apyx-20231231
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
or
For the transition period from _____ to _____
APYX MEDICAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
5115 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, FL33760
(Address of principal executive offices, zip code)
(727) 384-2323
(Issuer’s telephone number)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each Class Trading Symbol Name of each Exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value APYX Nasdaq Global Select Market
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange 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: oNoý
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: oNoý
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes: ý 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: ý 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 an emerging growth company. See the 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 filer o Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer ý Smaller reporting company ý
Emerging growth company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes: o No ý
The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates and non-voting equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common stock was last sold, or the average bid and asked prices of such common stock as of June 30, 2023, the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $167.9 million.
As of March 19, 2024, 34,643,926 shares of the registrant’s $0.001 par value common stock were outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
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INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
December 31, 2023
Part I Page
Item 1 Business 2
Item 1A Risk Factors 12
Item 1B Unresolved Staff Comments 22
Item 1C Cybersecurity 23
Item 2 Properties 24
Item 3 Legal Proceedings 24
Item 4 Mine Safety Disclosures 24
Part II
Item 6 Reserved 27
Item 7A Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 37
Item 8 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 38
Item 9A Controls and Procedures 69
Item 9B Other Information 69
Item 9C Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections 69
Part III
Item 10 Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 70
Item 11 Executive Compensation Discussion and Analysis 78
Item 14 Principal Accounting Fees and Services 95
Part IV
Item 15 Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 96
Signatures
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Cautionary Notes Regarding “Forward-Looking” Statements
We have included or incorporated by reference into this report, and from time to time may make in our public filings, press releases or other public statements, certain statements that may constitute forward-looking statements. These include without limitation those under “Business” in Part I, Item 1, “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A, “Legal Proceedings” in Part I, Item 3 and “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7. In addition, our management my make forward-looking statements to analysts, investors, representatives of the media and others. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts and represent only our beliefs regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. We may, in some cases, use words such as “project”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “potentially”, “may” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements.
In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are identifying important factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward- looking statements made by us. Any such forward-looking statements are qualified by reference to the following cautionary statements.
Forward-looking statements in this report are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control, including, among other things:
•changes in general economic, business or demographic conditions or trends in the U.S. or throughout the world or changes in the political environment, including changes in GDP, military and trade wars, interest rates, economic recession and inflation;
•our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity, meet current debt covenants, and preserve working capital in order to maintain operations;
•our ability to conclude a sufficient number of attractive growth projects, make investments in amounts consistent with our objectives in the prosecution of those and achieve targeted risk-adjusted returns on any growth project, including the continued commercialization of our Helium Plasma Technology;
•the regulatory environment, including our ability to gain requisite approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and other governmental and regulatory bodies;
•our ability to estimate compliance costs, comply with any changes thereto, rates implemented by regulators, and our relationships and rights under, and contracts with, governmental agencies and authorities;
•disruptions or other extraordinary or force majeure events and the ability to insure against losses resulting from such events or disruptions, including disruptions caused by global pandemics;
•sudden or extreme volatility in commodity prices and availability, including supply chain disruptions;
•changes in competitive dynamics affecting our business and the medical device industry as a whole including potential impact of GLP-1 medications used for weight-loss on the industry;
•technological innovations leading to increased competition in the medical device industry;
•changes in healthcare policy;
•our ability to make alternate arrangements to account for any disruptions or shutdowns that may affect suppliers’ facilities or the operations upon which our business is dependent including technical and mechanical systems;
•continued aggressive EPA state regulation of Ethylene oxide sterilization (EtO) commercial plants resulting in additional plant closures, leading to a reduced availability of our handpieces, which are commercially sterilized;
•our ability to implement operating and internal growth strategies;
•environmental risks, including the impact of climate change and weather conditions;
•the impact of weather events, including potentially hurricanes, tornadoes and/or seasonal extremes;
•unplanned outages and/or failures of technical and mechanical systems;
•existing or potential litigation related to our Helium Plasma Technology and our ability to resolve litigation within insurance limits;
•cybersecurity breaches impacting critical systems or data; and
•work interruptions or other labor stoppages.
Our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. A description of risks that could cause our actual results to differ appears under the caption “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A and elsewhere in this report. It is not possible to predict or identify all risk factors and you should not consider that description to be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ.
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In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking events discussed in this report may not occur. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this report. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should, however, consult further disclosures we may make in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.
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PART I
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ITEM 1. Business
General
Apyx Medical Corporation (“Company”, “Apyx Medical”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) was incorporated in 1982, under the laws of the State of Delaware and has its principal executive office at 5115 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, FL 33760.
We are an advanced energy technology company with a passion for elevating people’s lives through innovative products, including our Helium Plasma Technology products marketed and sold as Renuvion® in the cosmetic surgery market and J-Plasma® in the hospital surgical market. Our primary focus is on the cosmetic surgery market where Renuvion offers plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons and cosmetic physicians a unique ability to provide controlled heat to the tissue to achieve their desired results. We also leverage our deep expertise and decades of experience in unique waveforms through original equipment manufacturing (“OEM”) agreements with other medical device manufacturers.
Recent Business Developments
On March 14, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) posted a Safety Communication that warned consumers and health care providers against the use of our Advanced Energy products outside of their FDA-cleared indications for general use in cutting, coagulation, and ablation of soft tissue during open and laparoscopic surgical procedures. Following the Safety Communication, we experienced reduced demand for the adoption of our Helium Plasma Technology.
On May 26, 2022, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of the Renuvion Dermal handpiece for specific dermal resurfacing procedures. On July 18, 2022, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of the Renuvion APR handpiece for certain skin contraction procedures.
On June 2, 2022 and July 21, 2022, the FDA updated the Medical Device Safety Communication to recognize the new 510(k) clearances for the Renuvion Dermal handpiece, and the expanded indications for the Renuvion APR handpiece. The 510(k) clearance for the Renuvion Dermal handpiece allows surgeons to perform dermal resurfacing procedures for the treatment of moderate to severe wrinkles and rhytides, limited to patients with Fitzpatrick Skin Types I, II or III. The 510(k) clearance for the Renuvion APR handpiece now addresses improving the appearance of lax (loose) skin in the neck and submental region.
On February 27, 2023, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of the Renuvion APR handpiece for the delivery of radiofrequency energy and/or helium plasma where coagulation/contraction of soft tissue is needed. Soft tissue includes subcutaneous tissue.
On April 28, 2023, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of the Renuvion APR handpiece for coagulation of subcutaneous soft tissues following liposuction for aesthetic body contouring.
On May 10, 2023, the FDA updated the Safety Communication to inform consumers and healthcare providers about the clearance for the Renuvion APR handpiece for coagulation of subcutaneous soft tissues following liposuction.
On June 14, 2023, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the Renuvion Micro handpiece, a new addition to the Renuvion production family. The Renuvion Micro handpiece was cleared with an indication for the delivery of radiofrequency energy and/or helium plasma where coagulation/contraction of soft tissue is needed. Soft tissue includes subcutaneous tissue.
While we expected that receiving these clearances would materially mitigate the financial effects of the Safety Communication in future periods, we continue to experience reduced demand for the adoption and utilization of our technology and we believe that this may have an adverse effect in future periods.
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Liquidity
We have incurred recurring net losses and cash outflows from operations and we anticipate that losses will continue in the near term. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we incurred a loss from operations of $17.3 million and used $5.2 million of cash in operations, which is inclusive of the receipt of our tax refund of approximately $8.1 million. As of December 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $43.7 million. We plan to continue to fund our operations and capital funding needs through existing cash, sales of our products and if necessary additional equity and/or debt financing. However, we cannot be certain that additional financing will be available when needed or that, if available, financing will be obtained on terms favorable to us or our existing stockholders. The sale of additional equity would result in dilution to our stockholders. Incurring additional debt financing would result in further debt service obligations, and the instruments governing such debt could provide for operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations. If we are unable to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts or on acceptable terms, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce, or terminate our sales, marketing and product development. Any of these actions could harm our business, results of operations and prospects.
On November 22, 2022, we filed a shelf registration statement providing us the ability to register and sell our securities in the aggregate amount up to $100 million. The shelf registration included an embedded at-the-market (“ATM”) facility for up to $40 million. To date we have not utilized this facility.
On February 17, 2023, we entered into a Credit, Security and Guaranty Agreement (the “MidCap Credit Agreement”) with MidCap Funding IV Trust (as agent), and MidCap Financial Trust (as term loan servicer), and the lenders party thereto from time to time.
The MidCap Credit Agreement provided for an up to $35 million facility, consisting of senior secured term loans and a secured revolving facility. The MidCap Credit Agreement provided for senior secured term loans of up to $25 million, comprised of (i) an initial tranche of $10 million, (ii) a second tranche of $5 million, and (iii) a third tranche of $10 million. The secured revolving facility provided for loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $10 million, subject to a borrowing base equal to certain percentages of the Company’s eligible accounts receivable and inventory, as determined in accordance with the terms of the MidCap Credit Agreement. The MidCap Credit Agreement was extinguished when, on November 8, 2023, we entered into a Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the “Perceptive Credit Agreement”), by and among Apyx Medical (as borrower), Apyx China Holding Corp. and Apyx Bulgaria EOOD, our wholly-owned subsidiaries (as subsidiary guarantors), and Perceptive Credit Holdings IV, LP (as initial lender and administrative agent)(“Perceptive”), and the lenders from time to time party thereto. The Perceptive Credit Agreement provides for a facility of up to $45 million, consisting of senior secured term loans. The Perceptive Credit Agreement provides for (i) an initial loan of $37.5 million and (ii) a delayed draw loan of $7.5 million.
For a more in depth description of the terms of the MidCap Credit Agreement and the Perceptive Credit Agreement, see Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
On February 27, 2023, our Board of Directors approved a plan to sell and leaseback our real property located in Clearwater, FL. On March 14, 2023, we entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with VK Acquisitions VI, LLC (the “Purchaser”), for the sale of our facility located at 5115 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, Florida, as more fully described in the Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Property”) for a purchase price of $7,650,000. On May 8, 2023, the Company closed on the Purchase Agreement and concurrently executed a 10-year agreement to leaseback the underlying Property from the Purchaser.
