Two other domestic tissue processors, LifeNet and LeMaitre, offer preserved vascular tissue in competition with us. There are also a number of providers of synthetic and bioprosthetic alternatives to vascular tissues preserved by us and those alternatives are available primarily in medium and large diameters. Our vascular tissues compete with products from Gore, BD, LeMaitre, and Maquet.

We believe that we compete favorably with other entities that preserve human vascular tissues on the basis of surgeon preference, documented clinical data, technology, and customer service, particularly with respect to the capabilities of our field representatives.

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Other Technologies

Products
PhotoFix
PhotoFix is a bovine pericardial patch fixated using a dye-mediated photo-oxidation process without the use of glutaraldehyde. We hold FDA 510(k) clearance and previously held a CE Mark for PhotoFix which is indicated for use in intracardiac repair, great vessel repair, suture line buttressing, pericardial closure, and vascular repair and reconstruction (for example: the carotid, iliac, femoral, and tibial blood vessels as well as arteriovenous access revisions).

We are currently transitioning our PhotoFix CE Mark to our new Notified Body, DEKRA. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors—Industry Risks—Our products and tissues are highly regulated and subject to significant quality and regulatory risks,” for a discussion of the risks related to our PhotoFix CE Mark.

Our PhotoFix product line competes with bioprosthetic and synthetic cardiac and vascular patch offerings from several other companies, including Baxter, LeMaitre, Aziyo Biologics, and Abbott Laboratories, based on PhotoFix’s features and benefits, such as the photo-oxidation cross-linking process that does not use glutaraldehyde.

glutaraldehyde.
We sell PhotoFix in North America, EMEA, and APAC.

CardioGenesis Cardiac Laser Therapy for Angina Treatment

Angina consists of pressure, discomfort, or pain in the chest typically due to narrowed or blocked arteries that are also a cause of ischemic heart disease. Patients with severe angina are often treated with surgical procedures including angioplasty or coronary artery bypass or with medications such as aspirin, nitrates, beta-blockers, statins, or calcium channel blockers. Pain may be chronic or may become pronounced with exercise. Angina can also be treated with Transmyocardial Revascularization (“TMR”), a procedure that can be performed as an open surgical procedure or through a minimally invasive surgery either as a stand-alone procedure or concurrently with coronary artery bypass. During TMR, the surgeon uses a disposable handpiece to deliver precise bursts of laser energy directly to an area of heart muscle that is suffering from ischemic heart disease through a small incision or small ports with the patient under general anesthesia and without stopping the heart. TMR is typically performed with a CO2 or Holmium: YAG laser. It takes approximately 6 to 10 pulses of the laser to traverse the myocardium and create channels of one millimeter in diameter. During a typical procedure, approximately 20 to 40 channels are made in the heart muscle.

The external openings seal with little blood loss. Angina usually subsides with improved oxygen supply to the targeted areas of the damaged heart muscle. We currently sell the CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapyproduct line to perform TMR.

Our CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy product line consists of Holmium: YAG laser consoles, related service and maintenance, and single-use, fiber-optic handpieces, which are used in TMR to treat patients with severe angina resulting from diffuse coronary artery disease. Patients undergoing TMR treatment with CardioGenesis products have been shown to have angina reduction, longer event-free survival, reduction in cardiac related hospitalizations, and increased exercise tolerance. Our SolarGen 2100s Console (“console”) uses the solid-state technology of the Holmium: YAG laser system to provide a stable and reliable energy platform that is designed to deliver precise energy output. The console has an advanced electronic and cooling system technology, which allows for a smaller and lighter system, while providing 115V power capability. We also provide service plan options to ensure that the console is operating within the critical factory specifications. We sell the SoloGrip® III disposable handpieces (“handpieces”), which consist of multiple, fine fiber-optic strands in a one-millimeter diameter bundle and are designed to work with the console. The handpiece has an ergonomic design and is pre-calibrated in the factory to provide easy and convenient access for treating all regions of the left ventricle. See Part 1, Item I, “BusinessSuppliers, Sources, and Availability of Raw Materials and Tissues,” for a discussion of the limitations around our supply of handpieces and consoles.

The CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy product line is FDA approved for treating patients with severe angina that are not responsive to conventional therapy. We began selling the CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy product line primarily in the US in May 2011 when we completed the acquisition of CardiogenesisCardioGenesis Corporation.

Our CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapycompetes with other methods Due to supply-related factors outside of our control, we abandoned the business as of June 2023. See Part II, Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for further information on the treatment of coronary artery disease, including drug therapy, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass surgery, and enhanced external counter pulsation. There is currently no directly competitive laser technology for the performance of TMR as Stryker discontinued the directly competitive CO2 Heart Laser System. Currently, Laser Engineering Inc. services the Stryker laser system, but no more handpieces are being sold. Our CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy product competes with other methods for the treatment of coronary artery disease on the basis of its ease of use, versatility, size of laser console, and improved access to the treatment area with a smaller fiber-optic system.

business abandonment.

We did not have a supply of handpieces for cardiac laser therapy while we waited for the FDA to approve our supplier’s change in manufacturing location through our Premarket Approval (“PMA”)-supplement. In January 2021 we received PMA-S approval for this change in manufacturing site and we resumed limited sales of TMR handpieces in the fourth quarter of 2021.We sell handpieces and consoles primarily in the US.

PerClot

Hemostatic agents are frequently utilized as an adjunct to sutures and staples to control intraoperative bleeding. Hemostatic agents prevent excess blood loss and can help maintain good visibility of the operative site. These products may reduce operating room time and decrease the number of blood transfusions required in surgical procedures. Hemostatic agents are available in various forms including pads, sponges, liquids, and powders.

PerClot is an absorbable powdered hemostat, consisting of plant starch modified into ultra-hydrophilic, adhesive-forming hemostatic polymers. PerClot granules are biocompatible, absorbable polysaccharides containing no animal or human components. PerClot granules have a molecular structure that rapidly absorbs water, forming a gelled adhesive matrix that provides a mechanical barrier to any further bleeding and results in the accumulation of platelets, red blood cells, and coagulation proteins (thrombin, fibrinogen, etc.) at the site of application. PerClot does not require additional operating room preparation or special storage conditions and is easy to apply. PerClot is readily dissolved by saline irrigation and is totally absorbed by the body within several days.

PerClot has a CE Mark and additional marketing approvals have been granted in a number of other countries throughout the world. PerClot is indicated for use in surgical procedures, including cardiac, vascular, orthopaedic, neurological, gynecological, ENT, and trauma surgery as an adjunct hemostat when control of bleeding from capillary, venular, or arteriolar vessels by pressure, ligature, and other conventional means is either ineffective or impractical.

PerClot competes with various topical absorbable hemostats including offerings from Pfizer, Baxter, Ethicon, Bard, and BioCer Entwicklungs. Other competitive products may include topical thrombin and fibrin sealants. A number of companies have surgical hemostat products under development. PerClot competes on the basis of safety, clinical efficacy, absorption rates, and ease of use.

In September 2010 we entered into a distribution agreement and a license and manufacturing agreement with Starch Medical, Inc. (“SMI”), which allowed us to distribute PerClot, a powdered hemostatic agent, worldwide, except a few countries. In July 2021 we entered into an asset purchase agreement and other ancillary agreements related to the sale of PerClot to a subsidiary of Baxter and an agreement to terminate all of our material agreements with SMI related to PerClot (collectively the “Baxter Transaction”). Under the terms of the Baxter Transaction, we will continue to provide to Baxter certain transition, and manufacturing, and supply services relating to the sale of SMI PerClot outside of the US and manufacture and supply of PerClot to Baxter postin the US.
In May 2023 we obtained FDA PMA approval.

In January 2019 we completed enrolling patients in a clinical trial for the purpose of obtaining FDA PMA approval. In conjunction with Baxter, we submitted the PMAapproval to the FDAcommercialize PerClot in the third quarter of 2021,US, which we transferred to Baxter, and began manufacturing and supplying PerClot for Baxter, as discussed further in “Research and Development and Clinical Research” below.

Marketing and Distribution

In the US and Canada, we market our products and preservation services primarily to physicians and sell our products through our approximately 50-person direct sales team to hospitals and other healthcare facilities. We also have a team of regional managers, a national accounts manager,managers, and sales and marketing management. Through our field representatives and our physician relations and education department, we conduct field training for surgeons regarding the surgical applications of our products and tissues.
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In EMEA, we market our products through our European headquarters, based in Hechingen, Germany, as well as through several other subsidiaries based throughout Europe. We employ approximately 90100 direct field service representatives and distributor managers across several countries in the EMEA region in Germany, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, and Ireland.region. We provide customer service, logistics, marketing, and clinical support to cardiac, vascular, thoracic, and general surgeons throughout the EMEA region.

In APAC and LATAM, we commercialize our products through our independent distributors and our subsidiaries through approximately 3040 sales and clinical support specialists.

Our physician relations and education staff, clinical research staff, and field representatives assist physicians by providing educational materials, seminars, and clinics on methods for using our products and implanting tissue preserved by us, including virtual and remote programs in 2021.programs. We sponsor programs, and work with other companies such as Endospan to sponsor programs, where surgeons train other surgeons in best-practice techniques. In addition, we host several workshops throughout the year that provide didactic and hands-on training to surgeons. We also produce educational videos for physicians and coordinate peer-to-peer training at various medical institutions. We believe that these activities enhance the medical community’s understanding of the clinical benefits of the products and tissues offered by us and help to differentiate us from other medical device companies and tissue processors.

Our human tissues are obtained in the US through organ and tissue procurement organizations (“OPOs”) and tissue banks. To assist OPOs and tissue banks, we provide educational materials and training on procurement, dissection, packaging, and shipping techniques. We produce educational videos and coordinate laboratory sessions for OPO and tissue bank personnel to improve their recovery techniques and increase the yield of usable tissue. We also maintain staff 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, for OPO and tissue bank support.

Suppliers, Sources, and Availability of Raw Materials and Tissues

We obtain a number of our raw materials and supplies from a global supply base. The materials and supplies used in our product manufacturing and tissue processing are subject to regulatory requirements and oversight. If materials or supplies used in our processesmanufacturing or tissue processing fail to meet these requirements or are subject to regulatory enforcement action, they may have to be scrapped, or our products or tissues could be rejected during or after processing, recalled, or rejected by customers. In these cases, we may have to immediately scrap raw or in processin-process materials orand expense the costs of manufacturing or preservation.

In addition, if these materials or supplies, or changes to them, do not receive regulatory approval or are recalled, if the related suppliers and/or their facilities are shut down temporarily or permanently, for any reason, or if the related suppliers are otherwise unable or unwilling to supply us, we may not have sufficient materials or supplies to manufacture our products or process tissues. In addition, we rely on contract manufacturers to manufacture some of our products or to provide additional manufacturing capacity for some products. If these contract manufacturers fail to meet our quality standards or other requirements or if they are unable or unwilling to supply thethese products, we may not be able to meet demand for these products. Our ability to fully recover all possible losses from these suppliers and contract manufacturers may have practical limitations imposed by factors like industry standard contractual terms or the financial resources of the adverse party.

Some of the materials, supplies, and services used in our product manufacturing and tissue processing, as well as some of our products, are sourced from single- or sole-source suppliers. As a result, our ability to negotiate favorable terms with those suppliers may be limited, and if those suppliers experience operational, financial, quality, or regulatory difficulties, or if those suppliers and/or their facilities refuse to supply us or they and/or their facilities cease operations temporarily or permanently, or if those suppliers take unreasonable business positions, we could be forced to cease product manufacturing or tissue processing until the suppliers resume operations, until alternative suppliers cancould be identified and qualified, or permanently if the suppliers do not resume operations and no alternative suppliers could be identified and qualified. We could also be forced to purchase alternative materials, supplies, or services with unfavorable terms due to diminished bargaining power. Ongoing sustaining efforts are in process to find alternative suppliers for single- or sole-source raw materials, supplies, and services wherever feasible. The process of qualifying alternative suppliers and manufacturers could result in additional costs or lengthy delays or may not be possible.

Finally, the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, has continued to impact the wars in Ukraine and in the Gaza Strip and around Israel, and other macroeconomic factors are impactingthe global supply chain; the pandemic’stheir impact on workforces, global mobility, material availability, demand, shipping, reorder time, and reliability has reportedly continued or worsened in many cases. Any of these adverse outcomes could have a material, adverse effect on our revenues or profitability.

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Additional attention has been appliedTable of Contents
We have established operating mechanisms in place to managingmanage this increased risk and we will continue to adjust as necessary into the future. See also Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors – Operational Risks” for our disclosures of risks related to suppliers, sources, and availability of raw materials and tissues.

Operations, Manufacturing, and Tissue Preservation

We conduct all of our owninternal manufacturing operations at three facilities: Austin, Texas for On-X products, Hechingen, Germany for JOTEC Products,internally manufactured aortic stent grafts, and Kennesaw, Georgia for allmost other products and services. The NEXUS product is solelyCertain aortic stent graft assemblies are manufactured for us by Endospana contract manufacturer in Herzelia, Israel, and theSlovakia. The AMDS product is solely manufactured by a contract manufacturersupplier in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Carolina, and the NEXUS Products are solely manufactured by Endospan in Herzliya, Israel.

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risks due to our international operations and continued global expansion,” for a discussion of risks related to our global footprint.

We maintain a facility, facility—which contains our corporate headquarters, manufacturing, and laboratory space, space—and an additional off-site warehouse, in Kennesaw, Georgia. We manufacture BioGlue, PhotoFix, and PhotoFixPerClot and process human tissues at this facility.Our headquarters also includes a CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy console maintenance and evaluation laboratory space.

We maintain a facility of combined manufacturing and office space in Atlanta, Georgia which we sublet to a third-party beginning in 2018.

Our On-X facility consists of combined manufacturing, warehouse, and office space in Austin, Texas, where our On-X products, including On-X heart valves and AAPs, are manufactured.

Our JOTECaortic stent graft facility consists of combined manufacturing, warehousing, and office space in Hechingen, Germany and is our EMEA headquarters.

headquarters.

We also maintain sales offices, some of which have distribution operations, in Brazil, the UK,Greece, Italy, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, and Switzerland. the UK. See also Part I, Item 2, “Properties.”

In all of our facilities, we are subject to regulatory standards for good manufacturing practices, including current Quality System Regulations, which are the FDA regulatory requirements for medical device manufacturers, and current Good Tissue Practices (“cGTPs”), which are the FDA regulatory requirements for the processing of human tissue. We also operate according to International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) 13485 Quality System Requirements, an internationally recognized voluntary system of quality management for companies that design, develop, manufacture, distribute, and service medical devices. We maintain a Certification of Approval to ISO 13485.

The Medical Device Directive (“MDD”) is the governing document for the European Economic Area (“EEA”) that details requirements for safety and risk of devices.  The Medical Device Regulation (“MDR”) replaced MDD on May 26, 2021 and imposes more stringent requirements on manufacturers and European Notified Bodies, who have already begun the transition to these new requirements. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors—Industry Risks—Our products and tissues are highly regulated and subject to significant quality and regulatory risks,” for a discussion of risks related to the transition to MDR and “Government Regulation – International Approval Requirements” for additional discussion about the MDR transition.

We employ a comprehensive quality assurance program in our product manufacturing and tissue preservation activities. Materials,Raw materials, solutions, and other components utilized in our manufacturing and tissue processing operations as well as certain subassemblies and finished goods manufactured by third parties are received and inspected by trained quality control personnel according to written specifications and standard operating procedures. Those items found to comply with our standards are utilized in our operations. Materials,Raw materials, solution, components, subassemblies, and tissues are documented throughout manufacturing or processing to assureensure traceability.

We evaluate and inspect both our manufactured and distributed products to ensure conformity to product specifications. Processes are validated to review whether products manufactured meet our specifications. Each process is documented along with inspection results, including final finished product inspection and acceptance. Records are maintained as to the consignees of products to track product performance and to facilitate product removals or corrections, if necessary.

We maintain controls over our tissue processing to ensure conformity with our procedures. OPOs and tissue banks must follow our procedures related to tissue recovery practices and are subject to periodic audits to confirm compliance. Samples are taken from donated tissue for microbiological testing, and tissue must be shown to be free of certain detectable microbial contaminants before being released for distribution. Tissue processing records and donor information are reviewed to identify characteristics that would disqualify the tissue for processing or implantation. Once tissue is released for distribution, it is moved from quarantine to an implantable status. Tissue is stored by us until it is shipped to a hospital, where the tissue is thawed and implanted immediately or held in a liquid nitrogen freezer pending implantation.

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Backlog

As of December 31, 2021,2023 we did not have a firmsignificant backlog of orders related to our medical devices. The limited supply of certain types or sizes of preserved tissue can result in a backlog of orders for these tissues. The amount of backlog fluctuates based on the tissues available for shipment and the surgical needs of specific cases. Our backlog of human tissue consists mostly of pediatric tissues that have limited availability. Our backlog is generally not considered firm and must be confirmed with the customer before shipment. Certain JOTEC Productsaortic stent grafts products are specifically designed to meet specifications of a particular patient which can result in a limited backlog of these products. We did not have a supply of handpieces for cardiac laser therapy until the fourth quarter of 2021. We resumed limited sales of handpieces in the fourth quarter of 2021 following the FDA approval of our supplier’s change in manufacturing location through our PMA-supplement.

Government Regulation

Medical devices and human tissues are subject to a number of regulations from various government bodies including US federal, state, and local governments, as well as various international governments and regulatory bodies. Government regulations are continually evolving, and requirements may change with or without notice. Changes in government regulations or changes in the enforcement of existing government regulations could have a material, adverse impact on us. See also Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for a discussion of risks related to government regulations.

US Federal Regulation of Medical Devices

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”) provides that, unless exempted by regulation, medical devices may not be distributed in the US unless they have been approved or cleared by the FDA. Medical devices may receive clearance through either a pre-market notification (also known as the 510(k) processprocess) or ana PMA. Prior to approval, through an investigational device exemptionexemptions (“IDE”) allow investigational devices to be used in clinical studies in order to collect safety and PMA process.

effectiveness data.

Under a Section 510(k) process, a medical device manufacturer provides the FDA with premarket notification that it intends to begin commercializing a product and showsdemonstrates to the FDA that the product is substantially equivalent to another legally marketed predicate product.device. To be found substantially equivalent to a predicate device, the device must be for the same intended use and have either the same technological characteristics as the predicate or different technological characteristics that do not raise newdifferent questions of safety or effectiveness. In some cases, the submission must include data from clinical studies in order to demonstrate substantial equivalency to a predicate device. Commercialization may commence when the FDA issues a clearance letter finding such substantial equivalence.

FDA regulations require approval through the IDE/PMA process for all Class III medical devices and for medical devices not deemed substantially equivalent to a predicate device. An IDE authorizes distribution of devices that lack PMA or 510(k) clearance for clinical evaluation purposes. After a product is subjected to clinical testing under an IDE, we may file a PMA application. Once a PMA application has been submitted, the FDA’s review may be lengthy and may include requests for additional data, which may require us to undertake additional human clinical studies. Commercialization of the device may begin when the FDA approves the PMA.

The FDCA requires all medical device manufacturers and distributors to register with the FDA annually and to provide the FDA with a list of those medical devices they distribute commercially. The FDCA also requires manufacturers of medical devices to comply with labeling requirements and to manufacture devices in accordance with Quality System Regulations, which require that companies manufacture their products and maintain their documents in compliance with good manufacturing practices, including:including design, document production, process, labeling and packaging controls, process validation, and other applicable quality control activities. The FDA’s medical device reporting regulation requires that a device manufacturer provide information to the FDA on death or serious injuries alleged to have been associated with the use of its products, as well as product malfunctions that would likely cause or contribute to death or serious injury if the malfunction were to recur. The FDA further requires that certain medical devices that may not be sold in the US follow certain procedures before they are exported. The FDA periodically inspects our facilities to review our compliance with these and other regulations and has authority to seize non-complying medical devices, enjoin and/or impose civil penalties on manufacturers and distributors marketing non-complying medical devices, criminally prosecute violators, and order recalls in certain instances.

The following products are, or we believe would be, upon approval, classified as Class III medical devices: BioGlue, On-X heart valves, On-X AAP, PerClot, CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy, E-vita Open Plus, E-VitaE-vita Open Neo, NEO, E-vita Thoracic 3G, E-tegra, E-liac, E-nya, E-nside, the NEXUS Products, and AMDS. CryoPatch SG is classified as a Class II medical device. We obtained 510(k) clearance from the FDA to commercialize the CryoValve SGPV; however, these tissues are not officially classified as Class II or III medical devices.

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InBeginning in December 2019 we learned thatand most recently in the fall 2023, the FDA is preparingindicted that it was planning to issue a proposed rule for reclassification of more than minimally manipulated (“MMM”) allograft heart valves, which could include our CryoValve SGPV, from unclassified medical devices reviewed through the 510(k) process to Class III (PMA) medical devices. Following aany comment period and subsequent publication of a final rule, should the CryoValve SGPV be determined to be MMM or classified as a Class III device, we currently expect to have approximately thirty months to submit a PMA application, after which the FDA will determine if, and for how long, we may continue to provide these tissues to customers during its review of the PMA application. To date,Although this proposed rule change has, to our knowledge, remained on the FDAHHS's unified regulatory agenda since 2019, no final rule has not issued a final rule. been published at this time. See also Part I, Item 1A, “Risk FactorsFactors—Industry RisksRisks— Reclassification by the FDA of CryoValve SGPV may make it commercially infeasible to continue processing the CryoValve SGPV”. SGPV.”

US Federal Regulation of Human Tissue

The FDA regulates human tissues pursuant to Section 361 of the Public Health Services Act, which in turn provides the regulatory framework for regulation of human cellular and tissue products. The FDA regulations focus on donor screening and testing to prevent the introduction, transmission, and spread of HIV-1 and -2, Hepatitis B and C, and other communicable diseases and disease agents. The regulations set minimum requirements to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases from human tissue used for transplantation. The regulations define human tissue as any tissue derived from a human body which is (i) intended for administration to another human for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any condition or disease and (ii) recovered, preserved, stored, or distributed by methods not intended to change tissue function or characteristics. The FDA definition excludes, among other things, tissue that currently is regulated as a human drug, biological product, or medical device, and it also excludes kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, or any other vascularized human organ. The current regulations applicable to human tissues include requirements for donor suitability, processing standards, establishment registration, product listing, testing, and screening for risks of communicable diseases. The FDA periodically audits our tissue preservation facilities for compliance with its requirements and has the authority to enjoin the distribution, force a recall, or require the destruction of tissues that do not meet its requirements.

NOTA Regulation

Our activities in preserving and transporting human hearts and certain other organs are also subject to federal regulation under the National Organ Transplant Act (“NOTA”), which makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly acquire, receive, or otherwise transfer any human organ for valuable consideration for use in human transplantation if the transfer affects interstate commerce. NOTA excludes from the definition of “valuable consideration” reasonable payments associated with the removal, transportation, implantation, processing, preservation, quality control, and storage of a human organ. The purpose of this statutory provision is to allow for compensation for legitimate services. We believe that, to the extent our activities are subject to NOTA, we meet this statutory provision relating to the reasonableness of our charges.

State Licensing Requirements

Some states have enacted statutes and regulations governing the manufacture, sale, marketing, or distribution of medical devices, and we believe we are in compliance with such applicable state laws and regulations.

Some states have enacted statutes and regulations governing the preservation, transportation, and storage of human organs and tissues. The activities we engage in require us to be either licensed or registered as a clinical laboratory or tissue bank under California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Oregon law. We have such licenses or registrations, and we believe we are in compliance with applicable state laws and regulations relating to clinical laboratories and tissue banks that store, preserve, and distribute donated human tissue designed to be used for medical purposes in human beings.

Some of our employees have obtained other required state licenses. The regulatory bodies of states may perform inspections of our facilities as required to ensure compliance with state laws and regulations.
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International Approval Requirements

Sales of medical devices and shipments of human tissues outside the US are subject to international regulatory requirements that vary widely from country to country. Approval of a product by comparable regulatory authorities of other countries must be obtained and compliance with applicable regulations for tissues must be met prior to commercial distribution of the products or human tissues in those countries. The time required to obtain these approvals may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA approval. Countries in which we distribute products and tissue may perform inspections of our facilities to ensure compliance with local country regulations.

The EEAEuropean Economic Area (“EEA”) recognizes a single medical device approval (the CE Mark) which allows for distribution of an approved product throughout the EEA without additional general applications in each country. Individual EEA members, however, reserve the right to require additional labeling or information to address particular patient safety issues prior to allowing marketing. Third-partiesThird parties called “Notified Bodies” award the CE Mark. These Notified Bodies are approved and subject to review by the “Competent Authorities” of their respective countries. Our Notified Bodies perform periodic on-site inspections to independently review our compliance with systems and regulatory requirements. A number of countries outside of the EEA accept the CE Mark in lieu of marketing submissions as an addendum to that country’s application process. We have CE Marks for On-X heart valves, On-X AAP, On-X Chord-X sutures, E-vita Open Plus, E-vita Open Neo, E-vita Thoracic 3G,NEO, E-tegra, E-liac, E-nya, E-nside, AMDS, and other devices. In addition, E-ventus BX and NEXUS, which we distribute, have CE Marks.

We work with a number

The Medical Device Directive (“MDD”) was the governing document for the EEA that detailed requirements for safety and risk of organizations officially designated asdevices. The Medical Device Regulation (“MDR”) replaced MDD on May 26, 2021 and places stricter requirements on manufacturers and the European Notified Bodies who have been designated by the various European Union Member States to perform assessments of compliance to the MDD and MDR for our various product lines. These organizations include LNE/G-Med (“G-Med”), Deutscher Kraftfahrzeug-Überwachungs-Verein (“DEKRA”), the British Standards Institute (“BSI”), and DQS Holding GmbH (“DQS”). These organizations as well as Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance Limited (“LRQA”) also perform assessments and issue certifications affirming compliance to quality system standard ISO 13485:2016. In addition, weMDR. We work with auditing organizations BSIa number of notified bodies and DEKRA to perform assessments affirming compliancethe transition from the MDD to the Medical Device Single Audit Program (“MDSAP”), which certifies conformance to the regulations of five key jurisdictions: the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, and Brazil. 

MDR is ongoing.

As a result of the UK’s exit from the European Union, or “Brexit,” the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) has announced in the third quarter of 2023 that the UK government (MHRA) extended the acceptance of CE marked medical devices beyond the original date of June 2023. CE Marking will continue to be recognized in the UK and certificates issued by EU-recognized Notified bodiesBodies (with a valid declaration and CE marking under MDD) will continue to be valid in the UK market until June 30, 2023. Going forward, all2028. General medical devices marketed inand custom-made devices under MDR compliance can be placed on the UK will require UK Conformity Assessed (“UKCA”) Marks certifiedmarket until June 30, 2030. As of September 2023 the Swiss government (Swissmedic) declared Class III and IIb devices with a valid CE Mark issued under the MDD can remain on the Swiss market until December 31, 2027 so long as the manufacturer maintains a QMS in compliance with EU MDR and has a formal application with a notified body for an MDR CE Mark by May 26, 2024. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors—Industry Risks—Our products and tissues are highly regulated and subject to significant quality and regulatory risks,” for a UK Approved Body (the re-designationdiscussion of risks related to the UK Notified Body)transition to MDR.

On June 13, 2019 LRQAone of our notified bodies, Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance Limited (“LRQA”) informed us that it would no longer provide Notified Body services for medical devices effective September 2019. The governing German competent authority, the Regierungspraesidium-Tubingen,Regierungspräsidium Tübingen, granted us an extended grace period until December 31, 2021 to transfer LRQA-issued certifications for BioGlue and PhotoFix to a new Notified Body. WeAlthough our BioGlue CE Mark has been successfully transferred to our new Notified Body, we are currentlystill in the process of transferring BioGlue and PhotoFix to our new Notified Body, DEKRA. While positive progress has been made, DEKRA has been unablefailure to schedule andtimely complete the last audit, a Phase 2 onsite audit, for our registration due to COVID-19 restrictions on travel, staffing shortages, and workload related to the transition to the MDR. We currently have sufficient inventory on the markettransfer or any other delays in the EU to cover customer demand for a period of the transition. We also are currently requesting derogations from certain individual European countries to allow us to continue to commercialize BioGlue in those countries if our inventory is insufficient to cover demand and until we can complete the certification process with DEKRA. Failure to obtain such derogationsMDR transition, may have a material, adverse effect on our ability to supply demandPhotoFix in affected jurisdictions and have a material, adverse impact on our business. See also Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors—Industry Risks—Our products and tissues are highly regulated and subject to significant quality and regulatory risks,,” for a discussion of the risks related to LRQA’s decision.

decision, the MDR transition, and Brexit.

Environmental Matters

Our tissue preservation activities generate some biomedical wastes, consisting primarily of human and animal pathological and biological wastes, including human and animal tissue and body fluids removed during laboratory procedures. The biomedical wastes generated by us are placed in appropriately constructed and labeled containers and are segregated from other wastes generated by us. We contract with third-partiesthird parties for transport, treatment, and disposal of biomedical waste.
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Some of our products, including ourcertain On-X products, are sterilized using ethylene oxide (“EtO”). Although we have a small-scale EtO facility in Austin, Texas, we rely primarily on large-scale EtO facilities to sterilize our products. In addition, some of our suppliers use, or rely upon third parties to use, EtO to sterilize some of our product components. Concerns about the release of EtO into the environment at unsafe levels have led to various regulatory enforcement activities and legal actions against EtO facilities, including resulting in closures and temporary closures, as well as proposals increasing regulations related to EtO. Although we believe we are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, regarding the disposal of our waste resulting from tissue preservation activities, as well as in our other production and sterilization activities, the failure by us, or the companies with which we contract, to comply fully with any such regulations could result in an imposition of penalties, fines, or sanctions, which could materially, adversely affect our business. See also, Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors—Legal, Quality, and Industry Risks—Regulatory Risks—Someenforcement activities or private litigation regarding the use of ethylene oxide (“EtO”), which is used to sterilize some of our products and technologies are subject to significant intellectual property risks and uncertainty,components, could have a material, adverse impact on us,” for additional discussion of risks related to our use of EtO sterilization. We do not currently anticipate any material capital expenditures required for compliance with these laws and regulations relating to our waste disposal and sterilization activities will require any material capital expenditures.

activities.

Research and Development and Clinical Research

We use our technical and scientific expertise to identify market opportunities for new products orand services, orand to expand the use of our current products and services through expanded indications orand product orand tissue enhancements. Our research and development strategy is to allocate most of our available resources among our core market areas based on the potential market size, estimated development time and cost, and the expected efficacy for any potential product or service offering. To the extent we identify new non-core products or additional non-core applications for our core products, we may attempt to license these products to corporate partners for further development or seek funding from outside sources to continue commercial development. We may also attempt to acquire or license additional strategically complementary products or technologies from third-parties to supplement our product lines.

Research on these and other projects is conducted in our research and development laboratory ordepartment and at universities orand clinics where we sponsor research projects. We also conduct preclinical and clinical studies at universities, medical centers, hospitals, and other third-party locations under contract with us. Research is inherently risky, and any potential products or tissuesservices under development ultimately may not be deemed safe or effective or worth commercializing for other reasons and, therefore, may not generate a return on investment for us. Our clinical research department also collects and maintains clinical data on the use and effectiveness of our products and services. We use this data to gain regulatory approvals to market the products and services, to inform third-partiesthird parties on the benefits of our products and services, and to help direct our continuing improvement efforts.

In 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 20192021 we spent approximately $35.5$28.7 million, $24.2$38.9 million, and $23.0$35.5 million, respectively, on research and development activities on new and existing products. These amounts accounted for approximately 12%8%, 10%12%, and 8%12% of our revenues for each of 2023, 2022, and 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

We are in the process of developing orand investigating several new products and technologies, as well as changes and enhancements to our existing products and services. Our strategies for driving growth include new product approvals orand indications, global expansion, and business development. These activities will likely require additional research, new clinical studies, and/or compilation of clinical data.

We are currently seeking regulatory approval for BioGlue in China. Enrollment was completed in the third quarter of 2018 and the submission for market approval was filed in March 2019 with Chinese regulatory authorities who have made additional requests, and expressed several concerns, related to the application. If we cannot satisfy the regulator’s requests and concerns and obtain approval in April 2022,2024, the pending application will expire and no longer be eligible for allowance, requiring the Company to restart or decide to abandon the approval process.

We are currently conducting a clinical trial to assess reduced levels of required anticoagulation or warfarin for the On-X mitral heart valve. Trial results were submitted for regulatory review in 2021 with anticipated FDA and CE Mark approvals in 2022.

At the FDA’s request, we are conducting a post-approval study to collect long-term clinical data for the On-X aortic heart valve managed with reduced warfarin therapy. This study is ongoing and data collection is expected to continue in 2022.through 2027.

The PROACT Xa clinical trial is in its enrollment phase to determine if patients with an On-X aortic heart valve can be maintained safely and effectively on apixaban rather than on warfarin. The trial has enrolled more than half of the patients and we anticipate enrollment to be complete in 2022.

We completed our pivotal clinical trial to gain approval to commercialize PerClot for surgical indications in the US. Enrollment was completed in January 2019 and, in conjunction with Baxter, we submitted theobtained approval for a PMA tofrom the FDA during the third quarterin May 2023.
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Table of 2021. See also Part I, Item 1A, “Risk FactorsContentsOperational RisksOur investment in PerClot is subject to significant risks, including our ability to fully realize our investment by obtaining FDA approval and to successfully commercialize PerClot in the US either directly or indirectly.”

The FDA granted Breakthrough Device Designation in the third quarter of 2019 for the AMDS hybrid prosthesis. The Breakthrough Device Designation program is designed to provide timely access to medical devices that potentially provide a more effective treatment for life-threatening conditions by prioritizing review of its regulatory submissions, thereby expediting the device development process. We will beare conducting a pivotal clinical trial (PERSEVERE) to gain approval to commercialize the AMDS hybrid prosthesis in the US for treatment of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissections. We received IDE approval in the fourth quarter of 2021 and anticipate study initiation and first patientcompleted enrollment of the required patients in the firstfourth quarter of 2022.

2023.

The FDA granted Breakthrough Device Designation in the first quarter of 2020 for Arcevo LSA, and in the second quarter of 2020 for E-vita OPENOpen NEO, representing our next-generation hybrid stent graft system used in the treatment of patients with either an aneurysm or dissection in the aortic arch and in the descending thoracic aorta. The FDA granted Breakthrough Device Designation in the third quarter of 2019 for the E-nside and E-xtra Design Multibranch TAAA devices.

Patents, Licenses, and Other Proprietary Rights

We rely on a combination of patents, trademarks, confidentiality agreements, and security procedures to protect our proprietary products, preservation technology, trade secrets, and know-how. We believe that our patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and technology licensing rights provide us with important competitive advantages. We currently own rights to numerous US and foreign patents and pending patent applications relating to our technology for various product lines. There can be no assurance that any pending applications will ultimately be issued as patents. We have also obtained rights through license and distribution agreements for additional products and technologies, including NEXUS.the NEXUS Products. In the aggregate, these intellectual property assets and licenses are of material importance to our businesses; however, with the exception of BioGlue as discussed below, we believe that no single intellectual property asset or license is material in relation to any segment of our business or to our business as a whole.

The main patent for BioGlue expired in mid-2012 in the US and expired in mid-2013 in the majority of the rest of the world. Although the patents for BioGlue have expired, this technology is still protected by trade secrets and manufacturing know-how, as well as the time and expense to obtain regulatory approvals.

We have confidentiality agreements with our employees, our consultants, and our third-party vendors to maintain the confidentiality of trade secrets and proprietary information. There can be no assurance that the obligations of our employees, consultants, and third-parties,third parties with whom we have entered into confidentiality agreements, will effectively prevent disclosure of our confidential information or provide meaningful protection for our confidential information if there is unauthorized use or disclosure, or that our trade secrets or proprietary information will not be independently developed by our competitors.

See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors—Legal, Quality, and Regulatory RisksRisks—Some of our products and technologies are subject to significant intellectual property risks and uncertainty,” for a discussion of risks related to our patents, licenses, and other proprietary rights.

Seasonality

See Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Seasonality,” regarding seasonality of our products and services.

Human Capital

Overview

As of December 31, 20212023 we had approximately 1,3001,500 employees. Most of our employees are located in Kennesaw, Georgia; Austin, Texas; and Hechingen, Germany. None of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and weWe have never experienced a work stoppage or interruption due to labor disputes. Our employees located in Hechingen, Germany have a Works Council.Council, and our employees in Brazil are affiliated with a union in connection with compensation-related collective bargaining. We believe our relations with our employees worldwide and with the Works Council in Germany and union in Brazil are good.
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Employee Talent and Retention

Our business and future operating results depend in significant part upon the continued contributions of our key personnel, including qualified personnel with medical device and tissue processing experience, and senior management with experience in the medical device or tissue processing space, many of whom would be difficult to replace. Our business and future operating results, including production at our manufacturing and tissue processing facilities, also depend in significant part on our ability to attract and retain qualified management, operations, processing, marketing, sales, and support personnel for our operations.

Our main facilities are in Kennesaw, Georgia; Austin, Texas; and Hechingen, Germany, where the local supply of qualified personnel in the medical device and tissue processing industries is limited and competition for such personnel is intense and has become increasingly more so over the past year.in recent years. We have programs and processes in place to help ensure that our compensation, benefits programs, and work environment attract and retain such personnel, and we strive to enhance those programs and processes to respond to the increasingly competitive market for talent. We also strive to offer competitive equitable pay, comprehensive benefits, and services that retain and meet the varying needs of our employees. The principal purposes of our equity and cash incentive plans and non-officer incentive plans are to attract, retain, motivate, and reward our employees.

Culture

Fostering and maintaining a strong and collaborative culture is a key strategic focus, as evidenced by our core values of collaboration, results driven, and customer focus. We also have ethics and compliance policies that instill a commitment to ethical behavior and legal compliance across theour Company. Employees are encouraged to approach their supervisors if they believe violations of policies have occurred. Employees are also able to confidentially and anonymously report any such violations through an online form or telephone hotline hosted by a third-party provider.

Diversity and Inclusion

We believe that a culture of inclusiondiversity and diversityinclusion enables us to create, develop, and fully leverage the strengths of our workforce to achieve our business objectives. Approximately 58%61% of our global employees are female, and approximately 35%36% of our US based employees are from an underrepresented ethnic or racial community.

The Company strives to provide equal opportunity to all applicants and employees, including those from diverse backgrounds.

We believe that bringing together different perspectives and experiences is fundamental to innovation. In early 2022 we appointed a GlobalChief Diversity Officer to manage and oversee the Company’s diversity and inclusion efforts and goals.

Training and Development

We provide internal training and development programs to employees globally. Such programs include leadership development, office safety, ethics, and various skill-based training programs.

Health and Safety

Protecting the health, safety, health, and well-being of our employees around the world is a key priority. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have remained focusedenhanced our focus on the health and safety of our employees by implementing and enforcing certain COVID-related safety protocols. We provided employees with protective equipment, required the wearing of masks, increased cleaning procedures, provided cleaning supplies, implemented remote work where possible, enhanced our IT systems to facilitate remote work, and improved our cybersecurity protocols.

While a number of these protocols were lessened or eliminated upon the waning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to look for opportunities to provide a safer, healthier, work environment for our employees.

Employee Engagement

We solicit employee feedback to assess employee satisfaction and engagement and to identify opportunities for development. Employee feedback is also gathered through onboarding surveys, the employee review process, spot surveys, and exit surveys.

See also Part II, Item 7, “Effects of COVID-19” for discussion about COVID-19’s impact on our employees, and Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors—Operational Risks—We are dependent on our specialized workforce” for discussion about Human Capital risks.

Risk Factors

Our business is subject to a number of risks. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” below for a discussion of these and other risk factors.

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Available Information

It is our policy to make all our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, available free of charge on our website, www.Artivion.com, on the day of filing. All such filings made on or after November 15, 2002 have been made available on thisour website.