For a more in depth description of the terms of the Purchase Agreement see Notes 6 and 7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
During January 2023, we were notified that the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) examination process of our 2018, 2019 and 2020 tax returns was complete and that our tax refunds were approved for approximately $0.2 million more than the amount recorded in our Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2022. On August 10, 2023, the Company received $8.1 million from the IRS, which included approximately $0.4 million of interest on the $7.7 million of income tax refunds.
We also continue to reassess our operating expenditures and cost structure to be commensurate with our expected levels of revenue and we have the ability to reduce or delay expenditures to enhance and preserve liquidity.
We continue to focus our efforts to increase the adoption of our Advanced Energy technology and utilization of our handpieces by surgeons in the U.S. and fulfilling demand from distributors in our international markets. Management estimates that our
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products have been sold in more than 60 countries. As of December 31, 2023, we had a direct sales force of 31 field-based selling professionals and utilized 3 independent sales agencies. We also had 4 sales managers. This selling organization, along with our international network of distributors, is focused on the use of Renuvion in the cosmetic surgical markets, supported by our global medical affairs team. This global team of clinical support specialists focuses on supporting our users to ensure optimal outcomes for their patients. In addition, we have invested in training programs and marketing-related activities to support accelerated adoption of Renuvion into surgeons' practices.
We strongly encourage investors to visit our website: www.apyxmedical.com to view the most current news and to review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Significant Subsidiaries
Apyx Bulgaria, EOOD is a wholly owned limited liability company incorporated under Bulgarian law, located in Sofia, Bulgaria. It is engaged in the business of development and manufacturing of our advanced energy generators, as well as the manufacturing of our single-use handpieces and accessories, and development and manufacturing of OEM generators and related accessories. The facility also distributes products directly to customers in certain international markets and provides warranty and repair services.
Joint Venture
In 2019, the Company executed a joint venture agreement with its Chinese supplier whereby the Company has a 51% ownership interest, to establish a presence in the Chinese market for the manufacturing and sale of our Advanced Energy products. As of the date of this report, the joint venture has not commenced its principal operations.
Industry
The cosmetic surgery market is a special segment of the medical field which is involved in the restoration, reconstruction, or alteration of the human body so as to enhance the body’s appearance. The market for cosmetic surgery includes surgical, minimally invasive, and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures. This market is expected to have steady growth year-over-year and this growth is driven by social and cultural factors such as the influence of social media, societal influence for appearance and beauty, and increasing disposable income. According to the recent International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (“ISAPS”) 2022 Global Survey report, liposuction procedures grew 21.1% year-over-year, and continues to be the number one aesthetic surgical procedure globally. Currently, the majority of procedures utilizing our Renuvion technology occur in conjunction with liposuction procedures.
Glucagon-like peptide -1 peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1’s), such as Mounjaro®, Wegov® and Ozempic®, are prescribed for the treatment of diabetes in combination with exercise to improve glycemic control.GLP-1’s have also been found to mimic the GLP-1 satiety hormone in our bodies. When one eats, GLP-1 is released in the small intestines regulating blood sugar and sending signals to the brain centers that control appetite. Studies have shown patients taking GLP-1’s have loss of body weight, Currently, two GLP-1’s are cleared by the FDA for weight loss, but we anticipate a number of additional drug candidates will be cleared as well as, oral versions of these injectable medications.
We believe the increased use of GLP-1’s may have an initial negative impact on the number of liposuction procedures, but in the long term, as these drugs have a ripple effects that will drive people towards plastic surgery, they will provide a tailwind for sales of our Renuvion products. The rapid weight loss from these drugs may cause what is known as “Ozempic Butt” characterized by sagging skin on the butt. Rapid weight loss can contribute to loose skin, particularly in the curvier areas of the body. To address this, the cosmetic surgery market is focusing on body contouring. Body contouring is a customizable treatment for patients to target specific fat deposits, engage in fat transfer, and treatments to address skin laxity. Renuvion is the only FDA approved device for the treatment of this issue post liposuction. Additionally, Renuvion may be used to treat skin laxity without the use of liposuction, potentially increasing the total available market for our products.
We believe that we have sustainable, competitive advantages in the cosmetic surgery market for several reasons: our long history of developing unique energy devices to meet the needs of physicians, our unique Helium Plasma Technology,our outstanding product quality supported by strong engineering and research and development capabilities, and the clinical support that our expanding global medical affairs team provides to our customers. We feel that our products and our strategy as a
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customer-centric aesthetic medical device manufacturer have, and will continue to improve, the lives of doctors and their patients.
Intellectual Property
We rely on our intellectual property that we have developed or acquired over the years including patents, trade secrets, technical innovations and various licensing agreements to provide our future growth and build our competitive position. We have been issued 39 patents in the United States and 46 foreign patents. We have 17 pending patent applications in the United States and 48 pending foreign applications. We have 8 U.S. registered trademarks, 7 international registered trademarks, and 32 pending international trademark applications. As we continue to expand our intellectual property portfolio, we believe it is critical for us to continue to invest in filing patent applications to protect our technology, inventions and improvements. However, we can give no assurance that competitors will not infringe on our patent rights or otherwise create similar or non-infringing competing products that are technically patentable in their own right.
Manufacturing and Suppliers
We are committed to producing the most technically advanced and highest quality products of their kind available on the market. We manufacture the majority of our products on our premises in Clearwater, Florida and at our facility located in Sofia, Bulgaria, both of which are certified under the ISO13485:2016 international quality standards and are subject to continuing regulation and routine inspections by the FDA and other regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with regulations relating to our quality management system, medical device complaint reporting, and adherence to FDA and other country regulations on promotion and advertising. In addition, we are subject to regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Environmental Protection Act and other federal, state and local regulations, as well as international laws and regulations.
We work closely with our suppliers to ensure that our raw material inventory needs are met, while maintaining high quality and reliability. To date, we have experienced some delays in locating and obtaining the materials necessary to fulfill our production requirements, but such delays have not caused a meaningful backlog of sales orders.However, it is possible that a prolonged disruption to the global supply chain could cause a backlog of sales orders in the future.We continue to work to find other sources of supply, where feasible, and have expedited the shipments of certain raw material items to adequately maintain our production and safety stock levels, resulting in higher shipping costs.We have also experienced some impact on the purchase prices of our raw materials due to inflation, global inventory shortages and increased demand across the manufacturing sector.
We maintain collaborative arrangements with three foreign suppliers, including our contract component manufacturer located in Ningbo, China, under which we request the development of certain products which we purchase pursuant to purchase orders. Our purchase order commitments are never more than one year in duration and are supported by our sales forecasts. In accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 225.7022-5(b), to our knowledge, none of the products that we source are through entities manufacturing in the Xinjiang province.
In response to the global supply chain instability and inflationary cost increases, we continue to take action to minimize, as much as possible, any potential adverse impacts by working closely with our suppliers to closely monitor the availability of raw material components (i.e. semiconductors and plastics), lead times, and freight carrier availability. We expect global supply chain instability will continue to have an impact on our business, but to date that has not been material to our financial performance. The consequences of global supply chain instability, inflationary cost increases, and their adverse impact to the global economy, continue to evolve. Accordingly, the significance of the future impact to our business and financial statements remains subject to significant uncertainty.
Backlog
The value of unshipped factory orders is not material.
Sustainability
We have created an environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) structure by introducing a cross-functional ESG team which has been working with senior management, our board, and other stakeholders to develop an ESG framework that is aligned with our corporate mission, vision and values. Our ESG initiatives are sponsored by our CEO and CFO, and include a steering committee comprised of all members of the executive management team as well as some mid-level managers in certain areas
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such as R&D, Regulatory and Quality. In July 2022, we published our first ESG report aligned with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (“SASB”) Medical Equipment industry standards.
Human Capital Management
At December 31, 2023, we had 252 full-time employees world-wide, of whom 4 were executive officers, 40 were supervisory personnel, 31 were sales personnel and 181 were technical support, administrative and production employees. None of our current employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement and we have never experienced a work stoppage. During 2023, our voluntary employee turnover rate was approximately 10.2%.
Equal Opportunity
We have worked to create a culture that fosters employee engagement, where diverse talent is productive and passionate about the work they do. We continuously focus our efforts on cultivating and enhancing our working culture that embraces equal opportunity. Currently, over half of our global workforce is represented by women. In addition, in the U.S., approximately 33% of our employees are from minority ethnic/racial groups.
Recruitment, Training and Development
The implementation of our growth strategy largely depends on our ability to hire, train, and retain our workforce. Our recruitment practices include cross-functional departmental interviewing, allowing for the best fit not just for a specific department, but the Company as a whole. We also ensure all of our employees are fully trained and competent for the role for which they were hired. In addition, we train our sales professionals to thoroughly understand our Helium Plasma Technology and the marketplace in which we compete, including how our technologies can increase our customer's revenue and the results they are able to achieve for their patients.
Compensation and Benefits
Our compensation programs are designed to align the compensation of our employees with our performance, and to provide the proper incentives to attract, retain and motivate them to achieve superior results. The structure of our compensation programs balances incentive earnings for both short-term and long-term performance, specifically:
•We offer wages that are competitive and consistent with employee positions, skill levels, experience, knowledge and geographic location;
•Our compensation practices are fair and equitable across all levels of the organization, from our Executive Officers to our hourly employees;
•We work with both local and nationally recognized outside compensation and benefits consulting firms to independently evaluate the effectiveness of our executive and non-executive compensation and benefit programs and to provide benchmarking against our peers within our industry;
•We may provide our non-hourly U.S-based employees long term incentives in the form of stock options to help foster a culture of ownership, and empower individuals to drive continuous improvements to increase stockholder value;
•Annual increases and incentive compensation are based on merit, which is communicated to employees at the time of hiring and documented through our talent management process as part of our annual review procedures and upon internal transfer and/or promotion;
•All full-time employees are eligible for health insurance, paid and unpaid leave, a retirement plan, and life and disability/accident coverage. We also offer a variety of voluntary benefits that allow employees to select the options that meet their needs.
Culture
We are a solution focused company in the cosmetic surgery market and the broader medical technology sector, and endeavor to provide unique and creative solutions for the ever-changing needs of our physician customers and their patients. Our mission and vision are to be the world’s leading innovator in unique energy solutions that continually reshape what’s possible in cosmetic and medical procedures through innovative solutions.
Our shared values of transforming physicians’ and their patients’ lives, acting with integrity, and driving innovation, form the core of our company's culture. We articulate the qualities associated with these behaviors through our three Core Values:
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•Trailblazers: We are passionate about the work we do. We energetically pursue our goals, aim higher, and reach further. When we encounter setbacks, we see opportunities for innovation and improvement. When we clear a business hurdle, we celebrate, and then raise the bar.
•Challengers: We speak up and are not afraid to question, to reimagine, to think differently. We innovate to break the status quo, and create new possibilities, for our customers and for our company.
•Team Players: We respect everyone’s contribution and are absolutely committed to elevating our fellow team members, and our customers and their patients.
Part of our culture is to give back and support the communities and people around us. In 2023, we engaged in both employee volunteer and financial support in the areas of education and the environment. Such initiatives included the following by way of example:
•Throughout the year, we have provided supplies, including books, stationery, and classroom materials, to a local elementary school in need. Additionally, we have contributed financially to a local Ronald McDonald House, supporting families with sick children during challenging times.
•During the holiday season, we participated in local food drives to aid members of our local community. Furthermore, we participated in the Toys for Tots program, collecting toys and gifts for children from lower-income households.
•As part of our commitment to health and wellness, we organized a blood drive that serves as a critical lifeline for individuals in need of transfusions. Additionally, we actively support breast cancer awareness initiatives and fundraising events to support research, treatment, and other support services.
•We have made financial contributions to organizations dedicated to researching a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in an effort to improve health outcomes for those individuals diagnosed with this difficult disease.
These initiatives reflect a small part of our commitment to engage with our communities, support charitable causes, and foster a culture of social responsibility throughout our organization.
Outside of our communities, we also support Dr. Giovanni Betti, an accomplished plastic surgeon and loyal Renuvion customer in Mexico, who has established a foundation to support victims of implantation of biopolymers. Biopolymers are synthetic substances used by unscrupulous practitioners as fillers to augment anatomical locations in body contouring procedures. These substances are foreign to the human body and cause severe tissue reactions, illness, and sometimes death. Since most of the patients impacted by these procedures have limited economic means, they often can not afford the procedures they need to remove the biopolymers. We support Dr. Betti and his Reconstruyendo Suenos foundation by providing free Renuvion handpieces for these procedures.
Employee Health and Safety
The health and safety of our employees is our highest priority, and this is consistent with our operating philosophy. We provide a safe and healthy workplace for employees consistent with the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”). We aim to prevent any employee, visitor, customer, or person from being subjected to any health or safety risks. We provide annual training and expect our employees to diligently work towards the maintenance of safe and healthy working conditions, adhere to proper operating practices and procedures designed to prevent injury and illness, and conscientiously observe all safety regulations. Our commitment to the safety and well-being of our employees is shown through safety walkthroughs by our Safety Committee, as well as having an open-door policy, allowing employees to feel comfortable bringing up any safety concerns to management or Human Resources. Identified concerns and potential hazards are addressed immediately, which is evidenced by our low safety incident rate quarter over quarter. In 2023, we had no lost time accidents.
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Our Two Business Segments
Our reportable segments are disclosed as principally organized and managed as two operating segments: Advanced Energy and OEM. “Corporate & Other” includes certain unallocated corporate and administrative costs which are not specifically attributed to any reportable segment. The OEM segment is primarily development and manufacturing contract and product driven, and all related expenses are recorded as cost of sales. Therefore no segment specific operating expenses are incurred.
In regards to these operating segments, our results are aggregated into reportable segments only if they exhibit similar economic characteristics. In addition to similar economic characteristics, we also consider the following factors in determining the reportable segments: the nature of business activities, the management structure directly accountable to our chief operating decision maker for operating and administrative activities, availability of discrete financial information, and information presented to the Board of Directors and investors. Asset information is not reviewed by the chief operating decision maker by segment and is not available by segment and, accordingly, we have not presented a measure of assets by reportable segment.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, our Advanced Energy segment contributed 82.9% of our consolidated total revenue and our OEM segment contributed 17.1% of our consolidated total revenue.
Advanced Energy Segment
Overview
Our product portfolio consists of our Helium Plasma Technology that is marketed and sold as Renuvion in the cosmetic surgery market and J-Plasma in the hospital surgical market. Our primary focus is on the cosmetic surgery market where Renuvion offers plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons and cosmetic physicians a unique ability to provide controlled heat to the tissue to achieve their desired results. This technology has FDA clearance, CE mark, and clearance for sale in multiple other countries and is generally indicated for the cutting, coagulation and ablation of soft tissue. The system consists of an electrosurgical generator unit (“ESU”), a handpiece and a supply of helium gas. The proprietary radiofrequency (“RF”) energy is delivered to the handpiece by the ESU and used to energize an electrode. When helium gas passes over the energized electrode, helium plasma is generated which allows for conduction of the RF energy from the electrode to the patient in the form of a precise helium plasma beam. The energy delivered to the patient via the helium plasma beam is unique in that it allows for the application of heat to tissue in a way that is not possible with traditional monopolar or bipolar technologies. This technology has been the subject of over eighty-five peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, abstracts, and posters. It also continues to be the subject of numerous presentations at traditional and cosmetic surgery conferences around the world.
This technology initially received FDA clearance in 2012 and a CE mark in December 2014, which enables us to sell the product in the European Union. In 2014, we created and trained a direct sales force dedicated to sell this technology. In 2015, we continued the commercialization process for our Helium Plasma Technology with a multi-faceted strategy designed to accelerate adoption of the product. This strategy primarily involved deployment of a dedicated sales force, developing product line extensions and expanding the specialties in which we believe this technology can become the “standard of care” for certain procedures.
During 2023, we continued our full-scale, global, commercialization efforts for Renuvion in the cosmetic and plastic surgery markets. As of December 31, 2023, we had a direct sales force of 31 field-based selling professionals and utilized 3 independent sales agencies. We also had 4 sales managers. This selling organization, along with our international network of distributors, is focused on the use of Renuvion in the cosmetic surgery market, supported by our global medical affairs team. This global team of clinical support specialists focuses on supporting our users to ensure optimal outcomes for their patients. In addition, we have invested in training programs and marketing-related activities to support accelerated adoption of Renuvion into physicians’ practices.
From 2015 through 2023, we launched numerous new extensions to our Helium Plasma product lines in an effort to target new surgical procedures, users, and markets. Most notably, throughout 2021, we continued our launch of our Renuvion Apyx Plasma RF handpieces (“APR”) around the world. These handpieces were designed with improved ergonomics and usability for our Renuvion customers. As a result of our sales, marketing and product development initiatives, we have significantly increased the number of physicians using our Helium Plasma Technology by expanding usage to include the cosmetic surgery market in the U.S., and the cosmetic surgery market as well as the surgical oncology market outside the U.S. In late January 2023, we launched our recently FDA approved Apyx One Console in the U.S. This is a multi-functional generator incorporating an advanced 3-in-1 energy system that enables plastic and cosmetic surgeons to utilize Renuvion technology, together with full
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monopolar and bipolar energy.
Key features of the Apyx One Console include adaptive and intuitive touch screens, procedural presets by body part, cloud connectivity, data sharing and logging, remote upgrade capabilities and system diagnostics, and an advanced gas system that measures and monitors gas volume and usage. In the fourth quarter of 2023, we launched the Renuvion Micro Handpiece which received FDA clearance in June 2023. The Renuvion Micro Handpiece features include a smaller instrument shaft which complements our existing product portfolio, providing our customers with a new option to facilitate soft tissue contraction in those cases that may benefit from the use of a handpiece with a smaller profile. The Renuvion Micro Handpiece is designed for use with the Apyx One Console.
In order to assist us in leveraging our Helium Plasma Technology’s precision and effectiveness in multiple surgical specialties, we continue to utilize our Medical Advisory Board which currently consists of 5 members representing the plastic surgery, facial plastic surgery, and cosmetic procedure specialties.
Our commercial strategy is primarily focused on advancing the usage of Renuvion in the cosmetic surgery market. In some of our international markets, we continue to provide support to our customers who have adopted our J-Plasma technology for the hospital surgical market. We continue to develop a clinical and regulatory strategy, and corresponding marketing campaigns, to support our market focus. We also continue to expand the reach of our global medical affairs team in order to provide clinical support to our customers in all markets.
We continue to make substantial investments in the development and marketing of our Renuvion technology for the long-term benefit of the Company and its stakeholders. This has and may continue to adversely affect our short-term operating performance and cash flows, particularly over the next 12 to 18 months. While we believe that these investments have the potential to generate additional revenues and profits in the future, there can be no assurance that our Helium Plasma Technology will continue to be successful or that such future revenues and profitability will be realized.
Customers
In the U.S., we primarily sell our Renuvion products through our direct sales force to physicians, cosmetic surgery offices and surgical centers.Outside of the U.S., our products are sold primarily through our distributor network.
Products
Our Advanced Energy Products consist of our Helium Plasma Technology lines (Renuvion and J-Plasma). These product lines consist of a multifunction generator, a handpiece and a supply of helium gas. RF energy is delivered to the handpiece by the generator and used to energize an electrode. When helium gas passes over the energized electrode, helium plasma is generated which allows for conduction of the RF energy from the electrode to the patient in the form of a precise helium plasma beam. The energy delivered to the patient via the helium plasma beam is unique in that it allows for the application of heat to tissue in a way that is not possible with traditional monopolar or bipolar technologies.
Helium Plasma Generator
While we did a limited launch of our Apyx One Console in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2022, full commercial launch of the generator in the U.S. and select international markets started in 2023. We continued the sales of our Renuvion System 3 generator, to markets outside the U.S. Our high frequency electrosurgical generators can be used for delivery of RF energy and/or helium plasma to cut, coagulate and ablate soft tissue during open and minimally invasive surgical procedures. This new generator was built for use with our Renuvion APR handpieces, and features enhanced capabilities such as a joule counter, capable of displaying energy delivered to the patient, and new Auto-Bipolar functionality, which expands the surgical capabilities of the system. These new product releases continue to expand the procedure base for our Helium Plasma Technology by providing surgeons with the tools they need to access additional anatomic locations and perform specific procedures.