We also make available on the Corporate Governance portion of our website: (i) our Code of Conduct; (ii) our Corporate Governance Guidelines; (iii) the charter of each active committee of our Board of Directors; and (iv) our Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers.Officers; (v) our Insider Trading Policy; (vi) our Corporate Responsibility Report (ESG); and (vii) our Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) Policy. We also intend to disclose any amendments to our Codes of Conduct, or waivers of our Codes of Conduct on behalf of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or Chief Accounting Officer, on the Corporate Governance portion of our website. All of these corporate governance materials are also available free of charge in print to shareholders who request them in writing to: Jean F. Holloway, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary, 1655 Roberts Blvd NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Risks Relating to Our Business

Our business involves a variety of risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, including, among others, the risks discussed below. These risks should be carefully considered together with the other information provided in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other filings with the SEC. Our failure to adequately anticipate or address these risks and uncertainties may have a material, adverse impact on our business, reputation, revenues, financial condition, profitability, and cash flows. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known or knowable to us, or that we currently believe to be immaterial, may also adversely affect our business.

Business and Economic Risks

COVID-19, and similar outbreaks, could have a material, adverse impact on us.

Since early 2020, businesses, communities, and governments worldwide have taken, and continue to take, a wide range of actions to mitigate the spread and impact of COVID-19, leading to an unprecedented impact on the global economy. Hospitals and other healthcare providers have adopted differing approaches to address the surge and resurgence of COVID-19 cases, including their impact on healthcare workers, such as postponing elective and non-emergent procedures, restricting access to their facilities, cancelling elective procedures, or re-allocating scarce resources to some critically ill patients. Although some areas have seen a decline in COVID-19 cases, the potential for additional impact from new variants of COVID-19 and longer than anticipated timelines for widespread therapeutic and vaccine availability and acceptance remain. These conditions have and could continue to impact our activities, including:

Our product sales. Certain regions experienced an impact on revenues in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to COVID-19’s impact on procedure volumes, including an impact on procedure volumes due in part to COVID-19-related healthcare staffing shortages, we have begun to observe additional downstream effects on our business, including an increase in delays or difficulty in collecting certain outstanding receivables, particularly with certain governmental payors in regions heavily impacted by COVID-19. The extent to which our financial performance will be impacted by the pandemic in 2022 and beyond will depend largely on future developments, including changes in hospital utilization rates and staffing, the prevalence and severity of new variants, global availability and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and their effectiveness against variants, and the prevalence of public and private vaccine mandates. COVID-19’s continued or increased impact on our financial performance may also increase the risks we face with respect to managing our indebtedness.

Our business operations. In 2020 we took several steps to address the impact of COVID-19 on our employees, cash consumption, and operations, including reducing expenditures and delaying investments. The reductions and delays we adopted could adversely impact our business operations or delay our recovery from the effects of the pandemic. Although we have begun to scale back many of these steps in most geographies, the COVID-19 virus and its variants remain highly contagious and our efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and its variants among our employees, including our key personnel, and to protect our supply chain, may not succeed. COVID-19 also continues to impact our business partners, including the various regulators and notified bodies that we rely on, which increases the regulatory risks we face, and specifically, the risks we face with respect to timely review and approval of new and renewal certifications, clearances, and approvals for our products.

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Our manufacturing operations. The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to impact the global supply chain; the pandemic’s impact on workforces, global mobility, material availability, demand, and shipping and reorder time and reliability has reportedly continued or worsened in many cases. Although we have yet to experience any material effects of this impact on our supply chain or operations, we face an increasing risk that upstream disruptions may occur. Risks relating to the lingering effects of global supply chain disruptions may even continue after COVID-19’s risk as a global pandemic has subsided.

Our workforce. As some global economies have begun to emerge from the COVID-19 downturn, the expiration of COVID-related hiring freezes, increased opportunities for remote work, the Great Resignation and increasing compensation pressure have resulted in a war for talent and an unprecedent number of career changes. The resulting worker shortages at all levels have impacted supply chains and distribution channels and employers’ ability to adequately staff their operations. This has impacted not only our own ability to attract and retain employees, but also the ability of our customers who face increasing staffing pressures throughout their healthcare organizations.

Our research and development projects. In 2020 and parts of 2021 we reduced spending on research and development projects, including clinical research projects. These reductions could adversely impact future revenue, and additional reductions in spending could be implemented, further impacting future revenue. In addition, our ability to conduct our ongoing research and development projects in markets that are affected by COVID-19 has been, and could continue to be, adversely impacted. Enrollment and timelines for our clinical trials have been, and might continue to be, impacted as healthcare providers reprioritize resources, address staffing shortages, and limit access to healthcare facilities or as patients decline to participate or are hesitant to voluntarily visit healthcare facilities. In addition, staffing shortages and COVID-19-related impacts on government and regulatory agencies have slowed and might continue to slow timelines for regulatory actions, including approvals.

If COVID-19 or its variants continue to spread, if efforts to contain COVID-19 or its variants continue or are unsuccessful, if we experience new outbreaks of COVID-19 in areas previously successful in containing its spread, if staffing shortages impact us, governmental or regulatory bodies, or our customers, if vaccine mandates become more prevalent, or if COVID-19, its variants, or disruptions to the global supply chain impact our supply chain or employee productivity, it could materially, adversely affect our revenues, financial condition, profitability, and cash flows. The nature and extent of these developments are highly uncertain and unpredictable and may vary greatly by region. These adverse developments or a prolonged period of uncertainty could adversely affect our financial performance.

We are subject to a variety of risks due to our international operations and continued global expansion.


Our international operations subject us to a number of risks, which may vary significantly from the risks we face in our US operations, including:

Greater difficulties and costs associated with staffing at all levels, establishing and maintaining internal controls, managing foreign operations and distributor relationships, and selling directly to customers;

Broader exposure to corruption and expanded compliance obligations, including under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Law, local anti-corruption laws, Office of Foreign Asset Control administered sanction programs, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, and other emerging corruption and data privacy regulations;

Overlapping and potentially conflicting, or unexpected changes in, international legal and regulatory requirements or reimbursement policies and programs;

Longer and more expensive collection cycles in certain countries, particularly those in which our primary customers are government-funded hospitals;

Changes in currency exchange rates, particularly fluctuations in the Euro as compared to the US Dollar;Dollar and other inflationary pressures;

Potential adverse financial impact and negative erosion of our operating profit margin over time due to increasing inflationary pressures, particularlyincluding impact felt through our supply chain; our exposure may be increased through our limited ability to raise prices and through global expansion where business occurs with, or pricing is set directly by, government entities, or we are party to long term pricing agreements with governments or local distributors, impacting our ability to pass on rising costs;

Potential adverse tax consequences of overlapping tax structures;structures or potential changes in domestic and international tax policy, laws, and treaties; and

Potential adverse financial and regulatory consequences resulting from Brexit.
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As an example of this risk, via a Ministerial Decree of July 6, 2022, published September 15, 2022, the exitItalian government stated that the spending ceiling for medical devices at the national and regional levels had been exceeded, requiring medical device companies to pay back alleged overpayments the government claims companies received between 2015 and 2018. Currently, Artivion’s repayment exposure for this period is estimated at approximately €400,000, which is subject to change as judicial challenges and negotiations between us, industry, US government representatives, and the Italian government are ongoing.
Our operations and performance have been, and may continue to be, impacted by regional and global geopolitical conditions, domestic and foreign trade and monetary policies, and other factors beyond our control. As an example of these risks, Russia’s military attacks on Ukraine have triggered significant sanctions from the US and foreign governments and retaliatory actions from Russia, resulting in significant banking and trade disruptions. More recently, war has been declared in the Gaza Strip resulting in an expanding regional crisis. These wars have resulted in significant devastation to the people and infrastructure in the region, significantly impacting trade and transportation which may impact our global supply chain, increase prices, and limit our ability to continue to do business in affected regions.
To date, sanctions and other disruptions in the Eastern European region have not materially impacted our business or ability to supply products to Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and the region generally; however, continuation or escalation of the UKwars in Ukraine or the Middle East, or increased export controls or additional sanctions imposed on or by impacted countries, their allies, or related entities could adversely affect our financial performance. Although we do not have any direct operations in Russia, Ukraine, Israel, or Gaza, the NEXUS and NEXUS DUO (the “NEXUS Products”) are solely manufactured by Endospan in Herzliya, Israel. Although we have not experienced any material disruption of supply from Endospan, the European Union,conflict in and around Israel is rapidly evolving. Ultimately, it is difficult to predict the ultimate course of these wars and we may face business operations and supply chain disruptions as a result, including disruptions related to shortages of materials and finished goods, higher costs of materials and freight, freight delays, increased energy costs or “Brexit.”

energy shortages, travel disruptions, currency fluctuation, and disruptions to banking systems or capital markets.

We operate in highly competitive market segments, face competition from large, well-established medical device companies and tissue service providers with greater resources and we may not be able to compete effectively.

The market for our products and services is competitive and affected by new product introductions and activities of other industry participants.participants, including the introduction of novel products and therapies aimed at unrelated disease states or even overall patient health. In addition, such products and therapies like the recently introduced GLP-1 drugs, which we believe have or will have little to no actual impact on demand for our products, can lead to investor and customer confusion and impact the perceived demand for our products. We face intense competition in virtually all of our product lines. A significant percentage of market revenues from competitive products are generated by Baxter, International, Inc.; Ethicon (a Johnson & Johnson Company);, Medtronic, Inc.;plc, Abbott Laboratories;Laboratories, Edwards Lifesciences Corp.;, C.R. Bard, Inc., a (a subsidiary of Becton, Dickinson and Company;Company), Integra Life Sciences Holdings; LifeNet; CORCYM (completed acquisition of the LivaNova heart valve business in June 2021);Holdings, LifeNet, Corcym, Anteris Technologies, Inc.;, Elutia (formerly Aziyo Biologics;Biologics), Cook Medical;Medical, Gore & Associates;Associates, Terumo, Aortic Corp.; LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.;, Maquet, Inc.;, Pfizer, Inc.;, and BioCer Entwicklungs-GmbH. Several of our competitors enjoy competitive advantages over us, including:

Greater financial and other resources for research and development, commercialization, acquisitions, and litigation and to weather the impacts of COVID-19 and increased workforce competition;

Greater name recognition as well as more recognizable trademarks for products similar to products that we sell;

More established record of obtaining and maintaining regulatory product clearances or approvals;

More established relationships with healthcare providers and payors;

Lower cost of goods sold or preservation costs; and

Larger direct sales forces and more established distribution networks.


We are significantly dependent on our revenues from tissue preservation services and are subject to a variety of risks affecting them.

Tissue preservation services are a significant source of our revenues, and as such, we face risks if we are unable to:

Source sufficient quantities of some human tissue or address potential excess supply of others. We rely primarily upon the efforts of third-partiesthird parties to educate the public and foster a willingness to donate tissue. Factors beyond our control such as supply, regulatory changes, negative publicity concerning methods of tissue recovery or disease transmission from donated tissue, or public opinion of the donor process as well as our own reputation in the industry can negatively impact the supply of tissue;

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Compete effectively, as we may be unable to capitalize on our clinical advantages or our competitors may have advantages over us in terms of cost structure, pricing, back-office automation, marketing, and sourcing; or

Mitigate sufficiently the risk that tissue can become contaminated during processing; that processed tissue cannot be end-sterilized and hence carries an inherent risk of infection or disease transmission or that our quality controls can eliminate that risk.

As an example of this risk, in the fourth quarter of 2020 we became aware that a supplier shipped to us a lot of saline solution that we use in our tissue processing that contained some contamination. The contamination was identified by our routine quality controls. While we were able to mitigate the impact of this contamination through our own efforts and additional testing that was reviewed with the FDA, the contaminated solution impacted a small percentage of the tissue processed with this lot of solution, requiring us to write-off approximately $826,000 in contaminated tissues in the fourth quarter of 2020. The written off and temporarily quarantined tissue impacted our ability to fully meet demand for certain tissues and sizes in the fourth quarter of 2020, the first quarter of 2021, and to a lesser extent the second quarter of 2021. Our inability to meet some demand for tissue in the third quarter resulted in part from a shortage of trained staff capable of meeting the increased demand for releasing this quarantined tissue. See also, Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors—Operational Risks— We are dependent on our specialized workforce.”

In addition, US and foreign governmental authorities have adopted laws and regulations that restrict tissue preservation services. Any of these laws or regulations could change, including becoming more restrictive, or our interpretation of them could be challenged by governmental authorities.

We are significantly dependent on our revenues from BioGlue and are subject to a variety of related risks.

BioGlue Surgical Adhesive (“BioGlue”) is a significant source of our revenues, and as such, any risk adversely affecting our BioGlue products or business would likely be material to our financial results. We face the following risks relatedrelating to BioGlue:

Competing effectively with our major and start up competitors, as they may have advantages over us in terms of cost structure, supply chain, pricing, sales force footprint, and brand recognition;

We may be unable to obtain approval to commercialize BioGlue in certain non USnon-US countries as fast as our competitors do of their products or at all. We also may not be able to capitalize on new BioGlue approvals, including for new indications, in non USnon-US countries; and

BioGlue contains a bovine blood protein. Animal-based products are subject to increased scrutiny from the public and regulators, who may seek to impose additional regulations, regulatory hurdles or product bans in certain countries on such products; BioGlue is a mature product and other companies may use the inventions disclosed in expired BioGlue patents to develop and make competing products;products.
As an example of this risk, our BioGlue CE Mark expired in December 2021. Delays in renewing the CE Mark and

challenges securing certain related derogations ultimately impacted the availability of BioGlue faces potential adverse regulatory consequences resultingin certain European markets and other markets reliant on the CE Mark, impacting our revenue from the exit of the UK from the European Union, or “Brexit.”BioGlue in those markets. See also, Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors—Industry Risks— Our products and tissues are highly regulated and subject to significant quality and regulatory risks.” (further discussing the impact of and risks relating to the BioGlue CE Mark).


We are significantly dependent on our revenues from aortic stents and stent grafts and are subject to a variety of related risks.

Aortic stents and stent grafts are a significant source of our revenues, and as such, any risk adversely affecting aortic stents and stent grafts would likely be material to our financial results. We face the following risks relating to aortic stents and stent grafts related risks based on our ability to:

Compete effectively with some of our major competitors, as they may have advantages over us in terms of cost structure, supply chain, pricing, sales force footprint, and brand recognition;

Develop innovative, high quality, and in-demand aortic repair products;

Respond adequately to enhanced regulatory requirements and enforcement activities, and particularly, our ability to obtain regulatory approvals and renewals globally;

Meet demand and manage inventory for aortic stents and stent grafts as we seek to expand our business globally; and

Maintain a productive working relationship with our Works Council in Germany.


We are significantly dependent on our revenues from On-X products and are subject to a variety of related risks.

On-X products are a significant source of our revenues, and as such, any risk adversely affecting our On-X products or business would likely be material to our financial results. We face risks based on our ability to:

Compete effectively with some of our major competitors, as they may have advantages over us in terms of cost structure, supply chain, pricing, sales force footprint, and brand recognition;

Take further market share in the mechanical heart valve market based on the FDA’s approved lower International Normalized Ratio (“INR”)INR indication for the On-X aortic heart valve or complete the associated FDA mandated post-approval studies;

Address clinical trial data or changes in technology that may reduce the demand for mechanical heart valves, such as data regarding transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or “TAVR” devices;

Manage risks associated with less favorable contract terms for On-X products on consignment at hospitals; and

Respond adequately to enhanced international regulatory requirements or enforcement activities; andactivities.


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Receive timely renewal certifications in certain markets.Table of Contents

Continued fluctuation of foreign currencies relative to the US Dollar could materially, adversely affect our business.

The majority of our foreign product revenues are denominated in Euros and, as such, are sensitive to changes in exchange rates. In addition, a portion of our dollar-denominated and euro-denominated product sales are made to customers in other countries who must convert local currencies into US Dollars or Euros in order to purchase these products. We also have balances, such as cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accruals that are denominated in foreign currencies. These foreign currency transactions and balances are sensitive to changes in exchange rates. Additionally, as a result of global inflationary pressures, and in some cases, currency crises, it is possible that foreign currency controls, the development of parallel exchange rates, or highly inflationary economies could arise in certain countries. Fluctuations in exchange rates of Euros or other local currencies in relation to the US Dollar could materially reduce our future revenues as compared to the comparable prior periods. Should this occur, it could have a material, adverse impact on our revenues, financial condition, profitability, and cash flows.

Our charges resulting from acquisitions, restructurings, and integrations may materially, adversely affect the market value of our common stock.

We account for the completion of acquisitions using the purchase method of accounting. Our financial results could be adversely affected by a number of financial adjustments required by purchase accounting such as:

We may incur addedadditional amortization expense over the estimated useful lives of some acquired intangible assets;

We may incur additional depreciation expense as a result of recording purchased tangible assets;

We may be required to incur material charges relating to any impairment of goodwill and intangible assets;

Cost of sales may increase temporarily if acquired inventory is recorded at fair market value;

If acquisition consideration consists of earn-outs, our earnings may be affected by changes in estimates of future contingent consideration; or

Earnings may be affected by transaction and integration costs, which are expensed immediately.

As an example of this risk, in the fourth quarter of 2021, we fully impaired the value of thea securities purchase option agreement with Endospan Option (“Endospan Option”) and fully wrote-down the value of thean agreement for a secured loan from Artivion to Endospan Loan,(“Endospan Loan”), primarily driven by a decrease in forecasted operating results. This impairment, and other potential risks like those mentioned above, may adversely affect the market value of our common stock.


Public health crises have, may continue to have, and could have a material, adverse impact on us.

Beginning in early 2020 businesses, communities, and governments worldwide began taking a wide range of actions to mitigate the spread and impact of COVID-19, leading to an unprecedented impact on the global economy. We continue to be subject to risks relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on broader macroeconomic trends, and risks that may result from future pandemics, epidemics, or other public health crises. The nature and extent of these risks are uncertain and may vary greatly by region, but COVID-19 and similar public health crises have impacted and can impact our workforce, business and manufacturing operations, and our R&D pipeline.

Because of our role in the healthcare industry, we are particularly susceptible to the impact public health crises have on healthcare systems globally, including impacts on system capacity and procedure volumes, shortages in healthcare staffing, and restrictions on travel and non-critical hospital access, all of which have had, may continue to have, and could have an impact on our business operations and sales, particularly through reductions in demand for certain products and services due to reduced procedure volumes, or through downstream financial impact from delays or difficulty collecting outstanding receivables. This impact on healthcare system capacity may also impact our R&D pipeline by impacting timelines for R&D and clinical research projects and timelines associated with regulatory reviews for new and updated devices.

The extent to which COVID-19, its variants, or any future public health crises and the recoveries therefrom impact our operations and broader macroeconomic conditions, will depend largely on future developments that are highly uncertain and unpredictable and may vary greatly by region. This impact and any such adverse developments or prolonged periods of uncertainty could adversely affect our financial performance.

Operational Risks

We are heavily dependent on our suppliers and contract manufacturers to provide quality products.
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The materials and supplies used in our product manufacturing and tissue processing are subject to regulatory requirements and oversight. If materials or supplies used in our processes fail to meet these requirements or are subject to regulatory enforcement action, they may have to be scrapped, or our products or tissues could be rejected during or after processing, recalled, or rejected by customers. In these cases, we may have to immediately scrap raw or in processin-process materials orand expense the costs of manufacturing or preservation.

As an example of this risk, in the fourth quarter of 2020 we became aware that a supplier shipped to us a lot of saline solution that we use in our tissue processing that contained some contamination. The contamination was identified by our routine quality controls. While we were able to mitigate the impact of this contamination through our own efforts and additional testing that was reviewed with the FDA, the contaminated solution impacted a small percentage of the tissue processed with this lot of solution, requiring us to write-off those contaminated tissues in the fourth quarter of 2020 and impacting our ability to fully meet demand for certain tissues and sizes in the fourth quarter of 2020, the first quarter of 2021, and to a lesser extent the second quarter of 2021.202

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In addition, if these materials or supplies, or changes to them, do not receive regulatory approval or are recalled, if the related suppliers and/or their facilities are shut down temporarily or permanently, for any reason, or if the related suppliers are otherwise unable or unwilling to supply us, we may not have sufficient materials or supplies to manufacture our products or process tissues. In addition, we rely on contract manufacturers to manufacture some of our products or to provide additional manufacturing capacity for some products. If these contract manufacturers fail to meet our quality standards or other requirements or if they are unable or unwilling to supply the products, we may not be able to meet demand for these products. Our ability to fully recover all possible losses from these suppliers and contract manufacturers may have practical limitations imposed by factors like industry standard contractual terms or the financial resources of the adverse party. As a further example of this risk, our supplier of TMR handpieces was informed in the fourth quarter of 2021 that the sole-source manufacturer of tubing used in the handpiece assembly had gone out of business, requiring us to work with our supplier to identify and qualify a new supplier before a disruption in handpiece availability occurs.

Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic, has continuedthe wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, work force shortages, exchange rates, and inflation continue to impact the global supply chain; the pandemic’stheir impact on workforces, global mobility, material availability, demand, and shipping and reorder timetimes and reliability has reportedly continued or worsened in many cases. The ongoing wars may add to or exacerbate challenges faced by the global supply chain. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors – Business and Economic Risks – We are subject to a variety of risks due to our international operations and continued global expansion.” Although we have yet to experience any material effects of this impact on our supply chain or operations, we face an increasing risk that upstream disruptions may occur. Risks relating to the lingering effects of global supply chain disruptions may even continue after COVID-19’s risk as a global pandemic hasand the wars in Ukraine and Gaza have subsided.

We are dependent on single and sole-source suppliers and single facilities.

Some of the materials, supplies, and services used in our product manufacturing and tissue processing, as well as some of our products, are sourced from single- or sole-source suppliers. As a result, our ability to negotiate favorable terms with those suppliers may be limited, and if those suppliers experience operational, financial, quality, or regulatory difficulties, or if those suppliers and/or their facilities refuse to supply us or cease operations temporarily or permanently, or if those suppliers take unreasonable business positions, we could be forced to cease product manufacturing or tissue processing until the suppliers resume operations, until alternative suppliers could be identified and qualified, or permanently if the suppliers do not resume operations and no alternative suppliers could be identified and qualified. We also could also be forced to purchase alternative materials, supplies, or services with unfavorable terms due to diminished bargaining power.

As an example of these risks, in 2019 we lost our supply of handpieces for cardiac laser therapy resulting from a manufacturing location change at our supplier that ultimately required a Premarket Approval (“PMA”) supplement and FDA approval before handpiece manufacturing and distribution could resume. Even though the FDA approved the PMA-S, our supplier has beenwas unable to fully resume production due to supply-related factors outside of our control. Due to thesecontrol and other supplier issues, we had virtually no supplyeventually abandoned the business as of handpiecesJune 2023. As a result, we wrote-off all of our CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy assets and recorded an expense of $390,000 during the first three quarterstwelve months ended December 31, 2023 on our Consolidated Statements of 2021. Although handpiece supply resumed on a limited basis during the last quarter of 2021, we remain dependent on a sole-source manufacturer for these handpieces.

Operations and Comprehensive Loss.

By way of additional non-limiting examples, our BioGlue product has three main product components: bovine protein, a cross linker, and a molded plastic resin delivery device. The bovine protein and cross linker are obtained from a small number of qualified suppliers. The delivery devices are manufactured by a single supplier, using resin supplied by a different single supplier. We purchase grafts for our On-X AAP from a single supplier and various other components for our On-X valves come from single sourcesingle-source suppliers.
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Our preservation services business and our ability to supply needed tissues is dependent upon donation of tissues from human donors by donor families. Donated human tissue is procured from deceased human donors by OPOsorgan and tissue procurement organizations (“OPOs”) and tissue banks. We must rely on the OPOs and tissue banks that we work with to educate the public on the need for donation, to foster a willingness to donate tissue, to follow our donor screening and procurement procedures, and to send donated tissue to us. We have active relationships with 59approximately 60 OPOs and tissue banks throughout the US. As with any vendor, we believe these relationships with our OPOs are critical in the preservation services industry and that the breadth of these existing relationships provides us with a significant advantage over potential new entrants to this market. We also use various raw materials, including medicines and solutions, in our tissue processing. Some of these raw materials are manufactured by single suppliers or by a small group of suppliers.

Our endovascularaortic stent graft systems consist of two main product components: the stent graft and the delivery system. The stent graft is manufactured out offrom several different raw materials that are manufactured by JOTEC andinternally or at various external suppliers, including single suppliers. The delivery systems we manufacture are manufactured by JOTEC fromcomprised of several different raw materials with different processing techniques. Primaryand subassemblies. Our internal manufacturing processes are the assemblyinclude injection molding and machining of injection molded parts and machine drilledplastic parts, suturing of stent grafts, processing of Nitinol, and weaving of textiles. Our conventional polyester grafts consist of two main product components: polyester fabric and collagen coating. The polyester fabric is manufactured by JOTEC out ofwoven from a few different yarns that are supplied by an external supplier. The collagen suspension we manufacture is manufactured by JOTEC outcomprised of a collagenous tissue that is supplied by a single supplier. OurThe conventional ePTFE grafts we manufacture are manufactured by JOTEC outcomprised of various raw materials supplied by several suppliers. For some products the ePTFE grafts are heparin coated. For these products, the heparin suspension we manufacture is manufactured by JOTEC outcomprised of a heparin solution that is also supplied by an external supplier.

We also conduct all of our ownhave three internal manufacturing operations at three facilities: Austin, Texas for On-X products, Hechingen, Germany for JOTEC Products,internally manufactured aortic stent grafts, and Kennesaw, Georgia for all other products and services. The NEXUS product is solelyCertain aortic stent graft assemblies are manufactured for us by Endospana contract manufacturer in Herzelia, Israel, and theSlovakia. The AMDS product is solely manufactured by a supplier in Charlotte, North Carolina.Carolina, and the NEXUS Products are solely manufactured by Endospan in Herzliya, Israel. If one of these suppliers or facilities ceases operations temporarily or permanently, for any reason including a pandemic, war, work stoppage, or climate change related event, our business could be substantially disrupted.

Although we work diligently to maintain adequate inventories of raw materials, components, supplies, subassemblies, and finished goods, there can be no assurance that we will be able to avoid all disruptions to our global supply chain, or disruptions to our sterilization or distribution networks. Any of these disruptions could have a material, adverse effect on our revenues, reputation, or profitability.

We are dependent on our specialized workforce.

Our business and future operating results depend in significant part upon the continued contributions of our specialized workforce, including key personnel, qualified personnel with medical device and tissue processing experience, and senior management with experience in the medical device or tissue processing space, some of whom would be difficult to replace. Our field-based workforce is increasingly being subject to public and private vaccine mandates, including mandates without exception, which may impact unvaccinated personnel’s ability to fulfill or stay in their roles. Our business and future operating results, including production at our manufacturing and tissue processing facilities, also depend in significant part on our ability to attract and retain qualified management, operations, processing, marketing, sales, and support personnel. Our primary facilities are in Kennesaw, Georgia; Austin, Texas; and Hechingen, Germany, where the supply of qualified medical device and tissue processing and other personnel is limited, competition for such personnel is significant, and we cannot ensure that we will be successful in attracting or retaining them. We face risks if we lose any key employees to other employers or due to severe illness, death, or retirement, if any of our key employees fail to perform adequately, or if we are unable to attract and retain skilled employees. This risk was exacerbated during 2021,by the pandemic and is expectedcontinues to continue, as the competitionbe impacted by changes in macroeconomic conditions. Competition for talent in the medical device industry and in the workforce generally has intensified substantially. As some global economies have begun to emerge from the COVID-19 downturn, the expiration of COVID-19 related hiring freezes, the Great Resignation, increased opportunities for remote work, and increasing compensation pressure have resulted in a war for talent and an unprecedent number of career changes. The resulting competition and worker shortages at all levels have impacted supply chains and distribution channels and our ability to attract and retain the specialized workforce necessary for our business and operations.

We continue to evaluate expansion through acquisitions of, or licenses with, investments in, and distribution arrangements with, other companies or technologies, which may carry significant risks.

One of our growth strategies is to pursue select acquisitions, licensing, or distribution rights with companies or technologies that complement our existing products, services, and infrastructure. In connection with one or more of these transactions, we may:

Issue additional equity securities that would dilute our stockholders’ ownership interest;

Use cash we may need in the future to operate our business;

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Incur debt, including on terms that could be unfavorable to us or debt we might be unable to repay;

Structure the transaction resulting in unfavorable tax consequences, such as a stock purchase that does not permit a step-up in basis for the assets acquired;

Be unable to realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction; or

Assume material unknown liabilities associated with the acquired business.


We may not realize all the anticipated benefits of our business development activities.

As part of our efforts to drive growth by pursuing select acquisition, license, and distribution opportunities that are aligned to our objectives and complement our existing products, services, and infrastructure or to divest non-core product lines, we have completed several transactions in recent years and may pursue similar additional transactions in the future. Examples of these activities include the following:

On December 1, 2017 we acquired JOTEC AG, a Swiss entity that we converted to JOTEC GmbH and subsequently merged with our Swiss acquisition entity, Jolly Buyer Acquisition GmbH and its subsidiaries;

On September 11, 2019 we entered into various agreements with Endospan, Ltd. (“Endospan”), an Israeli medical device manufacturer (the “Endospan Transaction”). The Endospan Transaction included an exclusive distribution agreement for NEXUS in Europe, the NEXUS stent graft system (“NEXUS”) in Europe; an agreement (“Endospan Loan”) for a secured loan from Artivion to Endospan;Loan, and a security purchase option agreement for Artivion to purchase all the then outstanding Endospan securities from Endospan’s existing securityholderssecurity holders upon FDA approval of NEXUS;the NEXUS Products;

On September 2, 2020 we acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Ascyrus, Medical LLC (“Ascyrus”), the developer of the Ascyrus Medical Dissection Stent (“AMDS”);AMDS; and

On July 28, 2021 we entered into various agreements with Baxter International, Inc. (“Baxter”) and Starch Medical, Inc. (“SMI”)SMI related to the sale of our PerClot assets to Baxter and the termination of our existing material agreements with SMI.

Our ability to realize the anticipated business opportunities, growth prospects, cost savings, synergies, and other benefits of these and other transactions depends on a number of factors including our ability to:


Leverage our global infrastructure to sell and cross-market the acquired products;

Drive adoption of the NEXUS Products and AMDS in the European and other markets, including our ability to manage the substantial requirements for NEXUS procedures for product training, implant support, and proctoring;proctoring requirements for NEXUS procedures;

Bring acquired products to the US market, including AMDS and the JOTEC Products;our acquired aortic stent grafts;

Harness the JOTECaortic stent graft product pipeline and our research and development capabilities;

Obtain regulatory approvals in relevant markets, including our ability to timely obtain FDA PMA for PerClot as contemplated under the terms of the Baxter Transaction, to obtain Conformité Européene Mark (“CE Mark”) product certification for pipeline products, and to obtain or maintain certificationCE Mark product certifications for pipeline and current products at all;products;

Execute on development and clinical trial timelines for acquired products;

Manage global inventories, including our ability to manage inventories for product lines with large numbers of product configurations and manage manufacturing and demand cycles to avoid excess inventory obsolescence due to shelf life expiration, particularly for processed tissues and aortic stent and stent graft products;grafts;

Carry, service, and manage significant debt and repayment obligations; and

Manage the unforeseen risks and uncertainties related to these transactions, including any related to intellectual property rights.

Additionally, our ability to realize the anticipated business opportunities, growth prospects, synergies, and other benefits of the Endospan Transaction depends on a number of additional factors including Endospan’s ability to: (a) comply with the Endospan Loan and other debt obligations, and avoid an event of default; (b) successfully commercialize the NEXUS Products, raise capital and drive adoption in markets in and outside of Europe; (c) meet demand for NEXUS;the NEXUS Products; (d) meet quality and regulatory requirements;requirements for the NEXUS Products; (e) manage any intellectual property risks and uncertainties associated with NEXUS;the NEXUS Products; (f) obtain FDA approval of NEXUS;the NEXUS Products; (g) remain a going concern; and (g)(h) develop the NEXUS Products, and other product improvements to meet competitive threats and physician demand. As an example of this risk, the forecasted operating results related to NEXUS decreased, in the fourth quarter of 2021, resulting in an impairment into the carrying value of the Endospan Option, and a full write-down of the value of the Endospan Loan, reflecting decreased expectations with respect to the anticipated benefits of the Endospan Transaction.

Many of these factors are outside of our control and any one of them could result in increased costs, decreased revenues, and diversion of management’s time and energy. The benefits of these transactions may not be achieved within the anticipated time frame or at all. Any of these factors could negatively impact our earnings per share, decrease or delay the expected accretive effect of the transaction, and negatively impact the price of our common stock. In addition, if we fail to realize the anticipated benefits of a transaction, we could experience an interruption or loss of momentum in our existing business activities.

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We may not realize all the anticipated benefits of our corporate rebranding and it may result in unanticipated disruptions to our on-going business.

In order to reflect our evolution to focus on providing innovative technologies to surgeons who treat patients with aortic disease, we changed our name to Artivion, Inc., effective January 18, 2022 (the “Corporate Rebrand”). The Corporate Rebrand also involved the adoption of a new ticker symbol on the New York Stock Exchange, “AORT.”“AORT”. We may face unanticipated disruptions to our business arising from the Corporate Rebrand, and it may expose us to additional risks, including:

Disruptions to our day-to-day business operations including disruptions to our ability to receive or our customers’ ability to make timely payments;

Disruptions to access tounanticipated delays accessing certain markets or segments due to delays or other issues with regulatory approvals, clinical trials, or other updates arising from or related to the Corporate Rebrand;

Unanticipated delays or other impact on our pending regulatory applications or clinical trials arising from the Corporate Rebrand;

Confusion within the marketplace, particularly with multiple points of contact in our downstream product flow involving purchasing and accounts payable departments and end users;

Intellectual property risks associated with the adoption of a new corporate identity and trade dress; and

Loss of goodwillbrand equity associated with our legacy brands, including our CryoLife and JOTEC brands that will become less prominent over time.

The Corporate Rebrand involved significant financial and resource investment and will continue to do so as we complete our global brand transitions over the coming years. The anticipated benefits of the Corporate Rebrand may not be achieved within the anticipated timeframe, without additional near or long-term investment, or at all. Any of these factors could negatively impact our revenues, earnings per share, decrease or delay the expected accretive effect of the Corporate Rebrand, and negatively impact the price of our common stock.


Significant disruptions of information technology systems or breaches of information security systems could adversely affect our business.

We rely upon a combination of sophisticated information technology systems as well as traditional recordkeeping to operate our business. In the ordinary course of business, we collect, store, and transmit confidential information (including, but not limited to, information about our business, financial information, personalpersonnel data, intellectual property, and, in some instances, patient data). Our information technology and information security systems and records are potentially vulnerable to security breaches, service interruptions, data loss, or malicious attacks resulting from inadvertent or intentional actions by our employees, vendors, or other third parties. In addition, due toas a result of changes implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, we now have implemented remote work arrangements for some employees, and those employees may use outside technology and systems that are vulnerable to security breaches, service interruptions, data loss or malicious attacks, including by third parties.

As an example of these risks, on November 1, 2019 we were notified that we had become a victim of a business e-mail compromise.  During the fourth quarter of 2019, a company email account was compromised by a third-party impersonator and a payment intended for one of our US vendors in the amount of $2.6 million was fraudulently re-directed into an individual bank account controlled by this third-party impersonator.  Our cyber-insurance covered all but $25,000 of the unrecovered losses from this compromise.

While we have invested, and continue to invest, in our information technology and information security systems and employee information security training, there can be no assurance that our efforts will prevent all security breaches, service interruptions, or data losses.losses, particularly in light of rapid improvements in information processing technology accompanying developments in, among other areas, artificial intelligence platforms. We have limited cyber-insurance coverage that may not cover all possible events, and this insurance is subject to deductibles and coverage limitations. Any security breaches, service interruptions, or data losses could adversely affect our business operations or result in the loss of critical or sensitive confidential information or intellectual property, or in financial, legal, business, and reputational harm to us or allow third parties to gain material, inside information that they may use to trade in our securities.

Industry Risks

Our products and tissues are highly regulated and subject to significant quality and regulatory risks.

The commercialization of medical devices and processing and distribution of human tissues are highly complex and subject to significant global quality and regulatory risks and as such, we face the following risks:

Our products and tissues allegedly have caused, and may in the future cause, patient injury, which has exposed, and could in the future expose, us to liability claims that could lead to additional regulatory scrutiny;

Our manufacturing and tissue processing operations are subject to regulatory scrutiny, inspections and enforcement actions, and regulatory agencies could require us to change or modify our operations or take other action, such as issuing product recalls or holds;

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Regulatory agencies could reclassify, re-evaluate, or suspend our clearances or approvals, or fail to, or decline to, issue or reissue our clearances or approvals that are necessary to sell our products and distribute tissues;

Regulatory and quality requirements are subject to change, which could adversely affect our ability to sell our products or distribute tissues; and

Adverse publicity associated with our products, processed tissues, or our industry could lead to a decreased use of our products or tissues, increased regulatory scrutiny, or product or tissue processing liability claims.

Further,these risks, on May 25, 2017, the European Union adopted a new Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745) (“MDR”)regulations governing medical devices (the MDR), which waswere to be fully implemented on May 26, 2021. The MDR places stricter requirements on manufacturers and European Notified Bodies regarding, among other things, product classifications and pre- and post-market clinical studies for product clearances and approvals which could result in product reclassifications or the imposition of other regulatory requirements that could delay, impede, or prevent our ability to commercialize existing, improved, or new products in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) and other markets that require CE Marking. Additionally, to the extent the MDR places stricter requirements on manufacturers of custom-made devices, those new requirements could delay, impede, or otherwise impact the availability of our E-xtra Design Engineering services and custom-made products. Finally, COVID-19 hassignificantly impacted the predictability and timelines associated with the MDR transition.

Most recently, the European Parliament extended the MDR transition period under Regulation (EU) 2023/607 but it is still unclear whether this extension will be able to mitigate the challenges posed by the transition to the MDR. In order for devices to qualify for the extended MDR transition period, manufacturers must submit a formal application to the relevant notified body by May 26, 2024, and the applicant and notified body must enter into a signed written agreement no later than September 26, 2024. If we are unable to obtain agreements covering our products by that time, the presently applicable extensions will expire and impact our ability to market those devices.

Since the implementation of the MDR, Notified Bodies must review any proposed changes to determine if they require evaluation under the MDR or if they can still be evaluated under the currently held MDDMedical Device Directive (“MDD”) certifications. Our inability to obtain certifications for changes under the transitional provisions of the MDR’s Article 120 or successfully submit proposed changes requiring MDR evaluation will delay implementation of those changes which could adversely impact our ability to obtain or renew certifications, clearances, or approvals for our products.

Additionally, as MDD-based CE Marks expire, recertification must be obtained under the MDR. Industry-wide, companies are experiencing delays in obtaining new and updated certifications under the MDR as Notified Bodies struggle to recover from COVID-19, deal with smaller workforces, and handle the volume of work required to transition tens of thousands of currently-marketed devices from the MDD to the MDR. As one such example, our MDD-based CE Mark for Chord-X expired in September 2022, which will impact our ability to supply certain territories once our saleable inventory is depleted. If Notified Bodies continue to struggle to meet demand and timely process submissions and recertifications, we may face additional disruptions associated with the MDR transition.
As another example of this risk, our CE Mark for BioGlue expired in December 2021. Due to delays renewing this CE Mark and transitioning BioGlue to a new Notified Body, our ability to supply certain markets with BioGlue was impacted. Although we were able to mitigate most of the impact by obtaining derogations in the majority of relevant territories, we may face similar risks and market disruptions related to the MDR transition which continues to be in a state of change.
Finally, we anticipate additional regulatory impact as a result of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union (“Brexit”).Brexit. The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) has announced that CE Marking will continue to be recognized in the UK and certificates issued by EU-recognized Notified Bodies will continue to be valid in the UK market until the certificates expire or the applicable transition period expires (currently June 30, 2023. Going forward,2028 at the earliest). Upon expiration, all devices marketed in the UK will require UK Conformity Assessed Marks certified by a UK Approved Body (the re-designation of the UK Notified Body).