Single-Use Handpiece Portfolio
We offer a variety of different hand pieces for open and laparoscopic procedures. The helium-based plasma generated from these devices has been shown to provide increased precision and control and cause less thermal damage to tissue than CO2 laser, argon plasma and RF energy products currently available on the market. The technology has a general indication and can
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be used for cutting, coagulating and ablating soft tissue. The advantages of helium plasma continue to be studied throughout the medical and scientific communities. We believe that cosmetic surgery applications are the primary area of opportunity for this technology. In 2020, we completed the launch of our new generation APR handpieces in the U.S. market. During 2021, we began to launch these new handpieces in our international markets, designed specifically for minimally invasive use, with improved ergonomics and safety features. Discuss Micro here.
Competition
Currently, we are the only company with helium-based plasma products and four specific indications from the FDA. While the FDA Safety Communication did impact our sales, and we face competition from RF-based, argon plasma, and CO2 laser products within our target market, we still believe our competitive position did not change in 2023.
FDA and Other Government Regulations
Our business is subject to varying degrees of governmental regulation in the countries in which operations are conducted, and the general trend is toward increasingly stringent regulation and enforcement. We are subject to costly and complex U.S. and foreign laws and governmental regulations, and any adverse regulatory action may materially adversely affect our financial condition and business operations. In the U.S., the drug, device, and cosmetic industries have long been subject to regulation by various federal and state agencies, primarily as to product safety, efficacy, manufacturing, advertising, labeling and safety reporting. The exercise of broad regulatory powers by the FDA continues to result in increases in the amounts of testing and documentation required for FDA approval of new drugs and devices and a corresponding increase in the expense of product introduction. Similar trends are also evident in major markets outside of the U.S. The new medical device regulatory framework and the new privacy regulations in Europe and in other countries are examples of such increased regulation.
For example, the European Union enacted the European Union Medical Device Regulation in May 2017 with an effective date of May 2021, which imposes stricter requirements for the marketing and sale of medical devices, including in the areas of clinical evaluation requirements, quality systems, labeling and post-market surveillance. Additionally, as a result of the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Brexit), new medical device regulations were released by the United Kingdom, which became effective January 1, 2021. A gap analysis against the prior Medical Device Directive (“MDD”), a compliance plan was implemented, and the plan is being executed for both the European Union and United Kingdom regulations to ensure compliance and minimize business disruption.
The regulatory agencies under whose purview the Company operates have administrative powers that may subject it to actions such as product withdrawals, recalls, seizure of products and other civil and criminal sanctions. In some cases, the Company may deem it advisable to initiate product recalls.
The FDA and regulatory agencies around the globe are also increasing their enforcement activities. If the FDA were to conclude that we are not in compliance with applicable laws or regulations, or that any of our medical devices are ineffective or pose an unreasonable health risk, the FDA could ban such products, detain or seize adulterated or misbranded products, order a recall, repair, replacement, or refund of such products, refuse to grant pending applications for marketing authorization or require certificates of foreign governments for exports, and/or require us to notify health professionals and others that the products present unreasonable risks of substantial harm to the public health. The FDA may also assess civil or criminal penalties against us, our officers or employees and impose operating restrictions on a company-wide basis or enjoin and/or restrain certain conduct resulting in violations of applicable law. The FDA may also recommend prosecution to the U.S. Department of Justice. Any adverse regulatory action, depending on its magnitude, may restrict us from effectively marketing and selling our products and limit our ability to obtain future clearances or approvals, and could result in a substantial modification to our business practices and operations. Equivalent enforcement mechanisms exist in different countries in which we conduct business.
On March 14, 2022, the FDA posted a Safety Communication that warns consumers and health care providers against the use of our Advanced Energy products outside of their FDA-cleared indications for general use in cutting, coagulation, and ablation of soft tissue during open and laparoscopic surgical procedures. Following the Safety Communication, we experienced slowed demand for the adoption of our Helium Plasma Technology. Throughout 2022, and continuing into 2023, we worked closely with the FDA to gain clearances for the use of our products in various surgical applications, demonstrating our commitment to both safety and efficacy, supported by both clinical study and real-world data.
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On May 10, 2023, the FDA updated the Safety Communication to inform consumers and healthcare providers about the clearance for the Renuvion APR handpiece for the coagulation of subcutaneous soft tissues following liposuction.
On June 14, 2023, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the Renuvion Micro handpiece, a new addition to the Renuvion production family. The Renuvion Micro handpiece was cleared with an indication for the delivery of radiofrequency energy and/or helium plasma where coagulation/contraction of soft tissue is needed. Soft tissue includes subcutaneous tissue.
The costs of human healthcare have been and continue to be a subject of study, investigation and regulation by governmental agencies and legislative bodies around the world. In the U.S., attention has been focused by states, regulatory agencies and congress on device prices and profits and programs that encourage doctors to recommend, use or purchase particular medical devices. Laws and regulations have been enacted to require adherence to strict compliance standards and prevent fraud and abuse in the healthcare industry. There is increased focus on interactions and financial relationships between healthcare companies and healthcare providers.
Various transparency laws and regulations require disclosures of payments and other transfers of value made to physicians and teaching hospitals and, beginning with disclosures in 2022, to certain non-physician practitioners. Payers have become a more potent force in the marketplace and increased attention is being paid to medical device pricing, appropriate drug and medical device utilization and the quality and costs of healthcare generally.However, most of the Company’s products are not reimbursable by payers (including the US. Government) which alleviates some of the burden of reporting.Nevertheless, weare committed to following all legal requirements, as well as company policies and procedures as it relates to our interactions with healthcare professionals. At all times, we will provide information to healthcare professionals that is truthful, not misleading, and consistent with our product labeling and supported by our data.
Medical Device Single Audit Program (“MDSAP”)
The International Medical Device Regulators Forum (“IMDRF”) recognized that a global approach to auditing and monitoring the manufacturing of medical devices could improve their safety and oversight on an international scale. The IMDRF established a work group that developed specific documents to advance a MDSAP. The Medical Device Single Audit Program allowed MDSAP recognized Auditing Organizations to conduct a single regulatory audit of a medical device manufacturer to satisfy the relevant requirements of the regulatory authorities participating in the program. Today the regulatory authority members include the US, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Japan, official observers European Union and United Kingdom, and affiliates Argentina, Israel, South Korea, and Singapore. In February 2022, we underwent a successful annual MDSAP audit by our registrar GMED SAS. There were no observations related to safety or efficacy of our products noted during this MDSAP audit. The FDA accepts MDSAP audit reports as a substitute for routine Agency inspections.
Global Supply Chain Impact
The Company relies on global supply chains, and production and distribution processes, which are complex, are subject to increasing regulatory requirements, and may be faced with unexpected changes that may affect sourcing, supply and pricing of materials used in the Company’s products. These processes also are subject to complex and lengthy regulatory approvals.
OEM Segment
Overview
We leverage our expertise in the design, development and manufacturing of electrosurgical equipment and medical devices by producing generators, medical devices and related accessories for large, well-known medical device manufacturers through original equipment manufacturing (“OEM”) agreements, as well as start-up companies with the need for our energy-based designs.In connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement with Symmetry Surgical in 2018, we entered into a Manufacturing and Supply Agreement for a ten-year term, pursuant to which we manufacture certain products and sell to them at agreed upon prices.Revenue, costs and expenses resulting from this agreement are reported in our Consolidated Statements of Operations as a component of income or loss from operations of our OEM reporting segment.
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ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
In addition to risks and uncertainties in the ordinary course of business, important risk factors that may affect us are discussed below. Additional risks not presently known to us, or that we currently believe are immaterial, may also significantly impact or impair our business operations.
Risks Relating to Our Business
We manufacture the majority of our products at our Clearwater, Florida and Sofia, Bulgaria facilities. Components, labor-intensive assemblies and sub-assemblies, and sterilization services are outsourced to third parties and produced to our specifications.
We are also dependent on OEM customers who have no legal obligation to purchase products from us. Should such customers fail to give us purchase orders for products after development, our future business could be negatively affected. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that such customers will give sufficient high priority to our products. Finally, disagreements or disputes may arise between us and our customers, which could adversely affect production and sales of our products.
Macroeconomic trends including inflation and higher interest rates may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Inflation in the United States has recently accelerated and is currently expected to continue at an elevated level in the near-term. Higher inflation and interest rates could have an adverse impact on our operating expenses and our credit facilities. There is no guarantee we will be able to mitigate the impact of inflation. The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates to combat inflation and restore price stability. Increases in interest rates on any of our debt will result in higher debt service costs, which will adversely affect our cash flows. Higher interest rates can also impact our customers’ ability to purchase capital. We cannot assure you that our access to capital and other sources of funding will not become constrained, which could adversely affect the availability and terms of future borrowings. Such future constraints could increase our borrowing costs, which would make it more difficult or expensive to obtain additional financing or refinance existing obligations and commitments, which could slow or deter future growth.
The health of the economy may affect consumer purchases of discretionary services, such as cosmetic services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our results of operations may be materially affected by conditions in the capital and credit markets and the economy generally. Uncertainty in the economy could adversely impact customer purchases of discretionary services, including cosmetic services. Factors that could affect customers’ willingness to make such discretionary purchases include general business conditions, levels of employment, interest rates, tax rates, the availability of consumer credit, consumer confidence in future economic conditions and risks, or the public perception of risks, related to epidemics or pandemics. In the event of a prolonged economic downturn or acute recession, consumer spending habits could be adversely affected, and doctor’s purchasing decisions as it relates to capital goods may be impacted and we could experience lower than expected net sales.
Our revenue could decline due to changes in credit markets and decisions made by credit providers.
Historically, some doctors have financed their purchase of generators through third-party credit providers some of whom with which we have existing relationships. If we are unable to maintain our relationships with our financing partners, there is no guarantee that we will be able to find replacement partners who will provide our doctor customers with financing on similar terms, and our revenue may be adversely affected. Further, reductions in consumer lending and the availability of consumer credit could limit the number of patients with the financial means to afford the procedures where our products are used. Higher interest rates could increase our costs or the monthly payments for consumer products financed through other sources of consumer financing. In the future, we cannot be assured that third-party financing providers will continue to provide doctor customers or patients with access to credit or that available credit limits will not be reduced. Such restrictions or reductions in the availability of consumer credit, or the loss of our relationship with our current financing partners, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, and operating results.
We have had a history of operating losses that have impacted our overall cash flows and may impact our ability to continue as a going concern. We anticipate that we may need to adjust our operating expenditures to be commensurate with our expected levels of revenue and/or raise additional capital to finance operations.
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Due to our recurring net losses and the continued impact of the FDA Safety Communication on demand for the adoption and utilization of our technology, we may need to raise additional capital to fund our future operations. Our cash needs will depend on numerous factors, including our revenues, successful completion of our FDA product clearance activities, our continued ability to commercialize our advanced energy products, and our ability to reduce and control costs. If we are unable to secure such additional financing on terms that are acceptable to us, it will have a material adverse effect on our business, and we may have to limit operations in a manner inconsistent with our growth strategy. If additional funds are raised through the issuance of equity securities, it will be dilutive to our stockholders and could result in a decrease in our stock price. If we are unable to obtain the requisite amount of financing needed to fund our planned operations, it would have a material adverse effect on our business and ability to continue as a going concern.
Our indebtedness levels could impact our business.
Our ability to make payments on, and to refinance, our indebtedness will depend on our ability to generate cash from operations or other financings. Our ability to generate cash is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory, and other factors that are beyond our control. We may not generate sufficient funds to service our debt, meet our required debt covenants, or meet our business needs, such as funding working capital or the expansion of our operations. If we are unable to do so, we may be forced to take disadvantageous actions, including issuing additional shares of our stock on acceptable terms, reducing spending on marketing, product development, reducing financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes, or dedicating an unsustainable level of our cash flows from operations to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness. The creditors who hold our debt could also accelerate amounts due in the event that we trigger a default. Any inability to generate sufficient cash flow or to refinance our indebtedness on favorable terms could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
The aesthetic equipment market is characterized by rapid innovation. To compete effectively, we must develop and/or acquire new products, seek regulatory clearance, ensure adequate product supply, execute successful marketing, and identify new markets for our technology.
Our industry is subject to continuous technological development and product innovation. If we do not continue to innovate and develop new products and applications, our competitive position will likely deteriorate as other companies successfully design and commercialize new products and applications or enhancements to our current products. To grow in the future, we must continue to develop and/or acquire new and innovative aesthetic products and applications, identify new markets, and successfully launch the newly acquired or developed product offerings.
Our research and development activities are an essential component of our efforts to develop new and innovative products. New and improved products play a critical role in our sales growth. We continue to place emphasis on the development of proprietary products, such as our Renuvion and J-Plasma technology, and product improvements to complement and expand our existing product lines. We maintain close working relationships with physicians and medical personnel in hospitals and universities who assist in product research and areas of development.
While we expect to continue making future investments to enable us to develop and market new technologies and products to further our strategic objectives and strengthen our existing business. We cannot guarantee that any of our previous or future investments in both facilities will be successful or that our new products will gain market acceptance. This would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Even if we are successful in developing new, or enhancing our existing products, there are various circumstances that could prevent their successful commercialization.
Our ability to successfully commercialize our products will depend on a number of factors, any of which could delay or prevent commercialization, including:
•our inability to obtain the necessary regulatory clearances or approvals for expanded indications, new products, or product modifications;
•our inability to demonstrate, if required, the safety and efficacy of new products with data from preclinical studies and clinical trials;
•if our product is determined to be ineffective or unsafe following approval, and is removed from the market or we are required to perform additional research and development to further prove the safety and effectiveness of the product before re-entry into the market;
•if the regulatory approvals/clearances of our new products are delayed or denied, or we are required to conduct further research and development of our products prior to receiving regulatory approval;
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•our inability to build and maintain a sales and marketing group to successfully launch and sell our new products;
•if we experience sudden or extreme volatility in commodity prices and availability, including supply chain disruptions;
•if we are required to allocate available funds to litigation matters;
•if the needs of our physicians or their patients are not sufficiently met;
•if we are unable to manufacture the quantity of products needed, in accordance with quality manufacturing standards, to meet market demand;
•competition from other products or technologies prevents or reduces market acceptance of our products;
•if we do not have, and cannot obtain, the intellectual property rights needed to manufacture or market our products without infringing on another company’s patents; or
•if we are unsuccessful in defending against patent infringement, or other intellectual property rights claims, that could be brought against us, our products or technologies.
The failure to successfully commercialize our products will have a material and adverse effect on the future growth of our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The energy-based medical device industry in the aesthetics market is highly competitive and we may be unable to compete effectively.
The energy-based medical device industry for the aesthetics market is highly competitive. Many competitors in this industry are well-established, do a substantially greater amount of business, and have greater financial resources and facilities than we do.
We have invested and continue to invest, substantial resources to develop and monetize our Renuvion technology into the cosmetic surgery market. We believe we must continue to innovate and develop new applications for our products and obtain new indications for use in order to differentiate ourselves and stay competitive. If we are unable to gain acceptance of our technology in the marketplace, or obtain new indications for use, our business and results of operations and cash flows may be materially and adversely affected.
Part of our strategy depends on developing strong working relationships with key plastic surgeons, cosmetic physicians and other healthcare professionals. The guidance we get from these relationships is important from both a commercialization strategy and product development standpoint. Without establishing and maintaining these relationships globally, the development and commercialization of our products could suffer which could have a material adverse impact on our business.
If we are unable to protect our patents or other proprietary rights, or if we infringe on the patents or other proprietary rights of others, our competitiveness and business prospects may be materially damaged.
We have been issued 39 patents in the United States and 46 foreign patents. We have 17 pending patent applications in the United States and 48 pending foreign applications. Our intellectual property portfolio for our Renuvion and J-Plasma products continues to grow on an annual basis. We intend to continue to seek legal protection, primarily through patents, for our proprietary technology. Seeking patent protection is a lengthy and costly process and there can be no assurance that patents will be issued from any pending applications, or that any claims allowed from existing or pending patents will be sufficiently broad or strong to protect our proprietary technology. There is also no guarantee that any patents we hold will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, or that the patent rights granted will provide competitive advantages to us. Our competitors have developed, and may continue to develop and obtain, patents for technologies that are similar or superior to our technologies. In addition, the laws of foreign jurisdictions in which we develop, manufacture or sell our products may not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States.
Adverse outcomes in current or future legal disputes regarding patent and other intellectual property rights could result in the loss of our intellectual property rights, subject us to significant liabilities to third parties, require us to seek licenses from third parties on terms that may not be reasonable or favorable to us, prevent us from manufacturing, importing or selling our products, or compel us to redesign our products to avoid infringing third parties’ intellectual property. As a result, our product offerings may be delayed, and we may be unable to meet customers’ requirements in a timely manner. Regardless of the merit of any related legal proceeding, we have incurred in the past, and may be required to incur in the future, substantial costs to prosecute, enforce or defend our intellectual property rights. Even in the absence of infringement by our products on third parties’ intellectual property rights, or litigation related to trade secrets, we have elected in the past, and may in the future, elect to enter into settlements to avoid the costs and risks of protracted litigation and the diversion of resources and management’s
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attention. If the terms of settlements entered into with certain of our competitors are not observed or enforced, we may suffer further costs and risks. Any of these circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
In addition to patent, copyright, and trademark protection, we also rely on trade secrets, including unpatented know-how, technology and other proprietary information, to maintain our competitive position. We seek to protect our trade secrets, in part, by entering into non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements with parties who have access to them, such as our consultants, vendors, and our former or current employees. Despite these efforts, however, any of these parties may breach those agreements and disclose our trade secrets and other unpatented or unregistered proprietary information, and once disclosed, we are likely to lose trade secret protection. Monitoring unauthorized uses and disclosures of our trade secrets is difficult, and we cannot be certain that the steps we have taken to protect our intellectual property will be effective. In addition, our remedies may not be sufficient to cover our losses.
We have been, and may in the future, become subject to litigation proceedings that could materially and adversely affect our business.
The medical device industry is characterized by frequent claims and litigation, and we are and may become subject to various claims, lawsuits and proceedings in the ordinary course of our business, including claims by current or former employees, distributors and competitors, and with respect to our products and product liability claims, lawsuits and proceedings.
We are involved in a number of legal actions relating to the use of our technology. The outcomes of these legal actions are not within our complete control and may not be known for prolonged periods of time. In the opinion of management, we have meritorious defenses, and such claims are adequately covered by insurance, or are not expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a material, adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. However, in the event that damages exceed the aggregate coverage limits of our policy, or if our insurance carriers disclaim coverage, or if we are unable to continue to obtain coverage on commercially reasonable terms, we believe it is possible that costs associated with these claims could have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows (see below ITEM 3: Legal Proceedings).
We rely on certain suppliers, subcontractors, and manufacturers for raw materials and other products and are vulnerable to fluctuations in the availability and price of such products and services.
Fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of the raw materials (including plastics and other petroleum-based materials, along with semi-conductors and precious metals) and subcontracting services we use in our manufacturing could have a negative effect on our cost of sales and our ability to meet the demands of our customers. Inability to meet the demands of our customers could result in the loss of future sales.
In addition, the costs to manufacture our products depend in part on the market prices of the raw materials used to produce them. We may not be able to pass along to our customers all or a portion of our higher costs of raw materials due to competitive and market pressures, which could decrease our earnings and profitability.
We also have collaborative arrangements with three key foreign suppliers under which we request the development of certain items and components, which we purchase pursuant to purchase orders. Our purchase order commitments are never more than one year in duration and are supported by our sales forecasts. The majority of our raw materials are purchased from sole-source suppliers. While we believe we could ultimately procure other sources for these components, should we experience any significant disruptions in this key supply chain, there are no assurances that we could do so in a timely manner which could render us unable to meet the demands of our customers, resulting in a material and adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our manufacturing facilities are located in Clearwater, Florida and Sofia, Bulgaria and could be affected due to multiple weather risks, including risks to our Florida facility from hurricanes and similar phenomena.
Our manufacturing facilities are located in Clearwater, Florida and Sofia, Bulgaria and could be affected by multiple weather risks, most notably hurricanes in Clearwater, Florida. Although we carry property and casualty insurance and business interruption insurance, future possible disruptions of operations or damage to property, plant and equipment due to hurricanes or other weather risks could result in impaired production and affect our ability to meet our commitments to our customers and impair important business relationships, the loss of which could adversely affect our operations and profitability. We do,
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however, maintain a backup power source at our Clearwater facility, are working to establish deeper redundancies between both facilities, and have a disaster recovery plan in place to help mitigate this risk.