In 2019 our notified bodyNotified Body in the UK, Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance Limited (“LRQA”),LRQA, informed us that it would no longer provide Notified Body services for medical devices effective September 2019. The governing German competent authority, the Regierungspraesidium-Tubingen, granted us an extended grace period until December 31, 2021 to transfer LRQA-issued certifications for BioGlue and PhotoFix to a new Notified Body. WeAlthough our BioGlue CE Mark has been successfully transferred to our new Notified Body, DEKRA, we are currentlystill in the process of transferring BioGlue and PhotoFix to our new Notified Body, DEKRA. While positive progress has been made, DEKRA has been unablefailure to timely complete the last audit, a Phase 2 onsite audit, for our registration due to COVID-19 restrictions on travel, staffing shortages, and workload related to the transition to the MDR. We currently have sufficient inventory on the market in the EU to cover customer demand for a period of the transition. We also are currently requesting derogations from certain individual European countries to allow us to continue to commercialize BioGlue in those countries until we can complete the certification process with DEKRA. Failure to obtain such derogations before our inventory is depleted,transfer or any other delays in thisthe MDR transition, may have a material, adverse effect on our ability to supply demandPhotoFix in affected jurisdictions, have a material, adverse impact on our business, and may also impact our Medical Device Single Audit Program (“MDSAP”) certifications. Failure to timely obtain new MDSAP certifications following their expiration may impact our ability to distribute covered products in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Japan.

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Reclassification by the FDA of CryoValve SG pulmonary heart valve (“CryoValve SGPV”) may make it commercially infeasible to continue processing the CryoValve SGPV.

In

Beginning in December 2019 we learned thatand most recently in the fall 2023, the FDA is preparingindicted that it was planning to issue a proposed rule for reclassification of more than minimally manipulated (“MMM”) allograft heart valves to Class III medical devices, which could include our CryoValve SGPV. Following aany comment period and subsequent publication of anya final rule, should the CryoValve SGPV be determined to be MMM or classified as a Class III device, we currently expect to have approximately thirty months to submit an FDAa PMA application, after which the FDA will determine if, and for how long, we may continue to provide these tissues to customers during its review of the PMA application. To date,Although this proposed rule change has, to our knowledge, remained on the FDAHHS's unified regulatory agenda since 2019, no final rule has not issued such a proposed final rule.

published at this time.

If the FDA ultimately classifies our CryoValve SGPV as a Class III medical device, and if there are delays in obtaining the PMA, if we are unsuccessful in obtaining the PMA, or if the costs associated with these activities are significant, we could decide that the requirements for continued processing of the CryoValve SGPV are too onerous, leading us to discontinue distribution of these tissues.

We may not be successful in obtaining clinical results or regulatory clearances/approvals for new and existing products and services, and our approved products and services may not achieve market acceptance.

Our growth and profitability depends in part upon our ability to develop, and successfully introduce, new products and services, or expand upon existing indications, clearances, and approvals, requiring that we invest significant time and resources to obtain new regulatory clearances/approvals, including investment into pre- and post-market clinical studies. Although we believe certain products and services in our portfolio or under development may be effective in a particular application, we cannot be certain until we successfully execute on relevant clinical trials, and the results we obtain from pre- and post-market clinical studies may be insufficient for us to obtain or maintain any required regulatory approvals or clearances.

We are currently seeking regulatory approval for BioGlue in China, where the Chinese regulatory body has made additional requests, and expressed several concerns, related to the application. We have obtained an extension of time until February 2024 in which to file an updated submission for BioGlue in China. If the costs to file an updated submission are prohibitive, or we cannot satisfy the regulator’s requests and concerns and obtain approval following the review of the updated submission or an extensionthe costs to do so are prohibitive, we ultimately may be unable to sell BioGlue in April 2022, the pending application will expire andChina. Similarly, in November 2023 we announced that we were no longer pursuing a labeling change for our On-X mitral valve in connection with our PROACT Mitral trial due to additional investments that would be eligiblerequired to do so.
As an example of this risk, in September 2022 we halted the PROACT Xa clinical trial based on the recommendation of the trial’s Data and Safety Monitoring Board (“DSMB”) due to insufficient evidence to support non-inferiority of apixaban to warfarin for allowance, requiringvalve thrombosis and thromboembolism. The DSMB found that continuing the Companytrial was unlikely to restart or decideachieve the primary endpoint while possibly exposing patients to abandon the approval process.

increased risk.

Each of our trials, studies, and approvals is subject to the risks outlined herein.

We cannot give assurance that regulatory agencies will clear or approve these products and services or indications, or any new products and services or new indications, on a timely basis, if ever, or that the products and services or new indications will adequately meet the requirements of the market or achieve market acceptance. Pre- and post-market clinical studies may also be delayed or halted due to many factors beyond our control.
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If we are unable to successfully complete the development of a product, service, or application, or if we determine for any reason not to complete development or obtain regulatory approval or clearance of any product, service, or application, particularly in instances when we have expended significant capital, this could materially, adversely affect our financial performance. Research and development efforts are time consuming and expensive, and we cannot be certain that these efforts will lead to commercially successful products or services. Halting R&D efforts and clinical trials prematurely may lead to accelerated or unanticipated wind down costs. Even the successful commercialization of a new product or service in the medical industry can be characterized by slow growth and high costs associated with marketing, under-utilized production capacity, and continuing research and development and education costs, among other things. The introduction of new products or services may require significant physician training or years of clinical evidence in order to gain acceptance in the medical community.

Regulatory

Increased regulatory enforcement activities regarding Ethylene Oxide, which isand private litigation activity relating to processes and materials used to sterilize some ofin our products and components,industry could have a material, adverse impact on us.

Some of our products, including ourcertain On-X products, are sterilized using Ethylene Oxide (“EtO”).EtO. Although we have a small-scale EtO facility in Austin, Texas, we rely primarily on third-party large-scale EtO facilities to sterilize our products. In addition, some of our suppliers use, or rely upon third parties to use, EtO to sterilize some of our product components. Concerns about the release of EtO into the environment at unsafe levels have led to increased activism and lobbying as well as various regulatory enforcement activities against EtO facilities, including closures and temporary closures, as well aslawsuits against EtO service providers, and proposals increasing regulations related to EtO.EtO, including any required reduction in EtO concentration levels. The number of EtO facilities in the US is limited, and any permanent or temporary closures or disruption to their operations for any reason could delay, impede, or prevent our ability to commercialize our products.
The per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) are used in a wide variety of consumer and industrial products, including medical devices and product packaging. In October 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) released final rules requiring companies to report the manufacture or import of PFAS-containing products. In addition, numerous states have instituted bans on PFAS-containing products and reporting obligations. These requirements impose a high compliance burden, and further regulation of PFAS-containing products is expected. Although we have yet to experience any material impact from this activity or identify any of our products materially impacted by PFAS-related regulation, the ultimate impact and associated cost of current and future rulemaking cannot be predicted at this time.
In addition, any litigation, regulatory enforcement, activities against us for ouror government regulation regarding the use of EtO could result in financial, legal, business, and reputational harm to us.

We may be subject to fines, penalties, and other sanctions if we are deemed to be promoting the use of our products for unapproved, or off-label, uses.

Our business and future growth depend on the continued use of our products for approved uses. Generally, regulators contend that, unless our products are approved or cleared by a regulatory body for alternative uses, we may not make claims about the safety or effectiveness of our products or promote them for such uses. Such limitations present a risk that law enforcement could allege that the nature and scope of our sales, marketing, or support activities, though designed to comply with all regulatory requirements, constitute unlawful promotion of our products for an unapproved use. We also face the risk that such authorities might pursue enforcement based on past activities that we discontinued or changed. Investigations concerning the promotion of unapproved uses and related issues are typically expensive, disruptive, and burdensome and generate negative publicity. If our promotional activities are found to be in violation of the law, we may face significant fines and penalties and may be required to substantially change our sales, promotion, grant, and educational activities. In addition, we or our officers could be excluded from participation in government healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

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Healthcare policy changes may have a material, adverse effect on us.

In response to perceived increases in healthcare costs in recent years, there have been, and continue to be, proposals by the governmental authorities, third-party payors, and elected office holders and candidates to impact public health, control healthcare costs and, more generally, to reform the healthcare systems. Additional uncertainty is anticipated as debates about healthcare vaccines, and public health continue in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which may have an impact on US law relating to the healthcare industry. Many US healthcare laws, such as the Affordable Care Act, are complex, subject to change, and dependent on interpretation and enforcement decisions from government agencies with broad discretion. The application of these laws to us, our customers, or the specific services and relationships we have with our customers is not always clear. Our failure to anticipate accurately any changes to, or the repeal or invalidation of all or part of the Affordable Care Act and similar or future laws and regulations, or our failure to comply with them, could create liability for us, result in adverse publicity and negatively affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. As an example, the Executive Branch of the US government recently issued three vaccine mandates that may cover all, or groups of, our US workforce. While the temporary mandate has been withdrawn by the executive branch because the US Supreme Court stayed it, the Executive Branch of the US government has indicated that it intends to issue a similar permanent mandate and it may issue other such mandates. We are currently evaluating the applicability of the remaining two mandates to us. In addition, states and local authorities have begun to issue various forms of vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 related restrictive measures, while others have issued bans of such measures. If we determine that any of these COVID-19 related restrictions apply to us or that they are in conflict with one another, attempted compliance with such laws could cause disruption to our business and in our workforce that could have an impact on our ability to attract or retain talent and increase our costs or could otherwise adversely affect our business and profitability.

Further, the growth of our business, results of operations and financial condition rely, in part, on customers in the healthcare industry that receive substantial revenues from governmental and other third-party payer programs. A reduction or less than expected increase in government funding for these programs or a change in reimbursement or allocation methodologies, or a change in reimbursement related to products designated as “breakthrough devices” by the FDA, could negatively affect our customers’ businesses and, in turn, negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. Any changes that lower reimbursement for our products or reduce medical procedure volumes, could adversely affect our business and profitability.

Legal, Quality, and Regulatory Risks

As a medical device manufacturer and tissue services provider we are exposed to risk of product liability claims and our existing insurance coverage may be insufficient, or we may be unable to obtain insurance in the future, to cover any resulting liability.

Our products and processed tissues allegedly have caused, and may in the future cause, injury or result in other serious complications that may result in product or other liability claims from our customers or their patients. If our products are defectively designed, manufactured, or labeled, or contain inadequate warnings, defective components, or are misused, or are used contrary to our warnings, instructions, and approved indications, we may become subject to costly litigation that can have unpredictable and sometimes extreme outcomes.

We maintain claims-made insurance policies to mitigate our financial exposure to product and tissue processing liability and securities, claims, among others, that are reported to the insurance carrier while the policy is in effect. These policies do not include coverage for punitive damages. Although we have insurance for product and tissue processing liabilities, securities, property, and general liabilities, if we are unsuccessful in arranging cost-effective acceptable resolutions of claims, it is possible that our insurance program may not be adequate to cover any or all possible claims or losses, including losses arising out of natural disasters or catastrophic circumstances. Any significant claim could result in an increase in our insurance rates or jeopardize our ability to secure coverage on reasonable terms, if at all.

Any securities or product liability/tissue processing claim, even a meritless or unsuccessful one, could be costly to defend, and result in diversion of our management’s attention from our business, adverse publicity, withdrawal of clinical trial participants, injury to our reputation, or loss of revenue.

We are subject to various US and international bribery, anti-kickback, false claims, privacy, transparency, and similar laws, any breach of which could cause a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and profitability.

Our relationships with physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers are subject to scrutiny under various US and international bribery, anti-kickback, false claims, privacy, transparency, and similar laws, often referred to collectively as “healthcare compliance laws.” Healthcare compliance laws are broad, sometimes ambiguous, complex, and subject to change and changing interpretations. The ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and the current and future sanctions imposed on Russia and others as a result may exacerbate these risks. See also Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors – Business and Economic Risks - We are subject to a variety of risks due to our international operations and continued global expansion.” Possible sanctions for violation of these healthcare compliance laws include fines, civil and criminal penalties, exclusion from government healthcare programs, and despite our compliance efforts, we face the risk of an enforcement activity or a finding of a violation of these laws.
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We have entered into consulting and product development agreements with healthcare professionals and healthcare organizations, including some who may order our products or make decisions to use them. We have also adopted the AdvaMed Code of Conduct, the MedTech Europe Code of Ethical Business Practice, and the APACMed Code of Ethical Conduct which govern our relationships with healthcare professionals to bolster our compliance with healthcare compliance laws. While our relationships with healthcare professionals and organizations are structured to comply with such laws and we conduct training sessions on these laws and Codes,codes, it is possible that enforcement authorities may view our relationships as prohibited arrangements that must be restructured or for which we would be subject to other significant civil or criminal penalties or debarment. In any event, any enforcement review of or action against us as a result of such review, regardless of outcome, could be costly and time consuming. Additionally, we cannot predict the impact of any changes in or interpretations of these laws, whether these changes will be retroactive or will have effect on a going-forward basis only.

The proliferation of new and expanded data privacy laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation in the European Union, could adversely affect our business.

An increasing number of federal, state, and foreign data privacy laws and regulations, which can be enforced by private parties or governmental entities, have been or are being promulgated and are constantly evolving. These laws and regulations may include new requirements for companies that receive or process an individual’s personal data (including employees), which increases our operating costs and requires significant management time and energy. Many of these laws and regulations, including the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) also include significant penalties for noncompliance. Although our personal data practices, policies, and procedures are intended to comply with GDPR and other data privacy laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that regulatory or enforcement authorities will view our arrangements as being in compliance with applicable laws, or that one or more of our employees or agents will not disregard the rules we have established. Any privacy related government enforcement activities may be costly, result in negative publicity, or subject us to significant penalties.

Some of our products and technologies are subject to significant intellectual property risks and uncertainty.

We own trade secrets, patents, patent applications, and licenses relating to our technologies and trademarks and goodwill related to our products and services, which we believe provide us with important competitive advantages. We cannot be certain that we will be able to maintain our trade secrets, that our pending patent applications will issue as patents, or that no one will challenge the validity or enforceability of any intellectual property that we adopt, own, or license. Competitors may independently develop our proprietary technologies or design non-infringing alternatives to patented inventions. We do not control the maintenance, prosecution, enforcement, or strategy for in-licensed intellectual property and as such are dependent in part on the owners of these rights to maintain their viability. Their failure to do so could significantly impair our ability to exploit those technologies. Additionally, our technologies, products, or services could infringe intellectual property rights owned by others, or others could infringe our intellectual property rights.

If we become involved in intellectual property disputes, the costs could be expensive, and if we were to lose or decide to settle, the amounts or effects of the settlement or award by a tribunal could be costly.

Risks Relating to Our Indebtedness


The agreements governing our indebtedness contain restrictions that limit our flexibility in operating our business.

The agreements currently governing our indebtedness contain, and any instruments governing future indebtedness of ours may contain, covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us and certain of our subsidiaries, including (subject in each case to certain exceptions) restrictions or prohibitions on our and certain of our subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things:

Incur or guarantee additional debt or create liens on certain assets;

Pay dividends on or make distributions of our share capital, including repurchasing or redeeming capital stock, or make other restricted payments, including restricted junior payments;

Enter into agreements that restrict our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends to us, repay debt owed to us or our subsidiaries, or make loans or advances to us or our other subsidiaries;

Enter into certain transactions with our affiliates including any transaction or merger or consolidation, liquidation, winding-up, or dissolution; convey, sell, lease, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of our business, assets or property; or sell, assign, or otherwise dispose of any capital stock of any subsidiary;

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Enter into certain rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, and other similar transactions, whether relating to interest rates, commodities, investments, securities, currencies, or any other relevant measure, or transactions of any kind subject to any form of master purchase agreement governed by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement;

Amend, supplement, waive, or otherwise modify our or our subsidiariessubsidiaries' organizational documents in a manner that would be materially adverse to the interests of the lenders,lender, or change or amend the terms of documentation regarding junior financing in a manner that would be materially adverse to the interests of the lenders;lender;

Make changes to our and our subsidiaries’ fiscal year without notice to the administrative agent under the agreement;agent;

Enter into agreements which restrict our ability to incur liens;

Engage in any line of business substantially different from that in which we are currently engaged; and

Make certain investments, including strategic acquisitions or joint ventures.


Our indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund operations and limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry.

Our current and future levels of indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital, limit our operational flexibility, and hinder our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry. It may also limit our ability to borrow money, require us to dedicate substantial portions of our cash flow to repayment, and restrict our ability to invest in business opportunities. Because most of our borrowings are at a variable rate of interest, we are exposed to interest rate fluctuations.

We have pledged substantially all of our US assets as collateral under our existing Credit Agreement. If we default on the terms of such credit agreements and the holders of our indebtedness accelerate the repayment of such indebtedness, there can be no assurance that we will have sufficient assets to repay our indebtedness.

A failure to comply with the covenants in our existing Credit Agreement could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could have a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and profitability. In the event of any such default, the holders of our indebtedness:

Will not be required to lend any additional amounts to us; and

Could elect to declare all indebtedness outstanding, together with accrued and unpaid interest and fees, to be due and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further credit, if applicable.

If we are unable to repay those amounts, the holders of our secured indebtedness could proceed against their secured collateral to seek repayment out of proceeds from the sale or liquidation of our assets. If our indebtedness were to be accelerated, there can be no assurance that our assets would be sufficient to repay such indebtedness in full.

Risks RelatedRelating to Ownership of our Common Stock

Our business could be negatively impacted as a result of shareholder activism.

In recent years, shareholder activists have become involved in numerous public companies. Shareholder activists from time to time propose to involve themselves in the governance, strategic direction, and operations of a company.companies. Such involvement with us may disrupt our business and divert the attention of our management, and any perceived uncertainties as to our future direction resulting from such involvement could result in the loss of business opportunities, be exploited by our competitors, cause concern for our current or potential customers, cause significant fluctuations in stock price, or make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel and business partners.
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Our business could be impacted by increased shareholder emphasis on environmental, social, and governance matters.

matters or efforts by certain governmental authorities to reduce such emphasis.

Investors and other key stakeholders are increasingly focusing on areas of corporate responsibility, and particularly matters related to environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) factors. Institutional investors have expressed expectations with respect to ESG matters that they use to guide their investment strategies and may, in some cases, choose not to invest in us if they believe our ESG policies are lagging or inadequate. Other stakeholders also have expectations regarding ESG factors, such as employees or potential employees who desire to work for a company that reflects their personal values. These areas of focus are continuing to evolve, as are the criteria that investors assess companies’ performance in these areas. Investors are increasingly looking to companies that demonstrate strong ESG and sustainability practices as an indicator of long-term resilience, especially in light of events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, some governmental entities, regulators, and industry activist groups, particularly in Europe, are placing an increased emphasis on sustainability including through initiatives like the German Sustainability Code (the (“Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitskodex”), the Global Reporting Initiative, and guidance from agencies like the European Federation of Financial Analyst Societies. Conversely, certain governmental authorities are challenging investors' reliance on ESG factors as, among other things, inconsistent with certain fiduciary duties. Keeping up with and meeting these expectations, sometimes contradictory, may disrupt our business and divert the attention of our management, and we may be unable to make the investments in ESG programs that our competitors with greater financial resources are able to make.make or we may be challenged by governmental authorities if we choose to make such investments. Failure to meet the expectations of investors, and other stakeholders, or certain governmental authorities in these areas may damage our reputation, impact employee retention, impact the willingness of our customers to do business with us, or otherwise impact our financial results and stock price.

We do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future.

In December 2015 our Board of Directors discontinued dividend payments on our common stock for the foreseeable future. If we do not pay cash dividends, our shareholders may receive a return on their investment in our common stock only through appreciation of shares of our common stock that they own. In addition, restrictions in our credit facility limit our ability to pay future dividends.

Provisions of Delaware law and anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents may discourage or prevent a change of control, even if an acquisition would be beneficial to shareholders, which could affect our share price adversely and prevent attempts by shareholders to remove current management.

Effective January 1, 2022 we reincorporated in Delaware. Our status as a Delaware corporation and the anti-takeover provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law may discourage, delay, or prevent a change in control by prohibiting us from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years after the person becomes an interested stockholder, even if a change of control would be beneficial to our existing stockholders. In addition, the organizational documents adopted in connection with our reincorporation contain provisions that restrict persons who may call shareholder meetings, allow the issuance of blank-check preferred stock without the vote of shareholders, and allow the Board of Directors to fill vacancies and fix the number of directors. These provisions of Delaware law and our articles of incorporation and bylaws could prevent attempts by shareholders to remove current management, prohibit or delay mergers or other changes of control transactions, and discourage attempts by other companies to acquire us, even if such a transaction would be beneficial to our shareholders. The effects of reincorporation in Delaware are detailed in our 2021 Special Proxy Statement and Notice of Special Meeting filed with the SEC on October 7, 2021.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity Risk Management and Strategy
We recognize the importance of assessing, identifying, and managing material risks associated with cybersecurity threats, as such term is defined in Item 106(a) of Regulation S-K. These risks include, among other things, operational risks; intellectual property theft; fraud; extortion; harm to employees or customers; violation of privacy or security laws and other litigation and legal risk; and reputational risks. We have established cybersecurity measures, technologies, and controls to aid in our efforts to assess, identify, and manage such material risks.

39

38

Our enterprise risk management framework assesses cybersecurity threats alongside other company risks as part of our overall risk assessment process. This approach involves collaboration between enterprise risk professionals and subject matter experts to identify and assess material cybersecurity threat risks, their severity, and potential mitigations. We leverage various tools and services, including network monitoring, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and tabletop exercises, to enhance our risk identification and assessment capabilities.

Our cybersecurity-specific risk assessment process, benchmarks our practices against standards set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”), International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”), and the Center for Internet Security (“CIS”), and includes expert-led penetration tests to evaluate the security of our information systems, as such term is defined in Item 1B. 106(a) of Regulation S-K.
To safeguard critical data and systems, ensure regulatory compliance, manage our material risks from cybersecurity threats, and address potential cybersecurity incidents, as such term is defined in Item 106(a) of Regulation S-K, we:
Monitor emerging data protection laws and adjust our processes and procedures as required or appropriate;
Unresolved Staff Comments.Provide periodic, but no less than, annual training on cybersecurity, data privacy, and data handling to all employees and contractors with access to our systems;

None.Conduct periodic, but no less than, annual cybersecurity management and incident response training for relevant personnel, utilizing Knowbe4 resources;

Implement regular phishing simulations and processes for reporting phishing to enhance staff awareness and responsiveness;

Mandate that both employees and service providers treat sensitive data with utmost care, enforced through policies, practices, and contracts;
Contract with independent cybersecurity providers to assist with tabletop exercises periodically to refine our response strategies to cybersecurity incidents;
Employ the NIST incident handling framework for identifying, protecting, detecting, responding to, and recovering from cybersecurity incidents; and
Maintain cybersecurity risk insurance to mitigate potential financial losses from incidents.
Our incident response plan outlines our approach to preparing for, detecting, responding to, and recovering from cybersecurity incidents, including severity assessment, containment, investigation, and remediation processes.
Our cybersecurity efforts involve regular engagement with external assessors, consultants, and auditors, including periodic reviews by an independent qualified security assessor to identify areas for improvement and ensure compliance, as well as assessments and audits by our insurer and our external auditing firm.
We address cybersecurity risks related to third-party service providers by incorporating these risks into our enterprise risk management and cybersecurity-specific risk assessment programs. We conduct thorough due diligence on third parties with access to our systems or data and require them to adhere to specified cybersecurity standards and audits.
The potential impact of cybersecurity threats on our business strategy, operations, and financial condition is discussed under specific headings in our risk factor disclosures at Item 1A and in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations at Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We are not aware of any cybersecurity threats or cybersecurity incidents that have or would be reasonably likely to materially affect us, including our business strategy, results of operations or financial condition. This includes penalties and settlements, of which there were none.
Governance
Cybersecurity is integral to our overall risk management strategy, and an area of increasing focus for our Board and management. The Audit Committee, and where applicable, the entire Board, are involved in overseeing cybersecurity risks. They receive quarterly and bi-annual updates, respectively, from management on our cybersecurity threat risk management and strategy processes. These updates cover various cybersecurity topics, including data security posture, third-party assessment results, progress on risk mitigation goals, incident response plans, and material cybersecurity threat risks or incidents. The Board and Audit Committee also have discussions with our global head of Information Technology and engage in separate meetings to consider cybersecurity risks in the context of broader corporate matters.
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Our cybersecurity risk management and strategy processes are led by our global head of Information Technology who reports directly to our Chief Financial Officer. Our information technology and cybersecurity team has over 33 years of collective experience in information security and cybersecurity strategy, with various roles in significant organizations. Team members hold numerous degrees and certifications, including certifications as a Certified Information Security Manager, Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Penetration Tester, among others.
The global head of Information Technology is part of our operating team and ensures that management is well-informed about preventing, mitigating, detecting, and remediating cybersecurity incidents. This role involves managing our comprehensive cybersecurity risk management and strategy processes and overseeing the operation of our incident response plan.
In conclusion, our global head of Information Technology regularly updates the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors on cybersecurity threat risks and related matters, ensuring a proactive and informed approach to managing cybersecurity within our organization.
Item 2. Properties.

Our corporate headquarters and laboratory facilities consist of approximately 190,400 square feet of leased manufacturing, administrative, laboratory, and warehouse space located on a 21.5-acre setting, with an additional 14,400 square feet of off-site warehouse space both located in Kennesaw, Georgia. The manufacturing and tissue processing space includes approximately 20,000 square feet of class 10,000 clean rooms and 8,000 square feet of class 100,000 clean rooms. This extensive clean room environment provides a controlled aseptic environment for manufacturing and tissue preservation. Two back-up emergency generators assure continuity of our manufacturing operations and liquid nitrogen freezers maintain preserved tissue at or below –135–135°C. We manufacture products from our Medical Devices segment, including BioGlue and PhotoFix, and process and preserve tissues from our Preservation Services segment at our headquarters facility. Our corporate headquarters also includes a CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapymaintenance and evaluation laboratory space.

Our corporate complex includes the Ronald C. Elkins Learning Center, a 3,600 square foot auditorium that holds 225 participants, and a 1,500 square foot training lab, both equipped with closed-circuit and satellite television broadcast capability allowing live broadcasts from and to anywhere in the world.worldwide broadcasts. The Ronald C. Elkins Learning Center provides visiting surgeons with a hands-on training environment for surgical and implantation techniques for our technology platforms.

Our primary European subsidiary, JOTEC, located in Hechingen, Germany, maintains facilities that consist of approximately 80,000156,000 square feet of leased manufacturing, administrative, laboratory, and warehouse space. In 2021space where we opened an additional 76,000 square foot manufacturing, administrative, laboratory, and warehouse space.

manufacture aortic stent grafts.

Our On-X facility consists of approximately 75,000 square feet of combined manufacturing, administrative, laboratory, warehouse, and office space leased in Austin, Texas.

We also lease a facility, which consists of 15,600 square feet of combined manufacturing and office space in Atlanta, Georgia, which we sublet to a third-party. This facility was sublet beginning in 2018.

We lease small amounts of ancillary additional office and warehouse space in various countries in which we operate direct sales subsidiaries, including in Brazil, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

In April 2022 we opened a distribution center in Singapore to support sales activities in the APAC region.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

From time to time, we are involved in legal proceedings concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of our business activities. We regularly evaluate the status of legal proceedings in which we are involved in order to assess whether a loss is probable or there is a reasonable possibility that a loss or additional loss may been incurred, and to determine if accruals are appropriate. We further evaluate each legal proceeding to assess whether an estimate of possible loss or range of loss can be made.

Based on current knowledge, management does not believe that there are any pending matters that potentially could have a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. However, we are engaged in various legal actions in the normal course of business. There can be no assurances in light of the inherent uncertainties involved in any potential legal proceedings, some of which are beyond our control, and an adverse outcome in any legal proceeding could be material to our results of operations or cash flows for any particular reporting period.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.


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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Market Price of Common Stock

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “AORT.” Prior to January 24, 2022 our common stock was traded on the NYSE under the symbol “CRY.” The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the intra-day high and low sale prices per share of common stock on the NYSE.

2021

High

Low

20232023HighLow

First quarter

$

26.60

$

21.65

Second quarter

32.34

21.86

Third quarter

29.13

22.16

Fourth quarter

23.20

16.95

2020

High

Low

First quarter

$

31.77

$

12.63

Second quarter

25.52

15.95

Third quarter

21.93

16.13

Fourth quarter

24.10

16.60

2022HighLow
First quarter$22.04 $16.56 
Second quarter23.07 15.44 
Third quarter23.43 12.90 
Fourth quarter14.30 9.64 
As of February 18, 202216, 2024 we had 210175 shareholders of record.

Dividends

No dividends were paid in 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, or 2019.

On December 1, 2017 we entered into a Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), among Artivion, as borrower, CryoLife International, Inc., On-X Life Technologies Holdings, Inc., On-X Life Technologies, Inc., AuraZyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as guarantor subsidiaries, the financial institutions party thereto from time to time as lenders, and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent. The Credit Agreement prohibits the payment of certain restricted payments, including cash dividends. See also Part II, Item 8, Note 11 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for further discussion of the Credit Agreement.

2021.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table provides information about purchases we made

Neither the Company nor any affiliate or other party acting on behalf of the Company repurchased any of the Company's equity securities during the quarterthree months ended December 31, 2021 of equity securities that are registered by us pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Common Stock

Total Number

of Common Shares

Dollar Value

Purchased as

of Common Shares

Total Number of

Average Price

Part of Publicly

That May Yet Be

Common Shares

Paid per

Announced

Purchased Under the

Period

Purchased

Common Share

Plans or Programs

Plans or Programs

10/01/21 - 10/31/21

--

$

--

--

$

--

11/01/21 - 11/30/21

422

21.21

--

--

12/01/21 - 12/31/21

423

18.37

--

--

Total

845

$

19.79

--

$

--

2023.

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The common shares purchased during the quarter ended December 31, 2021 were tendered to us in payment of taxes on stock compensation and were not part of a publicly announced plan or program.

Under our new Ares Credit Agreement (further described in Liquidity and Capital Resources section in Part II, Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”), we are prohibited from repurchasing our common stock, except for the repurchase of stock from our employees or directors when tendered in payment of taxes or the exercise price of stock options, upon the satisfaction of certain requirements.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

On November 19, 2020 the SEC adopted certain amendments to Regulation S-K, which are intended to modernize, simplify, and enhance certain financial disclosure requirements. Among other topics of focus, the amendments eliminated the requirements of Item 301, Selected Financial Data, which required certain public companies to provide the last five years of selected financial data in tabular form. We have elected to comply with the provision of the amendment allowing certain registrants to stop providing selected financial data.

[Reserved]

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this filing. The discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including those set forth under Part I, Item 1A."Risk Factors" of this Form 10-K. The following discussion and analysis doesdo not include certain items related to the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, including year-to-year comparisons between the year ended December 31, 20202022 and the year ended December 31, 2019.2021. For a comparison of our results of operations for the fiscal years ended December 31, 20202022 and December 31, 2019,2021, see Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020,2022, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2021.2023.
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Table of Contents

Overview

Artivion, Inc. (“Artivion,” the “Company,” “we,” or “us”), is a leader in the manufacturing, processing, and distribution of medical devices and implantable human tissues used in cardiac and vascular surgical procedures for patients with aortic disease. We have four major product families: aortic stents and stent grafts, surgical sealants, On-X® mechanical heart valves and related surgical products, and implantable cardiac and vascular human tissues. Aortic stents and stent grafts include JOTEC®aortic arch stent grafts, abdominal stent grafts, and surgical products (collectively, “JOTECsynthetic vascular grafts. Aortic arch stent grafts include our E-vita Open NEO, E-vita Open Plus, AMDS, NEXUS, NEXUS DUO (the “NEXUS Products”), the Ascyrus Medical Dissection Stent (“AMDS”) hybrid prosthesis, and the NEXUS® endovascularE-vita Thoracic 3G products. Abdominal stent graft system (“NEXUS”).grafts include our E-xtra Design Engineering, E-nside, E-tegra, E-ventus BX, and E-liac products. Surgical sealants include BioGlue® Surgical Adhesive (“BioGlue”) products. In addition to these four major product families, we sell or distribute PhotoFix® bovine surgical patches and CardioGenesis® cardiac laser therapy Therion® chorioamniotic allografts (previously marketed(prior to our abandonment of the business as NeoPatch®),of June 30, 2023). We began to manufacture and supply PerClot® hemostatic powder (prior toduring the sale to a subsidiarysecond quarter of 2023 (as part of the Transitional Manufacturing and Supply Agreement (“TMSA”) of the Baxter International, Inc (“Baxter”))Transaction, described below).

For the year ended December 31, 20212023 we reported annual revenues of $298.8$354.0 million, increasing 18%13% over the prior year, largelyyear. Excluding the effects of foreign exchange, revenues increased 12% over the prior year. The increase in revenues was due to increases in revenues from allaortic stent grafts, On-X products, preservation services, other products, and preservation services.surgical sealants. For the year ended December 31, 20212023 we reported a net loss of $14.8$30.7 million. See the “Results of Operations” section below for additional analysis of the fourth quarter and full year 20212023 results. See Part I, Item 1, “Business,” for further discussion of our business and activities during 2021.

Sale of PerClot

On July 28, 2021 we entered into an asset purchase agreement and other ancillary agreements related to the sale of PerClot, a polysaccharide hemostatic agent used in surgery (“PerClot”) to Baxter, and an agreement to terminate all of our material agreements with Starch Medical, Inc. (“SMI”) related to PerClot (collectively the “Baxter Transaction”). Under the terms of the Baxter Transaction, Baxter will pay an aggregate of up to $60.8 million in consideration (we will receive up to $45.8 million and SMI will receive up to $15.0 million), consisting of (i) $25.0 million at closing, of which $6.0 million was paid to SMI; (ii) up to $25.0 million upon our receipt of Premarket Approval (“PMA”) approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) for PerClot and our transfer of the PMA to Baxter, of which up to $6.0 million is payable to SMI, subject to certain reductions for delay in PMA approval; and (iii) up to $10.0 million upon Baxter’s achievement of certain cumulative worldwide net sales of PerClot prior to December 31, 2026 and December 31, 2027, of which up to $3.0 million is payable to SMI. In addition, at the conclusion of our manufacturing and supply services for Baxter, Baxter will pay us $780,000 upon transfer of our PerClot manufacturing equipment. Under the terms of the Baxter Transaction, we will continue to provide to Baxter certain transition and manufacturing and supply services relating to the sale of SMI PerClot outside of the US and manufacture and supply of PerClot to Baxter post PMA approval.

2023.

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Effects of COVID-19

In December 2019 an outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus named “2019-nCoV” (“COVID-19”) was detected, and by March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a “pandemic.”

Beginning in March 2020 we took steps to address the potential impact of COVID-19 on our employees and operations, and to preserve cash, including reducing expenditures and delaying investments. These steps included, but were not limited to, implementing specific protocols to minimize workplace exposures to COVID-19 by our employees; implementing remote work arrangements for most employees we deemed able to do so; restricting business travel; implementing hiring restrictions; reducing planned expenditures on some pending clinical trials; imposing senior management cash salary reductions in exchange for cash payments in the second quarter of 2021; requiring our Board of Directors to accept Artivion stock instead of cash compensation for a six month period through October 2020; and suspending management merit increases for seven months in 2020.

Our efforts to protect our supply chain and reduce the spread of COVID-19 among our employees, including our work-from-home arrangements, were successful in 2020 and 2021 as we continued to operate all manufacturing sites at full production. These efforts have not materially affected our ability to maintain our business operations, including the operation of financial reporting systems, internal control over financial reporting, or disclosure controls and procedures; however, there is no guarantee that these efforts and arrangements, if they are continued, will continue to be successful in the future. Further, our reductions or delays in expenditures slowed our progress on certain key R&D initiatives and could in the future continue to adversely impact our business operations or further delay our recovery from the pandemic.

Although we have scaled back many of our COVID-19 mitigation efforts, we continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of new variants on our business and recognize that COVID-19 and its effects could continue to negatively impact our business and results of operations beyond 2021. As an example, the COVID-19 pandemic reportedly has impacted the global supply chain. Although we have yet to experience any material effects of this impact on our supply chain or operations, we face an increasing risk that upstream disruptions may occur or worsen. As global economies continue to recover from the COVID-19 downturn, the expiration of COVID-19 related hiring freezes, increased opportunities for remote work, and increasing compensation pressure have resulted in a war for talent and an unprecedent number of retirements or career changes. The resulting worker shortages at all levels have impacted supply chains and distribution channels and employers’ and our own ability to adequately staff operations. Impact from these shortages during 2021, including a shortage of trained staff capable of meeting the increased demand associated with releasing quarantined tissue, have impacted, and may impact our operations going forward. Hospitals and other healthcare providers have also experienced staffing shortages impacting our business including increased restrictions on elective and non-emergent procedures, restrictions on access to healthcare facilities, cancellation of elective procedures, and the re-allocation of scarce resources to some critically ill patients. Portions of our operations are being impacted by public and private vaccine mandates, which can impact hospital staffing, impact our specialized workforce, and impact the global supply chain, all of which can directly or indirectly impact our product sales, business operations, manufacturing operations, workforce, and research and development projects.

The extent to which our operations and financial performance will be impacted by the pandemic in and beyond 2022 will depend largely on future developments, including changes in hospital utilization rates and staffing, prevalence and severity of new variants, the impact of vaccine mandates or vaccine encouragement programs on the spread of COVID-19 and its variants, global availability and acceptance of vaccines and their effectiveness against variants, the prevalence of vaccine mandates generally, disruptions to workforce availability, and any continuing impact on the global supply chain. If COVID-19 or its variants become more contagious, if efforts to further contain the effects of COVID-19 or its variants, including vaccine mandates or adoption, are unsuccessful, if COVID-19, its variants, or disruptions to the global supply chain impact our supply chain or employee availability or productivity, or if we continue to experience periods of uncertainty due to COVID-19 or its variants, it could materially, adversely affect our revenues, financial condition, profitability, and cash flows.

See the “Risk Factors” identified in Part I, Item 1A of this form 10-K for risks related to COVID-19.

Critical Accounting Policies

A summary of our significant accounting policies is included in Part II, Item 8, Note 1 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.” We believe that the consistent application of these policies enables us to provide users of the financial statements with useful and reliable information about our operating results and financial condition. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the US, which require us to make estimates and

43


assumptions. The following are accounting policies that we believe are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and may involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity.

Deferred Preservation Costs,

net

Deferred preservation costs include costs of cardiac and vascular tissues available for shipment, tissues currently in active processing, and tissues held in quarantine pending release to implantable status. By federal law, human tissues cannot be bought or sold; therefore, the tissues we preserve are not held as inventory. The costs we incur to procure and process cardiac and vascular tissues are instead accumulated and deferred. Deferred preservation costs are stated at the lower of cost or marketnet realizable value on a first-in, first-outfirst-in, first-out basis and are deferred until revenue is recognized. Upon shipment of tissue to an implanting facility, revenue is recognized, and the related deferred preservation costs are expensed as cost of preservation services. Cost of preservation services also includes, as applicable, lower of cost or marketnet realizable value write-downs and impairments for tissues not deemed to be recoverable, and includes, as incurred, idle facility expense, excessive spoilage, extra freight, and re-handling costs.

The calculation of deferred preservation costs involves judgment and complexity and uses the same principles as inventory costing. Donated human tissue is procured from deceased human donors by organ and tissue procurement organizations (“OPOs”) and tissue banks that provide the tissue to us for processing, preservation, and distribution. Deferred preservation costs consist primarily of the procurement fees charged by the OPOs and tissue banks, direct labor and materials (including salary and fringe benefits, laboratory supplies and expenses, and freight-infreight-in charges), and indirect costs (including allocations of costs from support departments and facility allocations). Fixed production overhead costs are allocated based on actual tissue processing levels, to the extent that they are within the range of the facility’s normal capacity.