If there is not sufficient consumer demand for the procedures performed with our products, surgeon demand for our products could be inhibited, resulting in unfavorable operating results and reduced growth potential.
Continued expansion of the global market for aesthetic procedures is a material assumption of our business strategy. The procedures performed using our products are elective procedures not reimbursable through government or private health insurance, with the costs borne by the patient. The decision to utilize our products may therefore be influenced by a number of factors, including:
•consumer disposable income and access to consumer credit, which as a result of an unstable economy, may be
significantly impacted;
•the cost, safety and effectiveness of alternative treatments;
•the success of our direct to consumer sales and marketing efforts; and
•the education of our customers and their patients on the benefits and uses of our products, compared to competitors’ products and technologies.
If, as a result of these factors, there is not sufficient demand for the procedures performed with our products, customer demand could be reduced, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, revenue and result of operations.
Quality problems and product liability claims could lead to recalls or safety alerts, reputational harm, adverse verdicts or costly settlements, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The success of our business depends on the quality of our products, and we have global processes, procedures and programs that are intended to help us maintain the highest possible level of quality. We operate in an industry susceptible to significant product liability claims; these claims may be brought by individuals seeking relief on their own behalf or purporting to represent a class. Quality is extremely important to us and our customers due to the impact on patients, and the serious and potentially costly consequences of product failure. Our business exposes us to potential product liability risks that are inherent in the design, manufacture, and marketing of medical devices. If they were to occur, component failures, manufacturing nonconformances, design defects, off-label use, or inadequate disclosure of product-related risks or product related information, could result in an unsafe condition, injury to, or even death of, a patient. These problems could lead to recall or issuance of safety notices relating to our products and could result in product liability claims and lawsuits, including class actions. Even if our product is not found at fault, we may incur significant legal fees as well as potential losses in excess of insurance coverage associated with product liability.
Risk Related to Government Regulations
Product Approval and Monitoring
Most countries where we sell medical devices subject our technologies to their own approval and other regulatory requirements regarding performance, safety, and quality. The global regulatory environment is increasingly challenging and stringent. Countries that did not have regulatory requirements for medical devices have established such requirements in recent years, and other countries have expanded, or plan to expand, their existing regulations. While there are some efforts at some harmonization of global regulations, requirements continue to differ significantly among countries. We expect that as this global regulatory environment continues to evolve, it could impact the cost, the time needed to approve, and ultimately, our ability to maintain existing approvals or obtain future approvals for our products. Regulations of the the FDA and other regulatory agencies in and outside the U.S. impose significant compliance and monitoring obligations on our business.
We are subject to costly and complex laws and governmental regulations and any adverse regulatory action may materially adversely affect our financial condition and business operations.
As a part of the regulatory process for obtaining marketing clearance or approval for new products and new indications for existing products, we conduct and participate in numerous clinical trials with a variety of study designs, patient populations,
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and trial endpoints. Unfavorable or inconsistent clinical data from existing or future clinical trials, or the market’s or the FDA’s perception of these clinical data, may adversely impact our ability to obtain product approvals, our position in, and share of, the markets in which we participate. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain or maintain marketing clearance for our new products or enhancements or modifications to existing products, and the failure to maintain approvals or obtain approval or clearance could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Even if we are able to obtain approval or clearance, it may:
•take a significant amount of time;
•require the expenditure of considerable resources;
•involve rigorous clinical and pre-clinical testing, as well as increased post-market surveillance;
•involve modifications, repairs, corrections, or replacements of our products; and
•limit the proposed intended uses of our products.
On March 14, 2022, the FDA posted a Communication that warned consumers and health care providers against the use of our Advanced Energy products outside of their FDA-cleared indications for general use in cutting, coagulation, and ablation of soft tissue during open and laparoscopic surgical procedures. We worked with the FDA towards securing 510(k) clearance for specific additional indications for our Advanced Energy productions.
On May 26, 2022, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of the Renuvion Dermal handpiece for specific dermal resurfacing procedures. On July 18, 2022, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of the Renuvion APR handpiece for use in subcutaneous dermatological and aesthetic procedures.
On June 2, 2022, and July 21, 2022, the FDA updated the Medical Device Safety Communication to recognize the new 510(k) clearances for the Renuvion Dermal handpiece, and the expanded indications for the Renuvion APR handpiece. The 510(k) clearance for the Renuvion Dermal handpiece allows surgeons to perform dermal resurfacing procedures for the treatment of moderate to severe wrinkles and rhytides, limited to patients with Fitzpatrick Skin Types I, II or III. The 510(k) clearance for the Renuvion APR handpiece now addresses improving the appearance of lax (loose) skin in the neck and submental region.
On February 27, 2023, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of the Renuvion APR handpiece for the delivery of radiofrequency energy and/or helium plasma where coagulation/contraction of soft tissue is needed. Soft tissue includes subcutaneous tissue.
On April 28, 2023, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of Renuvion APR handpiece for coagulation of subcutaneous soft tissues following liposuction for aesthetic body contouring. This submission was supported by a clinical study and real world evidence.
On May 10, 2023, the FDA updated the Safety Communication to inform consumers and healthcare providers about the clearance for the Renuvion APR handpiece for use under the skin in certain procedures intended to improve the appearance of the skin including for coagulation of subcutaneous soft tissues following liposuction for aesthetic body contouring.
On June 14, 2023, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the Renuvion Micro handpiece, a new addition to the Renuvion production family. The Renuvion Micro handpiece was cleared with an indication for the delivery of radiofrequency energy and/or helium plasma where coagulation/contraction of soft tissue is needed. Soft tissue includes subcutaneous tissue.
While we expected that receiving these clearances would materially mitigate the financial effects of the Safety Communication in future periods, we continue to experience reduced demand for the adoption and utilization of our technology and we believe that this may have an adverse effect in future periods.
Before and after a product is commercially released, we have ongoing responsibilities under the FDA, Health Canada, Australia, Brazil, EU, and other applicable government agency regulations. For instance, our processes and facilities, as well as those of our suppliers, are subject to periodic audits to determine compliance with applicable regulations. The results of these audits can include major inspectional observations, warning letters, or other forms of enforcement.
If the FDA were to conclude that we are not in compliance with applicable laws or regulations, or that any of our medical products are ineffective or pose an unreasonable health risk, they could ban such medical products, determine that our products
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are adulterated or misbranded, order a recall, repair, replacement, correction, or refund of such products, refuse to grant pending pre-market clearances or approvals, refuse to issue export certificates for foreign governments, or require us to notify health professionals and others that the devices present unreasonable risks of substantial harm to the public health.
The FDA and other foreign and domestic regulators may also assess civil or criminal penalties against us, our officers or employees and impose operating restrictions on a company-wide basis. The FDA may also recommend prosecution to the U.S. Department of Justice. Any adverse regulatory action, depending on its magnitude, may restrict us from effectively marketing and selling our products and limit our ability to obtain future pre-market clearances or approvals, and could result in a substantial modification to our business practices and operations. These potential consequences, as well as any adverse outcome from government investigations, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
In addition, the FDA has taken the position that device manufacturers are prohibited from promoting their products other than for the uses and indications set forth in the cleared product labeling. Any failure to comply could subject us to significant civil or criminal exposure, administrative obligations and costs, other potential penalties from, and/or agreements with, the federal government. Governmental regulations worldwide have, and may continue to become, increasingly stringent and customary.
In the EU, a single regulatory approval process exists, and conformity with the legal requirements is represented by the CE Mark. To obtain a CE Mark, defined products must meet minimum standards of performance, safety, and quality (i.e., the essential requirements), and then, according to their classification, comply with one or more of a selection of conformity assessment routes. The competent authorities of the EU countries separately regulate the clinical research for medical devices and the market surveillance of products once they are placed on the market. A new Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices, or “EU MDR”, came into effect in May 2017, which imposes significant additional premarket and post-market requirements.
The EU MDR represents the first major change to the EU medical device regulatory environment, has significantly raised the compliance bar for the medical device industry, and will cause significant changes to the regulatory obligations of manufacturers, importers and distributors involved in the medical device distribution chain. Classification has changed for some product categories, and strict new requirements have been imposed on clinical data, risk management, post market surveillance, and supplier management. Penalties for regulatory non-compliance could be severe, including fines and revocation or suspension of a company’s business license, and criminal sanctions. The regulation initially provided a three-year implementation period to May 2020, but that timeline was delayed to May 2021 due to the global pandemic and its impact on audits and technical file review by Notified Bodies. After that time, medical devices marketed in the EU will require certification according to these new requirements, except for devices with valid CE certificates, issued pursuant to the Medical Device Directives before May 2020, which can be placed in the market until May 2024.
Outside of the EU, regulations vary significantly from country to country and are becoming increasingly stringent and country specific. Territories and countries around the world continue to develop their own unique regulatory requirements, and these individual governments are passing laws that enforce these new regulations, including imposing fees, to register products in their country. The time and effort required to obtain approval to market products may be longer or shorter than that required in the U.S. or the EU. Certain European countries outside of the EU, and other countries around the world do not recognize the CE mark certification or FDA clearance/approval and have their own regulatory requirements to register and sell products in these territories.
Environmental Regulation
The medical device industry continues to be the subject of intense scrutiny and stringent regulation and the demand for green, sustainable products is rapidly increasing. There are increasing requirements for efficient and accurate processes for hazardous substance handling, supplier disclosures, and regulatory reporting in order to comply with numerous global health and environmental regulatory requirements and restrictions, including but not limited to:
•Restriction on Hazardous Substances (“RoHS”) Directive
•Packaging and Packing Waste Directive
•REACH Regulation
•Proposition 65
•Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ethylene Oxide
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Compliance with existing and future environmental regulations may have an impact on the manufacturing and sterilization of our medical devices. Environmental regulations in the U.S. and EU limit or prohibit the use of certain chemicals, substances and materials in the manufacture of our medical devices such as Prop 65 in California and others in the EU such as REACH, RoHS, and WEEE Directive. With the current global concerns over climate change and the tangible effects human beings are having on the environment, there is no doubt that the amount of environmental legislation is primed to increase still further, with the EU being at the forefront of this movement.
Ethylene oxide (“EtO”) is used to sterilize approximately 50% of medical devices in the U.S. While some alternative methods currently exist, potential device incompatibility issues exist with these alternatives. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified EtO as a carcinogen after linking it to cases of breast cancer, lymphoma and leukemia. Currently, shortages due to current closures are not expected, but any additional commercial sterilization facility closures could result in shortages for certain devices. Our devices are not currently impacted by these closures, however, it is unknown if the current EtO facilities utilized by Apyx Medical could be impacted in the future.
The FDA is closely monitoring the supply chain effects of closures and potential closures of certain facilities that use EtO to sterilize medical devices prior to their use, and is concerned about the future availability of sterile medical devices and the potential for medical device shortages that might impact patient care. However, they do not have oversight authority over EtO emissions, which is within the purview of the EPA.
Our operations and those of certain third-party suppliers involve the use of substances subject to these laws and regulations, primarily those used in manufacturing and sterilization processes. If we or our suppliers violate these environmental laws and regulations, facilities could be shut down and violators could be fined, criminally charged, or otherwise sanctioned. Furthermore, environmental laws outside of the U.S. are becoming more stringent, resulting in increased costs and compliance burdens. In addition, certain environmental laws assess liability on current or previous owners or operators of real property for the costs of investigation, removal or remediation of hazardous substances or materials at their properties or at properties which they have disposed of hazardous substances. In addition to cleanup actions brought by governmental authorities, private parties could bring personal injury or other claims due to the presence of, or exposure to, hazardous substances. The ultimate cost of site cleanup and timing of future cash outflows is difficult to predict, given the uncertainties regarding the extent of the required cleanup, the interpretation of applicable laws and regulations, and alternative cleanup methods. The costs of complying with current or future environmental protection and health and safety laws and regulations, or liabilities arising from past or future releases of, or exposures to, hazardous substances, may exceed our estimates, or have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
Anti-Corruption Regulation
As we grow our international presence and global operations, we will be increasingly exposed to statutes, anti-corruption trade policies, economic sanctions and other restrictions imposed by the United States and other foreign governments and organizations, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA, and other federal statutes and regulations, including those established by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC. In addition, other foreign statutes, such as the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010, or the Bribery Act, prohibits both domestic and international bribery, as well as bribery across both private and public sectors.
We have implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by our directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants and agents with the FCPA, OFAC restrictions, the Bribery Act and other export control, anti-corruption, anti-money-laundering and anti-terrorism laws and regulations, and require training of our employees, management team and our global distributors on an annual basis. However, there can be no assurance that our policies and procedures are or will be sufficient to prevent violations from occurring.Violations of the FCPA, OFAC restrictions, the Bribery Act or other export control, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism laws or regulations may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, financial condition, and results of operations.
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We are subject to governmental export controls and economic sanctions that could impair our ability to compete in international markets due to licensing requirements and subject us to potential liability if we are not in compliance with applicable laws. Any non-compliance could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We are subject to export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and various economic and trade sanctions regulations overseen by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Some of the products we manufacture and provide are controlled for export by BIS. Exports of our products to territories outside of the United States must be made in compliance with these laws and regulations.
We take specific measures that are designed to ensure our compliance with U.S. export and economic sanctions laws, including training our employees and maintaining policies for managing employee conduct. We may engage third-party agents, intermediaries, or distributors to act on our behalf in certain countries, and if these third-party agents or intermediaries violate applicable laws, their actions may result in criminal or civil fines or penalties or other sanctions being assessed against us. We cannot provide assurances that our internal controls and procedures will guarantee compliance by our employees or third parties with whom we work. Additionally, it is possible that some of our products have or will be sold to distributors or other parties, without our knowledge or consent, in violation of applicable law and there can be no assurances that we will be in compliance with such rules and regulations in the future. Any such violation could result in significant criminal or civil fines, penalties, or other consequences, including reputational harm, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Risks Relating to Our Stock
The market price of our stock has been and may continue to be highly volatile.
Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the ticker symbol “APYX”. The market price of our stock has been, and may continue to be, highly volatile and announcements by us or by third parties may have a significant impact on our stock price. These announcements may include:
•our listing status on the The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC;
•our operating results falling below the expectations of public market analysts and investors;
•developments in our relationships with or developments affecting our major customers;
•negative regulatory action or regulatory non-approval with respect to our new products;
•government regulation, governmental investigations, or audits related to us or to our products;
•developments related to our patents or other proprietary rights or those of our competitors and
•changes in the position of securities analysts with respect to our stock.
The stock market has from time-to-time experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, which have particularly affected the market prices for the medical technology sector companies, and which have often been unrelated to their operating performance. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. In addition, future sales by our security holders may lower the price of our common stock, which could result in losses to our stockholders.
We have no present intention to pay dividends on our common stock and, even if we change that policy, we may be unable to pay dividends.
We currently do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future, and we are subject to restrictions on our ability to pay dividends pursuant to our credit agreement executed in November 2023. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance operations and invest in our business. Any declaration and payment of future dividends to holders of our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on many factors, including our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements, level of indebtedness, statutory and contractual restrictions applying to the payment of dividends, and other considerations that our board of directors deems relevant.
If we change that policy and commence paying dividends, we will not be obligated to continue paying those dividends, and our stockholders will not be guaranteed, or have contractual or other rights, to receive dividends. If we commence paying dividends in the future, our board of directors may decide, at its discretion, at any time, to decrease the number of dividends, otherwise
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modify or repeal the dividend policy or discontinue entirely the payment of dividends. Under Delaware law, our board of directors may not authorize the payment of a dividend unless it is paid out of our statutory surplus.
Issuance of equity through our shelf registration statement, as well as the exercise of options and warrants issued by us will dilute the ownership interest of existing stockholders.
As of December 31, 2023, our outstanding stock options to our employees, officers, directors and consultants amounted to 7,342,883 shares of our common stock, representing approximately 21.2% of our outstanding common stock. In connection with the execution of the MidCap Credit Agreement and the Perceptive Credit Agreement, we issued warrants to purchase 1,500,000 shares of our commons stock, representing approximately 4.3% of our outstanding common stock.
The issuance of additional equity through our shelf registration or through the exercise of some or all of our stock options and warrants will dilute the ownership interests of existing stockholders. Any sales in the public market of the common stock issuable upon such conversion or exercise could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock.
General Risks
We may, in the future, identify deficiencies in internal controls over financial reporting.
While we have concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, our disclosure and reporting controls were effective as included in Part II, Item 9A of this Form 10-K, there can be no assurance that future control deficiencies or material weaknesses will not be identified. If we do identify material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting in the future, our ability to analyze, record and report financial information free of material misstatements, and to prepare our financial statements within the time periods specified by the rules and forms of the SEC, may likely be adversely affected.
We rely on our management team and other key personnel, and we may lose key personnel or fail to attract, train, and retain other talented personnel.
We depend on the skills, working relationships, and continued services of key personnel, including our experienced management team.In addition, our ability to achieve our strategic operating objectives depends on our ability to identify, hire, train, and retain qualified individuals throughout the organization. We compete with other companies both within and outside of our industry for talented personnel, and we may lose key personnel or fail to attract, train, develop, and retain other talented personnel.Any such loss or failure could adversely affect our sales, operating results, and financial condition.
We are at risk of being the victim of a cyber-attack or a security breach that may expose confidential customer, product and Company data or compromise our internal IT infrastructure. This could lead to liabilities resulting from failure to comply with US and foreign data security and privacy regulations and negative impacts to our business operations.
We store in our computer systems and network various elements of data and information related to our customers, products and company that could be compromised as the result of a cyber-attack or security breach. If an individual or group of individuals, including a Company employee, were to compromise confidential information, or if customer confidential information is inappropriately disclosed due to a security breach of our computer systems, system failures or otherwise, we may face substantial liabilities or incur penalties in connection with any violation of applicable privacy laws or regulations. We also rely heavily on our internal systems, network and data. To date, we have not had any breaches against our systems and network, and we obtain cyber security insurance coverage on an annual basis. However, our inability to properly scale IT security levels as our business grows, or any future attacks on our IT infrastructure could have a significant impact on our daily manufacturing and customer service functions which could result in a material adverse impact on our financial results, potentially in excess of our current coverage limits.
Our business is dependent on the security of our IT networks and those of our customers. Internal or external attacks on any of those could disrupt the normal operations of our engagements and impede our ability to provide critical services to our customers, thereby subjecting us to liability under our contracts. Additionally, our business involves the use, storage and transmission of information about our employees, our customers and clients of our customers. While we take measures to protect the security of, and unauthorized access to, our systems, as well as the privacy of personal and proprietary information, it is possible that our security controls over our systems, as well as other security practices we follow or those systems of our customers into which we operate and rely upon, may not prevent the improper access to or disclosure of personally identifiable
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or proprietary information. Such disclosure could harm our reputation and subject us to liability under our contracts and laws that protect personal data, resulting in increased costs or loss of revenue.
Data privacy is subject to frequently changing rules and regulations, which sometimes conflict among the various jurisdictions and countries in which we operate and continue to develop in ways which we cannot predict. We are subject to U.S. federal and state laws regarding data privacy and security including Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, or FTC Act. We are also subject to foreign data privacy and security laws, including the Global Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, the European Union-wide legal framework to govern data collection, use and sharing and related consumer privacy rights. The GDPR includes significant penalties for non-compliance. Our failure to adhere to, or successfully implement processes in response to, changing regulatory requirements in this area could result in legal liability or impairment to our reputation in the marketplace, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Adverse global and regional economic conditions could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
Adverse macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, slower growth or recession, new or increased tariffs and other barriers to trade, changes to fiscal and monetary policy, tighter credit, higher interest rates, high unemployment and currency fluctuations can adversely impact consumer confidence and spending and materially adversely affect demand for the Company’s products and services. In addition, uncertainty about, or a decline in, global or regional economic conditions could have a significant impact on the Company’s suppliers, contract manufacturers, freight carriers, and distributors, resulting in delayed or limited availability of components, higher component costs, and higher freight costs. These and other economic factors could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition and stock price.
The Company’s business can be impacted by political events, trade and other international disputes, war, terrorism, natural disasters, public health issues, industrial accidents and other business interruptions.
Political events, trade and other international disputes, war, terrorism, natural disasters, public health issues, industrial accidents and other business interruptions can harm or disrupt international commerce and the global economy, and could have a material adverse effect on the Company and its customers, suppliers, contract manufacturers, freight carriers, and distributors.