These costs are then allocated among the tissues processed during the period based on cost drivers, such as the number of donors or number of tissues processed. We apply a yield estimate to all tissues in process and in quarantine to estimate the portion of tissues that will ultimately become implantable. We estimate quarantine and in process yields based on our historical yield experience with similar tissues and reevaluatere-evaluate these estimates periodically. Actual yields could differ significantly from our estimates, which could result in a change in tissues available for shipment and could increase or decrease the balance of deferred preservation costs. These changes could result in additional cost of preservation services expense or could increase per tissue preservation costs, which would impact gross margins on tissue preservation services in future periods.
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Table of Contents

We regularly evaluate our deferred preservation costs to determine if the costs are appropriately recorded at the lower of cost or marketnet realizable value. We also evaluate our deferred preservation costs for costs not deemed to be recoverable, including tissues not expected to ship prior to the expiration date of their packaging. Lower of cost or marketnet realizable value write-downs are recorded if the tissue processing costs incurred exceed the estimated market value of the tissue services, based on recent average service fees at the time of the evaluation. Impairment write-downs are recorded based on the book value of tissues deemed to be impaired. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Write-downs of deferred preservation costs are expensed as cost of preservation services, and these write-downs are permanent impairments that create a new cost basis, which cannot be restored to its previous levels if our estimates change.

We recorded write-downs to our deferred preservation costs totaling $575,000, $1.7 million, and $787,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, due primarily to tissues not expected to ship prior to the expiration date of the packaging. In addition, write-offs during the year ended December 31, 2020 included $826,000 of non-conforming tissues resulting from the contaminated saline solution. See “Results of Operations,” for further discussion of contaminated saline solution.

Fair Value Measurements

We record certain financial instruments at - Contingent Consideration

Contingent consideration represents a recurring fair value on a recurring basis, including cash equivalents, and certain restricted securities. We may make an irrevocable election to measure other financial instruments at fair value on an instrument-by-instrument basis. Fair value financial instruments are recorded in accordance with the fair value measurement framework.

We also measure certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These non-recurring valuations include evaluating assets such as certain financial assets, long-lived assets, and non-amortizing intangible assets for impairment, allocating value to assets in an acquired asset group and applying accounting for business combinations and the initial recognitionestimate of liabilities such as contingent consideration. We use the fair value measurement framework to value these assets and liabilities and report these fair values in the periods in which they are recorded or written down.

44


potential future payments. The fair value measurement framework includes a fairof the contingent consideration liability is estimated by discounting to present value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs usedthe contingent payments expected to measure fair values in their broad levels. These levels from highest to lowest priority are as follows:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities or observable prices that arebe made based on inputs not quoted in active markets, but corroborated by market data; and

Level 3: Unobservable inputs or valuation techniques that are used when little or no market dataa probability-weighted scenario approach. A discount rate is available.

The determination of fair valueapplied based on our unsecured credit spread and the assessment ofterm commensurate risk-free rate to the additional consideration to be paid, and then we apply a measurement’s placement within the hierarchy requires judgment. Level 3 valuations often involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity. Level 3 valuations may require the use of various cost, market, or income valuation methodologies applied to our unobservable estimates and assumptions. Our assumptions could vary depending on the asset or liability valued and the valuation method used. Such assumptions could include: estimates of prices, earnings, costs, actions of market participants, market factors, or the weighting of various valuation methods. We may also engage external advisors to assist in determining fair value, as appropriate.

Although we believe that the recorded fair value of our financial instruments is appropriate, these fair values may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values.

Deferred Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and tax return purposes. We assess the recoverability of our deferred tax assets and provide a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets when, as a result of this analysis, we believe it is more likely than not that some portion or all of our deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Assessing the recoverability of deferred tax assets involves judgment and complexity, including the consideration of prudent and feasible tax planning. Estimates and judgments used in the determinationrisk-based estimate of the need for a valuation allowance and in calculating the amountprobability of a needed valuation allowance include, but are not limitedachieving each scenario to the following:

The ability to carry back deferred tax attributes to a prior tax year;

Timing of the anticipated reversal of book/tax temporary differences;

Projected future operating results;

Anticipated future state tax apportionment;

Timing and amounts of anticipated future taxable income;

Evaluation of statutory limits regarding usage of certain tax assets; and

Evaluation of the statutory periods over which certain tax assets can be utilized.

Significant changes in the factors above, or other factors, could affect our ability to use our deferred tax assets. Such changes could have a material, adverse impact on our profitability, financial position, and cash flows. We will continue to assess the recoverability of our deferred tax assets, as necessary, when we experience changes that could materially affect our prior determination of the recoverability of our deferred tax assets.

Valuation of Acquired Assets or Businesses

As part of our corporate strategy, we are seeking to identify and capitalize upon acquisition opportunities of complementary product lines and companies. We evaluate and account for acquired patents, licenses, distribution rights, and other tangible or intangible assets as the purchase of an asset or asset group, or as a business combination, as appropriate. The determination of whether the purchase of a group of assets should be accounted for as an asset group or as a business combination requires judgment based on the weight of available evidence.

For the purchase of an asset group, we allocate the cost of the asset group, including transaction costs, to the individual assets purchased based on their relative estimated fair values. In-process research and development acquired as part of an asset group is expensed upon acquisition. We account for business combinations using the acquisition method. Under this method, the allocation of the purchase price is based oncalculate the fair value of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and the liabilities assumed as of the date of the acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the estimatedcontingent consideration. This fair value measurement was based on unobservable inputs, including management estimates and assumptions about the future achievement of the tangible net assetsmilestones and identifiable intangible assetsfuture estimate of revenues, and is, recordedtherefore, classified as goodwill. Transaction costs related to a business combination are expensed as incurred. In-process research and development acquired as part of a business combination is accounted for as

45


an indefinite-lived intangible asset until the related research and development project gains regulatory approval or is discontinued.

We typically engage external advisors to assist in determiningLevel 3 within the fair value of acquired asset groups or business combinations, using valuation methodologies such as: the excess earnings, the discounted cash flow, or the relief from royalty methods. The determination of fair value in accordance with the fair value measurement framework requires significant judgments and estimates, including, but not limited to: timing of product life cycles, estimates of future revenues, estimates of profitability for new or acquired products, cost estimates for new or changed manufacturing processes, estimates of the cost or timing of obtaining regulatory approvals, estimates of the success of competitive products, and discount rates. We, in consultation with our advisor(s), make these estimates based on our prior experiences and industry knowledge. We believe that our estimates are reasonable, but actual results could differ significantly from our estimates. A significant change in our estimates used to value acquired asset groups or business combinations could result in future write-downs of tangible or intangible assets acquired by us and could, therefore, materially impact our financial position and profitability. If the value of the liabilities assumed by us, including contingent liabilities, is determined to be significantly different from the amounts previously recorded in purchase accounting, we may need to record additional expenses or write-downs in future periods, which could materially impact our financial position and profitability.

hierarchy.

New Accounting Pronouncements

See Part II, Item 8, Note 1 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for further discussion of new accounting standards that have been adopted or are being evaluated for future adoption.

Results of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 20212023 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2020

2022

(InTables in thousands)

Revenues

Revenues as a Percentage of

Total Revenues for the

Revenues for the

Twelve Months Ended

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

December 31,

2021

2020

Percent Change

2021

2020

Revenues for the
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
Revenues for the
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
Revenues as a Percentage of Total Revenues for the
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
202320232022Percent
Change
20232022

Products:

Aortic stents and stent grafts

$

85,387

$

61,663

38%

28%

24%

Aortic stent grafts
Aortic stent grafts
Aortic stent grafts$107,469 $92,752 16%31%29%
On-XOn-X74,528 63,904 17%21%20%

Surgical sealants

70,714

62,068

14%

24%

25%

Surgical sealants68,016 65,379 65,379 4%4%19%21%

On-X

57,363

48,053

19%

19%

19%

Other

8,133

7,515

8%

3%

3%

Other11,172 8,318 8,318 34%34%3%

Total products

221,597

179,299

24%

74%

71%

Total products261,185 230,353 230,353 13%13%74%73%

Preservation services

77,239

73,928

4%

26%

29%

Preservation services
Preservation services92,819 83,436 11%26%27%

Total

$

298,836

$

253,227

18%

100%

100%

Total$354,004 $$313,789 13%13%100%

Revenues increased 18%13% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2022. The increase in revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 was due to increasesan increase in revenues from allaortic stent grafts, On-X products, preservation services, other products, and preservation services. On a constant currency basis,surgical sealants. Excluding the effects of foreign exchange, revenues increased 16%12% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2022. Revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and 20202022 were negatively impacted in certain regions by delays or cancellations of some surgical procedures as a result of reduced hospital capacity and staffing and hospital restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, reduced hospital staffingpandemic and restricted access resulting from COVID-19 have impactedlocal labor disputes.
The following table reconciles revenues to constant currency revenues for the adoption rates for newly acquired or newly released products. The revenue impact from COVID-19 was smaller and varied regionally during the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2020 with the largest negative impact during the three months ended June 30, 2020.

periods presented:

46

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Table of Contents

Revenues for the
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
Percent
Change
From Prior
Year
20232022
US GAAPUS GAAPExchange Rate EffectConstant CurrencyConstant Currency
Products:
Aortic stent grafts$107,469 $92,752 $1,587 $94,339 14%
On-X74,528 63,904 61 63,965 17%
Surgical sealants68,016 65,379 236 65,615 4%
Other11,172 8,318 8,322 34%
Total products261,185 230,353 1,888 232,241 12%
Preservation services92,819 83,436 (88)83,348 11%
Total$354,004 $313,789 $1,800 $315,589 12%

A detailed discussion of the changes in product revenues and preservation services revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 is presented below.

Products

Revenues from products increased 24%13% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2022. The increase was due to an increase in revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 was due to increases in revenues from all products.aortic stent grafts, On-X products, other products, and surgical sealants. A discussion of the changes in product revenues for aortic stents and stent grafts, On-X products, surgical sealants, On-X, and other product revenues is presented below.

Sales of certain products through our direct sales force and distributors across Europe and various other countries are denominated in a variety of currencies including Euros, Brazilian Reals, Polish Zlotys, British Pounds, Polish Zlotys,Canadian Dollars, and Swiss Francs Brazilian Reals, and Canadian Dollars, with a concentration denominated in Euros. Each currency is subject to exchange rate fluctuations. For the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020,2022, the US Dollar weakened in comparison to major currencies, resulting in revenue increases when these foreign currency denominated transactions were translated into US Dollars. Future changes in these exchange rates could have a material, adverse effect on our revenues denominated in these currencies. Additionally, our sales to many distributors around the world are denominated in US Dollars, and although these sales are not directly impacted by currency exchange rates, we believe that some of our distributors may delay or reduce purchases of products in US Dollars depending on the relative price of these goods in their local currencies.

Aortic Stents and Stent Grafts

Aortic stents and stent grafts including JOTEC,include aortic arch stent grafts, abdominal stent grafts, synthetic vascular grafts, and original equipment manufacturing (“OEM”) aortic stent graft products. Aortic arch stent grafts include our E-vita Open NEO, E-vita Open Plus, AMDS, the NEXUS Products, and NEXUS products,E-vita Thoracic 3G products. Abdominal stent grafts include our E-xtra Design Engineering, E-nside, E-tegra, E-ventus BX, and E-liac products. Aortic stent grafts are used in endovascular and open vascular surgery as well as for the treatment of complex aortic arch, thoracic, and thoracicabdominal aortic diseases. Our aortic stents and stent grafts are primarily distributed in international markets.

On September 11, 2019 Artivion and its wholly-owned subsidiary JOTEC entered into exclusive distribution and loan agreements with Endospan Ltd. (“Endospan”)

Revenues from the sales of aortic stent grafts increased 16% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. This increase was primarily due to a change in the mix of units sold, which increased revenues by 11%, an Israeli corporation, underincrease in average sales prices, which JOTEC obtained exclusive distribution rights for Endospan’s NEXUS productsincreased revenues by 3%, and accessories in certain countries in Europe.

On September 2, 2020 Artivion entered into an agreement to acquire allthe effect of foreign exchange rates, which increased revenues by 2%.

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Table of Contents
Constant currency revenues from the equity interestssales of Ascyrus Medical LLC (“Ascyrus”). Ascyrus developed the AMDS, an aortic arch remodeling device usedstent grafts increased 14% for the treatmenttwelve months ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. The increase in revenues was partially due to improved conditions from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as increased market adoption of acute Type A aortic dissections. The AMDS is currently distributedcertain products for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. Revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 increased in all geographies, with the most significant increase in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (collectively, “EMEA”), Canada, Asia Pacific (“APAC”), and Latin America (“LATAM”), and is included as a component of aortic stents and stent grafts revenues from the date of the acquisition.

Aortic stents and stent grafts revenues increased 38%. The revenue increase in EMEA for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 was primarily due to an increase in buying patterns in direct (to hospitals) markets.

On-X Products
The On-X products include the On-X aortic and mitral heart valves and the On-X ascending aortic prosthesis (“AAP”) for heart valve replacement. Revenues from the sales of On-X products include revenues from the distribution of CarbonAid® CO2 diffusion catheters and from the sale of Chord-X® ePTFE sutures for mitral chordal replacement. On-X product revenue also includes revenue generated from pyrolytic carbon coating services for OEM customers.
Revenues from the sales of On-X products increased 17% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.

Aortic stents and stent grafts revenues, excluding OEM, increased 38% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2022. This increase was primarily due to an increase in volume of units sold, which increased revenues by 37%11%, and the effect of foreign exchange rates,an increase in average sales prices, which increased revenues by 4%, partially offset by a decrease in average6%.

Constant currency revenues from the sales prices of certainOn-X products in certain regions, which decreased revenues by 3%.

On a constant currency basis, revenues for aortic stents and stent grafts, excluding OEM, increased 33%17% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2022. The increase in revenues was partially due to improved conditions from the COVID-19 pandemic for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2022. Revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 increased primarily in EMEA.all geographies, with the most significant increases in North America and Asia Pacific (“APAC”). The revenue increase in EMEA during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 is primarily due to an increaserevenues in sales of newly launched JOTEC Products. RevenuesNorth America for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 were2023 was also positively impacted by increasedcustomer buying patterns. The increase in revenues fromin APAC for the AMDS as a result of the Ascyrus acquisition in the third quarter of 2020. Aortic stents and stent graftstwelve months ended December 31, 2023 was also impacted by distributor buying patterns. On-X OEM sales accounted for less than 1% of product revenues for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 and 2020.

2022.

47


TableDomestic revenues from the sales of Contents

On-X products accounted for 60% and 63% of total On-X revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Surgical Sealants

Surgical sealants include BioGlue products used as an adjunct to standard methods of achieving hemostasis (such as sutures and staples) in adult patients in open surgical repair of large vessels (such as aorta, femoral, and carotid arteries).

Revenues from the sales of surgical sealants increased 14%4% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2022. This increase in revenues was primarily due to an increase in average sales prices in certain regions, which increased revenues by 3%, and an increase in the volume of milliliters sold, which increased revenues by 13%, and the effect of foreign exchange rates, which increased revenues by 1%.

On a constant

Constant currency basis, revenues from the sales of surgical sealants increased 13%4% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2022. The increase in revenues was primarily due to revenue increases in all geographies, except for revenue decreases in EMEA.
Revenues from the sales of surgical sealants decreased in EMEA during the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due2022. During 2022 customers accelerated orders in certain countries in anticipation of temporary commercialization restrictions resulting from the expiration of our BioGlue CE Mark during our transition to increasesa new Notified Body. We received renewal of our BioGlue CE Mark and completed our Notified Body transition late in North America, EMEA, and LATAM, partially offset by decreases in APAC. The revenue increase in these markets was primarily due to an increasethe fourth quarter of 2022.
Domestic revenues from surgical procedures due to improved conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020. Revenue decreases for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 in APAC was primarily due to changes in distributor buying patterns in this market.

See Part I Item 1A, “Risk Factors—Operational Risks— We may not be successful in obtaining necessary clinical results or regulatory clearances/approvals for new and existing products and services, and our approved products and services may not achieve market acceptance.”

Domestic BioGlue revenuessealants accounted for 51%48% and 49% of total surgical sealant revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 and 50%2022, respectively.

Other
Other revenues are comprised of total BioGlue revenues from PhotoFix, PerClot (as part of the TMSA of the Baxter Transaction described below), and CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy (prior to our abandonment of that business as of June 2023).
Other revenues increased 34% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.

On-X

The On-X catalogue of products includes the On-X prosthetic aortic and mitral heart valves and the On-X ascending aortic prosthesis (“AAP”) for heart valve replacement. On-X product revenues also include revenues from the distribution of CarbonAid® CO2 diffusion catheters and from the sale of Chord-X® ePTFE sutures for mitral chordal replacement. On-X also generates revenue from pyrolytic carbon coating products produced for OEM customers.

On-X product revenues increased 19% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.

On-X product revenues, excluding OEM, increased 20% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily due to an increase in volume of units sold, which increased revenues by 23%, and the effect of foreign exchange rates which increased revenues by 1%, partially offset by a decrease in average sales prices, which decreased revenues by 4%.

On a constant currency basis, On-X revenues, excluding OEM, increased 19% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020. The increase in revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to revenue increases in North America, APAC, and EMEA. The revenue increases in these markets were partially due to improved conditions from the COVID-19 pandemic for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020. Revenues were also positively impacted in the North American market due to increases in market share, in EMEA due to an increase of shipments in direct and indirect markets, and in APAC due to growth in distributor markets. On-X OEM sales accounted for less than 1% of product revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Domestic revenues from On-X accounted for 62% of total On-X revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, and 65% of On-X revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.

Other

Other revenues are comprised of PhotoFix, PerClot (prior to the Baxter Transaction), and CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy product revenues. Other revenues increased 8% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.

2022.

48

45

Table of Contents

The increase in other revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 was primarily due to an increase in PhotoFixPerClot and to a lesser extent CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapyPhotoFix product revenues, partially offset by decreased CardioGenesis revenues as a decrease in PerClot product revenues. The increase in PhotoFix revenues was primarily due to an increase in volumeresult of units sold forour abandonment of the twelve months ended December 31, 2021. The increase in CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy product revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 was primarily due to our ability to restart selling handpieces during the fourth quarterbusiness as of 2021, as further described below. The decrease in PerClot product revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 was due to the Baxter Transaction, described above.

June 30, 2023.

Revenues from our CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy product line historically consisted primarily of sales of handpieces and, in certain periods, the sale of laser consoles. DuringIn February 2023 our supplier of handpieces informed us that it was exiting the nine months ended Septemberbusiness and would no longer be supplying handpieces effective immediately. The sole-source manufacturer of tubing used in the handpiece assembly had gone out of business and a new supplier had yet to be identified and qualified. We evaluated the impact of this disruption on our CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy business and possible avenues for resumption of supply including the evaluation of alternate suppliers and handpiece manufacturers. As of June 30, 20212023 we were unable to identify an alternative source of supply or handpiece manufacturer and do not foresee a resumption of this business in the future. As a result, we wrote-off all of our CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy assets and recorded an expense of $390,000 during the twelve months ended December 31, 20202023 on our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
On July 28, 2021 we had minimal revenues from the CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy product line as we did not have a supply of handpieces dueentered into an asset purchase agreement, TMSA, and other ancillary agreements related to the FDA’s reviewsale of PerClot, a polysaccharide hemostatic agent used in surgery, to a subsidiary of Baxter International, Inc. (“Baxter”), and an agreement to terminate all of our supplier’s changematerial agreements with Starch Medical, Inc. (“SMI”) related to PerClot (collectively the “Baxter Transaction”). On May 23, 2023 the US Food and Drug Administration granted Premarket Approval (“PMA”) of PerClot for use to control bleeding in certain open and laparoscopic surgical procedures. Pursuant to the terms of the TMSA of the Baxter Transaction, we transferred the ownership of the PMA to Baxter following approval and began manufacturing location. After obtaining approval, our supplier resumed manufacturingand supplying PerClot for Baxter for a limited supplyperiod of handpieces allowing us21 months, subject to resume limited sales during the fourth quarter of 2021.

short-term renewal provisions.

Preservation Services

Preservation services include service revenues from processing cardiac and vascular tissues. Our cardiac valves are primarily used in cardiac replacement and reconstruction surgeries, including the Ross procedure, for patients with endocarditis or congenital heart defects. Our cardiac tissues are primarily distributed in domestic markets. The majority of our vascular preservation services revenues are related to shipments of saphenous veins, which are mainly used in peripheral vascular reconstruction surgeries to avoid limb amputations. Competition with synthetic product alternatives and the availability of tissues for processing are key factors affecting revenue volume that can fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Our vascular tissues are primarily distributed in domestic markets.

We continue to evaluate modifications to our tissue processing procedures in an effort to improve tissue processing throughput, reduce costs, and maintain quality across our tissue processing business. Preservation services revenues, particularly revenues for certain high-demand cardiac tissues, can vary from quarter to quarter and year to year due to a variety of factors, including quantity and type of incoming tissues, yields of tissue through the preservation process, timing of receipt of donor information, timing of the release of tissues for implant, demand for certain tissue types due to the number and type of procedures being performed, and pressures from competing products or services.

In the fourth quarter of 2020 we became aware that a supplier shipped to us a saline solution lot that we use in our tissue processing that contained some contamination in a small number of bottles of the solution lot. The contamination was identified by our in-process quality controls. The contaminated solution was estimated to have impacted a small percentage of tissue processed with this solution lot, causing us to write-off approximately $826,000 of tissue in the fourth quarter of 2020. An additional $5.0 million of tissue was quarantined in process pending further testing. Upon completion, and FDA acceptance of the testing, we began releasing tissue meeting our release criteria late in the second quarter of 2021.We believe that the written-off and quarantined tissue impacted the availability of tissue for distribution, which had a negative impact on revenue in the first quarter of 2021 and, to a lesser extent, the second quarter of 2021. Our ability to continue to release this quarantined and other tissue in the third quarter was negatively impacted by trained staffing availability.

Revenues from tissue processing increased 4%11% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.

2022. The increase in revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 was primarily due to a 5% and 3% increase in cardiac and vascular tissue revenues, respectively. The increase in cardiac tissue revenues was primarily due to an increase in cardiac tissue shipments,average sales prices, which increased revenues by 6%12%, partially offset by a decrease in average service fees,tissues shipped, which decreased revenues by 1%. The increase in vascular tissue revenues was primarily due to an increase in vascular tissue shipments, which increased revenues by 4%, partially offset by a decrease in average service fees, which decreased revenues by 1%.


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Table of Contents

Cost of Products and Preservation Services

Cost of Products

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

2021

2020

Cost of products

$

65,196

$

50,128

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
20232022
Cost of products$84,595 $72,166 

Cost of products increased 30%17% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2022. Cost of products for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 and 20202022 included costs related to aortic stents and stent grafts, On-X, surgical sealants, On-X, and other products.
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Table of Contents

The increase in cost of products for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 was primarily due to an increase in shipments due to improved conditions from the COVID-19 pandemic, JOTEC product launches in late 2020, AMDS which was acquiredvolume of On-X products and aortic stent grafts shipped, and an increase in the third quartercost of 2020,aortic stent grafts, surgical sealants, and write-downs of certainOn-X products shipped, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.

2022.

Cost of Preservation Services

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

2021

2020

Cost of preservation services

$

36,126

$

35,315

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
20232022
Cost of preservation services$40,233 $39,100 

Cost of preservation services increased 2%3% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2022. Cost of preservation services includesincluded costs for cardiac and vascular tissue preservation services.

The increase in cost of preservation services for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 was primarily due to an increase in shipments due to improved conditions from the COVID-19 pandemicprocessing cost of tissues shipped, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.

2022.

Gross Margin

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

2021

2020

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
202320232022

Gross margin

$

197,514

$

167,784

Gross margin as a percentage of total revenues

66%

66%

Gross margin as a percentage of total revenues65 %65 %

Gross margin increased 18%13% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020. 2022.
Gross margin for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 was positively impacted by shipments of PerClot as part of the Baxter Transaction described above. PerClot shipped during the second quarter and a portion of the third quarter of 2023 represented PerClot pre-launch inventory manufactured prior to PMA and was previously recorded as research and development expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
The increase for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 20202022 was primarilyalso due to favorable pricingan increase in average sales prices of certain tissues, On-X products, and certain aortic stent grafts shipped and the mix and volume of certain aortic stent grafts, On-X, and surgical sealant products shipped, partially offset by an increase in the volumecost of all products sold.shipped. Gross margin as a percentage of total revenues remainedwas flat for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to2022. Gross margin as a percentage of total revenues was positively impacted by favorable gross marginsprices of newly launched JOTEC Productscertain tissues shipped and AMDS,a favorable mix of On-X products sold,and certain aortic stent grafts shipped, offset by write-downsan increase in the cost of certain products.


products shipped during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

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Table of Contents

Operating Expenses

General, Administrative, and Marketing Expenses

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

2021

2020

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
202320232022

General, administrative, and marketing expenses

$

169,774

$

141,136

General, administrative, and marketing expenses

as a percentage of total revenues

57%

56%

General, administrative, and marketing expenses as a percentage of total revenuesGeneral, administrative, and marketing expenses as a percentage of total revenues59 %50 %

General, administrative, and marketing expenses increased 20%33% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2022. The increase in General, administrative, and marketing expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 was primarily due to an increase in personnel, commission, amortization, and business development expenses.expenses, personnel-related expenses, travel, and marketing.
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Table of Contents

General, administrative, and marketing expenses included $16.1$25.0 million of business development expensesexpense for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to $6.2$7.7 million of business development income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.

Business2022. We incurred $23.5 million of business development expensesexpense during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 included $4.9 million2023 related to the impairment of the Endospan Option and $9.7 million of fair value adjustments for the contingent consideration related to our future payments to Ascyrus contingent consideration. BusinessMedical LLC (“Ascyrus”), the developer of AMDS, who we acquired in 2020, as compared to $9.0 million of business development expensesincome during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 primarily consisted of fair value adjustments for the Ascyrus contingent consideration.

2022.

Research and Development Expenses

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

2021

2020

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
202320232022

Research and development expenses

$

35,546

$

24,207

Research and development expenses

as a percentage of total revenues

12%

10%

Research and development expenses as a percentage of total revenuesResearch and development expenses as a percentage of total revenues%12 %

Research and development expenses increased 47%decreased 26% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2022. Research and development spending for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 was primarily focused on clinical work to gain regulatory approvals for certain aortic stent grafts, and to a lesser extent, On-X products. Research and development spending for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 was primarily focused on clinical work to gain regulatory approvals for On-X JOTEC,products, certain aortic stent grafts, and PerClot products.
On September 23, 2022 we stopped the PROACT Xa clinical trial as recommended by the trial's independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board. The PROACT Xa clinical trial was a prospective, randomized, trial designed to determine if patients with On-X mechanical aortic valves could be maintained safely and effectively on apixaban rather than on warfarin. As a result of PROACT Xa's early termination, we recorded $4.5 million of termination and wind-down expenses that were included in Research and development spendingoperating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 was primarily focused on2022. The majority of these costs included administrative costs that we paid during the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, as well as the estimated cost of clinical workdrugs purchased for patients participating in the study that were not expected to gain regulatory approvalbe recovered.
Research and development expenses also included $632,000 and $1.9 million for On-Xthe twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and JOTEC Products.

2022, respectively, related to PerClot pre-launch inventory manufactured as part of the Baxter transaction.

Gain from Sale of Non-Financial Assets

Gain from sale of non-financial assets for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 consisted of the net $15.9$14.3 million gain from the sale of PerClot assetsreceived as part of the Baxter Transaction on July 28, 2021.

upon receipt of the PerClot PMA in May 2023.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $16.9$25.3 million and $16.7$18.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively. Interest expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 and 20202022 relates to interest on debt and uncertain tax positions.

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Other Expense (Income), Net

Otherdebt. The increase in interest expense net was $6.1 million and $3.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, was primarily due to an increase in the interest rate on our term loan.

Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net was $3.1 million for both the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2020, respectively. 2022. Other expense, net for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 primarily includesincluded a $5.0 million expense related to a payment to Endospan for achievement of certain milestones related to the NEXUS Products, partially offset by realized and unrealized effects of foreign currency gains and losses. See Part II, Item 8, Note 4 - “Agreements with Endospan” of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for further information on our agreements with Endospan. Other expense, net for the twelve months ended December 31, 20202022 primarily includesincluded realized and unrealized effects of foreign currency gains and losses and fair value adjustmentslosses.
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Table of financial instruments.Contents

Earnings

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

2021

2020

Loss before income taxes

$

(14,827)

$

(17,174)

Income tax expense (benefit)

7

(492)

Net loss

$

(14,834)

$

(16,682)

Diluted loss per common share

$

(0.38)

$

(0.44)

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding

38,983

37,861

(Table in thousands, except per share data)

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
20232022
Loss before income taxes$(21,586)$(14,984)
Income tax expense9,104 4,208 
Net loss$(30,690)$(19,192)
Diluted loss per common share$(0.75)$(0.48)
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding40,743 40,032 
We incurred a loss before income taxes for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 and 2020.2022. The loss before income taxes for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 was primarily due to business development, expenses primarily related toimpacted by the change in fair value of our financial instruments, an increase in certain operating expenses to support revenue expansion, and an increase in interest expense. The loss before income taxes for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 was impacted by an increase in certain operating expenses to support revenue expansion and an increase in investments in the research and development pipeline, andpipeline. The loss before income taxes was partially offset by the change in fair value of the Ascyrus contingent consideration for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. Revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 were also unfavorably impacted by delays andor cancellations of some surgical procedures as a result of reduced hospital capacity and staffing and hospital restrictions due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.

pandemic in certain regions.

Our effective income tax rate was break-evenan expense of 42% and 28% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 as compared to a benefit of 3% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2023 and 2022, respectively. The change in the tax rate for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 is2023 was primarily due to changes in pre-tax book loss, an increase in the excess tax benefit related to stock compensation, the estimated current year valuation allowance, a settlement of prior year tax return items, and a reductionan increase in the benefit related to uncertain tax position statute expirations for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.

2022.

Our income tax rate for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 was primarily impactedaffected by excessan increase in the valuation allowance on our deferred tax benefits on stockassets, nondeductible executive compensation, income taxes in certain profitable foreign jurisdictions, and additional tax expense for uncertain tax positions. These tax expenses were partially offset by the research and development tax credit non-deductible executive compensation, changes in our valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets, and changes in our uncertain tax position liabilities.

foreign derived intangible income deduction.

Our income tax rate for the twelve months ended December 31, 20202022 was primarily impactedaffected by changesan increase in ourthe valuation allowance againston our net deferred tax assets, nondeductible executive compensation, and changes in ouradditional tax expense for uncertain tax position liabilities.

In response topositions. These tax expenses were partially offset by the COVID-19 pandemic, the US government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief,research and Economic Security Act, (“CARES Act”) on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provided various forms of relief and assistance to U.S. businesses. We recorded a reduction to income taxes payable and deferreddevelopment tax assets of approximately $1.3 million for the change to the 2019 Section 163(j) interest expense deduction limitation for the three months ended March 31, 2020. See Part II, Item 8, Note 9 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K for further discussion of our interest expense deduction limitation and carryforward.

credit.

We experienced a net loss and diluted loss per common share for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 and 2020.2022. Net loss and diluted loss per common share for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 was primarily due to an increase in loss before income taxes, as discussed above.

Seasonality

As

Non-GAAP Measures of Financial Performance
To supplement our Consolidated Financial Statements presented in accordance with US GAAP, we use constant currency revenues, which is a resultnon-GAAP financial measure. We define constant currency revenues as revenues minus the exchange rate effect. We define exchange rate effect as the year-over-year impact of foreign currency movements using current period foreign currency rates applied to prior period transactional currency amounts.
We have provided non-GAAP financial measures in this report as we believe that these figures are helpful in allowing management and investors to more accurately assess the ongoing nature of our operations and measure our performance more consistently across periods. Management uses constant currency revenues internally to assess the operational performance of the uncertaintyCompany, as a component in compensation metrics, and as a basis for strategic planning.
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We believe the provided non-GAAP measures are meaningful in addition to the information contained in the US GAAP presentation of financial performance. Investors should consider this non-GAAP information in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with US GAAP. In addition, this non-GAAP financial information may not be the same as similar measures presented by other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shifts of timing in some revenue, our historically observable seasonality of revenues has been impacted or obscured in 2020 and 2021 and potentially beyond.

companies.

Seasonality
Historically, we believe the demand for JOTEC Productsmost of our aortic stent grafts is seasonal, with a decline in demand generally occurring in the third quarter due to the summer holiday season in Europe. We are uncertain whether the demand for AMDS and the NEXUS products

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Products is seasonal, as these products have not fully penetrated many markets and, therefore, the nature of any seasonal trends may not yet be obvious.

Historically, we believe the demand for BioGlue and On-X products is seasonal, with a decline in demand generally occurring in the third quarter followed by stronger demand in the fourth quarter. We believe that this trend may be due to the summer holiday season in Europe and the US.

We do not believe the demand for our other products is seasonal.

Demand for our cardiac preservation services has traditionally been seasonal, with peak demand generally occurring in the third quarter. We believe this trend for cardiac preservation services is primarily due to the high number of surgeries scheduled during the summer months for school-aged patients. Based on experience in recent years, we believe that this trend is lessening as we are distributing a higher percentage of our tissues for use in adult populations.

Demand for our vascular preservation services has also traditionally been seasonal, with lowest demand generally occurring in the fourth quarter. We believe this trend for vascular preservation services is primarily due to fewer vascular surgeries being scheduled during the winter holiday months.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net Working Capital

At December 31, 20212023 net working capital (current assets of $247.7$280.7 million less current liabilities of $45.0$57.9 million) was $202.7$222.8 million, with a current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) of 65 to 1, as compared to net working capital of $174.1$197.6 million and a current ratio of 45 to 1 at December 31, 2020.2022

.

Overall Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary cash requirements for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 were for general working capital needs, capital expenditures for facilities and equipment, interest and principal payments under our Credit Agreement (defined below), interest payments under our Convertible Senior Notes (defined below), a milestone payment related to the Ascyrus acquisition,capital expenditures for facilities and equipment, repurchases of stock to cover tax withholdings.withholdings, and payment to Endospan for achievement of certain milestones related to the NEXUS Products. We funded our cash requirements through our existing cash reserves and proceeds from stock option exercises, and the Baxter Transaction described above.

exercises.

We believe our cash from operations and existing cash and cash equivalents will enable us to meet our current operational liquidity needs for at least the next twelve months. Our future cash requirements are expected to include interest and principal payments under our Credit Agreementnew Initial Term Loan Facility and Convertible Senior Notes (described in “Significant Sources and Uses of Liquidity” section below), expenditures for clinical trials, research and development expenditures, general working capital needs, capital expenditures, and other corporate purposes and may include cash to fund business development activities including obligations in the Endospan andagreements related to the Ascyrus agreements.transaction. These items may have a significant effect on our future cash flows during the next twelve months. Subject to the terms of our CreditInitial Term Loan Agreement, we may seek additional borrowing capacity or financing, pursuant to our current or any future shelf registration statement, for general corporate purposes or to fund other future cash requirements. If we undertake any further significant business development activity, we may need to finance such activities by obtaining additional debt financing or using a registration statement to sell equity securities. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain any additional debt or equity financing at the time needed or that such financing will be available on terms that are favorable or acceptable to us.

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Significant Sources and Uses of Liquidity

Credit Agreement
On December 1, 2017 we entered into a credit and guaranty agreement for a $255.0 million senior secured credit facility, consisting of a $225.0 million secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”) and a $30.0 million secured revolving credit facility (“the Revolving(the "Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Credit Agreement”). We and each of our existing domestic subsidiaries (subject to certain exceptions and exclusions) guarantee the obligations under the Credit Agreement (the “Guarantors”). The Credit Agreement is secured by a security interest in substantially all existing and after-acquired real and personal property (subject to certain exceptions and exclusions) of us and the Guarantors.

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In March 2020 partlyThe Term Loan Facility, as a precautionary measure to increase cash and maintain maximum financial flexibility during the uncertainty in global markets resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, we borrowed the entire amount available under our $30.0 million Revolving Credit Facility at an aggregate interest rate of 5.20%. On June 29, 2020 we used a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of Convertible Senior Notes, as discussed below, to repay the $30.0 million outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility.

Onamended on June 2, 2021, we entered into an amendment to our Credit Agreement to extend the maturity dates of both the Company’s Term Loan and its Revolving Credit Facility. As part of the amendment, the maturity dates of both the Company’s Term Loan and its Revolving Credit Facility were each extended by two and one-half years, until June 1, 2027 and June 1, 2025, respectively, subject to earlier springing maturities if our 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes, described below, remain outstanding on April 1, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. With respect to the Term Loan, if the Convertible Senior Notes remain outstanding on April 1, 2025, the Term Loan’s maturity date will be April 1, 2025, or, if the Convertible Senior Notes’ own maturity date has been extended, the earlier of (i) 91 days prior to the Convertible Senior Notes’ new maturity date and (ii) June 1, 2027. In the case of the Revolving Credit Facility, if the Convertible Senior Notes are still outstanding on December 31, 2024, the Revolving Credit Facility’s maturity date will be either December 31, 2024 or, if the Convertible Senior Notes’ own maturity date has been extended, the earlier of (i) 182 days prior to the Convertible Senior Notes’ new maturity date and (ii) June 1, 2025. Under the amendment, the Term Loan Facility bears interest, at our option, at a floating annual rate equal to either the base rate, plus a margin of 2.50%, or LIBOR, plus a margin of 3.50%. Prior

The interest rate of our Term Loan Facility, as amended on December 19, 2022, was calculated as Term SOFR plus a fixed percentage credit spread of 3.50%. The loan under the Revolving Credit Facility, as amended, bears interest at Term SOFR plus a margin of between 4.00% and 4.25%, depending on our consolidated net leverage ratio. As of December 31, 2023 the aggregate interest rate of the Credit Agreement was 8.97% per annum.
On January 18, 2024 we entered into a credit and guaranty agreement with Ares Management Credit funds (the “Ares Credit Agreement”) for $350.0 million of senior secured, interest-only, credit facilities, consisting of a $190.0 million term loan facility (the “Initial Term Loan Facility”), a $100.0 million delayed draw term loan facility (the “Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility” and, together with the Initial Term Loan Facility, the “Term Loan Facilities”)and a $60.0 million “senior-priority” revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facilities, the “Credit Facilities”). Upon closing, we borrowed $190.0 million under the Initial Term Loan Facility and $30.0 million under the Revolving Credit Facility. The proceeds of the initial borrowings were used along with cash on hand to pay off our existing credit facilities, dated as of December 1, 2017, and related fees and expenses. See Part II, Item 8, Note 17 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for further discussion of our new credit and guaranty agreement.
The final scheduled maturity date of the Credit Facilities is January 18, 2030. There are no scheduled repayments of principal required to be made prior to the amendment,final maturity date. We have the optionalright to prepay loans under the Ares Credit Agreement in whole or in part at any time, provided that any prepayment of loans under the Term Loan Facilities (or loans under the Revolving Credit Facility to the extent of reducing the balance of outstanding loans below $30.0 million) will be subject to a prepayment premium of 5.00% if the prepayment occurs prior to January 18, 2025 and 1.00% if the prepayment occurs thereafter and prior to January 18, 2026. Amounts repaid in respect of loans under the Initial Term Loan Facilities may not be reborrowed. Amounts repaid in respect of loans under the Revolving Credit Facility may be reborrowed. Loans under the Term Loan Facilities bear interest, at our option, at a floating annual rate was equal to either the base rate plus a margin of 2.25%,5.50% or LIBOR,SOFR plus a margin of 3.25%6.50%; beginning with the second fiscal quarter of 2025, the margin may step down to 5.25% and 6.25%, respectively, based on our total net leverage ratio at such time. Loans under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest, at our option, at a floating annual rate equal to either the base rate plus a margin of 3.00% or SOFR plus a margin of 4.00%.

In addition, we will be required to pay fees of 0.50% per annum on the daily unused amount of the Revolving Credit Facility and 1.00% per annum on the daily unused amount of the Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility.

Convertible Senior Notes
On June 18, 2020 we issued $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes with a maturity date of July 1, 2025 (the “Convertible Senior Notes”). The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting initial purchasers’ discounts and costs directly related to this offering, were approximately $96.5 million. On January 1, 2021 we adopted ASU 2020-06 and adjusted the carrying balance of the Convertible Senior Notes to notional. The Convertible Senior Notes balance was $100.0 million recorded in Long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021. The Convertible Senior Notes may be settled in cash, stock, or a combination thereof, solely at our discretion. The initial conversion rate of the Convertible Senior Notes is 42.6203 shares per $1,000 principal amount, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $23.46 per share, subject to adjustments. We use the if-converted method for assumed conversion of the Convertible Senior Notes for the diluted earnings per share calculation. The fair value and the effective interest rate of the Convertible Senior Notes as of December 31, 20212023 was approximately $116.0$106.4 million and 5.05%, respectively. The fair value was based on market prices observable for similar instruments and is considered Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

51

The interest expense recognized on the Convertible Senior Notes includes approximately $4.9 million for the aggregateTable of the contractual coupon interest, and the amortization of the debt issuance during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021. Interest on the Convertible Senior Notes began accruing upon issuance and is payable semi-annually.Contents

Holders of the Convertible Senior Notes may convert their notes at their option at any time prior to January 1, 2025 but only under the following circumstances: (i) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on September 30, 2020 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price of our common stock for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day; (ii) during the five business day period after any five consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the conversion rate on each such trading day; (iii) we give a notice of redemption with respect to any or all of the notes, at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date; or (iv) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events. On or after January 1, 2025 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert their notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances.

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We cannotbecame eligible to redeem the Convertible Senior Notes beforebeginning on July 5, 2023.2023, following the expiration of their non-redemption period. We canare able to redeem them on or after July 5, 2023,the Convertible Senior Notes in whole or in part, at our option, if the last reported sale price per share of our common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period (including the last trading day of such period) ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide notice of redemption. We may redeem for cash all or part of the Convertible Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the redeemable Convertible Senior Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. No principal payments are due on the Convertible Senior Notes prior to maturity. Other than restrictions relating to certain fundamental changes and consolidations, mergers or asset sales and customary anti-dilution adjustments, the Convertible Senior Notes do not contain any financial covenants and do not restrict us from conducting significant restructuring transactions or issuing or repurchasing any of its other securities.

We have benefited from various aspects of the CARES Act including a decrease in the amount of interest expense limitation in 2020 and the deferment of a portion of the 2020 employer’s portion of social security tax into 2021 and 2022.

As of December 31, 20212023 approximately 36%31% of our cash and cash equivalents were held in foreign jurisdictions.

The following table summarizes cash flows from operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities for the periods indicated (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31,

2021

2020

Year Ended December 31,Year Ended December 31,
202320232022

Cash flows provided by (used in):

Operating activities
Operating activities

Operating activities

$

(2,585)

$

12,369

Investing activities

5,660

(73,128)

Financing activities

(12,223)

93,608

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted securities

2,200

(5,185)

(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted securities

$

(6,948)

$

27,664

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Net Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash used inprovided by operating activities was $2.6$18.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, as compared to net cash provided byused in operating activities of $12.4$5.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.

2022.

We use the indirect method to prepare our cash flow statement, and accordingly, the operating cash flows are based on our net (loss) income,loss, which is then adjusted to remove non-cash items, items classified as investing and financing cash flows, and for changes in operating assets and liabilities from the prior year end. For the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 these non-cash items primarily included $24.0 million in depreciation and amortization expenses, $15.9$23.5 million of gain from the sale of non-financial assets, $10.7 million in non-cash compensation, $8.9 million in fair value adjustments of financial instruments, $23.1 million of depreciation and $7.5amortization expenses, $14.4 million inof non-cash compensation, $14.3 million of gain from sale of non-financial assets, $7.4 million of lease expense.

expense, $5.0 million of fair value adjustment of long-term loan, and $4.8 million of write-down of inventories and deferred preservation costs.

Our working capital needs, or changes in operating assets and liabilities, also affected cash from operations. For the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 these changes included unfavorable adjustmentsthe favorable effect of $18.4$1.7 million due to the timing differences between the recording of accounts payable and other current liabilities, $535,000 due to a decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets, partially offset by $14.4 million due to an increase in inventory balances and deferred preservation costs $11.6and the unfavorable effect of $4.1 million due to the timing differences between recording receivables and the receipt of cash, unfavorable effectcash.
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Table of $1.9 million Contentsdue to timing differences between the recording of accounts payable and other current liabilities, and $1.4 million due to an increase in prepaid expenses and other assets.

Net Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Net cash provided byused in investing activities was $5.7$502,000 and $10.7 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 as compared to2023 and 2022, respectively. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 cash flows used in investing activities primarily included $7.4 million of $73.1cash used for capital expenditures, $5.0 million for the payment related to our agreement with Endospan, partially offset by $14.3 million of proceeds from the sale of non-financial assets.
Net Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $865,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, as compared to net cash used in financing activities of $1.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 cash flows provided by investing activities included $19.0 million of net proceeds from the sale of non-financial assets, partially offset by $13.1 million of cash used for capital expenditures. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 cash flows used in investing activities included $59.1 million of payments related to the Ascyrus Acquisition, net of cash acquired, $7.3 million in capital expenditures, and $5.0 million in cash payments related to the Endospan agreements.

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Net Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $12.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 as compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $93.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2022. The current year cash used inprovided by financing activities was primarily due to $8.2 million related to the Ascyrus milestone payment, $3.1 million repayment of debt, $2.2 million payment of debt issuance costs, and $1.9 million for repurchases of common stock to cover tax withholdings, partially offset by $3.8$4.0 million of proceeds from exercise of stock options and issuances of common stock.

Net cash providedstock, $3.6 million of proceeds from financing insurance premiums, partially offset by financing activities was $93.6$2.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020. Cash provided by financing activities was primarily due to the $100.0 million cash proceeds from the issuance of the Convertible Senior Notes partially offset by $3.6 millionrepayment of debt issuance costs associated with these Convertible Senior Notes. Duringand $2.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, we borrowed and subsequently repaid $30.0 million from the Revolving Credit Facility.

payments of short-term notes payable.

Scheduled Contractual Obligations and Future Payments

Our long-term debt obligations and interest payments include $317.6$320.5 million of scheduled principal payments and $66.1$139.0 million in anticipated interest payments primarily related to our Initial Term Loan Facility, Revolving Credit Agreement,Facility, Convertible Senior Notes, and JOTECother governmental loans.

We have contingent payment obligations that include up to $100.0 million to be paid to the former shareholders of Ascyrus upon the achievement of certain milestones. We are obliged to make a $5.0 million third tranche payment under our loan agreement with Endospan upon receipt of certification that certain clinical trial milestones have been achieved. See “Overview” identified in Part II, Item 8, Note 3 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K.

As part of the transaction with Baxter, Transaction, we may be required to pay up to $9.0$3.0 million to SMI if certain milestones are met. See “Overview” identified in Part II, Item 8, Note 2 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” of this Form 10-K.

Our operating and finance lease obligations result from the lease of land and buildings that comprise our corporate headquarters and our various manufacturing facilities, leases related to additional manufacturing, office, and warehouse space, leases on company vehicles, and leases on a variety of office equipment and other equipment.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 and 20202022 were $13.1$7.4 million and $7.3$9.0 million, respectively. Capital expenditures in the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 were primarily related to leasehold improvements needed to support our business, routine purchases of manufacturing and tissue processing equipment, computer software, leasehold improvements needed to support our business, and computer software and equipment.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Interest Rate Risk

Our interest income and interest expense are sensitive to changes in the general level of US interest rates. In this regard, changes in US interest rates affect the interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents of $55.0$58.9 million as of December 31, 2021,2023, and interest paid on the outstanding balances, if any, of our variable rate Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan Facility, and Convertible Senior Notes. A 10% adverse change in interest rates, as compared to the rates experienced by us infor the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 affecting our cash and cash equivalents, Term Loan Facility, Revolving Credit Facility, and Convertible Senior Notes would not have had a material impact on our financial position, profitability, or cash flows.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

We have balances, such as cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accruals that are denominated in foreign currencies. These foreign currency denominated balances are sensitive to changes in exchange rates. In this regard, changes in exchange rates could cause a change in the US Dollar equivalent of cash or funds that we will receive in payment for assets or that we would have to pay to settle liabilities. As a result, we could be required to record these changes as gains or losses on foreign currency translation. Realized and unrealized gains and losses were a gain of $2.1 million, a loss of $5.5 million, gain of $1.9$3.1 million, and a loss of $1.2$5.5 million, for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Losses incurred during 2021 were primarily related to cross currency intercompany receivables and payables resulting from large inventory transfers during 2021, impacted by fluctuations in the US dollar relative to other currencies.

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We have revenues and expenses that are denominated in foreign currencies. Specifically, a portion of our international aortic stent and stent grafts, surgical sealants, On-X products, and other product revenues are denominated in Euros, Brazilian Reals, Polish Zlotys, British Pounds, Swiss Francs, Polish Zlotys, Canadian Dollars, and Brazilian RealsSwiss Francs and a portion of our General, administrative, and marketing expenses are denominated in Euros, Brazilian Reals, Polish Zlotys, British Pounds, Swiss Francs, Polish Zlotys, Canadian Dollars, Brazilian Reals,Swiss Francs, and Singapore Dollars. These foreign currency transactions are sensitive to changes in exchange rates. In this regard, changes in exchange rates could cause a change in the US Dollar equivalent of net income from transactions conducted in other currencies. As a result, we could recognize a reduction in revenues or an increase in expenses related to a change in exchange rates.

An additional 10% adverse change in exchange rates from the exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2021 affecting our balances denominated in foreign currencies2023 could impact our financial position or cash flows by approximately $8.0$7.0 million. An additional 10% adverse change in exchange rates from the weighted-average exchange rates experienced by us for the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023 affecting our revenue and expense transactions denominated in foreign currencies, would not have had a material impact on our financial position profitability, or cash flows.   


profitability.

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

6057

6360

6562

6663

6764

6865


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Management’s Report on Internal ControlControls over Financial Reporting

The management of Artivion, Inc. and subsidiaries (“Artivion” or “we”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controlcontrols over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f)13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Artivion’s internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to Artivion’s management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Artivion management assessed the effectiveness of Artivion’s internal controlcontrols over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021.2023. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework). Based on this assessment, we have determined that, as of December 31, 2021,2023, our internal controlcontrols over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria.

Artivion’s independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young, LLP, has issued an audit report on the effectiveness of Artivion’s internal controlcontrols over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021.

2023.

Artivion, Inc.

February 22, 2022


23, 2024

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Artivion, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Artivion, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, shareholders' equity and cash flows and shareholders' equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021,2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021,2023, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021,2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated February 22, 202223, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the account or disclosure to which it relates.


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Deferred Preservation Costs

Deferred Preservation Costs

Description of the Matter

At December 31, 2021,2023, the Company’s deferred preservation costs, net, balance was $42.9$49.8 million. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the calculation of deferred preservation costs involves judgment and complexity and uses the same principles as inventory costing. Donated human tissue is procured from deceased human donors by organ and tissue procurement organizations (“OPOs”) and tissue banks, that provide the tissue to the Company for processing, preservation, and distribution. Deferred preservation costs consist primarily of the procurement fees charged by the OPOs and tissue banks, direct labor and materials (including salary and fringe benefits, laboratory supplies and expenses, and freight-in charges), and indirect costs (including allocations of costs from support departments and facility allocations). Fixed production overhead costs are allocated based on actual tissue processing levels, to the extent that they are within the range of the facility’s normal capacity. These costs are then allocated among the tissues processed during the period based on cost drivers, such as the number of donors or number of tissues processed. The Company applies a yield estimate to all tissues in process and in quarantine to estimate the portion of tissues that will ultimately become implantable. Estimated yields are based on the Company’s actual historical yield experience with similar tissues and these estimates are evaluated periodically to determine whether the appropriate historical volume and time periods are being used to calculate the yields applied to in-process tissues to determine the equivalent units on hand at each period end.

Auditing management’s deferred preservation costs was complex and required judgment due to the detailed calculations within the Company’s methodologycosting model to determine the amount of preservation costs deferred, including the estimation of the number of in-process tissue equivalent units based on historical volumes and yields by tissue type that is utilized to determine the number of tissues in process that will ultimately become implantable to which the deferred costs will be applied.

How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the process used by management to calculate the Company’s deferred preservation costs, including controls over management’s review of the completeness and accuracy of the deferred preservation cost model and key inputs such as the historical yield information used to estimate the in-process tissue equivalent units as a component of the deferred preservation costs, as discussed above.

To test the appropriateness of the amounts recorded as deferred preservation costs, we performed audit procedures that included, among others, testing the nature of costs being capitalizeddeferred and the accuracy of the calculation of deferred preservation costs by agreeing the amounts to and testing the underlying reports and analyses supporting the calculation of costs to be capitalized.deferred. We tested the yield estimates applied to determine the equivalent units of in-process tissues by understanding and testing the historical information utilized and comparing the yields utilized in the period end model to those historical results. We also compared the reconciliation of the ending balance of deferred preservation costs as calculated in the Company’s deferred preservation cost calculation model to amounts recorded in the general ledger.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company‘sCompany's auditor since 2013.

Atlanta, Georgia

February 22, 2022


23, 2024

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Artivion, Inc.

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited Artivion, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021,2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Artivion, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021,2023, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, shareholders' equity and cash flows and shareholders' equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021,2023, and the related notes and our report dated February 22, 202223, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Ernst & Young, LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

February 22, 2022

23, 2024

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Artivion, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated BalanceBalance Sheets

In Thousands, Except Per Share Data

December 31,

2021

2020

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

55,010

$

61,412

Restricted securities

--

546

Trade receivables, net

53,019

45,964

Other receivables

5,086

2,788

Inventories, net

76,971

73,038

Deferred preservation costs, net

42,863

36,546

Prepaid expenses and other

14,748

14,295

Total current assets

247,697

234,589

Goodwill

250,000

260,061

Acquired technology, net

166,994

186,091

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net

45,714

18,571

Property and equipment, net

37,521

33,077

Other intangibles, net

34,502

40,966

Deferred income taxes

2,357

1,446

Other long-term assets

8,267

14,603

Total assets

$

793,052

$

789,404


December 31,
20232022
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$58,940 $39,351 
Trade receivables, net71,796 61,820 
Other receivables2,342 7,764 
Inventories, net81,976 74,478 
Deferred preservation costs, net49,804 46,371 
Prepaid expenses and other15,810 17,550 
Total current assets280,668 247,334 
Goodwill247,337 243,631 
Acquired technology, net142,593 151,263 
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net43,822 41,859 
Property and equipment, net38,358 38,674 
Other intangibles, net29,638 31,384 
Deferred income taxes1,087 1,314 
Other long-term assets8,894 7,339 
Total assets$792,397 $762,798 

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Artivion, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

In Thousands, Except Per Share Data

December 31,

2021

2020

December 31,December 31,
202320232022

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Current liabilities:
Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

10,395

$

9,623

Accounts payable
Accounts payable
Accrued compensation

Accrued expenses

7,687

7,472

Accrued compensation

13,163

10,192

Taxes payable

3,634

2,808

Current maturities of operating leases
Current portion of long-term debt

Accrued procurement fees

3,689

3,619

Current portion of finance lease obligation

528

614

Current maturities of operating leases

3,149

5,763

Current portion of long-term debt

1,630

1,195

Current portion of contingent consideration

--

16,430

Other

1,078

2,752

Total current liabilities

44,953

60,468

Total current liabilities
Total current liabilities

Long-term debt
Long-term debt

Long-term debt

307,493

290,468

Contingent consideration

49,400

43,500

Non-current maturities of operating leases

44,869

14,034

Non-current finance lease obligations

4,374

5,300

Deferred income taxes

28,799

34,713

Deferred compensation liability

5,952

5,518

Non-current finance lease obligations

Other

6,484

6,690

Total liabilities

492,324

460,691

Total liabilities
Total liabilities

Commitments and contingencies
Commitments and contingencies

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

Shareholders' equity:

Shareholders' equity:
Shareholders' equity:

Preferred stock $0.01 par value per share, 5,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued

--

--

Common stock $0.01 par value per share, 75,000 shares authorized,

41,397 and 40,394 shares issued as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively

414

404

Preferred stock $0.01 par value per share, 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued
Preferred stock $0.01 par value per share, 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued
Preferred stock $0.01 par value per share, 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued
Common stock $0.01 par value per share, 75,000 shares authorized, 42,569 and 41,830 shares issued as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively

Additional paid-in capital

322,874

316,192

Retained earnings

1,975

20,022

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

(9,887)

6,743

Treasury stock at cost, 1,487 shares as of December 31, 2021 and 2020

(14,648)

(14,648)

Retained deficit
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Treasury stock at cost, 1,487 shares as of December 31, 2023 and 2022

Total shareholders' equity
Total shareholders' equity

Total shareholders' equity

300,728

328,713

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

793,052

$

789,404

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Artivion, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of OperationsOperations and Comprehensive Loss

In Thousands, Except Per Share Data

Year Ended December 31,

2021

2020

2019

Year Ended December 31,Year Ended December 31,
2023202320222021

Revenues:

Products
Products

Products

$

221,597

$

179,299

$

197,246

Preservation services

77,239

73,928

78,976

Total revenues

298,836

253,227

276,222

Cost of products and preservation services:

Cost of products and preservation services:
Cost of products and preservation services:
Products
Products

Products

65,196

50,128

55,022

Preservation services

36,126

35,315

38,187

Total cost of products and preservation services

101,322

85,443

93,209

Gross margin

197,514

167,784

183,013

Gross margin
Gross margin

Operating expenses:

Operating expenses:
Operating expenses:
General, administrative, and marketing
General, administrative, and marketing

General, administrative, and marketing

169,774

141,136

143,011

Research and development

35,546

24,207

22,960

Total operating expenses

205,320

165,343

165,971

Gain from sale of non-financial assets

(15,923)

--

--

Operating income

8,117

2,441

17,042

Interest expense

16,887

16,698

14,886

Interest expense
Interest expense

Interest income

(79)

(217)

(738)

Other expense, net

6,136

3,134

1,250

(Loss) income before income taxes

(14,827)

(17,174)

1,644

Income tax expense (benefit)

7

(492)

(76)

Loss before income taxes
Loss before income taxes
Loss before income taxes
Income tax expense

Net (loss) income

$

(14,834)

$

(16,682)

$

1,720

Net loss
Net loss
Net loss

(Loss) income per share:

Loss per share:
Loss per share:
Loss per share:
Basic
Basic

Basic

$

(0.38)

$

(0.44)

$

0.05

Diluted

$

(0.38)

$

(0.44)

$

0.05

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic
Basic

Basic

38,983

37,861

37,118

Diluted

38,983

37,861

37,860

Net (loss) income

$

(14,834)

$

(16,682)

$

1,720

Other Comprehensive loss:

Net loss
Net loss
Net loss
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Foreign currency translation adjustments

Foreign currency translation adjustments

(16,630)

15,332

(2,517)

Comprehensive loss

$

(31,464)

$

(1,350)

$

(797)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Artivion, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated StatementsStatements of Cash Flows

In Thousands

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Net cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss$(30,690)$(19,192)$(14,834)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash from operating activities:
Change in fair value of contingent consideration23,490 (9,000)8,870 
Depreciation and amortization23,076 22,442 23,977 
Non-cash compensation14,422 12,344 10,711 
Non-cash lease expense7,354 7,432 7,521 
Fair value adjustment of long-term loan5,000 — 409 
Write-down of inventories and deferred preservation costs4,785 4,374 5,377 
Non-cash interest expense1,858 1,832 2,005 
Write-off of Endospan Option— — 4,944 
Deferred income taxes(1,385)(1,717)(4,470)
Gain on sale of non-financial assets(14,250)— (15,923)
Other1,358 2,268 2,060 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities1,682 (1,958)(1,893)
Prepaid expenses and other assets535 (2,234)(1,404)
Receivables(4,050)(13,340)(11,560)
Inventories and deferred preservation costs(14,360)(8,404)(18,375)
Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities18,825 (5,153)(2,585)
Net cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of non-financial assets, net14,250 — 19,000 
Payments for Endospan agreement(5,000)— — 
Capital expenditures(7,430)(9,016)(13,091)
Other(2,322)(1,699)(249)
Net cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities(502)(10,715)5,660 
Net cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and issuance of common stock3,955 3,368 3,756 
Proceeds from financing insurance premiums3,558 — — 
Payment of contingent consideration— — (8,200)
Payment of debt issuance costs(249)— (2,219)
Redemption and repurchase of stock to cover tax withholdings(559)(1,795)(1,914)
Principal payments on short-term notes payable(2,531)— (299)
Repayment of debt(2,772)(2,753)(2,786)
Other(537)(459)(561)
Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities865 (1,639)(12,223)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents401 1,848 2,200 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents19,589 (15,659)(6,948)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year39,351 55,010 61,958 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year$58,940 $39,351 $55,010 

Year Ended December 31,

2021

2020

2019

Net cash flows from operating activities:

Net (loss) income

$

(14,834)

$

(16,682)

$

1,720

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash from operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

23,977

20,712

18,317

Non-cash compensation

10,711

6,912

8,799

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

8,870

4,523

--

Non-cash lease expense

7,521

7,145

5,009

Write-down of inventories and deferred preservation costs

5,377

3,443

1,488

Write-off of Endospan Option

4,944

--

--

Non-cash interest expense

2,005

3,656

1,631

Change in fair value of long-term loan receivable

409

4,949

--

Deferred income taxes

(4,470)

4,283

(2,305)

Gain on sale of non-financial assets

(15,923)

--

--

Other

2,060

124

551

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Prepaid expenses and other assets

(1,404)

(2,720)

(6,177)

Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities

(1,893)

(9,157)

251

Receivables

(11,560)

9,938

(5,332)

Inventories and deferred preservation costs

(18,375)

(24,757)

(8,125)

Net cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities

(2,585)

12,369

15,827

Net cash flows from investing activities:

Proceeds from sale of non-financial assets, net

19,000

--

--

Ascyrus Acquisition, net of cash acquired

--

(59,119)

--

Payments for Endospan agreement

--

(5,000)

(15,000)

Capital expenditures

(13,091)

(7,328)

(8,072)

Other

(249)

(1,681)

(871)

Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities

5,660

(73,128)

(23,943)

Net cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from exercise of stock options and issuance of common stock

3,756

2,432

4,758

Proceeds from issuance of convertible debt

--

100,000

--

Proceeds from revolving line of credit

--

30,000

--

Proceeds from financing insurance premiums

--

2,815

--

Repayment of revolving line of credit

--

(30,000)

--

Redemption and repurchase of stock to cover tax withholdings

(1,914)

(1,995)

(2,743)

Payment of debt issuance costs

(2,219)

(3,647)

--

Repayment of debt

(3,085)

(5,346)

(2,780)

Payment of contingent consideration

(8,200)

--

--

Other

(561)

(651)

(728)

Net cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities

(12,223)

93,608

(1,493)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted securities

2,200

(5,185)

1,667

(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted securities

(6,948)

27,664

(7,942)

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted securities, beginning of year

61,958

34,294

42,236

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted securities, end of year

$

55,010

$

61,958

$

34,294

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Artivion, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated StatementsStatements of Shareholders’ Equity

In Thousands

Accumulated

Additional

Other

Total

Common

Paid In

Retained

Comprehensive

Treasury

Shareholders'

Stock

Capital

Earnings

(Loss) Income

Stock

Equity

Shares

Amount

Shares

Amount

Balance at December 31, 2018

38,463 

$

385 

$

260,361 

$

34,984 

$

(6,072)

(1,484)

$

(14,591)

$

275,067 

Net income

--

--

--

1,720 

--

--

--

1,720 

Other comprehensive loss

--

--

--

--

(2,517)

--

--

(2,517)

Equity compensation

254 

9,409 

--

--

--

--

9,411 

Exercise of options

334 

3,292 

--

--

--

--

3,295 

Employee stock purchase plan

61 

1,462 

--

--

--

--

1,463 

Redemption and repurchase of stock to cover tax withholdings

(94)

(1)

(2,742)

--

--

--

--

(2,743)

Balance at December 31, 2019

39,018 

$

390 

$

271,782 

$

36,704 

$

(8,589)

(1,484)

$

(14,591)

$

285,696 

Net loss

--

--

--

(16,682)

--

--

--

(16,682)

Other comprehensive income

--

--

--

--

15,332 

--

--

15,332 

Stock issued for the Ascyrus Acquisition

992 

10 

19,990 

--

--

--

--

20,000 

Equity component of the convertible note issuance

--

--

16,426 

--

--

--

--

16,426 

Equity compensation

296 

7,501 

--

--

--

--

7,504 

Exercise of options

89 

927 

--

--

(3)

(57)

871 

Employee stock purchase plan

83 

1,560 

--

--

--

--

1,561 

Redemption and repurchase of stock to cover tax withholdings

(84)

(1)

(1,994)

--

--

--

--

(1,995)

Common
Stock
Common
Stock
Additional
Paid In
Capital
Retained
Earnings (Deficit)
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Treasury
Stock
Total
Shareholders'
Equity
Shares
Balance at December 31, 2020
Balance at December 31, 2020

Balance at December 31, 2020

40,394 

$

404 

$

316,192 

$

20,022 

$

6,743 

(1,487)

$

(14,648)

$

328,713 

Net loss

--

--

--

(14,834)

--

--

--

(14,834)

Other comprehensive loss

--

--

--

--

(16,630)

--

--

(16,630)

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

Stock issued for contingent consideration

553 

9,994 

--

--

--

--

10,000 

Adoption of ASU 2020-06

--

--

(16,426)

(3,213)

--

--

--

(19,639)

Equity compensation

260 

11,274 

--

--

--

--

11,277 

Exercise of options

179 

2,145 

--

--

--

--

2,146 

Employee stock purchase plan

87 

1,608 

--

--

--

--

1,609 

Redemption and repurchase of stock to cover tax withholdings

(76)

(1)

(1,913)

--

--

--

--

(1,914)

Balance at December 31, 2021

41,397 

$

414 

$

322,874 

$

1,975 

$

(9,887)

(1,487)

$

(14,648)

$

300,728 

Net loss
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Equity compensation
Equity compensation
Equity compensation
Exercise of options
Employee stock purchase plan
Redemption and repurchase of stock to cover tax withholdings
Balance at December 31, 2022
Net loss
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
Equity compensation
Exercise of options
Employee stock purchase plan
Redemption and repurchase of stock to cover tax withholdings
Balance at December 31, 2023

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Artivion, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

Artivion, Inc. (“Artivion,” the “Company,” “we,” or “us”), is a leader in the manufacturing, processing, and distribution of medical devices and implantable human tissues used in cardiac and vascular surgical procedures for patients with aortic disease. We have four major product families: aortic stents and stent grafts, surgical sealants, On-X® mechanical heart valves and related surgical products (“On-X” products), and implantable cardiac and vascular human tissues. Aortic stents and stent grafts include JOTEC®aortic arch stent grafts, abdominal stent grafts, and surgical products (collectively, “JOTEC Products”),synthetic vascular grafts. Aortic arch stent grafts include our E-vita Open NEO, E-vita Open Plus, the Ascyrus Medical Dissection Stent (“AMDS”) hybrid prosthesis,, and the NEXUS® endovascular stent graft system (“NEXUS”), the NEXUS DUO.TM aortic arch stent graft (“NEXUS DUO”), and E-vita Thoracic 3G products. Abdominal stent grafts include our E-xtra Design Engineering (including Artivex), E-nside, E-tegra, E-ventus BX, and E-liac products. Surgical sealants include our BioGlue Surgical sealants include BioGlue® Surgical Adhesive products (“BioGlue”) products. . In addition to these four major product families, we sell or distribute PhotoFix® bovine surgical patches (“PhotoFix”) and CardioGenesis® cardiac laser therapy Therion® chorioamniotic allografts (previously marketed(prior to our abandonment of the business as NeoPatch®),of June 30, 2023). We began to manufacture and supply PerClot® hemostatic powder (prior to(“PerClot”) during the sale to a subsidiarysecond quarter of 2023 (as part of the Transitional Manufacturing and Supply Agreement (“TMSA”) of the Baxter International, Inc (“Baxter”))Transaction, described below).

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Foreign Currencies

Our revenues and expenses transacted in foreign currencies are remeasured as they occur at exchange rates in effect at the time of each transaction. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions are recorded as a component of Other expense, net on our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. Realized and unrealized gains and losses were a gain of $2.1 million, a loss of $5.5 million, a gain of $1.8$3.1 million, and a loss of $1.2$5.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively. Our assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognized at the exchange rate in effect at the time of each transaction. At period end, the assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rate in effect as of the balance sheet date and are recorded as a separate component of accumulatedAccumulated other comprehensive loss in the shareholders' equity section of our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates and assumptions are used when accounting for allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory, deferred preservation costs, acquired assets or businesses, intangible assets, deferred income taxes, commitments and contingencies (including product and tissue processing liability claims, claims incurred but not reported, and amounts recoverable from insurance companies), stock based compensation, certain accrued liabilities (including accrued procurement fees, income taxes, and financial instruments)instruments including contingent consideration), and other items as appropriate.


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Revenue Recognition

Contracts with Customers

We routinely enter into contracts with customers that include general commercial terms and conditions, notification requirements for price increases, shipping terms and, in most cases, prices for the products and services that we offer. These agreements, however, do not obligate us to provide goods or services to the customer, and there is no consideration promised to us at the onset of these arrangements. For customers without separate agreements, we have a standard list price established by geography and by currency for all products and services, and our invoices contain standard terms and conditions that are applicable to those customers where a separate agreement is not controlling. Our performance obligations are established when a customer submits a purchase order notification (in writing, electronically or verbally) for goods and services, and we accept the order. We identify performance obligations as the delivery of the requested product or service in appropriate quantities and to the location specified in the customer’s contract and/or purchase order. We generally recognize revenue upon the satisfaction of these criteria when control of the product or service has been transferred to the customer at which time we have an unconditional right to receive payment. Our prices are fixed and are not affected by contingent events that could impact the transaction price. We do not offer price concessions and do not accept payment that is less than the price stated when we accept the purchase order, except in rare credit related circumstances.order. We do not have any material performance obligations where we are acting as an agent for another entity.

Revenues for products, including: aortic stents and stent grafts,, surgical sealants, On-X products, and other medical devices, are typically recognized at the time the product is shipped, at which time the title passes to the customer, and there are no further performance obligations. Revenues from consignment are recognized when the medical device is implanted.we receive a notification of implantation. We recognize revenues for preservation services when tissue is shipped to the customer.

Warranty

Our general product warranties do not extend beyond an assurance that the products or services delivered will be consistent with stated specifications and do not include separate performance obligations. Warranties included with our CardioGenesis cardiac laser products provide for annual maintenance services, which are priced separately and are recognized as revenues at the stand-alone price over the service period, whether invoiced separately or recognized based on our allocation of the transaction price.

Significant Judgments in the Application of the Guidance in ASC 606

There are no significant judgments associated with the satisfaction of our performance obligations. We generally satisfy performance obligations upon shipment of the product or service obligation to the customer. This is consistent with the time in which the customer obtains control of the product or service. Performance obligations are also generally settled quickly after the purchase order acceptance, other than as identified for E-xtra Design Engineering products, therefore, the value of unsatisfied performance obligations at the end of any reporting period is immaterial.

For performance obligations provided through our E-xtra Design Engineering product line, we determine the value of our enforceable right to payment based on the time required and costs incurred for design services and manufacture of the in-process device in relation to the total inputs required to complete the device.

We consider variable consideration in establishing the transaction price. Forms of variable consideration potentially applicable to our arrangements include sales returns, rebates, volume-based bonuses, and prompt pay discounts. We use historical information along with an analysis of the expected value to properly calculate and to consider the need to constrain estimates of variable consideration. Such amounts are included as a reduction to revenue from the sale of products and services in the periods in which the related revenue is recognized and adjusted in future periods as necessary.

Commissions and Contract Costs

Sales commissions are earned upon completion of each performance obligation, and therefore, are expensed when incurred. These costs are included in General, administrative, and marketing expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. We generally do not incur incremental charges associated with securing agreements with customers which would require capitalization and recovery over the life of the agreement.

Practical Expedients

Our payment terms for sales direct to customers are substantially less than the one-year collection period that falls within the practical expedient in the determination of whether a significant financing component exists.

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Shipping and Handling Charges

Fees charged to customers for shipping and handling of products and tissues are included in product and preservation service revenues. The costs for shipping and handling of products and tissues are included as a component of cost of products and cost of preservation services.

Taxes Collected from Customers

Taxes collected on the value of transaction revenue are excluded from product and service revenues and cost of sales and are accrued in current liabilities until remitted to governmental authorities.

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Advertising Costs

The costs to develop, produce, and communicate our advertising are expensed as incurred and are classified as General, administrative, and marketing expenses. The total amount of advertising expense included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss was $1.0$1.9 million, $1.1$1.6 million, and $1.7$1.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

Stock-Based

Stock-Based Compensation

We have stock option and stock incentive plans for employees and non-employee directors that provide for grants of restricted stock awards (“RSA”s), restricted stock units (“RSU”s), performance stock units (“PSU”s), and options to purchase shares of our common stock at exercise prices generally equal to the fair values of such stock at the dates of grant. We also maintain a shareholder approved Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) for the benefit of our employees. The ESPP allows eligible employees the right to purchase common stock on a regular basis at the lower of 85% of the market price at the beginning or end of each offering period. The RSAs, RSUs, PSUs, and stock options granted by us typically vest over a one to three-year period. The stock options granted by us typically expire within seven years of the grant date.

We value our RSAs, RSUs, and PSUs based on the stock price on the date of grant. We expense the related compensation cost of RSAs and RSUs using the straight-line method over the vesting period. We expense the related compensation cost of PSUs based on the number of shares expected to be issued, if achievement of the performance component is probable, using a straight-line method over each vesting tranche of the award which results in accelerated recognition of expenses. The amount of compensation costs expensed related to PSUs is adjusted as needed if we deem that achievement of the performance component is no longer probable or if our expectation of the number of shares to be issued changes. We use a Black-Scholes model to value our stock option grants and expense the related compensation cost using the straight-line method over the vesting period. The fair value of our ESPP options is also determined using a Black-Scholes model and is expensed over the vesting period.

The fair value of stock options and ESPP options is determined on the grant date using assumptions for the expected term, volatility, dividend yield, and the risk-free interest rate. The expected term is primarily based on the contractual term of the option and our data related to historic exercise and post-vesting forfeiture patterns, which is adjusted based on our expectations of future results. Our anticipated volatility level is primarily based on the historic volatility of our common stock, adjusted to remove the effects of certain periods of unusual volatility not expected to recur, and adjusted based on our expectations of future volatility, for the life of the option or option group. Our model includes a zero-dividend yield assumption and we do not anticipate paying dividends in the future. The risk-free interest rate is based on recent US Treasury note auction results with a similar life to that of the option. Our model does not include a discount for post-vesting restrictions, as we have not issued awards with such restrictions.

The period expense for our stock compensation is determined based on the valuations discussed above and forfeitures are accounted for in the period awards are forfeited.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated other comprehensive loss is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. The Other comprehensive income/loss, net of tax for the years presented includes foreign currency cumulative translation adjustment and unrealized gain/loss from intra-entity foreign currency loans that are of long term investment nature with no specific repayment terms. The unrealized gains from foreign currency intra-entity loans that are of long term investment nature were $2.7 million and $9.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2021, respectively.

The unrealized loss from foreign currency intra-entity loans that are of long term investment nature was $6.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Income Per Common Share

Income per common share is computed using the two-class method, which requires us to include unvested RSAs that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends (whether paid or unpaid) as participating securities in the income per common share calculation.
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Under the two-class method, net income is allocated to the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period and the weighted-average participating securities outstanding during the period. The portion of net income that is allocated to the participating securities is excluded from basic and dilutive net income per common share. Diluted net income per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus the dilutive effects of outstanding stock options and awards and other dilutive instruments as appropriate.

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Financial Instruments

Our financial instruments include cash equivalents, restricted securities, accounts receivable, notes receivable, accounts payable, and debt obligations. The financial assets’ and liabilities’, such as receivables and accounts payable, carrying values approximate their fair value due to their short-term duration, and the carrying value of their debt obligations approximate fair value as they contain variable interest rates that approximate market values. Other financial instruments are recorded as discussed in the sections below.

Fair Value Measurements

We record certain financial instruments, including cash equivalents, at fair value on a recurring basis, including cash equivalents and certain restricted securities.basis. We may make an irrevocable election to measure other financial instruments at fair value on an instrument-by-instrument basis. Fair value financial instruments are recorded in accordance with the fair value measurement framework.

We also measure certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These non-recurring valuations include evaluating assets such as certain financial assets, long-livedlong-lived assets, and non-amortizingindefinite lived intangible assets for impairment, allocating value to assets in an acquired asset group, applying accounting for business combinations, and the initial recognition of liabilities such as contingent consideration. We use the fair value measurement framework to value these assets and labilitiesliabilities and report these fair values in the periods in which they are recorded or written down.

The fair value measurement framework includes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair values in their broad levels. These levels from highest to lowest priority are as follows:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities or observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted onin active markets, but corroborated by market data; and

Level 3: Unobservable inputs or valuation techniques that are used when little or no market data is available.

The determination of fair value and the assessment of a measurement’s placement within the hierarchy requires judgment. Level 3 valuations often involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity. Level 3 valuations may require the use of various cost, market, or income valuation methodologies applied to our unobservable estimates and assumptions. Our assumptions could vary depending on the asset or liability value and the valuation method used. Such assumptions could include: estimates of prices, earnings, costs, actions of market participants, market factors, or the weighting of various valuation methods. We may also engage external advisors to assist in determining fair value as appropriate.

Although we believe that the recorded fair values of our financial instruments are appropriate, these fair values may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values.
Fair Value Measurements - Contingent Consideration
Contingent consideration represents a recurring fair value estimate of potential future payments. The fair value of the contingent consideration liability is estimated by discounting to present value the contingent payments expected to be made based on a probability-weighted scenario approach. A discount rate is applied based on our unsecured credit spread and the term commensurate risk-free rate to the additional consideration to be paid, and then we apply a risk-based estimate of the probability of achieving each scenario to calculate the fair value of the contingent consideration. This fair value measurement is based on unobservable inputs, including management estimates and assumptions about the future achievement of milestones and future estimate of revenues, and is, therefore, classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.
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Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of highly liquid investments with maturity dates of three months or less at the time of acquisition. The carrying value of cash equivalents approximates fair value. We maintain depository accounts with certain financial institutions. Although these depository accounts may exceed government insured depository limits, we have evaluated the credit worthiness of these applicable financial institutions and determined the risk of material financial loss due to the exposure of such credit risk to be minimal.

Cash Flow Supplemental Disclosures

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information for the years ended December 31 (in thousands):

2021

2020

2019

Cash paid during the year for:

Interest

$

14,407

$

13,049

$

13,297

Income taxes

5,483

4,122

1,944

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

Issuance of common stock for Ascyrus Acquisition

$

--

$

20,000

$

--

Issuance of common stock for contingent consideration

10,000

--

--

Operating lease right of use assets

31,726

1,864

2,604

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202320222021
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest$23,332 $14,243 $14,407 
Income taxes4,865 9,244 5,483 
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Operating lease right-of-use assets$6,181 $1,803 $31,726 
Issuance of common stock for contingent consideration— — 10,000 

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Our accounts receivable are primarily from hospitals and distributors that either use or distribute our products and tissues. We assess the likelihood of collection based on a number of factors, including past transaction history and the credit worthiness of the customer, as well as the potential increased risks related to international customers and large distributors. We determine the allowance for doubtful accounts based upon specific reserves for known collection issues, as well as a non-specific reserve based upon aging buckets. We charge off uncollectible amounts against the reserve in the period in which we determine they are uncollectible. Our accounts receivable balances are reported net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1.1$1.9 million and $973,000$1.3 million as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively.

Inventories, net

Inventories, net are comprised of finished goods for our product lines including: aortic stents and stent grafts;grafts; surgical sealants; On-X products;CardioGenesis laser consoles, handpieces, and accessories; PerClot before the Baxter Transaction defined below; PhotoFix; other medical devices; work-in-process; and raw materials. Inventories for finished goods are valued at the lower of cost or marketnet realizable value on a first-in, first-outfirst-in, first-out basis and raw materials are valued on a moving average cost basis. Typically, upon shipment or upon notification of implant of a medical device on consignment, revenue is recognized, and the related inventory costs are expensed as cost of products. Cost of products also includes, as applicable, lower of cost or marketnet realizable value of write-downs and impairments for products not deemed to be recoverable and, as incurred, idle facility expense, excessive spoilage, extra freight, and re-handling costs.

Inventory costs for manufactured products consist primarily of direct labor and materials (including salary and fringe benefits, raw materials, and supplies) and indirect costs (including allocations of costs from departments that support manufacturing activities and facility allocations). The allocation of fixed production overhead costs is based on actual production levels, to the extent that they are within the range of the facility’s normal capacity. Inventory costs for products purchased for resale or manufactured under contract consist primarily of the purchase cost, freight-in charges, and indirect costs as appropriate.

We regularly evaluate our inventory to determine if the costs are appropriately recorded at the lower of cost or marketnet realizable value. We also evaluate our inventory for costs not deemed to be recoverable, including inventory not expected to ship prior to its expiration. Lower of cost or marketnet realizable value write-downs are recorded if the book value exceeds the estimated net realizable value of the inventory, based on recent sales prices at the time of the evaluation. Impairment write-downs are recorded based on the book value of inventory deemed to be impaired. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Write-downs of inventory are expensed as cost of products, and these write-downs are permanent impairments that create a new cost basis, which cannot be restored to its previous levels if our estimates change.
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We recorded write-downs to our inventory totaling $4.8$4.4 million, $1.7$4.0 million, and $601,000$4.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively. The 2021 write-down was2023 write-downs were primarily related to JOTECraw materials, aortic stent grafts inventory, and On-X ascending aortic prosthesis (“AAP”) inventory. The 2020 write-down was2022 and 2021 write-downs were primarily related to JOTECaortic stent grafts inventory and On-X AAP inventory, and BioGlue inventory not expected to ship prior to the expiration date. The 2019 write-down was primarily related to PerClot inventory not expected to ship prior to the expiration date.

inventory.

Deferred Preservation Costs,

net

Deferred preservation costs include costs of cardiac and vascular tissues available for shipment, tissues currently in active processing, and tissues held in quarantine pending release to implantable status. By federal law, human tissues cannot be bought or sold; therefore, the tissues we preserve are not held as inventory. The costs we incur to procure and process cardiac and vascular tissues are instead accumulated and deferred. Deferred preservation costs are stated at the lower of cost or marketnet realizable value on a first-in, first-outfirst-in, first-out basis and are deferred until revenue is recognized. Upon shipment of tissue to an implanting facility, revenue is recognized, and the related deferred preservation costs are expensed as cost of preservation services. Cost of preservation services also includes, as applicable, lower of cost or marketnet realizable value write-downs and impairments for tissues not deemed to be recoverable, and includes, as incurred, idle facility expense, excessive spoilage, extra freight, and re-handling costs.

The calculation of deferred preservation costs involves judgment and complexity and uses the same principles as inventory costing. Donated human tissue is procured from deceased human donors by organ and tissue procurement organizations (“OPOs”) and tissue banks that provide the tissue to us for processing, preservation, and distribution. Deferred preservation costs consist primarily of the procurement fees charged by the OPOs and tissue banks, direct labor and materials (including salary and fringe benefits, laboratory supplies and expenses, and freight-infreight-in charges), and indirect costs (including allocations of costs from support departments and facility allocations). Fixed production overhead costs are allocated based on actual tissue processing levels, to the extent that they are within the range of the facility’s normal capacity.

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These costs are then allocated among the tissues processed during the period based on cost drivers, such as the number of donors or number of tissues processed. We apply a yield estimate to all tissues in process and in quarantine to estimate the portion of tissues that will ultimately become implantable. We estimate quarantine and in process yields based on our historical yield experience with similar tissues and reevaluatere-evaluate these estimates periodically. Actual yields could differ significantly from our estimates, which could result in a change in tissues available for shipment and could increase or decrease the balance of deferred preservation costs. These changes could result in additional cost of preservation services expense or could increase per tissue preservation costs, which would impact gross margins on tissue preservation services in future periods.

We regularly evaluate our deferred preservation costs to determine if the costs are appropriately recorded at the lower of cost or marketnet realizable value. We also evaluate our deferred preservation costs for costs not deemed to be recoverable, including tissues not expected to ship prior to the expiration date of their packaging. Lower of cost or marketnet realizable value write-downs are recorded if the tissue processing costs incurred exceed the estimated market value of the tissue services, based on recent average service fees at the time of the evaluation. Impairment write-downs are recorded based on the book value of tissues deemed to be impaired. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Write-downs of deferred preservation costs are expensed as cost of preservation services, and these write-downs are permanent impairments that create a new cost basis, which cannot be restored to its previous levels if our estimates change.

We recorded write-downs to our deferred preservation costs totaling $575,000, $1.7 million,$393,000, $369,000, and $787,000$575,000 for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, primarily due primarily to tissues not expected to ship prior to the expiration date of the packaging. In addition, write-offs during the year ended December 31, 2020 included $826,000 of non-conforming tissues resulting from contaminated saline solution.

Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment, net is stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation expense is recorded over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally three to ten years, on a straight-linestraight-line basis. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-linestraight-line basis over the remaining lease term at the time the assets are capitalized or the estimated useful lives of the assets, whichever is shorter.

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Property and equipment, net balance for the years ended December 31 iswas as follows (in thousands):

2021

2020

Equipment and software

$

73,820

$

66,141

Furniture and fixtures

6,668

6,186

Leasehold improvements

39,175

38,256

Total property and equipment

119,663

110,583

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

82,142

77,506

Property and equipment, net

$

37,521

$

33,077

20232022
Equipment and software$66,618 $72,480 
Leasehold improvements49,107 47,384 
Furniture and fixtures7,555 7,148 
Total property and equipment123,280 127,012 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization(84,922)(88,338)
Property and equipment, net$38,358 $38,674 
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31 iswas as follows (in thousands):

2021

2020

2019

Depreciation expense

$

7,157

$

6,948

$

7,467

202320222021
Depreciation expense$7,878 $7,132 $7,157 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Our intangible assets consist of goodwill, acquired technology, customer lists and relationships, patents, trademarks, and other intangible assets, as discussed in Note 8.7. Our goodwill is attributable to a segment or segments of our business, as appropriate, as the related acquired business that generated the goodwill is integrated into our operations. Upon divestiture of a component of our business, the goodwill related to the reporting unitsegment is allocated to the divested business using the relative fair value allocation method.

We evaluate our goodwill and other non-amortizingindefinite lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter of the year, and, if necessary, during interim periods if factors indicate that an impairment review is warranted. As of October 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022 our non-amortizingindefinite lived intangible assets consisted of goodwill, in-process research and development, and acquired procurement contracts and agreements, and trademarks.agreements. We performed a qualitative analysis of our non-amortizingindefinite lived intangible assets as of October 31, 2021 and 20202023 and determined that the fair value of the assetsasset groups and the fair value of the reporting unit more likely than not exceeded their associated carrying values and were, therefore, not impaired.

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Our definite lived intangible assets consist of acquired technologies, customer lists and relationships, distribution and manufacturing rights and know-how, patents, and other intangible assets. We amortize our definite lived intangible assets over their expected useful lives using the straight-line method, which we believe approximates the period of economic benefits of the related assets. Our indefinite lived intangible assets do not amortize but are instead subject to periodic impairment testing as discussed in “Impairments of Long-Lived Assets and Non-AmortizingIndefinite Lived Intangible Assets” below.

Impairments of Long-Lived Assets and Non-AmortizingIndefinite Lived Intangible Assets

Long-Lived Assets

We assess the potential impairment of our: (i) net property and equipment, (ii) amortizing intangible long-lived assets to be held and used and (iii) operating lease right-of-use assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors that could trigger an impairment review include, but are not limited to, the following:

Significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results;

Significant negative industry or economic trends;

Significant decline in our stock price for a sustained period; or

Significant decline in our market capitalization relative to net book value.

If we determine that an impairment review is necessary, we will evaluate the assets or asset groups by comparing their carrying values to the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from their use and eventual disposition. If the carrying values exceed the future cash flows, then the asset or asset group is considered impaired, and we will write down the value of the asset or asset group to its concluded fair value. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 20192021 we did 0tnot record an impairment of our long-lived assets as there were no indicators of impairment or the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows exceeded the carrying value of the long-lived asset (asset group).
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Accrued Procurement Fees

Donated tissue is procured from deceased human donors by OPOs and tissue banks that provide the tissue to us for processing, preservation, and distribution. We reimburse the OPOs and tissue banks for their costs to recover the tissue and include these costs as part of deferred preservation costs, as discussed above. We accrue estimated procurement fees due to the OPOs and tissue banks at the time tissues are received based on contractual agreements between us and the OPOs and tissue banks.

Leases

We have operating and finance lease obligations resulting from the lease of land and buildings that comprise our corporate headquarters and various manufacturing facilities; leases related to additional manufacturing, office, and warehouse space; leases on Company vehicles; and leases on a variety of office and other equipment, as discussed in Note 10.9. Certain of our leases contain escalation clauses, rent concessions, and renewal options for additional periods.

We exercise judgment in the determination of whether a financial arrangement includes a lease and in determining the appropriate discount rates to be applied to leases based on our general collateralized credit standing and the geographical market considerations impacting lease rates across all locations. When available, we use the implicit discount rate in the lease contract to discount lease payments to present value. If an implicit discount rate is not available in the lease contract, we use our incremental borrowing rate. We elected the package of practical expedients that allow us to omit leases with initial terms of 12 months or less from our balance sheet, which are expensed on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease. We have elected not to separate lease and non-lease components for future leases.

Our leases do not include terms or conditions which would result in variable lease payments other than for small office equipment leases with an additional charge for volume of usage. These incremental payments are excluded from our calculation of lease liability and the related right-of-use asset. We do not include option terms in the determination of lease liabilities and the related right-of-use assets unless we determine at lease commencement that the exercise of the option is reasonably certain. Our leases do not contain residual value guarantee provisions or other restrictions or financial covenant provisions.

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Debt Issuance Costs

Debt issuance costs related to our term loan and line of credit are capitalized and reported net of the current and long-term debt or as a prepaid asset when there are no outstanding borrowings. If there are unamortized debt issuance costs related to our line of credit but only borrowings on the term loan, these debt issuance costs will be combined with the debt issuance costs related to the term loan and reported net of the current and long-term debt for the term loan. We amortize debt issuance costs to interest expense on our term loan using the effective interest method over the life of the debt agreement. We amortize debt issuance costs to interest expense on our line of credit on a straight-line basis over the life of the debt agreement. Debt issuance costs related to our convertible debt agreement are amortized using the effective interest rate method as a direct deduction from the recorded debt issuance costs allocated to debt.

Liability Claims

In the normal course of business, we are made aware of adverse events involving our products and tissues. Future adverse events could ultimately give rise to a lawsuit against us, and liability claims may be asserted against us in the future based on past events that we are not aware of at the present time. We maintain claims-madeclaims-made insurance policies to mitigate our financial exposure to product and tissue processing liability claims. Claims-madeClaims-made insurance policies generally cover only those asserted claims and incidents that are reported to the insurance carrier while the policy is in effect. Thus, a claims-madeclaims-made policy does not generally represent a transfer of risk for claims and incidents that have been incurred but not reported to the insurance carrier during the policy period. Any punitive damage components of claims are uninsured.
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We engage external advisors to assist us in estimating our liability and any related amount recoverable under our insurance policies as of each balance sheet date. We use a frequency-severityfrequency-severity approach to estimate our unreported product and tissue processing liability claims, whereby projected losses are calculated by multiplying the estimated number of claims by the estimated average cost per claim. The estimated claims are determined based on the reported claim development method and the Bornhuetter-FergusonBornhuetter-Ferguson method using a blend of our historical claim experience and industry data. The estimated cost per claim is calculated using a lognormal claims model blending our historical average cost per claim with industry claims data. We use a number of assumptions in order to estimate the unreported loss liability including: the future claim reporting time lag, the frequency of reported claims, the average cost per claim, and the maximum liability per claim. We believe that the assumptions we use provide a reasonable basis for our calculation. However, the accuracy of the estimates is limited by various factors, including, but not limited to, our specific conditions, uncertainties surrounding the assumptions used, and the scarcity of industry data directly relevant to our business activities. Due to these factors, actual results may differ significantly from our assumptions and from the amounts accrued.

We accrue our estimate of unreported product and tissue processing liability claims as a component of Other long-termlong-term liabilities and record the related recoverable insurance amounts as a component of Other long-termlong-term assets. The amounts recorded represent our estimate of the probable losses and anticipated recoveries for unreported claims related to products sold and services performed prior to the balance sheet date.

Legal Contingencies

We accrue losses from a legal contingency when the loss is both probable and reasonably estimable. The accuracy of our estimates of losses for legal contingencies is limited by uncertainties surrounding litigation. Therefore, actual results may differ significantly from the amounts accrued, if any. We accrue for legal contingencies as a component of accrued expenses and/or other long-termlong-term liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Gains from legal contingencies are recorded when the contingency is resolved.

Uncertain Tax Positions

We periodically assess our uncertain tax positions and recognize tax benefits if they are “more-likely-than-not” to be upheld upon review by the appropriate taxing authority. We measure the tax benefit by determining the maximum amount that has a “greater than 50 percent likelihood” of ultimately being realized. We reverse previously accrued liabilities for uncertain tax positions when audits are concluded, statutes expire, administrative practices dictate that a liability is no longer warranted, or in other circumstances, as deemed necessary. These assessments can be complex, and we often obtain assistance from external advisors to make these assessments. We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in interest expense, net on our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. See Note 98 for further discussion of our liabilities for uncertain tax positions.

Deferred Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and tax return purposes. We assess the recoverability of our deferred tax assets and provide a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets when, as a result of this analysis, we believe it is more likely than not that some portion or all of our deferred tax assets will not be realized.

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Assessing the recoverability of deferred tax assets involves judgment and complexity including the consideration of prudent and feasible tax planning. Estimates and judgments used in the determination of the need for a valuation allowance and in calculating the amount of a needed valuation allowance include, but are not limited to, the following:

The ability to carry back deferred tax asset attributes to a prior tax year;

Timing of the anticipated reversal of book/tax temporary differences;

Projected future operating results;

Anticipated future state tax apportionment;

Timing and amounts of anticipated future taxable income;

Evaluation of statutory limits regarding usage of certain tax assets; and

Evaluation of the statutory periods over which certain tax assets can be utilized.

Significant changes in the factors above, or other factors, could affect our ability to use our deferred tax assets. Such changes could have a material, adverse impact on our profitability, financial position, and cash flows. We will continue to assess the recoverability of our deferred tax assets, as necessary, when we experience changes that could materially affect our prior determination of the recoverability of our deferred tax assets.

Valuation of Acquired Assets or Businesses

As part of our corporate strategy, we are seeking to identify and capitalize upon acquisition opportunities of complementary product lines and companies. We evaluate and account for acquired patents, licenses, distribution rights, and other tangible or intangible assets as the purchase of an asset or asset group, or as a business combination, as appropriate. The determination of whether the purchase of a group of assets should be accounted for as an asset group or as a business combination requires judgment based on the weight of available evidence.

For the purchase of an asset group, we allocate the cost of the asset group, including transaction costs, to the individual assets purchased based on their relative estimated fair values. In-process research and development acquired as part of an asset group is expensed upon acquisition.

We account for business combinations using the acquisition method. Under this method, the allocation of the purchase price is based on the fair value of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and the liabilities assumed as of the date of the acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the tangible net assets and identifiable intangible assets is recorded as goodwill. The identifiable intangible assets typically consist of developed technology, trade names, customer relationships, and in-process research and development costs. Transaction costs related to business combinations are expensed as incurred. In-process research and development acquired as part of a business combination is accounted for as an indefinite-lived intangible asset until the related research and development project gains regulatory approval or is discontinued.

We typically engage external advisors to assist us in determining the fair value of acquired asset groups or business combinations, using valuation methodologies such as: the excess earnings, the discounted cash flow, Monte Carlo, or the relief from royalty methods. The determination of fair value in accordance with the fair value measurement framework requires significant judgments and estimates, including, but not limited to: timing of product life cycles, estimates of future revenues, estimates of profitability for new or acquired products, cost estimates for new or changed manufacturing processes, estimates of the cost or timing of obtaining regulatory approvals, estimates of the success of competitive products, and discount rates and represent Level 3 measurements. We, in consultation with our advisors, make these estimates based on our prior experiences and industry knowledge. We believe that our estimates are reasonable, but actual results could differ significantly from our estimates. A significant change in our estimates used to value acquired asset groups or business combinations could result in future write-downs of tangible or intangible assets acquired by us and, therefore, could materially impact our financial position and profitability. If the value of the liabilities assumed by us, including contingent liabilities, is determined to be significantly different from the amounts previously recorded in purchase accounting, we may need to record additional expenses or write-downs in future periods, which could materially impact our financial position and profitability.

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New Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted

In AugustMarch 2020 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) Update No. 2020-06, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU 2020-06”). The update simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments by eliminating two accounting models (i.e., the cash conversion model and beneficial conversion feature model) and reducing the number of embedded conversion features that could be recognized separately from the host contract. ASU 2020-06 also enhances transparency and improves disclosures for convertible instruments and earnings per share guidance. On January 1, 2021 we adopted ASU 2020-06 using the modified retrospective approach and recorded $20.4 million to increase long-term debt, $3.2 million to reduce retained earnings, and $16.4 million to reduce additional paid-in capital included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 11 for further discussion of convertible debt.

In December 2019 the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”). The amendments in this ASU simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The amendments are effective for public entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 including interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted ASU 2019-12 on January 1, 2021 and the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

As of January 1, 2020 we adopted the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). The purpose of Update No. 2016-13 is to replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology for financial assets measured at amortized cost with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information, including forecasted information, to develop credit loss estimates. Update No. 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not result in a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

As of January 1, 2019 we adopted the ASC Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). The final guidance requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date and recognize expenses on their income statements similar to former Topic 840, Leases. We used the modified retrospective approach, which allows application of the standard at the adoption date rather than at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. The adoption of this standard resulted in the recognition of operating lease agreements with a net present value of $22.7 million and corresponding right-of-use assets obtained in the same amount at January 1, 2019. See Note 9 for further discussion of leases.

Not Yet Effective

In March 2020 the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform Topic 848 (“ASC 848”). The amendments in this ASU were put forth in response to the market transition from the LIBOR and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. US GAAP requires entities to evaluate whether a contract modification, such as the replacement or change of a reference rate, results in the establishment of a new contract or continuation of an existing contract. ASC 848 allows an entity to elect not to apply certain modification accounting requirements to contracts affected by reference rate reform. The standard provides this temporary election through December 31, 2022 and cannot be applied to contract modifications that occur after December 31, 2022. In January 2021 the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848). The objective of the new reference rate reform standard is to clarify the scope of Topic 848 and provide explicit guidance to help companies applying optional expedients and exceptions. We adopted ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2021-01 on a prospective basis in fiscal year 2022. The adoption of ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2021-01 did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

Not Yet Effective
In December 2023 the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes Topic 740 - Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. This amendment is expected to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures by requiring public business entities, on an annual basis, to disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation, additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold and certain information about income taxes paid. This revised guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We are currently evaluating the impacts of the new standard.
In November 2023 the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting Topic 280- Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. This amendment requires disclosure of incremental segment information on an annual and interim basis. This ASU is effective immediately for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and requires retrospective application to all entities that have applied optional expedients and exceptions. prior periods presented in the financial statements. We are in the process ofcurrently evaluating the effect thatimpacts of the adoption of this standard will have on our financial position and results of operations.  new standard.

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2. Sale of PerClot

Overview

On July 28, 2021 we entered into an asset purchase agreement, Transitional Manufacturing and Supply Agreement (“TMSA”), and other ancillary agreements related to the sale of PerClot®, a polysaccharide hemostatic agent used in surgery (“PerClot”), to a subsidiary of Baxter International, Inc. (“Baxter”) and an agreement to terminate all of our material agreements with Starch Medical, Inc. (“SMI”) related to PerClot (collectively the “Baxter Transaction”). Under the terms of the Baxter Transaction, Baxter will pay an aggregate of up to $60.8$54.5 million in consideration (we will receive up to $45.8$41.0 million and SMI will receive up to $15.0$13.5 million), consisting of (i) $25.0 million at closing, of which $6.0 million was paid to SMI; (ii) up to $25.0$18.8 million upon our receipt of Premarket Approval (“PMA”) from the US Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) for PerClot and our transfer of the PMA to Baxter, of which up$4.5 million was paid to $6.0 million is payable to SMI, subject to certain reductions for delay in PMA approval;SMI; and (iii) up to $10.0 million upon Baxter’s achievement of certain cumulative worldwide net sales of PerClot prior to December 31, 2026 and December 31, 2027, of which up to $3.0 million is payable to SMI. In addition, at the conclusion of our manufacturing and supply services for Baxter, Baxter will pay $780,000 upon transfer of our PerClot manufacturing equipment. Under the terms of the Baxter Transaction, we will continue to provide to Baxter certain transition and manufacturing and supply services relating to the sale of SMI PerClot outside of the US andUS. Within the terms of the TMSA, we will manufacture and supply of PerClot tofor Baxter post PMA approval.for a contractual period of 21 months, subject to short-term renewal provisions.

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Accounting for the Transaction

Upon closing of the Baxter Transaction, we received $25.0 million from Baxter and paid $6.0 million to SMI. We derecognized intangible assets with a carrying value of $1.6 million and wrote-off $1.5 million of prepaid royalties previously recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets related to PerClot. Under the terms of the agreement, Baxter acquired intellectual property related to our development efforts for PerClot. We recorded a pre-tax gain of $15.9 million, included as Gain from sale of non-financial assets within the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the year ended December 31, 2021. The PerClot product line was included as part of our Medical Devices segment.
PerClot PMA
On May 23, 2023 the FDA granted PMA of PerClot for use to control bleeding in certain open and laparoscopic surgical procedures. Pursuant to the terms of the TMSA of the Baxter Transaction, we transferred the ownership of the PMA to Baxter following approval. In May 2023 we received a payment of $18.8 million from Baxter, of which $4.5 million was paid to SMI. As a result, we recorded a pre-tax gain of $14.3 million as the assets were derecognized upon closing of the Baxter Transaction in fiscal year 2021, which was included as Gain from sale of non-financial assets within the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.
Following receipt of the PMA, under the terms of the TMSA, we began manufacturing and supplying PerClot for Baxter and recorded $5.1 million of PerClot revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.
The Company accounted for this TMSA in accordance with the provision of ASU 2016-02,

Leases Topic 842

(“ASC 842”) by bifurcating the lease and non-lease components and recognizing each component based on ASC 842 and ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers Topic 606. The amount of lease revenue was $278,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

3. Acquisition of Ascyrus

Overview

On September 2, 2020 we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Ascyrus Agreement”) to acquire 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Ascyrus Medical LLC (“Ascyrus”). Ascyrus developed the AMDS, the world’s first aortic arch remodeling device for use in the treatment of acute Type A aortic dissections.

Under the terms of the Ascyrus Agreement, we will pay an aggregate of up to $200.0 million in consideration, consisting of: (i) a cash payment of approximately $60.0 million and the issuance of $20.0 million in shares of Artivion common stock, in each case, that were delivered at the closing of the acquisition, (ii) a cash payment of $10.0 million and the issuance of $10.0 million in shares of Artivion common stock upon FDA approval of the Investigational Device Exemption (“IDE”) application for the AMDS in 2021, (iii) if the FDA approves PMA application submitted for the AMDS, a cash payment of $25.0 million, (iv) if regulatory approval of the AMDS is obtained in Japan on or before June 30, 2027, a cash payment of $10.0 million, (v) if regulatory approval of the AMDS is obtained in China on or before June 30, 2027, a cash payment of $10.0 million and (vi) a potential additional consideration cash payment capped at $55.0 million (or up to $65.0 million to $75.0 million if the Japanese or Chinese approvals are not secured on or before June 30, 2027 and those approval milestone payments are added to the potential additional consideration cash payment cap) calculated as two times the incremental worldwide sales of the AMDS (or any other acquired technology or derivatives of such acquired technology) outside of the European Union during the three-year period following the date the FDA approves a PMA application submitted for the AMDS.

Accounting for the Transaction

Upon closing of the acquisition on September 2, 2020 we paid $82.4 million consisting of $62.4 million in cash consideration and $20.0 million in shares of Artivion common stock. The number of shares issued was based on a 10-day moving volume weighted average closing price of a share of Artivion common stock as of the date immediately prior to closing, resulting in an issuance of 991,800 shares of Artivion common stock.

As part of the acquisition, we may be required to pay additional consideration in cash and equity up to $120.0$100.0 million to the former shareholders of Ascyrus upon the achievement of certain milestones and the sales-based additional earnout described above. As of On September 2, 2020 the fair value of the total potential purchase consideration of $200.0 million was calculated to be $137.8 million, which includesincluded the total purchase consideration, as well as the contingent consideration liability discussed below. Our allocation of the purchase consideration was allocated to Ascyrus’s tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair values as of September 2, 2020.

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The contingent consideration represents the estimated fair value of future potential payments. The fair value of the contingent consideration liability was estimated by discounting to present value the contingent payments expected to be made based on a probability-weighted scenario approach. We applied a discount rate based on our unsecured credit spread and the term commensurate risk-free rate to the additional consideration to be paid, and then applied a risk-based estimate of the probability of achieving each scenario to calculate the fair value of the contingent consideration. This fair value measurement was based on unobservable inputs, including management estimates and assumptions about the future achievement of milestones and future estimate of revenues, and is, therefore, classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy presented in Note 5. We used a discount rate of approximately 9% andapproximately 7% and estimated future achievement of milestone dates between 2025 and 2026 to calculate the fair value of contingent consideration as of December 31, 2021.2023. We will remeasure this liability at each reporting date and will record changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration in General, administrative, and marketing expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. Increases or decreases in the fair value of the contingent consideration liability can result from changes in passage of time, discount rates, the timing and amount of our revenue estimates, and the timing and expectation of regulatory approvals.

We performed an assessment of the fair value of the contingent consideration and recorded $9.5recorded a fair value increase of $23.5 million and $4.5 million ina fair value adjustmentsreduction of $9.0 million for the yeartwelve months ended December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively, in General, administrative, and marketing expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss, as a result of this assessment.

In December 2021 the FDA approved our IDE application for AMDS. Upon the approval, we funded a cash payment of $10.0 million and issued $10.0 million in shares of Artivion common stock pursuant to the Ascyrus Agreement. We recorded the
The contingent consideration liability of $49.4$63.9 million and $40.4 million was included in OtherOther long-term liabilities as of December 31, 20212023 and $16.4 million and $43.5 million in Current liabilities and Other long-term liabilities,2022, respectively, as of December 31, 2020 in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

We recorded $62.4 million of goodwill, all of which was deductible for tax purposes, based on the amount by which the total purchase consideration price exceeded the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill from this transaction primarily relates to synergies expected from the acquisition and has been allocated to our Medical devices reporting unit. The allocation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is based on the information available that would have been known as of the acquisition date.

The September 2, 2020 final allocation of purchase price consideration consisted of the following (in thousands):

Consideration

Cash paid for acquisition

$

62,359

Common stock issued

20,000

Contingent consideration

55,407

Fair value of total consideration

$

137,766

Purchase Price Allocation

Cash and cash equivalents

$

4,017

Intangible assets

72,600

Net other assets/liabilities acquired

(1,267)

Goodwill

62,416

Net assets acquired

$

137,766

Pro forma financial information related to the Ascyrus Agreement has not been provided as it is not material to our consolidated results of operations. The results of operations of the Ascyrus acquisition are included in results of operations from the date of acquisition and were not significant for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. The results of operations of the Ascyrus acquisition are included in our Medical devices reportable segment.

4. Agreements with Endospan

Exclusive Distribution Agreement and Securities Purchase Option Agreement

On September 11, 2019 Artivion’s wholly owned subsidiary, JOTEC, entered into an exclusive distribution agreement (“Endospan Distribution Agreement”) with Endospan Ltd. (“Endospan”), an Israeli corporation, pursuant to which JOTEC obtained exclusive

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distribution rights for NEXUS, and under a subsequent amendment, the NEXUS DUO (collectively the “NEXUS Products”) and accessories in certain countries in Europe in exchange for a fixed distribution fee of $9.0 million paid in September 2019.

We also entered into a securities purchase option agreement (“Endospan Option”) with Endospan for $1.0 million paid in September 2019. The Endospan Option Agreement provides Artivion the option to purchase all the outstanding securities of Endospan from Endospan’s securityholders at the time of acquisition, or the option to acquire all of Endospan’s assets, in each case, for a price between $350.0 and $450.0 million before, or within a certain period of time or after FDA approval of NEXUS, with such option expiring if not exercised within 90 days after receiving notice that Endospan has received approval from the FDA for NEXUS.

Loan Agreement

Artivion and Endospan also entered into a loan agreement (“Endospan Loan”), dated September 11, 2019, in which Artivion agreed to provide Endospan a secured loan of up to $15.0 million to be funded in 3three tranches of $5.0 million each.

The first tranche of the Endospan Loan was funded upon execution of the agreement in September 2019. In September 2020 we funded the second tranche payment of $5.0 million upon the certification of the NEXUS IDE from the FDA. TheIn May 2023 we funded the third tranche is required to be fundedpayment of $5.0 million upon the certification of enrollment of at least 50% of the required number of patients in the primary arm of the FDA approved clinical trial for NEXUS, in each case subject to Endospan’s continued compliance with the Endospan Loan and certain other conditions. If a termination fee becomes payable by Endospan under the Endospan Distribution Agreement, it will be added to the amount payable to Artivion under the Endospan Loan.NEXUS.

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Variable Interest Entity

We consolidate the results of a variable interest entity ("VIE") when it is determined that we are the primary beneficiary. Based on our initial evaluation of Endospan and the related agreements with Endospan, we determined that Endospan is a VIE. Although the arrangement with Endospan resulted in our holding a variable interest, it did not empower us to direct those activities of Endospan that most significantly impact the VIE economic performance. Therefore, we are not the primary beneficiary, and we have not consolidated Endospan into our financial results. Our payments to Endospan in September 2019 totaled $15.0 million which included a $9.0 million distribution fee, a $1.0 million securities purchase option, and $5.0 million for the first tranche of the Endospan Loan. An additionalThe second tranche payment of $5.0 million was funded in September 2020. An additional $5.0 million was funded in May 2023 as part of the secondthird tranche payment described above. We evaluated Endospan for VIE classification as of December 31, 20212023 and determined that Endospan meets the criteria of a non-consolidating VIE. Our payments to date, including any loans, guarantees, and other subordinated financial support related to this VIE, totaled $20.0$25.0 million as of December 31, 2021,2023, representing our maximum exposure to loss, and were not individually significant to our consolidated financial statements.

Valuation

The agreements with Endospan were entered into concurrently and had certain terms that are interrelated. In our evaluation of the initial relative fair value of each of the Endospan agreements to determine the amount to record, we utilized discounted cash flows to estimate the fair market value for the Endospan Loan and for the Endospan Distribution Agreement. We estimated the fair value of the Endospan Option utilizing the Monte Carlo simulation. Inputs in our valuation of the Endospan agreements included cash payments and anticipated payments based on the executed agreements with Endospan, projected discounted cash flows in connection with the Endospan transaction, our expected internal rate of return and discount rates, and our assessed probability and timing of receipt of certification of certain approvals and milestones in obtaining FDA approval. Based on the initial fair value of the Endospan Loan and the relative fair values of the Endospan Distribution Agreement and Endospan Option Agreement, we recorded the Endospan Loan value of $358,000 in Other long-term assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019. The value of the Endospan Distribution Agreement was recorded at $5.5of $1.8 million and $8.0$3.5 million was included in Other Intangibles,intangibles, net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021,2023 and 2020,2022, respectively.

In the fourth quarter of 2021 we fully impaired the value of the Endospan Option primarily driven by a decrease in forecasted operating results. We recorded $4.9 million impairment expense included in General, administrative, and marketing expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. The value of the Endospan Option was $4.9 million as of December 31, 2020.

We elected the fair value option for recording the Endospan Loan. We assess the fair value of the Endospan Loan based on quantitative and qualitative characteristics, and adjust the amount recorded to its current fair market value at each reporting period. We performed an assessment of the fair value of the Endospan Loan and determined that the loan fair value decreased and had no value as of December 31, 2021. As a result of thethis fair value adjustment, we recorded an expense of $409,000 in Other Expenseexpense, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss asduring twelve months ended December 31, 2021. In May 2023 we funded a $5.0 million third tranche payment and determined that the loan continued to have no fair value. Consequently, we recorded an expense of $5.0 million in Other expense, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. We did not record a loan fair value adjustment during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
In the fourth quarter of December 31, 2021. The2021 we fully impaired the value of the Endospan Loan was $409,000 asOption primarily driven by a decrease in forecasted operating results. We recorded $4.9 million impairment expense included in General, administrative, and marketing expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2021.

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5. Financial Instruments

A summary of financial instruments measured at fair value iswas as follows (in thousands):

December 31, 2021

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

December 31, 2023December 31, 2023Level 1Level 2Level 3Total

Cash equivalents:

Money market funds

$

10,015

--

--

$

10,015

Money market funds
Money market funds
Certificates of deposit

Total assets

$

10,015

$

--

$

--

$

10,015

Long-term liabilities:

Long-term liabilities:
Long-term liabilities:
Contingent consideration
Contingent consideration

Contingent consideration

--

--

(49,400)

(49,400)

Total liabilities

$

--

$

--

$

(49,400)

$

(49,400)

December 31, 2020

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

December 31, 2022December 31, 2022Level 1Level 2Level 3Total

Cash equivalents:

Money market funds

$

11,484

--

--

$

11,484

Restricted securities:

Money market funds

546

--

--

546

Endospan loan

--

--

409

409

Money market funds

Total assets

$

12,030

$

--

$

409

$

12,439

Current liabilities:

Contingent consideration

--

--

(16,430)

(16,430)

Long-term liabilities:
Long-term liabilities:

Long-term liabilities:

Contingent consideration

--

--

(43,500)

(43,500)

Contingent consideration
Contingent consideration

Total liabilities

$

--

$

--

$

(59,930)

$

(59,930)

We used prices quoted from our investment advisors to determine the Level 1 valuation of our investments in money market funds. We recordedThe estimated market value of all cash equivalents is equal to cost basis as there were no gross realized gains or losses on cash equivalents for the Endospan Loan, classified as Level 3, as a resultyears ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
The fair value of an agreement with Endospan in September 2019. Thethe contingent consideration component of the Ascyrus acquisition was updated using Level 3 inputs. See Note 3 and Note 4 for further discussion of the Ascyrus acquisition, and the Endospan Loan, respectively.acquisition. Changes in fair value of Level 3 assets and liabilities are listed in the tables below (in thousands):

Endospan Loan

Contingent Consideration

Balance as of December 31, 2020

$

409

$

(59,930)

Payments

--

20,000

Change in valuation

(409)

(9,470)

Balance as of December 31, 2021

$

--

$

(49,400)


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Contingent Consideration
Balance as of December 31, 2022$(40,400)
Change in valuation(23,490)
Balance as of December 31, 2023$(63,890)

6. Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Securities

The following is a summary of cash equivalents and marketable securities (in thousands):

Unrealized

Estimated

Holding

Market

December 31, 2021

Cost Basis

Gains

Value

Cash equivalents:

Money market funds

$

10,015

--

$

10,015

Total assets

$

10,015

$

--

$

10,015

Unrealized

Estimated

Holding

Market

December 31, 2020

Cost Basis

Gains

Value

Cash equivalents:

Money market funds

$

11,484

--

$

11,484

Restricted securities:

Money market funds

546

--

546

Total assets

$

12,030

$

--

$

12,030

As of December 31, 2020 $546,000 of our money market funds were designated as short-term restricted securities due to a contractual commitment to hold the securities as pledged collateral relating primarily to international tax obligations.

There were 0 gross realized gains or losses on cash equivalents or restricted securities for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019. As of December 31, 2020 $546,000 of our restricted securities had a maturity date within three months.

7. Inventories net and Deferred Preservation Costs,

net

Inventories, net at December 31, 20212023 and 2020 are2022 were comprised of the following (in thousands):
20232022
Raw materials and supplies$36,907 $36,715 
Work-in-process12,687 10,476 
Finished goods32,382 27,287 
Total inventories, net$81,976 $74,478 
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2021

2020

Raw materials and supplies

$

35,780

$

33,625

Work-in-process

9,712

6,318

Finished goods

31,479

33,095

Total inventories, net

$

76,971

$

73,038

Deferred preservation costs, net at December 31, 20212023 and 2020 are2022 were comprised of the following (in thousands):

2021

2020

Cardiac tissues

$

20,591

$

17,374

Vascular tissues

22,272

19,172

Total deferred preservation costs, net

$

42,863

$

36,546

20232022
Cardiac tissues$24,823 $21,799 
Vascular tissues24,981 24,572 
Total deferred preservation costs, net$49,804 $46,371 
To facilitate product usage, we maintain consignment inventory of our On-X heart valves at domestic hospital locations and On-X heart valves, JOTEC Products,aortic stent grafts, and AMDS products at international hospital locations. We retain title and control over this consignment inventory until the devicenotice of implantation is implanted,received, at which time we invoice the hospital and recognize revenue. As of December 31, 20212023 we had $12.9$10.7 million in consignment inventory, with approximately 43%44% in domestic locations and 57%56% in foreign locations. As of December 31, 20202022 we had $11.9$12.7 million in consignment inventory, with approximately 47%41% in domestic locations and 53%59% in foreign locations.

Inventory and deferred preservation costs obsolescence reserves were $3.2$3.0 million and $3.5$2.2 million as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively.

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8.7. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets

As of December 31, 20212023 and 20202022 the carrying values of our indefinite lived intangible assets arewere as follows (in thousands):

2021

2020

202320232022

Goodwill

$

250,000

$

260,061

In-process R&D

2,208

2,392

Procurement contracts and agreements

2,013

2,013

Trademarks

66

765

We monitor the phases of development of our acquired in-process research and development projects, including the risks associated with further development and the amount and timing of benefits expected to be derived from the completed projects. Incremental costs associated with development are charged to expense as incurred. Capitalized costs are amortized over the estimated useful life of the developed asset once completed. Our in-process research and development projects are reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently, if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The companyWe evaluate our goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter of the year, and, if necessary, during interim periods if factors indicate that an impairment review is warranted. We did 0tnot record any impairment of indefinite lived intangible assets, including goodwill, during the twelve months ended December 31, 20212023, 2022, and 2020.2021. In-process research and development, procurement contracts and agreements and trademarks are included in Other intangibles, net on the consolidated balance sheetsConsolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020.

2022.

Based on our experience with similar agreements, we believe that our acquired procurement contracts and agreements have indefinite useful lives, as we expect to continue to renew these contracts for the foreseeable future. We believe that our trademarks have indefinite useful lives as we currently anticipate that these trademarks will contribute to our cash flows indefinitely. 

As of December 31, 20212023 and 20202022 the value of our goodwill, all of which iswas related to our Medical Devices reporting unit, issegment, was as follows (in thousands):
Medical Devices Segment
20232022
Balance as of January 1,$243,631 $250,000 
Foreign currency translation3,706 (6,369)
Balance as of December 31,$247,337 $243,631 
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2021

2020

Balance as of January 1,

$

260,061

$

186,697

Ascyrus acquisition

(942)

63,357

Revaluation of goodwill denominated in foreign currency

(9,119)

10,007

Balance as of December 31,

$

250,000

$

260,061

Definite Lived Intangible Assets

The definite lived intangible assets balance includes balances related to acquired technology, customer relationships, distribution and manufacturing rights and know-how, patents, and other definite lived intangible assets. As of December 31, 20212023 and 20202022 the gross carrying values, accumulated amortization, and approximate amortization periodsperiod of our definite lived intangible assets arewere as follows (dollars in thousands)(in thousands, except weighted average useful life):

Weighted Average

Gross Carrying

Accumulated

Net Carrying

Useful Life

December 31, 2021

Value

Amortization

Value

(Years)

Acquired technology

$

213,626

$

46,632

$

166,994

17.7

Other intangibles:

Customer lists and relationships

31,148

9,618

21,530

20.5

Distribution and manufacturing rights and know-how

9,847

4,308

5,539

5.0

Patents

4,083

3,144

939

17.0

Other

3,969

1,762

2,207

4.4

Total other intangibles

$

49,047

$

18,832

$

30,215

10.6


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December 31, 2023Gross Carrying
Value
Accumulated
Amortization
Net Carrying
Value
Weighted Average
Useful Life
(Years)
Acquired technology$201,897 $59,304 $142,593 18.2
Other intangibles:
Customer lists and relationships28,729 10,334 18,395 21.6
Distribution and manufacturing rights and know-how9,608 7,807 1,801 5.0
Patents4,365 3,225 1,140 17.0
Other7,815 3,680 4,135 5.0
Total other intangibles$50,517 $25,046 $25,471 10.0

December 31, 2022Gross Carrying
Value
Accumulated
Amortization
Net Carrying
Value
Weighted Average
Useful Life
(Years)
Acquired technology$198,420 $47,157 $151,263 18.2
Other intangibles:
Customer lists and relationships31,030 11,100 19,930 20.5
Distribution and manufacturing rights and know-how9,274 5,796 3,478 5.0
Patents4,246 3,180 1,066 17.0
Other5,360 2,543 2,817 4.4
Total other intangibles$49,910 $22,619 $27,291 10.3

Weighted Average

Gross Carrying

Accumulated

Net Carrying

Useful Life

December 31, 2020

Value

Amortization

Value

(Years)

Acquired technology

$

222,182

$

36,091

$

186,091

17.6

Other intangibles:

Customer lists and relationships

31,316

8,132

23,184

20.5

Distribution and manufacturing rights and know-how

14,728

5,349

9,379

6.1

Patents

3,966

3,113

853

17.0

Other

3,453

1,073

2,380

4.4

Total other intangibles

$

53,463

$

17,667

$

35,796

10.8

Amortization Expense

Amortization expense recorded in General, administrative, and marketing expenses on our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31 iswas as follows (in thousands):

2021

2020

2019

Amortization expense

$

16,820

$

13,764

$

10,850

202320222021
Amortization expense$15,198 $15,310 $16,820 

As of December 31, 20212023 scheduled amortization of intangible assets for the next five years is as follows (in thousands):

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Total

Amortization expense

$

15,765

$

15,261

$

14,885

$

12,878

$

12,650

$

71,439

20242025202620272028Total
Amortization expense$15,121 $13,200 $12,972 $12,866 $12,644 $66,803 


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9.

8. Income Taxes

Income Tax Expense

(Loss) income

Loss before income taxes consistsconsisted of the following (in thousands):

61

2021

2020

2019

2023202320222021

Domestic

$

(10,263)

$

(11,443)

$

6,369

Foreign

(4,564)

(5,731)

(4,725)

(Loss) income before income taxes

$

(14,827)

$

(17,174)

$

1,644

Loss before income taxes

Income tax expense (benefit) consistsconsisted of the following (in thousands):
202320222021
Current:
Federal$5,573 $1,606 $1,896 
State1,004 367 551 
Foreign3,851 3,120 3,391 
10,428 5,093 5,838 
Deferred:
Federal$222 $236 $(2,801)
State157 234 (307)
Foreign(1,703)(1,355)(2,723)
(1,324)(885)(5,831)
Income tax expense$9,104 $4,208 $7 

2021

2020

2019

Current:

Federal

$

1,896

$

(2,460)

$

48

State

551

445

80

Foreign

3,391

707

2,041

5,838

(1,308)

2,169

Deferred:

Federal

(2,801)

1,721

(850)

State

(307)

384

(131)

Foreign

(2,723)

(1,289)

(1,264)

(5,831)

816

(2,245)

Income tax expense (benefit)

$

7

$

(492)

$

(76)

Our income tax expense (benefit) in 2021, 20202023, 2022, and 20192021 included our federal, state, and foreign tax obligations. Our effective income tax rate was a tax expense of 42% and 28% for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Our effective income tax rate was break-even for the year ended December 31, 2021.


Our effective income tax was a tax benefit of 3% and 5%rate for the yearsyear ended December 31, 20202023 was primarily affected by an increase in the valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets, nondeductible executive compensation, income taxes in certain profitable foreign jurisdictions, and 2019, respectively.additional tax expense for uncertain tax positions, partially offset by the research and development tax credit and foreign derived intangible income deduction. Our income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily affected by an increase in the valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets, nondeductible executive compensation, and additional tax expense for uncertain tax positions, partially offset by the research and development tax credit. Our income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily impactedaffected by excess tax benefits on stock compensation,an increase in the research and development tax credit, non-deductible executive compensation, changes in our valuation allowance againston our net deferred tax assets, foreign expense items, nondeductible executive compensation, and changes in ouradditional tax expense for uncertain tax position liabilities. Our income tax rate

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Tablepositions, partially offset by the reduction of Contents

for the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily impacted by changes in oura valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets and changes in our uncertain tax position liabilities. Our income tax rate for theon prior year ended December 31, 2019 was primarily impacted by excess tax benefits on stock compensation,items, the research and development tax credit, and changes in ourreleases of uncertain tax position liabilities.positions.


The income tax benefit amounts differ from the amounts computed by applying the US federal statutory income tax rate of 21% for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 20192021 to pretax income as a result of the following (in thousands):
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2021

2020

2019

Tax expense (benefit) at statutory rate

$

(3,114)

$

(3,606)

$

345

2023202320222021
Tax benefit at statutory rate

Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from:

Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from:
Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from:
Valuation allowance change
Valuation allowance change

Valuation allowance change

1,566

3,952

153

Foreign income taxes

1,138

378

425

Nondeductible executive compensation

1,075

580

778

Equity compensation

Net change in uncertain tax positions

762

(1,115)

(360)

Foreign interest disallowance

307

298

292

State income taxes, net of federal benefit

73

(455)

(108)

Nondeductible entertainment expenses

65

94

201

Foreign interest disallowance

Foreign deferred items

53

(63)

365

Equity compensation

(477)

(204)

(1,921)

Foreign derived intangible income deduction

Research and development credit

(959)

(457)

(400)

Provision to return adjustments

Other

(482)

106

154

Total income tax expense (benefit)

$

7

$

(492)

$

(76)

Total income tax expense

Deferred Taxes

We generate deferred tax assets primarily as a result of finance and operating leases, net operating losses, excess interest carryforward, accrued compensation, stock compensation, capitalizable research and development costs, unrealized foreign exchange losses, and capital leases. Our deferred tax liabilities are primarily made upcomprised of intangible assets acquired in previous years, unrealized gainsfinance and losses,operating leases, and capital leases.

The tax effects of temporary differences which give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31 arewere as follows (in thousands):

2021

2020

Deferred tax assets:

Finance and operating leases

$

13,762

$

6,880

Loss carryforwards

6,649

7,911

Excess interest carryforward

3,547

2,660

Accrued expenses

2,088

2,002

Stock compensation

2,007

2,034

Deferred compensation

1,535

1,326

Property

1,356

1,397

Credit carryforwards

601

1,214

Inventory and deferred preservation costs write-downs

397

308

Other

3,770

2,798

Less valuation allowance

(13,282)

(7,170)

Total deferred tax assets, net

22,430

21,360

2021

2020

Deferred tax liabilities:

Intangible assets

(29,086)

(35,770)

Finance and operating leases

(13,404)

(6,617)

Unrealized gains and losses

(4,088)

(4,929)

Debt costs

(1,024)

(1,528)

Prepaid items

(395)

(417)

Inventory and deferred preservation costs write-downs

(105)

--

Financing arrangements

--

(4,700)

85

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20232022
Deferred tax assets:
Finance and operating leases$13,254 $12,581 
Excess interest carryforward6,438 5,559 
Unrealized gains and losses5,424 — 
Loan revaluation3,859 2,633 
Loss carryforwards3,205 9,660 
Stock compensation2,761 2,463 
Accrued expenses2,567 1,734 
Deferred compensation1,790 1,317 
Property1,786 1,310 
Credit carryforwards336 503 
Inventory and deferred preservation costs write-downs302 764 
Other1,422 1,650 
Less valuation allowance(32,860)(17,942)
Total deferred tax assets, net10,284 22,232 
20232022
Deferred tax liabilities:
Unrealized gains and losses— (6,624)
Prepaid items(370)(323)
Debt costs(626)(818)
Finance and operating leases(12,777)(12,217)
Intangible assets(16,106)(24,601)
Other(1,169)(834)
Total deferred tax liabilities(31,048)(45,417)
Total deferred tax liabilities, net$(20,764)$(23,185)

Other

(770)

(665)

Total deferred tax liabilities

(48,872)

(54,626)

Total deferred tax liabilities, net

$

(26,442)

$

(33,266)

We regularly assess the realizability of deferred tax assets and establish valuation allowances if it is more likely than not that some or all deferred tax assets will not be realized. A summary of valuation allowances against deferred tax assets was as follows (in thousands):

202320222021
Beginning balance$17,942 $13,282 $7,170 
Additions in estimates recorded to deferred income tax expense, net9,809 4,660 1,505 
Additions related to Other comprehensive income, net5,109 — 4,607 
Ending balance$32,860 $17,942 $13,282 
As of December 31, 20212023 and 20202022 we maintained a net deferred tax liability of $26.4$20.8 million and $33.3$23.2 million, respectively. As of December 31, 20212023 and 20202022 we maintained valuation allowances against our deferred tax assets of $13.3$32.9 million and $7.2$17.9 million, respectively, primarily related to net operating loss carryforwards and disallowed excess interest carryforwards.

As of December 31, 20212023 we had approximately $2.0$1.3 million of federal net operating loss carryforwards related to the acquisitions of Cardiogenesis and Hemosphere thatfor which we anticipate partially utilizing before expiration,have a full valuation allowance against, approximately $3.0$1.5 million of state net operating loss carryforwards that will begincontinue to expire in 2022,2024, approximately $1.8 million$443,000 of foreign net operating loss carryforwards that will begin to expire in 2025,, and approximately $500,000$293,000 in research and development tax credit carryforwards that will begin to expire in 2030,, and $110,000approximately $81,000 in credits from other jurisdictions that mostly expire in 2027.
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Table of Contents2027.

As of December 31, 20212023 we had a deferred tax asset of $3.5$6.4 million of disallowed interest expense deduction carryforwards as a result of the interest deductibility rule imposed by the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” of 2017 (“Tax Act”), and later modified by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). This deferred tax asset can be carried forward indefinitely. This rule disallows interest expense to the extent it exceeds 30% of adjusted taxable income, modified to be 50% in 2020 and 2019 by the CARES Act.income. For the years ended December 31, 20212023 and 20202022 our interest deduction was limited to $11.7$20.4 million and $15.8$8.1 million, respectively.

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 we corrected certain immaterial prior year errors primarily related to the release of a valuation allowance, reduction of income taxes payable, and an increase in the tax reserve. On correcting the errors, we recorded an income tax benefit of $2.1 million.

We believe that the realizability of our acquired net operating loss carryforwards will be limited in future periods due to a change in control of our former subsidiaries Hemosphere, Inc. (“Hemosphere”) and Cardiogenesis Corporation (“Cardiogenesis”), as mandated by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. We believe that our acquisitions of these companies each constituted a change in control as defined in Section 382 and that, prior to our acquisition, Hemosphere had experienced other equity ownership changes that should be considered such a change in control. The deferred tax assets recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets exclude amounts that we expect will not be realizable due to changes in control. A portion of the acquired net operating loss carryforwards is related to state income taxes for which we believe it is more likely than not that some will not be realized. Therefore, we recorded a valuation allowance against these state net operating loss carryforwards. In addition, during the year, the realizability of a portion of our net operating loss carryforwards and other deferred tax assets was limited. We recorded a valuation allowance against these deferred tax assets.

Reinvestment of Unremitted Earnings

We intend to reinvest substantially all of the unremitted earnings of our non-US subsidiaries to fund working capital, strategic investments, and debt repayment and postpone their remittance indefinitely. Accordingly, no provision for state and local taxes or foreign withholding taxes was recorded on these unremitted earnings in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. The Company is permanently reinvested with respect to the outside basis differences in its significant non-US subsidiaries with the exception of one of its German subsidiaries. As of December 31, 20212023 we had a deferred tax liability of $175,000$119,000 for the tax effects of this outside basis difference in its the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.

Uncertain Tax Positions

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of our uncertain tax position liability, excluding interest and penalties, iswas as follows (in thousands):

2021

2020

2019

Beginning balance

$

2,574

$

3,523

$

3,889

Increases related to current year tax positions

1,661

473

691

Decreases due to the lapsing of statutes of limitations

(241)

(1,703)

(880)

Decreases related to prior year tax positions

(170)

(238)

(154)

(Decreases) increases for foreign exchange differences

(121)

99

(22)

Increases (decreases) related to prior year tax positions

386

420

(1)

Ending balance

$

4,089

$

2,574

$

3,523

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202320222021
Beginning balance$4,508 $4,089 $2,574 
Increase related to current year tax positions2,728 847 1,661 
Increase (decrease) for foreign exchange differences116 (145)(121)
Increase related to prior year tax positions26 20 386 
Decrease due to the lapsing of statutes of limitations(158)(200)(241)
Decrease related to prior year tax positions(508)(103)(170)
Decrease due to settlements of prior year tax positions(1,880)— — 
Ending balance$4,832 $4,508 $4,089 

We recorded non-current liabilities of $220,000$372,000 and $261,000$358,000 related to interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively. We included expense of $6,500 for December 31, 2023, expense of $145,000 for December 31, 2022, and income of $35,000 and $180,000 for December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively, and expense of $27,000 for December 31, 2019 for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.

As of December 31, 20212023 our uncertain tax liability of $4.3$5.2 million, including interest and penalties, was recorded as a reduction to deferred tax assets of $300,000,$100,000, and a non-current liability of $4.0$5.1 million on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amount of uncertain tax liabilities that are expected to affect our tax rate if recognized were $3.2$4.4 million, $2.6$3.6 million, and $3.5$3.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively. As of December 31, 20202022 our total uncertain tax liability, including interest and penalties of $2.8$4.9 million, was recorded as a reduction to deferred tax assets of $300,000$100,000 and as a non-current liability of $2.5$4.8 million on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
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We believe it is reasonably possible that approximately $185,000$100,000 of our uncertain tax liability will be recognized in 20222024 due to the lapsing of various federal and state and foreign statutes of limitations, of which substantially all would affect the tax rate.

Other

Our tax years 20182020 and forward generally remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which we are subject. However, certain returns from years prior to 2018,2020, in which net operating losses and tax credits have arisen, are still open for examination by the tax authorities.

10.

9. Leases

We have operating and finance lease obligations resulting from the lease of land and buildings that comprise our corporate headquarters and various manufacturing facilities; leases related to additional manufacturing, office, and warehouse space; leases on Companycompany vehicles; and leases on a variety of office and other equipment.

On January 6, 2021 we executed a modification

Information related to extend the lease of our headquarters located in Kennesaw, Georgia. This modification resulted in an increaseleases included in the present value of future lease obligations and corresponding right-of-use asset of $23.3 million, using a discount rate of 6.41%.

On June 1, 2021 we began occupancy of the newly constructed addition to our leased JOTEC headquarters located in Hechingen, Germany. This lease resulted in an increase in the present value of future lease obligations and corresponding right-of-use asset of $9.8 million, using a discount rate of 5.46%.

Supplemental consolidated balance sheet information related to leasesConsolidated Balance Sheets was as follows (in thousands, except lease term and discount rate):


Operating leases:December 31, 2023December 31, 2022
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net$43,822 $41,859 
  
Current maturities of operating leases$3,395 $3,308 
Non-current maturities of operating leases43,977 41,257 
Total operating lease liabilities$47,372 $44,565 
  
Finance leases:  
Property and equipment, at cost$6,862 $6,408 
Accumulated amortization(3,136)(2,498)
Property and equipment, net$3,726 $3,910 
  
Current maturities of finance leases$582 $513 
Non-current maturities of finance leases3,405 3,644 
Total finance lease liabilities$3,987 $4,157 
  
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years):  
Operating leases10.411.9
Finance leases6.87.8
  
Weighted average discount rate:  
Operating leases6.3%5.9%
Finance leases2.2%2.1%

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Operating leases:

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

Operating lease right-of-use assets

$

58,097

$

28,242

Accumulated amortization

(12,383)

(9,671)

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net

$

45,714

$

18,571

Current maturities of operating leases

$

3,149

$

5,763

Non-current maturities of operating leases

44,869

14,034

Total operating lease liabilities

$

48,018

$

19,797

Finance leases:

Property and equipment, at cost

$

6,759

$

7,620

Accumulated amortization

(2,105)

(1,905)

Property and equipment, net

$

4,654

$

5,715

Current maturities of finance leases

$

528

$

614

Non-current maturities of finance leases

4,374

5,300

Total finance lease liabilities

$

4,902

$

5,914

Weighted average remaining lease term (in years):

Operating leases

12.5

5.1

Finance leases

8.8

9.8

Weighted average discount rate:

Operating leases

5.8%

5.2%

Finance leases

2.0%

2.0%

Current maturities of finance leases are included as a component of Other current liabilities and non-current maturities of finance leases are included as a component of Other long-term liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. A summary of lease expenses for our finance and operating leases included in General, administrative, and marketing expenses on our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss arewas as follows (in thousands):

December 31, 2023December 31, 2022
Amortization of property and equipment$542 $518 
Interest expense on finance leases84 89 
Total finance lease expense626 607 
Operating lease expensea
7,354 7,432 
Sublease income(278)(306)
Total lease expense$7,702 $7,733 
______________________

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

Amortization of property and equipment

$

596

$

643

Interest expense on finance leases

110

118

Total finance lease expense

706

761

Operating lease expensea

7,521

7,145

Sublease income

(399)

(905)

Total lease expense

$

7,828

$

7,001

_____________________

aTotal rental expense for operating leases was $6.6$7.5 million in 2019.2021. The operating lease expense included right-of-use asset amortization and interest expense on the lease liability.

A summary of our supplemental cash flow information isrelated to leases was as follows (in thousands):

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

2021

2020

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:20232022

Operating cash flows for operating leases

$

6,061

$

7,407

Financing cash flows for finance leases

557

653

Operating cash flows for finance leases

105

126

Future minimum lease payments and sublease rental income are as follows (in thousands):


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Finance
Leases
Operating
Leases
2024$655 $6,302 
2025648 7,085 
2026627 6,539 
2027617 6,058 
2028599 5,862 
Thereafter1,136 33,920 
Total minimum lease payments$4,282 $65,766 
Less amount representing interest(295)(18,394)
 Present value of net minimum lease payments3,987 47,372 
 Less current maturities(582)(3,395)
 Lease obligations, less current maturities$3,405 $43,977 

Finance

Operating

Sublease

Leases

Leases

Income

2022

$

600

$

5,928

$

306

2023

629

5,619

--

2024

623

6,174

--

2025

599

5,188

--

2026

579

4,797

--

Thereafter

2,318

42,210

--

Total minimum lease payments

$

5,348

$

69,916

$

306

Less amount representing interest

446

21,898

Present value of net minimum lease payments

4,902

48,018

Less current maturities

528

3,149

Lease obligations, less current maturities

$

4,374

$

44,869

10. Debt

11. Debt

Credit Agreement

On December 1, 2017 we entered into a credit and guaranty agreement for a $255.0 million senior secured credit facility, consisting of a $225.0 million secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”) and a $30.0 million secured revolving credit facility (“the Revolving(the “Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Credit Agreement”). We and each of our existing domestic subsidiaries (subject to certain exceptions and exclusions) guarantee the obligations under the Credit Agreement (the “Guarantors”). The Credit Agreement is secured by a security interest in substantially all existing and after-acquired real and personal property (subject to certain exceptions and exclusions) of us and the Guarantors.
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On December 1, 2017 we borrowed the entire $225.0 million Term Loan Facility. The proceeds of the Term Loan Facility were used along with cash on hand and shares of Artivion common stock to (i) fund the acquisition of JOTEC and its subsidiaries (the “JOTEC Acquisition”), (ii) pay certain fees and expenses related to the JOTEC Acquisition and the Credit Agreement, and (iii) pay the outstanding balance of our prior credit facility. The Revolving Credit Facility may be used for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions permitted under the Credit Agreement, and other general corporate purposes pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.

The loan under the Term Loan Facility is repayable on a quarterly basis according to the amortization provisions set forth in the Credit Agreement. We have the right to repay the loan under the Credit Agreement in whole or in part at any time. Amounts repaid in respect of the loan under the Term Loan Facility may not be reborrowed. Amounts repaid in respect of the loan under the Revolving Credit Facility may be reborrowed. All outstanding principal and interest in respect of (i) the Term Loan Facility must be repaid on or before December 1, 2024 and (ii) the Revolving Credit Facility must be repaid on or before December 1, 2022.

In October 2018 we finalized an amendment to the Credit Agreement to reprice interest rates, resulting in a reduction in the interest rate margins over base rates on the Term Loan Facility. The loan under the Term Loan Facility bears interest, at our option, at a floating annual rate equal to either the base rate, plus a margin of 2.25%, or LIBOR, plus a margin of 3.25%. Prior to the repricing, the optional floating annual rate was equal to either the base rate plus a margin of 3.00%, or LIBOR, plus a margin of 4.00%. The loan under the Revolving Credit Facility bears interest, at our option, at a floating annual rate equal to either the base rate, plus a margin of between 3.00% and 3.25%, depending on our consolidated leverage ratio, or LIBOR, plus a margin of between 4.00% and 4.25%, depending on our consolidated leverage ratio. While a payment event of default or bankruptcy event of default exists, we are obligated to pay a per annum default rate of interest of 2.00% in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable with respect to the overdue principal amount of any loans outstanding and overdue interest payments and other overdue fees and amounts. We are obligated to pay an unused commitment fee equal to 0.50% of the unutilized portion of the revolving loans. In addition, we are also obligated to pay other customary fees for a credit facility of this size and type.  

The Credit Agreement containsand its subsequent amendments contain certain customary affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants that limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things, grant liens, incur debt, dispose of assets, make loans and investments, make acquisitions, make certain restricted payments (including cash dividends), merge or consolidate, change business or accounting or reporting practices, in each case subject to customary exceptions for a credit facility of this size and type.In addition, with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, when the principal amount of loans outstanding thereunder is in excess of 25% of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Credit Agreement requires us to comply with a specified maximum first lien net leverage ratio.

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The Credit Agreement includes certain customary events of default that include, among other things, non-payment of principal, interest, or fees; inaccuracy of representations and warranties; breach of covenants; cross-default to certain material indebtedness; bankruptcy and insolvency; and change of control. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default, the lenders may declare all outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest under the Credit Agreement immediately due and payable and may exercise the other rights and remedies provided under the Credit Agreement and related loan documents.

In March 2020 partly as a precautionary measure to increase cash and maintain maximum financial flexibility during the current uncertainty in global markets resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, we borrowed the entire amount available under our $30.0 million Revolving Credit Facility at an aggregate interest rate of 5.20%. On June 29, 2020 we used a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of Convertible Senior Notes, as discussed below, to repay the $30.0 million outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility.

On April 29, 2020 we entered into an amendment to our Credit Agreement. As part of the amendment, we obtained a waiver of our maximum first lien net leverage ratio covenant through the end of 2020. In addition, the amendment to our Credit Agreement provides that EBITDA, for covenant testing purposes, in each quarter of 2020 will be deemed equal to a fixed value equal to our bank covenant EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2019, when our first lien net leverage was 3.4x. As a result of these changes, we are subject to a new minimum liquidity covenant. We are also subject to restrictions on certain payments, including cash dividends. We are required to maintain a minimum liquidity of at least $12.0 million as of the last day of any month in 2020, and as of the last day of any quarter through the third quarter of 2021 when our Revolving Credit Facility is drawn in excess of 25% (or $7.5 million) of the amount available as of the last day of any fiscal quarter during that period. Beginning in 2021, if we repay borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility to 25% or less, no financial maintenance covenants, including the minimum liquidity covenant and the maximum first lien net leverage ratio covenant, are applicable.

On June 2, 2021 we entered into an amendment to our Credit Agreement to extend the maturity dates of both our Term Loan and its Revolving Credit Facility. As part of the amendment, the maturity dates of both our Term Loan and its Revolving Credit Facility were each extended by two and one-half years,, until June 1, 2027 and June 1, 2025, respectively, subject to earlier springing maturities if our 4.25%. Convertible Senior Notes, described below, remain outstanding on April 1, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. With respect to the Term Loan, if the Convertible Senior Notes remainremained outstanding on April 1, 2025, the Term Loan’s maturity date willwould be April 1, 2025, or, if the Convertible Senior Notes’ own maturity date hashad been extended, the earlier of (i) 91 days prior to the Convertible Senior Notes’ new maturity date and (ii) June 1, 2027. In the case of the Revolving Credit Facility, if the Convertible Senior Notes are still outstanding on December 31, 2024, the Revolving Credit Facility’s maturity date will be either December 31, 2024 or, if the Convertible Senior Notes’ own maturity date has been extended, the earlier of (i) 182 days prior to the Convertible Senior Notes’ new maturity date and (ii) June 1, 2025. Under theIn connection with this amendment, the Term Loan Facility bears interest, at our option, at a floating annual rate equal to either the base rate, plus a margin of 2.50%, or LIBOR, plus a margin of 3.50%. Prior to the amendment, the optional floating annual rate was equal to either the base rate plus a margin of 2.25%, or LIBOR, plus a margin of 3.25%. Wewe paid debt issuance costs of $2.1$2.1 million, of which $1.8$1.8 million will be amortized over the life of the term loan facility and included in current and long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The remaining $361,000 of debt issuance costs and $474,000 of non-cash debt extinguishment costs were recorded in Interest expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
On December 19, 2022 in accordance with adopting ASU 2020-04 and 2021-01, we entered into an amendment to our Credit Agreement to replace the LIBOR based benchmark interest rate with the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) based benchmark interest rate for our Term Loan Facility and our Revolving Credit Facility. Based on historical analysis of the differences between the benchmark rates, SOFR is adjusted to arrive at a Term SOFR rate that serves as the replacement base rate for LIBOR under our amended credit facilities. Under this amendment, at the maturity of our existing LIBOR-based loan on December 30, 2022, the interest rate at the repricing of our Term Loan Facility was calculated as Term SOFR plus a fixed percentage credit spread of 3.50%. The loan under the Revolving Credit Facility bears interest at Term SOFR plus a margin of between 4.00% and 4.25%, depending on our consolidated net leverage ratio. As of December 31, 20212023 the aggregate interest rate of the Credit Agreement was 4.50%8.97% per annum.
On January 18, 2024

we entered into a credit and guaranty agreement with Ares Management Credit funds to borrow up to $350.0 million senior secured, interest-only, credit facilities. Upon closing, we borrowed a total of $220.0 million which we used, along with cash on hand, to pay off outstanding debt related to the Credit Agreement and related fees and expenses. See Note 17 for further discussion of our new Credit and Guaranty Agreement.

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Convertible Senior Notes

On June 18, 2020 we issued $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes with a maturity date of July 1, 2025 (the “Convertible Senior Notes”). The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting initial purchasers’ discounts and costs directly related to this offering, were approximately $96.5 million. On January 1, 2021 we adopted ASU 2020-06 and adjusted the carrying balance of the Convertible Senior Notes to notional. The Convertible Senior Notes balance was $100.0 million recorded in Long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021.2023. The Convertible Senior Notes may be settled in cash, stock, or a combination thereof, solely at our discretion. The initial conversion rate of the Convertible Senior Notes is 42.6203 shares per $1,000 principal amount, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $23.46 per share, subject to adjustments. We use the if-converted method for assumed conversion of the Convertible Senior Notes for the diluted earnings per share calculation. The fair value and the effective interest rate of the Convertible Senior Notes as of December 31, 20212023 was approximately $116.0$106.4 million and 5.05%, respectively. The fair value was based on market prices observable for similar instruments and is considered Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The interest expense recognized on the Convertible Senior Notes includes approximately $5.0 million for the aggregate of the contractual coupon interest and the amortization of the debt issuance costs during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. The interest expense recognized on the Convertible Senior Notes includes approximately $4.9 million for the aggregate of the contractual coupon interest and the amortization of the debt issuance duringcosts for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021. The interest expense recognized on the Convertible Senior Notes includes approximately $4.2 million for the aggregate of the contractual coupon interest, the accretion of the debt discount,2022 and the amortization of the debt issuance costs during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2021. Interest on the Convertible Senior Notes began accruing upon issuance and is payable semi-annually. As of December 31, 2021 thereThere were $2.5$1.1 million and $1.9 million of unamortized debt issuance costs related to convertible senior notes.notes as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

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Holders of the Convertible Senior Notes may convert their notes at their option at any time prior to January 1, 2025 but only under the following circumstances: (i) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on September 30, 2020 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price of our common stock for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day; (ii) during the 5five business day period after any 5five consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the conversion rate on each such trading day; (iii) we give a notice of redemption with respect to any or all of the notes, at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date; or (iv) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events. On or after January 1, 2025 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert their notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances.

We cannotbecame eligible to redeem the Convertible Senior Notes beforebeginning on July 5, 2023.2023, following the expiration of their non-redemption period. We canare able to redeem them on or after July 5, 2023,the Convertible Senior Notes in whole or in part, at our option, if the last reported sale price per share of our common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period (including the last trading day of such period) ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide notice of redemption. We may redeem for cash all or part of the Convertible Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the redeemable Convertible Senior Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. No principal payments are due on the Convertible Senior Notes prior to maturity. Other than restrictions relating to certain fundamental changes and consolidations, mergers or asset sales and customary anti-dilution adjustments, the Convertible Senior Notes do not contain any financial covenants and do not restrict us from conducting significant restructuring transactions or issuing or repurchasing any of our other securities. As of December 31, 20212023 and 2022 we are not aware of any current events or market conditions that would allow holders to convert the Convertible Senior Notes. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 we used a portion of the proceeds to pay off the $30.0 million outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility and to finance the Ascyrus transaction and used the remaining funds for general corporate purposes.

Government Supported Bank Debt

In June 2015April 2014 JOTEC obtained two loans fromthe first loan Sparkasse Zollernalb, which areis government sponsored by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau Bank (KFW). Both KFW loans have a termThe first loan bears an interest rate of nine years and the interest rates are 2.45% and is scheduled to mature during the first quarter of 2024. In December 2015 JOTEC obtained the second loan Sparkasse Zollernalb sponsored by KFW. The second loan bears an interest rate of 1.40%. and is scheduled to mature during the third quarter of 2025.
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The short-term and long-term balances of our term loans arewere as follows (in thousands):

As of December 31,

2021

2020

As of December 31,As of December 31,
202320232022

Term loan balance

$

216,000

$

218,250

Convertible senior notes

100,000

79,555

2.45% Sparkasse Zollernalb (KFW Loan 1)

566

886

1.40% Sparkasse Zollernalb (KFW Loan 2)

1,061

1,457

Total loan balance

317,627

300,148

Less unamortized loan origination costs

(8,504)

(8,485)

Net borrowings

309,123

291,663

Less short-term loan balance, net

(1,630)

(1,195)

Long-term loan balance, net

$

307,493

$

290,468

At December 31, 20212023 the aggregate maturities of long-term debt for the next five years isare as follows (in thousands):

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Thereafter

Total

Maturities

$

2,785

$

2,785

$

2,596

$

102,462

$

2,250

$

204,749

$

317,627

2024202520262027ThereafterTotal
Maturities$2,588$102,458$2,250$204,749$$312,045
Our aggregate maturity schedule is subject to change due to a provision within the Credit Agreement that requires us to make annual prepayments based on an excess cash flow calculation.

On April 19, 2023 we issued payable notes in the aggregate of $3.6 million to finance our insurance premiums. The notes have a term of one year and bear an interest rate of 6.65% per annum. The notes payable balance was $1.0 million recorded in Other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2023.
Interest Expense

Total interest expense was $25.3 million, $18.2 million, and $16.9 million $16.7 million,in 2023, 2022, and $14.9 million in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Interest expense includes interest on debt and uncertain tax positions in all periods.

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12.11. Commitments and Contingencies

Liability Claims

In the normal course of business, we are made aware of adverse events involving our products and tissues. Future adverse events could ultimately give rise to a lawsuit against us, and liability claims may be asserted against us in the future based on past events that we are not aware of at the present time. We maintain claims-made insurance policies to mitigate our financial exposure to product and tissue processing liability claims. Claims-made insurance policies generally cover only those asserted claims and incidents that are reported to the insurance carrier while the policy is in effect. The amounts recorded in these Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 20212023 and 20202022 represent our estimate of the probable losses and anticipated recoveries for incurred but not reported claims related to products sold and services performed prior to the balance sheet date.

Employment Agreements

The employment agreement of our Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Mr. J. Patrick Mackin, provides for a severance payment, which would become payable upon the occurrence of certain employment termination events, including termination by us without cause.
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13.

PROACT Xa Clinical Trial Termination
On September 23, 2022 we announced that we were stopping the PROACT Xa clinical trial as recommended by the trial's independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board. The PROACT Xa clinical trial was a prospective, randomized, trial designed to determine if patients with On-X mechanical aortic valves could be maintained safely and effectively on apixaban rather than on warfarin. As a result of PROACT Xa's early termination, we recorded $4.5 million of termination and wind-down expenses that are included in Research and development operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. The majority of these costs include administrative costs, that we paid during the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, as well as the estimated cost of clinical drugs purchased for patients participating in the study that are not expected to be recovered.
12. Employee Benefit Plans

401(k) Plan

We have a 401(k) savings plan (“401(k) Plan”) providing retirement benefits to all US employees who have completed at least three months of service. We made matching contributions of each participant's contribution up to 4.0% of each participant’s salary in 20212023, 2022 and 2020 and 3.5% in 2019.2021. Our contributions approximated $2.1$2.6 million, $1.9$2.6 million, and $1.6$2.1 million for the years ended 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively. We may make discretionary contributions to the 401(k) Plan,Plan; however, 0no discretionary contributions were made in any of the past three years.

Deferred Compensation Plan

Our Deferred Compensation Plan (“Deferred Plan”) allows certain of our US employees to defer receipt of a portion of their salary and cash bonus. The Deferred Plan provides for tax-deferred growth of deferred compensation. Pursuant to the terms of the Deferred Plan, we agree to return the deferred amounts plus gains and losses, based on investment fund options chosen by each respective participant, to the plan participants upon distribution. All deferred amounts and deemed earnings thereon are vested at all times. We have no current plans to match any contributions. Amounts owed to plan participants are unsecured obligations of the Company. We have established a rabbi trust in which it will make contributions to fund our obligations under the Deferred Plan. Pursuant to the terms of the trust, we will be required to make contributions each year to fully match our obligations under the Deferred Plan. The trust’s funds are primarily invested in Company Owned Life Insurance (“COLI”), and we plan to hold the policies until the deaths of the insured.

Our deferred compensation liabilities are recorded as a component of Other current liabilities and long-term Deferred compensation liabilities, as appropriate, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets based on the anticipated distribution dates. We recorded $491,000 in Other current liabilities and $6.8 million in Long-term liabilities as of December 31, 2023 in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. We recorded $5.5 million in Long-term liabilities as of December 31, 2022 in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The cash surrender value of COLI is recorded in Other long-term assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $6.6$6.9 million and $6.4$5.5 million as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively. Changes in the value of participant accounts and changes in the cash surrender value of COLI are recorded as part of our operating expenses and are subject to our normal allocation of expenses to inventory and deferred preservation costs.We recorded deferred compensation liability
13. Revenue Recognition
Disaggregation of $378,000 and $68,000 in Other current liabilities and $6.0 million and $5.5 million in Long-term liabilities as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

14. Revenue Recognition

Sources of Revenue

Revenues are disaggregated by following sources:

geographic regions:

Domestic Hospitals – direct salesNorth America: consists of US and Canada. We market our medical device products and preservation services.

International Hospitals –services (predominantly in the US), primarily to physicians through our direct sales representatives who are managed by region managers.

Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (“EMEA”): we market approved medical device products to physicians, hospitals, and distributors through our direct sales force in certain countries. In countries where there are no direct sales forces, regional sales managers market to distributors who buy medical device products directly from us and sell to hospitals in their respective countries.
Asia Pacific (“APAC”): we market medical device products that are approved in each country to distributors in the region.
Latin America (“LATAM”): we market medical device products that are approved in each country to distributors in the region except for Brazil where we sell directly to end customers and distributors.
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International Distributors – generally these contracts specify a

Net revenues by geographic area thatlocation based on the distributor will service, terms and conditionslocation of the relationship, and purchase targetscustomer for the next calendar year.

CardioGenesis Cardiac Laser Console Trials and Sales – CardioGenesis cardiac trialed laser consoles are delivered under separate agreements.

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For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019 the sources of revenue2021 were as follows (in thousands):



2021

2020

2019

Domestic hospitals

$

150,301

$

137,810

$

144,538

International hospitals

106,639

80,524

85,241

International distributors

41,046

34,429

40,427

CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy

850

464

6,016

Total sources of revenue

$

298,836

$

253,227

$

276,222

202320222021
North America187,603 167,542 157,881 
EMEA114,814 104,119 109,081 
APAC33,577 27,973 21,696 
LATAM18,010 14,155 10,178 
Total revenue$354,004 $313,789 $298,836 

CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy business abandonment:
In February 2023 our supplier of CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy handpieces informed us that it was exiting the business and will no longer be supplying handpieces effective immediately because the sole-source manufacturer of tubing used in the handpiece assembly had gone out of business and a new supplier had yet to be identified and qualified. We evaluated the impact of this disruption on our CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy business and possible avenues for resumption of supply including the evaluation of alternate suppliers and handpiece manufacturers. As of June 30, 2023 we were unable to identify an alternative source of supply or handpiece manufacturer and do not foresee a resumption of this business in the future. As a result, we wrote-off all of our CardioGenesis cardiac laser therapy assets and recorded an expense of $390,000 during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 on our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
Also see segment and geographic disclosure in Note 1816 below.

15.

14. Stock Compensation

Overview

We are currently authorized to grant and have available for grant the following number of shares under our stock plans as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020:

2022:

Authorized

Available for Grant

Authorized
Shares
Authorized
Shares
Available for Grant

Plan

Shares

2021

2020

Plan20232022

1996 Discounted Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended

1,900,000

63,000

150,000

2009 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan

7,570,000

--

52,000

2020 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan

4,105,000

3,310,000

4,094,000

Total

13,575,000

3,373,000

4,296,000

During 2020 the Shareholders approved a new 2020 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan (“ECIP”) and funded it with 2.7 million of newly issuable shares. On August 11, 2020 4.1 million shares were registered under the 2020 ECIP, consisting of the newly issuable shares as well as 1.4 million of the shares that remained available for grant under the 2009 ECIP as of that date.

During 2019 On May 16, 2023 the Company amended the 2009 Equity and Cash Incentive PlanShareholders approved additional 3.0 million shares to increase the authorized sharesbe registered under the plan by 1.9 million shares. Upon the exercise of stock options or grants of RSAs, RSUs, or PSUs, we may issue the required shares out of authorized but unissued common stock or out of treasury stock, at our discretion.

2020 ECIP.

Stock Awards

In 20212023 the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors (the “Committee”) authorized awards from approved stock incentive plans of RSAs to non-employee directors and RSUs and PSUs to certain employees and Company officers, which, counting PSUs at target levels, together totaled 681,000 shares and had an aggregate grant date market value of $9.7 million. Two types of PSUs were granted in 2023, an annual grant with a one-year performance period (“Annual PSU”) and an LTIP PSU grant (the “2023 LTIP PSU”) with a one-year performance period. If the highest performance threshold was met, the Annual PSU granted in 2023 represented the right to receive up to 150% of the target number of shares of common stock. The performance component of the Annual PSU granted in 2023 was based on attaining specified levels of revenue growth and specified levels of EBITDA, as defined in the PSU grant documents, for the 2023 calendar year. The Annual PSU granted in 2023 earned approximately 148% of the target number of shares. If the highest performance threshold was met, the 2023 LTIP PSU grant represented a right to receive up to 200% of the target number of shares of common stock. The 2023 LTIP PSU grant earned approximately 200% of target number of shares.
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During 2019 the Committee authorized, and we granted, an LTIP PSU (the “Original LTIP”), which has multiple performance periods over a five-year period. If the highest performance thresholds were met, the Original LTIP represents the right to receive up to 288%, and up to 192% for a certain key executive, of the target number of shares of common stock. The performance component of the Original LTIP was based on attaining specified levels of adjusted revenue growth and gross margin, as defined in the Original LTIP grant document, for the years 2019 through 2023. During 2020 we determined that the threshold performance under the first performance period (2019 through 2021) of the Original LTIP was unlikely to be achieved which resulted in a reversal of $1.9 million in expense in the fourth quarter of 2020. During 2022 the second performance period of the Original LTIP earned approximately 136% and 108% to a certain key executive of target number of shares of common stock. During 2023 the third performance period of the Original LTIP earned approximately 213% and 142% to a certain key executive of target number of shares of common stock.
In 2022 the Committee authorized awards from approved stock incentive plans of RSAs to non-employee Directors and RSUs and PSUs to certain employees and Company officers, which, counting PSUs at target levels, together totaled 871,000 shares and had an aggregate grant date market value of $13.5 million. Two types of PSUs were granted in 2022, an annual grant with a one-year performance period and an LTIP PSU grant (the “2022 LTIP PSU”) with a one-year performance period. If the highest performance threshold was met, the Annual PSU granted in 2022 represented the right to receive up to 150% of the target number of shares of common stock. The performance component of the Annual PSU granted in 2022 was based on attaining specified levels of revenue growth and specified levels of EBITDA, as defined in the PSU grant documents, for the 2022 calendar year. The Annual PSU granted in 2022 earned approximately 51% of the target number of shares and subsequently modified on February 13, 2023 to earn approximately 89% of the target number of shares. If the highest performance threshold was met, the 2022 LITP PSU grant represented a right to receive up to 200% of the target number of shares of common stock. The 2022 LTIP PSU grant earned approximately 140% of target number of shares.
In 2021 the Committee authorized awards from approved stock incentive plans of RSUs to certain employees, RSAs to non-employee Directors, and RSAs and PSUs to certain Company officers, which, counting PSUs at target levels, together totaled 500,000 shares and had an aggregate grant date market value of $12.6 million. NaNTwo types of PSUs were granted in 2021, an annual grant with a one year performance period (“Annual PSU”)PSU and a special LTIP PSU award (“special(the “2021 LTIP PSU”), each with a one year-year performance period. If the highest performance threshold iswas met, the Annual PSU granted in 2021 represented the right to receive up to 150% of the target number of shares of common stock. The performance component of the Annual PSU awards granted in 2021 iswas based on attaining specified levels of revenue growth and certain non-financial metrics, as defined in the PSU grant documents, for the 2021 calendar year. The Annual PSUsPSU granted in 2021 earned approximately 102%110% of the target number of shares. If the highest performance threshold iswas met, the Special PSUs granted2021 LTIP PSU grant in 2021 representrepresented a right to receive up to 200% of the target number of shares of common stock. The special PSUs granted in 2021 LTIP PSU grant earned approximately 118% of target number of shares.

In 2020 the Committee authorized awards from approved stock incentive plans of RSUs to certain employees, RSAs to non-employee Directors, and RSAs and PSUs to certain Company officers, which, counting PSUs at target levels, together totaled 335,000 shares and had an aggregate grant date market value of $8.3 million. If the highest performance threshold is met, the PSU granted in 2020 represented the right to receive up to 150% of the target number of shares of common stock. The performance component of the PSU awards granted in 2020 was based on attaining specified levels of EBITDA, as defined in the PSU grant documents, for the 2020 calendar year. Our actual 2020 EBITDA performance was below the threshold required for any payouts under the 2020 PSU plan which resulted in a $1.1 million reversal of expense in the fourth quarter of 2020. In February 2021 the Committee used structured discretion to determine that the 2020 PSUs were earned and should be paid out at 100% of target resulting in a modification of the award which resulted in $1.3 million of compensation expense during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 related to these performance awards. This modification resulted in a forfeiture and a subsequent grant of 70,000 PSU shares during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021.

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In 2019 the Committee authorized awards from approved stock incentive plans of RSAs to non-employee Directors, RSUs to certain employees, and RSAs and PSUs to certain Company officers, which, counting PSUs at target levels, together totaled 507,000 shares and had an aggregate grant date market value of $15.0 million. NaN types of PSUs were granted in 2019, Annual PSUs and a special LTIP PSU grant, which has multiple performance periods over a five-year period. If the highest performance threshold is met, the Annual PSU granted in 2019 represents the right to receive up to 150% of the target number of shares of common stock. The performance component of the Annual PSU awards granted in 2019 was based on attaining specified levels of EBITDA, as defined in the Annual PSU grant documents, for the 2019 calendar year. The Annual PSU granted in 2019 earned approximately 83% of the target number of shares. If the highest performance thresholds are met, the PSUs granted in 2019 under the LTIP represent the right to receive up to 288%, and up to 192% for a certain key executive, of the target number of shares of common stock. The performance component of the LTIP awards granted in 2019 was based on attaining specified levels of adjusted revenue growth and gross margin, as defined in the LTIP grant document, for the years 2019 through 2023. During 2020 we determined that the threshold performance under the first performance period (2019 through 2021) of the LTIP was unlikely to be achieved which resulted in a reversal of $1.9 million in expense in the fourth quarter of 2020.

A summary of stock grant activity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 20192021 for RSAs, RSUs, and PSUs, based on the target number of shares, iswas as follows:

Weighted

Average

Grant Date

RSAs

Shares

Fair Value

Unvested at December 31, 2018

326,000

$

17.19

Granted

93,000

29.77

Vested

(149,000)

14.45

Forfeited

(27,000)

20.53

Unvested at December 31, 2019

243,000

23.30

Granted

123,000

24.70

Vested

(108,000)

20.66

Unvested at December 31, 2020

258,000

25.08

Granted

140,000

25.68

Vested

(130,000)

22.40

Forfeited

(33,000)

27.39

Unvested at December 31, 2021

235,000

26.59

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Aggregate

Contractual

Intrinsic

RSUs

Shares

Term in years

Value

Unvested at December 31, 2018

251,000

1.05

$

7,123,000

Granted

103,000

Vested

(101,000)

Forfeited

(27,000)

Unvested at December 31, 2019

226,000

0.93

6,131,000

Granted

141,000

Vested

(118,000)

Forfeited

(37,000)

RSAsRSAsSharesWeighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Unvested at December 31, 2020

212,000

1.02

5,015,000

Granted

144,000

Vested

(93,000)

Forfeited

(39,000)

Unvested at December 31, 2021

224,000

0.94

4,558,000

Granted
Vested

Vested and expected to vest

224,000

0.94

$

4,558,000

Unvested at December 31, 2022
Unvested at December 31, 2022
Unvested at December 31, 2022
Granted
Vested
Forfeited
Unvested at December 31, 2023

RSUsSharesWeighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term in years
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Unvested at December 31, 2020212,000 1.02$5,015,000 
Granted144,000 
Vested(93,000)
Forfeited(39,000)
Unvested at December 31, 2021224,000 0.944,558,000 
Granted643,000 
Vested(100,000)
Forfeited(33,000)
Unvested at December 31, 2022734,000 2.028,895,000 
Granted327,000 
Vested(125,000)
Forfeited(57,000)
Unvested at December 31, 2023879,000 1.4115,711,000 
Vested and expected to vest879,000 1.41$15,711,000 

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PSUsSharesWeighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term in years
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Unvested at December 31, 2020331,000 1.64$7,805,000 
Granted215,000 
Vested(60,000)
Forfeited(114,000)
Unvested at December 31, 2021372,000 0.907,579,000 
Granted182,000 
Vested(117,000)
Forfeited(97,000)
Unvested at December 31, 2022340,000 0.674,121,000 
Granted308,000 
Vested(213,000)
Forfeited(169,000)
Unvested at December 31, 2023266,000 0.544,749,000 
 
Vested and expected to vest266,000 0.54$4,749,000 

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Aggregate

Contractual

Intrinsic

PSUs

Shares

Term in years

Value

Unvested at December 31, 2018

147,000

0.72

$

4,179,000

Granted

322,000

Vested

(87,000)

Forfeited

(35,000)

Unvested at December 31, 2019

347,000

2.33

9,400,000

Granted

70,000

Vested

(55,000)

Forfeited

(31,000)

Unvested at December 31, 2020

331,000

1.64

7,805,000

Granted

215,000

Vested

(60,000)

Forfeited

(114,000)

Unvested at December 31, 2021

372,000

0.90

7,579,000

Vested and expected to vest

372,000

0.90

$

7,579,000

During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 20192021 the total fair value of $7.3$6.4 million, $6.7$5.8 million, and $9.8$7.3 million, respectively, in combined RSAs, RSUs, and PSUs vested.

Stock Options

The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors authorized grants of stock options from approved stock incentive plans to certain Company officers and employees totaling 226,000, 212,000,110,000, 1,031,000, and 169,000226,000 shares in 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively, with exercise prices equal to the stock prices on the respective grant dates.
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A summary of our stock option activity for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 2020, and 2019 iswas as follows:

Weighted

Average

Weighted

Remaining

Aggregate

Average

Contractual

Intrinsic

Shares

Exercise Price

Term in years

Value

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

1,333,000

$

13.04

3.93

$

20,439,000

Granted

169,000

29.62

Exercised

(334,000)

9.87

Forfeited

(39,000)

22.64

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

1,129,000

16.14

3.67

12,763,000

Granted

212,000

26.24

Exercised

(88,000)

10.49

Forfeited

(12,000)

27.36

Outstanding at December 31, 2020

1,241,000

18.16

3.38

8,215,000

Granted

226,000

24.90

Exercised

(179,000)

12.02

Forfeited

(42,000)

26.00

Outstanding at December 31, 2021

1,246,000

20.00

3.20

4,038,931

Vested and expected to vest

1,246,000

$

20.00

3.20

$

4,038,931

Exercisable at December 31, 2021

873,000

$

17.48

2.19

$

4,038,931

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SharesWeighted
Average
Exercise Price
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term in years
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding at December 31, 20201,241,000 $18.16 3.38$8,215,000 
Granted226,000 24.90 
Exercised(179,000)12.02 
Forfeited(42,000)26.00 
Outstanding at December 31, 20211,246,000 20.00 3.204,039,000 
Granted1,031,000 13.29 
Exercised(151,000)11.85 
Forfeited(3,000)21.55 
Outstanding at December 31, 20222,123,000 17.31 4.561,150,000 
Granted110,000 17.54 
Exercised(226,000)11.05 
Forfeited(93,000)12.59 
Expired(36,000)25.55 
Outstanding at December 31, 20231,878,000 18.16 4.124,678,000 
Vested and expected to vest1,878,000 $18.16 4.12$4,678,000 
Exercisable at December 31, 20231,080,000 $20.59 3.03$1,714,000 

Other information concerning stock options for the years ended December 31 iswas as follows:

2021

2020

2019

2023202320222021

Weighted-average fair value of options granted

$

8.82

$

8.64

$

11.47

Intrinsic value of options exercised

2,716,000

1,267,000

6,519,000

Employees purchased common stock totaling 87,000, 83,000,141,000, 95,000, and 61,00087,000 shares in 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively, through our ESPP.

Stock Compensation Expense

The following weighted-averageweighted-average assumptions were used to determine the fair value of options:

2021

2020

2019

Stock

ESPP

Stock

ESPP

Stock

ESPP

Options

Options

Options

Options

Options

Options

2023202320222021
Stock
Options
Stock
Options
ESPP
Options
Stock
Options
ESPP
Options
Stock
Options
ESPP
Options

Expected life of options

5.00 Years

0.50 Years

5.00 Years

0.50 Years

5.00 Years

0.50 Years

Expected life of options5.00 Years0.50 Years5.00 Years0.50 Years5.00 Years0.50 Years

Expected stock price volatility

0.40

0.45

0.35

0.52

0.40

0.39

Expected stock price volatility0.450.570.400.400.45

Risk-free interest rate

0.57%

0.07%

1.41%

1.00%

2.54%

2.35%

Risk-free interest rate4.11%5.03%3.58%1.34%0.57%0.07%

The following table summarizes stock compensation expense (in thousands):
202320222021
RSA, RSU, and PSU expense$11,875 $10,351 $9,023 
Stock option and ESPP option expense3,271 2,591 2,254 
Total stock compensation expense$15,146 $12,942 $11,277 
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2021

2020

2019

RSA, RSU, and PSU expense

$

9,023

$

5,288

$

7,451

Stock option and ESPP option expense

2,254

2,216

1,960

Total stock compensation expense

$

11,277

$

7,504

$

9,411

Included in the total stock compensation expense, as applicable in each period, were expenses related to RSAs, RSUs, PSUs, and stock options issued in each respective year, as well as those issued in prior periods that continue to vest during the period, and compensation related to our ESPP. These amounts were recorded as stock compensation expense and were subject to our normal allocation of expenses to inventory costs and deferred preservation costs. We capitalized $566,000, $592,000,$724,000, $598,000, and $612,000$566,000 in the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively, of the stock compensation expense into our inventory costs and deferred preservation costs.

As of December 31, 20212023 we had total unrecognized compensation expense of $9.1 million related to RSAs, RSUs, and PSUs and $2.0$3.1 million related to unvested stock options. As of December 31, 20212023 this expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.641.66 years for RSUs, 1.571.55 years for stock options, 1.230.51 years for RSAs,PSUs, and 0.900.30 years for PSUs.


RSAs.

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16. (Loss) Income15. Loss Per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted (loss) incomeloss per common share (in thousands, except per share data):
Basic loss per common share202320222021
Net loss$(30,690)$(19,192)$(14,834)
Net loss allocated to participating securities123 98 94 
Net loss allocated to common shareholders$(30,567)$(19,094)$(14,740)
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding40,743 40,032 38,983 
Basic loss per common share$(0.75)$(0.48)$(0.38)
Diluted loss per common share202320222021
Net loss$(30,690)$(19,192)$(14,834)
Net loss allocated to participating securities123 98 94 
Net loss allocated to common shareholders$(30,567)$(19,094)$(14,740)
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding40,743 40,032 38,983 
Diluted loss per common share$(0.75)$(0.48)$(0.38)

Basic (loss) income per common share

2021

2020

2019

Net (loss) income

$

(14,834)

$

(16,682)

$

1,720

Net loss (income) allocated to participating securities

94

111

(12)

Net (loss) income allocated to common shareholders

$

(14,740)

$

(16,571)

$

1,708

Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding

38,983

37,861

37,118

Basic (loss) income per common share

$

(0.38)

$

(0.44)

$

0.05

Diluted (loss) income per common share

2021

2020

2019

Net (loss) income

$

(14,834)

$

(16,682)

$

1,720

Net loss (income) allocated to participating securities

94

111

(12)

Net (loss) income allocated to common shareholders

$

(14,740)

$

(16,571)

$

1,708

Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding

38,983

37,861

37,118

Effect of dilutive options and awardsa

-

-

742

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding

38,983

37,861

37,860

Diluted (loss) income per common share

$

(0.38)

$

(0.44)

$

0.05

_____________________

a    We excluded stock options from the calculation of diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding if the per share value, including the sum of (i) the exercise price of the options and (ii) the amount of the compensation cost attributed to future services and not yet recognized, was greater than the average market price of the shares because the inclusion of these stock options would be antidilutive to (loss) incomeloss per common share. For the yearyears ended December 31, 20212023, 2022, and 20202021 all stock options and awards were excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding as these would be antidilutive to the net loss. For the year ended December 31, 2019 stock options to purchase 131,000 shares were excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding.

17. Transactions with Related Parties

A member of our Board of Directors and a shareholder of the Company, who joined our Board of Directors during 2018, is the CEO of a hospital that generated product and preservation services revenues of $222,000, $378,000, and $341,000 in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

18.

16. Segment and Geographic Information

We have 2two reportable segments organized according to our products and services: Medical devicesDevices and Preservation services.Services. The Medical devicesDevices segment includes external revenues from product sales of aortic stents and stent grafts, On-X, surgical sealants, On-X, and other product revenues. Aortic stents and stent grafts include JOTEC,aortic arch stent grafts, abdominal stent grafts, and synthetic vascular grafts. Aortic arch stent grafts include our E-vita Open NEO, E-vita Open Plus, AMDS, the NEXUS Products, and NEXUS product revenues.E-vita Thoracic 3G. Abdominal stent grafts include our E-xtra Design Engineering, E-nside, E-tegra, E-ventus BX, and E-liac products. Surgical sealants include BioGlue Surgical Adhesive product revenues.products. The Preservation Services segment includes external services revenues from the preservation of cardiac and vascular tissues. There are 0no intersegment revenues.

The primary measure of segment performance, as viewed by our management, is segment gross margin or net external revenues less cost of products and preservation services. We do not segregate assets by segment; therefore, asset information is excluded from the segment disclosures below.

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The following table summarizes revenues, cost of products and preservation services, and gross margins for our reportable segments (in thousands):

2021

2020

2019

202320222021

Revenues:

Medical devices
Medical devices

Medical devices

$

221,597

$

179,299

$

197,246

Preservation services

77,239

73,928

78,976

Total revenues

298,836

253,227

276,222

Cost of products and preservation services:

Cost of products and preservation services:
Cost of products and preservation services:
Medical devices
Medical devices

Medical devices

65,196

50,128

55,022

Preservation services

36,126

35,315

38,187

Total cost of products and preservation services

101,322

85,443

93,209

Gross margin:

Gross margin:
Gross margin:
Medical devices
Medical devices

Medical devices

156,401

129,171

142,224

Preservation services

41,113

38,613

40,789

Total gross margin

$

197,514

$

167,784

$

183,013

Net revenues by product for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 20192021 were as follows (in thousands):

2021

2020

2019

2023202320222021

Products:

Aortic stents and stent grafts

$

85,387

$

61,663

$

64,974

Aortic stent grafts
Aortic stent grafts
Aortic stent grafts
On-X

Surgical sealants

70,714

62,068

68,611

On-X

57,363

48,053

50,096

Other

8,133

7,515

13,565

Total products

221,597

179,299

197,246

Preservation services:

77,239

73,928

78,976

Preservation services:
Preservation services:

Total revenues

$

298,836

$

253,227

$

276,222

Net revenues by geographic location attributed to countries based on the location of the customer for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 20192021 were as follows (in thousands):

202320222021
US$179,485 $161,113 $151,151 
International174,519 152,676 147,685 
Total revenues$354,004 $313,789 $298,836 

2021

2020

2019

US

$

151,151

$

138,274

$

150,553

International

147,685

114,953

125,669

Total revenues

$

298,836

$

253,227

$

276,222

For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, revenuesRevenues attributed to customers in Germany accounted for 10%8% of total revenues.revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023, 9% for the year ended

December 31, 2022, and 10% for the year ended December 31, 2021

.

At December 31, 20212023 and 2020 45%2022 $17.5 million and 54%$18.0 million of our long-livedlong-lived assets were held in the US, respectively, where the corporate headquarters and a portion of our manufacturing facilities are located. Our long-lived international assets were $20.6$20.9 million and $15.1$20.7 million as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively, of which 97% were located in Hechingen, Germany. At December 31, 20212023 and 2020, $250.02022 $247.3 million and $260.1$243.6 million, respectively, of our goodwill was allocated entirely to our Medical Devices segment.


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17. Subsequent Events

Debt Refinancing
On January 18, 2024 we entered into a credit and guaranty agreement with Ares Management Credit funds for $350.0 million of senior secured, interest-only, credit facilities, consisting of a $190.0 million term loan facility (the “Initial Term Loan Facility”), a $100.0 million delayed draw term loan facility (the “Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility” and, together with the Initial Term Loan Facility, the “Term Loan Facilities”) and a $60.0 million “senior-priority” revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facilities, the “Credit Facilities”) which has a priority claim ahead of the other secured facilities. The final scheduled maturity date of the Credit Facilities is January 18, 2030. There are no scheduled repayments of principal required to be made prior to the final maturity date. The Credit Facilities are secured by a security interest in substantially all existing and after-acquired real and personal property (subject to certain exceptions and exclusions) of us and the Guarantors.
Upon closing, we borrowed $190.0 million under the Initial Term Loan Facility and $30.0 million under the Revolving Credit Facility. The proceeds of the initial borrowings were used along with cash on hand to pay off our existing debt related to our Credit Agreement and related fees and expenses. The $30.0 million of undrawn availability under the Revolving Credit Facility may be drawn for working capital, capital expenditures, and other general corporate purposes. The proceeds of borrowings under the Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility may be used solely to repurchase or repay our outstanding 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due July 1, 2025 and to pay related fees and expenses. Subject to the satisfaction of a specified maximum total net leverage ratio and other customary conditions, we may borrow under the Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility at any time and from time to time on or prior to the maturity date of the convertible bonds on July 1, 2025. Loans borrowed under the Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility have the same terms as the loans under the Initial Term Loan Facility.
The Credit Facilities contain certain customary affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants that limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things, grant liens, incur debt, dispose of assets, make loans and investments, make acquisitions, make certain restricted payments (including cash dividends), merge or consolidate, change business or accounting or reporting practices, in each case subject to customary exceptions for a credit facility of this size and type. The covenants include a financial maintenance that requires the company’s total net leverage ratio, as defined in the agreement, to be not greater than 6.25x for the test periods from the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 through the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024 and not greater than 5.75x from the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 and thereafter.
The Revolving Credit Facilities bear interest, at our option, at a floating annual rate equal to either the base rate, plus a margin of 3.0%, or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, plus a margin of 4.0%. The Term Loan Facilities initially bear interest, at our option, at a floating annual rate equal to either the base rate plus a margin of 5.5%, or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate plus a margin of 6.5%. If, after the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 the company reports Total Net Leverage, as defined in the credit facilities, of less than 3.75x the interest margins applicable to the Term Loan Facilities will be reduced by 25 basis points, to 5.25% and 6.25%, for base rate and Adjusted Term SOFR loans, respectively.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (“Disclosure Controls”) as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These Disclosure Controls are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
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Our management, including our President and CEO and our CFO and Executive Vice President, of Finance Chief Operating Officer, and CFO, do not expect that its Disclosure Controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Due to the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-makingdecision-making can be faulty, and that breakdown can occur because of simple error or mistake. Our Disclosure Controls have been designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

Our management utilizes the criteria set forth in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission to evaluate the effectiveness of its Disclosure Controls over financial reporting. Based upon the most recent Disclosure Controls evaluation conducted by management with the participation of the CEO and CFO, as of December 31, 2021,2023, the CEO and CFO have concluded that our Disclosure Controls were effective at the reasonable assurance level to satisfy their objectives and to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in our periodic reports is accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

The report called for by Item 308(a) of Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference to “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting under Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404”Reporting” on page 5956 of this report.

The attestation report called for by Item 308(b) of Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference to “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” on page 6057 of this report.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s general guidance permits the exclusion of an assessment of the effectiveness of a registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as they relate to its internal control over financial reporting for an acquired business during the first year following such acquisition if, among other circumstances and factors, there is not adequate time between the acquisition date and the date of assessment.

During the quarter ended December 31, 20212023 there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information.
On December 14, 2023 Andrew Green, our Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, adopted a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement, pursuant to which he may sell up to 5,456 shares of the Company's common stock. The trading arrangement is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act. The duration of the trading arrangement is from March 14, 2024 to June 14, 2024.

None.

No other directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act) adopted or terminated the contracts, instructions or written plans for the purchase or sale of the Company’s securities during the quarter ended December 31, 2023.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdiction that Prevent Inspections.

None.


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PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance.

The response to Item 10 is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be set forth in the definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2021,2023, with the exception of information concerning executive officers listed below.

The following table lists the executive officers of Artivion as of December 31, 20212023 and their ages, positions with Artivion, and the dates from which they have continually served as executive officers with Artivion. Each of the executive officers of Artivion was elected by the Board of Directors to serve until the Board of Directors’ meeting immediately following the next annual meeting of shareholders or until his or her earlier removal by the Board of Directors or his or her resignation.

Name

Service as
Executive

Age

Position

Name

Service as
Executive

Age

Position

J. Patrick Mackin

Since 2014

5557

Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer

F. Peter BartholdLance A. Berry, CPA

Since 20202023

5751

Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, Research and DevelopmentFinance

John E. Davis

Since 2015

5759

Senior Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing

Matthew A. Getz

Since 2019

5355

Vice President, Human Resources

Andrew M. Green

Since 2021

5355

Vice President, Regulatory Affairs

Jean F. Holloway, Esq.

Since 2015

6466

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary

Amy D. Horton, CPA

Since 2006

5153

Vice President, and Chief Accounting Officer

D. Ashley Lee, CPA

Since 2000

57

Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and

Chief Financial Officer

Dennis B. Maier

Since 2017

48

Vice President, Operations

Rochelle L. Maney

Since 2021

4647

Vice President, Global Quality Assurance

Marshall S. Stanton, M.D.

Since 2021

6567

Senior Vice President, Clinical Research and Chief Medical Officer

Robert C. ThomsonSince 202354Vice President, Research and Development
Florian TyrsSince 202342Vice President, Global Operations

J. Patrick Mackin assumed the position of President and Chief Executive Officer in September 2014, was appointed to the Board of Directors in October 2014 and was appointed Chairman in May 2015. Mr. Mackin has more than 2030 years of experience in the medical device industry. Prior to joining Artivion, Mr. Mackin served as President of Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management, the then largest operating division of Medtronic, Inc. At Medtronic, he previously held the positions of Vice President, Vascular, Western Europe and Vice President and General Manager, Endovascular Business Unit. Prior to joining Medtronic in 2002, Mr. Mackin worked for six years at Genzyme, Inc. serving as Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Cardiovascular Surgery Business Unit and as Director of Sales, Surgical Products division. Before joining Genzyme, Mr. Mackin spent four years at Deknatel/Snowden-Pencer, Inc. in various roles and three years as a First Lieutenant in the US Army. Mr. Mackin received an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and is a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point.

F. Peter Barthold Lance A. Berry, CPAwas appointed to the position of commenced service as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Finance of Research and Development in July 2020. Mr. Barthold has more than 20 years of experience in development, manufacturing, and commercialization of vascular implants.Artivion on December 4, 2023. Prior to this position, hethat, Mr. Berry served as a Directorthe Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Operations Officer of Research and DevelopmentWright Medical Group N.V., from January 2018. Over his 20 years of experience with JOTEC GmbH2019 until November 2020, when Wright was acquired by Stryker NV. Before becoming Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Mr. Berry served in Hechingen, Germany,the following roles at Wright Medical: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (2009-2018) and Vice President, Corporate Controller (2002-2009). Mr. Barthold servedBerry was employed as a DirectorCertified Public Accountant with Arthur Anderson from 1995 to 2002. Mr. Berry currently serves on the Boards of Researchtwo public companies, Treace Medical Concepts (NASDAQ: TCMI) and Development from 2007 to 2017, as well as a number of other leadership positions. Prior to joining JOTEC, he worked as a project manager at MAFO AGVapotherm (NYSE: VAPO). Mr. Berry received both his Masters and was a research associate at the Institute for Applied ResearchBachelor’s in Reutlingen, Germany. Mr. Barthold holds a graduate engineering degree in Chemistry of Synthetic MaterialsAccounting from the Reutlingen University Reutlingen, Germany in 1993.of Mississippi.


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John E. Davis was appointed to the position of Senior Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing in September 2015. He has over 25 years of experience in Sales and Marketing and Executive Leadership. Prior to joining Artivion, he served as Executive Vice President, ofGlobal Sales and Marketing at CorMatrix, a privately held medical device company creating innovative biomaterial devices to repair damaged heart tissue from March 2012 to September 2015. Prior to CorMatrix, he served for four years as a Vice President of Sales in the Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices business at St. Jude Medical, now part of Abbott Laboratories.Laboratories. Before St. Jude Medical, he served for 14 years with Medtronic in the Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management division in senior sales leadership roles. including 7 years as Vice President Southeast. In his early career he servedheld sales and leadership roles with Roche Diagnostics and Ciba-Geigy Corporation. Mr. Davis received a Bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina University.

Matthew A. Getz was appointed to the position of Vice President, Human Resources in August 2019. Mr. Getz brings more than 25 years of human resources leadership experience in media, banking, and technology industries, and oversees the company’s global human resources practice and strategy. Prior to joining Artivion, he served as the Chief Human Resources Officer of Encompass Digital Media and has held senior human resources roles at SunTrust Bank, Xiocom Wireless, Earthlink and BlessingWhite. Mr. Getz holds an MBA with a concentration in organizational management and international business from Georgia State University and a BBA in accounting from Mercer University.

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Andrew M. Green was appointed to the position of Vice President, Regulatory affairs in March 2021. Mr. Green has 28more than 30 years of regulatory, clinical, quality, and business experience in the medical device and biologics industry. More specifically, he spent two 2.53 years at the FDA as a scientific reviewer in the cardiovascular devices branch, almost 10 years at Novoste Corporation as the Vice President of Regulatory, Clinical, and Quality, and five years providing regulatory, clinical, and quality consulting services to medical device companies. Mr. Green also has broad business experience, having served as the President and COO of CorMatrix Cardiovascular for several years before ultimately serving as its CEO. After the acquisition of the CorMatrix assets by Aziyo Biologics, Mr. Green continued with Aziyo in several roles, including as the Executive Vice President of Regulatory and Medical Affairs. He started his career serving as a combat medic in the US Army and Army Reserves. Mr. Green has a Bachelor in Biological Sciences and a MastersMaster's in Bioengineering, both from Clemson University.

Jean F. Holloway, Esq. was appointed to the position of Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Secretary in January 2016. She previously served as Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary beginning in April 2015 and was subsequently appointed to the additional position of Chief Compliance Officer in October 2015. Prior to joining Artivion, she held various positions, including Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Bard, Deputy General Counsel, Medtronic, Inc., Vice President, Litigation, Boston Scientific, Inc., and Deputy General Counsel, Guidant Corporation. Ms. Holloway also spent nearly 15 years in private practice as a trial lawyer at Dorsey & Whitney, Faegre & Benson and Sidley & Austin. She clerked for two years on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals for the Honorable Luther M. Swygert. Ms. Holloway has a JD/MBA from the University of Chicago and two undergraduate degrees from Yale University in engineering and political science.

Amy D. Horton, CPA was appointed to the position of Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer in January 2016 and had previously served as Chief Accounting Officer of Artivion since 2006. Ms. Horton has been with the Company since January 1998, serving as Controller from April 2000 to August 2006, and as Assistant Controller prior to that. From 1993 to 1998, Ms. Horton was employed as a Certified Public Accountant with Ernst & Young, LLP. She received her BSBachelor's and Master’s degrees in Accounting from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

D. Ashley Lee, CPA has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer since November 2004. Mr. Lee has been with Artivion since December 1994 serving as Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer from December 2002 to November 2004; as Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer from April 2000 to December 2002; and as Controller Artivion from December 1994 until April 2000. From 1993 to 1994, Mr. Lee served as the Assistant Director of Finance for Compass Retail, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Equitable Real Estate. From 1987 to 1993, Mr. Lee was employed as a Certified Public Accountant with Ernst & Young, LLP. Mr. Lee received his BS in Accounting from the University of Mississippi.

Dennis B. Maier was appointed to the position of Vice President, Operations in July 2017. Mr. Maier has more than 15 years in the medical device industry. Prior to joining Artivion, he served as the Senior Director of Baxter Healthcare’s direct material global purchasing and supplier management team. He also served as Vice President of Global Sourcing for Hill-Rom. Prior to that, he spent five years with Medtronic leading several Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management (CRDM) manufacturing operations, as well as serving as Director of CRDM Global Commodity management. Mr. Maier also spent eight years with Abbott Vascular and Boston Scientific (both former Guidant Corporation businesses) in a variety of leadership roles. Prior to entering the medical device industry, Mr. Maier worked briefly for Ford Motor Company and served six years as an officer in the U.S Army. He received an MBA from the Krannert Graduate School of Management at Purdue University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the US Military Academy at West Point.

Rochelle L. Maney was appointed to the position of Vice President, Global Quality in March of 2021. She has over 20 years of experience in the medical device and tissue industries and has been with the companyCompany since 2000 serving in multiple leadership roles, most recently as Vice President, Quality for the Kennesaw, Georgia manufacturing facility. She is the lead executive for Quality in strategy, diligence, and acquisitions and is responsible for all quality functions at the Company’s three manufacturing facilities in Georgia, Texas, and Hechingen, Germany. Ms. Maney is a member of the American Society of Quality and serves on the Quality Council for the American Association of Tissue Banks. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology degree from Berry College.

Marshall S. Stanton, MD was appointed to the position of Senior Vice President, Clinical Research and Chief Medical Officer in March of 2021. Dr. Stanton has over 20 years of experience in the medical device industry and over 30 years of advancing healthcare. Before joining Artivion, he held various senior management positions at Medtronic including Senior Vice President and President of the Pain Therapies Business Unit, General Manager of the Implantable Defibrillator Business, and leader of the Clinical Research department of the Cardiac and Vascular Group. While there, he served on the leadership team of the Medtronic Women’s Network. Prior to Medtronic, he practiced cardiology for a decade at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Stanton received his MD degree from the Medical College of Virginia and BABachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania.

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Robert C. Thomson, Ph.D. was appointed to the position of Vice President, Research and Development in June of 2023. Dr. Thomson brings more than 27 years of diverse R&D, technology, marketing, and business experience in the medical device industry. During his career at W.L. Gore, he successfully developed and globally commercialized several cardiovascular devices, including combination products. Dr. Thomson served as a senior director leading Peripheral vascular device R&D teams and businesses for several years before transitioning into the development of Aortic therapies. During this period, he held a senior management position leading teams focused on the development of an endovascular product portfolio. Prior to joining Artivion, he most recently led cardiac and vascular R&D and service development teams while also serving on an executive medical device review board. Dr. Thomson has held 2 US patents and has authored 15 peer-reviewed scientific publications. He received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Rice University, where he currently serves as a Bioengineering Advisory Board Member and holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

Florian Tyrs was appointed to the position of Vice President, Global Operations in June 2023. Mr. Tyrs has more than 17 years of experience in the medical device industry. Mr. Tyrs has been with Artivion since March 2006. He has served as General Manager of the Hechingen Site since July 2020. Mr. Tyrs has also served as a Vice President Hechingen Operations from January 2023 to June 2023; as Director Operations from January 2018 to December 2022; as Director Production from May 2011 to December 2017; as Director Facility Management and Manufacturing Engineering from November 2011 to December 2017, as Deputy Director Production from April 2010 to April 2011, as Lean Production Manager from April 2009 to April 2011. From March 2006 to March 2009, Mr. Tyrs was employed as an R&D Engineer for the Endovascular Stentgraft Portfolio of Artivion. Mr. Tyrs holds a Diploma in Pharmaceutical Engineering of the State University of Applied Science in Albstadt-Sigmaringen, Germany.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.

The response to Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be set forth in the definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2021.

2023.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management, and Related Stockholder Matters.

The response to Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be set forth in the definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2021.2023.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

The response to Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be set forth in the definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2021.

2023.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

The response to Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be set forth in the definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2021.


2023.

102


Table of Contents

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)

Financial Statements.

The following are consolidated financial statements of Artivion, Inc. and subsidiaries are filed as part of this report under Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data:

(a)    

1.    Financial Statements.

Consolidated Financial Statements begin on page 6360.

2.Financial Statement Schedules.

All financial statement schedules are omitted, as the required information is immaterial, not applicable, or the information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.

3.Exhibits

The information required by this Item is set forth on the exhibit index that follows the signature page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


103


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

ARTIVION, INC.

By

/s/ J. PATRICK MACKIN

February 22, 2022

23, 2024

By

/s/J. Patrick Mackin

J. Patrick Mackin

President, Chief Executive Officer, and


Chairman of the Board of Directors

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

Title

Date

Signature

Title

Date

/s/J. Patrick MackinPATRICK MACKIN

J. Patrick Mackin

President, Chief Executive Officer, and
Chairman of the Board of Directors

(Principal Executive Officer)

February 22, 2022

23, 2024

J. Patrick Mackin

/s/ LANCE A. BERRYD. Ashley Lee

D. Ashley Lee

Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President,

Chief Operating Officer, and

Chief Financial Officer

Finance

(Principal Financial Officer)

February 22, 2022

23, 2024

Lance A. Berry

/s/Amy AMY D. HortonHORTON

Amy D. Horton

Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer


(Principal Accounting Officer)

February 22, 2022

23, 2024

Amy D. Horton

/s/ THOMAS F. ACKERMANDirectorFebruary 23, 2024
Thomas F. Ackerman

Thomas F. Ackerman

/s/ DANIEL J BEVEVINODirector

February 22, 2022

23, 2024

Daniel J Bevevino

/s/ MARNA P. BORGSTROMDaniel J. Bevevino

Daniel J. Bevevino

Director

February 22, 2022

23, 2024

/s/Marna P. Borgstrom

Marna P. Borgstrom

/s/ JAMES W. BULLOCKDirector

February 22, 2022

23, 2024

/s/James W. Bullock

James W. Bullock

/s/ JEFFREY H. BURBANKDirector

February 22, 2022

23, 2024

/s/Jeffrey H. Burbank

Jeffrey H. Burbank

/s/ ELIZABETH A. HOFFDirector

February 22, 2022

23, 2024

Elizabeth A. Hoff

/s/ JON W. SALVESONHarvey Morgan

Harvey Morgan

Director

February 22, 2022

23, 2024

/s/ Jon W. Salveson

Jon W. Salveson

/s/ ANTHONY B. SEMEDODirector

February 22, 2022

23, 2024

/s/Anthony B. Semedo

Anthony B. Semedo

Director

February 22, 2022


104

104


Exhibit
Number

Description

Exhibit
Number

Description

2.1

2.2

2.3

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

10.110.1†

10.1(a)

10.1(b)

10.1(c)

10.1(d)

10.210.2†

10.2(a)

10.2(b)

10.2(c)

105

105


Exhibit
Number

Description

10.3

10.3(a)†

10.3(b)
10.3(c)

10.3(d)

10.3(e)
10.3(f)*
10.3(g)*
10.3(h)*
10.3(i)*
10.3(j)*
10.4

10.4(a)

First Amendment to the Artivion, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan. (Incorporated herein by referenceExhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy StatementCurrent Report on Form 8-K filed May 20, 2010.2022.)

10.510.5†

10.610.6†*

10.710.7†

10.810.8†

10.910.9†

106

Exhibit
Number
Description

10.1010.10†

10.1110.11†

10.1210.12†

10.1310.13+

10.13(a)+

10.13(b)+
10.13(c)+
10.14

10.14(a)

10.14(b)

10.14(c)

10.14(d)

10.15

10.15(a)

106

107

10.15(c)

10.15(d)++

10.16++

10.16(a)++

10.16(b)++

10.16(c)++

10.16(d)+

10.16(e)+
10.17

10.17(a)

10.18++

10.18(a)++

10.19++

10.20

10.21+

10.21(a)+

108

Exhibit
Number
Description

10.21(b)+

10.21(c)+*
10.22

10.23+

10.23†+*

10.24†+*
10.25†+*
10.26†*
10.27†+*
10.28

10.23(a)+

First Amendment to Clinical Research Agreement, dated October 10, 2019, by and between Artivion, Inc. and Duke University. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23(a) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 23, 2021).

21.1*

23.1*

31.1*

107


97.1*

101.INS*

XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

101.LAB*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File – formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101

__________________________

*Filed herewith.

**Furnished herewith.

†    Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

∞ Indicates that the 2018 form was used in 2019, and 2020, except otherwise indicated.

+ The Registrant has redacted exhibit provisions or terms that are both not material and would likely cause competitive harm to the Registrant if publicly disclosed.

++    The Registrant has been granted confidential treatment for certain portions of this exhibit pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

108

__________________________
*Filed herewith.
**Furnished herewith.
Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
Indicates that the 2018 form was used in 2019, and 2020, except otherwise indicated.
+The Registrant has redacted exhibit provisions or terms that are both not material and would likely cause competitive harm to the Registrant if publicly disclosed.
++The Registrant has been granted confidential treatment for certain portions of this exhibit pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
109