Changes in U.S. trade policies could significantly increase the cost of imported goods into the United States, which may materially reduce our sales or profitability.
Changes in U.S. trade policy could trigger retaliatory actions by affected countries, resulting in "trade wars," in increased costs for goods imported into the United States, which may reduce customer demand for these products if the parties having to pay those tariffs increase their prices, or in trading partners limiting their trade with the United States. If these consequences are realized, the volume of economic activity in the United States, may be materially reduced. Such a reduction may materially and adversely affect our sales volumes. Further, the realization of these matters may increase our cost of goods and, if those costs cannot be passed on to our customers, our business and profits may be materially and adversely affected.
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None
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Item 1C. Cybersecurity
The Company’s information security program is designed to preserve the accuracy and integrity of all forms of information processed by us and to protect such information, including our employees’, customers’ and end users’ personally identifiable information and information related to our operations, from misuse, loss, or theft. Our information security program is founded on principles and standards of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity issued by the U.S. government.
The outsourced Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”) works closely with the Chief Financial Officerto collectively manage our global information security, information technology and data privacy programs. The Company’s information security program includes a robust set of controls and safeguards for the systems, applications, and databases of the Company and of its third-party vendors. The CISO manages the information security program and sets annual targets and security objectives. The program includes regular risk assessments and recurring internal and external audits to assess the program’s maturity and effectiveness. The results of these assessments and audits help inform decisions to make program adjustments and ensure that the program’s security objectives are effective and up to date. Additional features of our cybersecurity program include security controls, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems; data loss prevention tools; penetration testing of network, cloud, and application platforms; security assessments of our third-party vendors; and security awareness education for our employees and specialized training for our information security specialists.
We have implemented security monitoring capabilities, designed to alert us to suspicious activity and have developed an incident response program that includes periodic coordinated response exercises designed to restore business operations as quickly and as orderly as possible in the event of a breach. In the event of cyber incident which may be considered “material” under the SEC’s disclosure rules, Apyx Medical has established a separate committee comprised of the CISO, Chief Financial Officer, Outside Counsel, Chief Executive Officer, and Department Heads, if necessary. This committee is responsible for determining whether a cyber incident, or series of incidents, is “material” and requires disclosure under Item 1.05 of Form 8-K as well as informing the Board of Directors about the incident from a risk oversight perspective.
The Board of Directors oversees risks relating to cybersecurity. The CISO and CFO present to the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis and the results of the risk assessments and audits on at least an annual basis. These reports also include detailed updates on the Company’s performance preparing for, preventing, detecting, responding to, and recovering from cyber incidents. Apyx outsources the majority of our IT services and security to a well-respected company in the industry.
Failure of our information security program to prevent or detect a cyber incident could result in the compromise of Company and customer information, reputational damage, and/or financial loss. During the periods covered by this report, we did not experience any material cyber incidents and the expenses we incurred from cyber incidents were immaterial. While prior incidents have not had a material impact on us, future incidents could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and cash flows. For additional information about our cybersecurity risks, see Item 1A — Risk Factors on this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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ITEM 2. Properties
We currently lease approximately 60,000 square foot facility which consists of office, warehousing, manufacturing and research space located at 5115 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, Florida.
Apyx Bulgaria EOOD leases approximately 27,000 square feet of office, warehousing and manufacturing facilities located in Sofia, Bulgaria.
ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings
See Note 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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
Our common stock currently is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market LLC. As of March 19, 2024, we had approximately 600 stockholders of record. Since many stockholders choose to hold their shares under the name of their brokerage firm, we estimate that the actual number of stockholders was over 3,500.
Dividend Policy
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock and we currently do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. We currently expect to retain any future earnings to fund the operation and expansion of our business.
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Five Year Performance Graph
The following line graph compares the value of our common shares with the value of the Russell 2000 Stock Index and the Russell 3000 Stock Index. The line graph assumes, in each case, an initial investment of $100 on December 31, 2019, based on the market prices at the end of each fiscal year through and including December 31, 2023, and reinvestment of dividends.
December 31,
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ITEM 6. [Reserved]
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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes contained elsewhere in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors discussed in this report and those discussed in other documents we file with the SEC. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this report. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our estimates change. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Executive Level Overview
We are an advanced energy technology company with a passion for elevating people’s lives through innovative products, including our Helium Plasma Technology products marketed and sold as Renuvion in the cosmetic surgery market and J-Plasma in the hospital surgical market. Renuvion and J-Plasma offer surgeons a unique ability to provide controlled heat to tissue to achieve their desired results. We also leverage our deep expertise and decades of experience in unique waveforms through OEM agreements with other medical device manufacturers.
On March 14, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) posted a Safety Communication that warned consumers and health care providers against the use of our Advanced Energy products outside of their FDA-cleared indications for general use in cutting, coagulation, and ablation of soft tissue during open and laparoscopic surgical procedures. Following the Safety Communication, we experienced reduced demand for the adoption of our Helium Plasma Technology.
On May 26, 2022, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of the Renuvion Dermal handpiece for specific dermal resurfacing procedures. On July 18, 2022, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of the Renuvion APR handpiece for certain skin contraction procedures.
On June 2, 2022 and July 21, 2022, the FDA updated the Medical Device Safety Communication to recognize the new 510(k) clearances for the Renuvion Dermal handpiece, and the expanded indications for the Renuvion APR handpiece. The 510(k) clearance for the Renuvion Dermal handpiece allows surgeons to perform dermal resurfacing procedures for the treatment of moderate to severe wrinkles and rhytides, limited to patients with Fitzpatrick Skin Types I, II or III. The 510(k) clearance for the Renuvion APR handpiece now addresses improving the appearance of lax (loose) skin in the neck and submental region.
On February 27, 2023, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of the Renuvion APR handpiece for the delivery of radiofrequency energy and/or helium plasma where coagulation/contraction of soft tissue is needed. Soft tissue includes subcutaneous tissue.
On April 28, 2023, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of the Renuvion APR handpiece for coagulation of subcutaneous soft tissues following liposuction for aesthetic body contouring.
On May 10, 2023, the FDA updated the Safety Communication to inform consumers and healthcare providers about the clearance for the Renuvion APR handpiece for use under the skin in certain procedures intended to improve the appearance of the skin, including for coagulation of subcutaneous soft tissues following liposuction for aesthetic body contouring.
While we expected that receiving these clearances would mitigate the financial effects of the Safety Communication in future periods, we continue to experience reduced demand for the adoption and utilization of our technology and we believe that this may have an adverse effect in the current and potentially future periods.
On June 14, 2023, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the Renuvion Micro handpiece, a new addition to the Renuvion production family. The Renuvion Micro handpiece was cleared with an indication for the delivery of radiofrequency energy and/or helium plasma where coagulation/contraction of soft tissue is needed. Soft tissue includes subcutaneous tissue.
As part of our plan to accelerate and fully fund the development of our Advanced Energy business, with a focus in the cosmetic surgery market, we sold our Core business in 2018 for gross proceeds of $97 million. These proceeds were used to launch broad
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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued
marketing and sales initiatives which resulted in rapid sales growth through December 31, 2021 and into the first quarter of 2022. This planned growth in the business was accompanied by scaled operations, including procurement of components, expanded manufacturing capacity to turn those materials into saleable inventory, additional discretionary expenditures, including increased global participation at trade shows, additional employee trainings, user meetings, increased travel and entertainment expenses, more expansive research and development projects, and additional headcount to support those activities. Additionally, we had and still have, some significant non-recurring discretionary expenditures associated with completing our multi-year marketing initiatives related to our dermal resurfacing and skin laxity clearances.
We have incurred recurring net losses and cash outflows from operations and we anticipate that losses will continue in the near term. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we incurred a loss from operations of $17.3 million and used $5.2 million of cash in operations, which is inclusive of the receipt of our tax refund of approximately $8.1 million. As of December 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $43.7 million. We plan to continue to fund our operations and capital funding needs through existing cash, sales of our products and, if necessary, additional equity and/or debt financing. However, we cannot be certain that additional financing will be available when needed or that, if available, financing will be obtained on terms favorable to us or our existing stockholders. The sale of additional equity would result in dilution to our stockholders. Incurring additional debt financing would result in further debt service obligations, and the instruments governing such debt could provide for operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations. If we are unable to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts or on acceptable terms, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce, or terminate our sales, marketing and product development. Any of these actions could harm our business, results of operations and prospects.
On November 22, 2022, we filed a shelf registration statement providing us the ability to register and sell our securities in the aggregate amount up to $100 million. The shelf registration included an embedded ATM facility for up to $40 million. To date we have not utilized this facility.
On February 17, 2023, we entered into a Credit, Security and Guaranty Agreement (the “MidCap Credit Agreement”) with MidCap Funding IV Trust (as agent), and MidCap Financial Trust (as term loan servicer), and the lenders party thereto from time to time.
The MidCap Credit Agreement provided for an up to $35 million facility, consisting of senior secured term loans and a secured revolving facility. The MidCap Credit Agreement provided for senior secured term loans of up to $25 million, comprised of (i) an initial tranche of $10 million, (ii) a second tranche of $5 million, and (iii) a third tranche of $10 million. The secured revolving facility provided for loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $10 million, subject to a borrowing base equal to certain percentages of the Company’s eligible accounts receivable and inventory, as determined in accordance with the terms of the MidCap Credit Agreement. The MidCap Credit Agreement was extinguished when, on November 8, 2023, we entered into a Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the “Perceptive Credit Agreement”), by and among Apyx Medical (as borrower), Apyx China Holding Corp. and Apyx Bulgaria EOOD, our wholly-owned subsidiaries (as subsidiary guarantors), and Perceptive Credit Holdings IV, LP (as initial lender and administrative agent) (“Perceptive”), and the lenders from time to time party thereto. The Perceptive Credit Agreement provides for a facility of up to $45 million, consisting of senior secured term loans. The Perceptive Credit Agreement provides for (i) an initial loan of $37.5 million and (ii) a delayed draw loan of $7.5 million.
For a more in-depth description of the terms of the Midcap Credit Agreement and the Perceptive Credit Agreement, see Note 11 in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
On February 27, 2023, our Board of Directors approved a plan to sell and leaseback our real property located in Clearwater, FL. On March 14, 2023, we entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with VK Acquisitions VI, LLC (the “Purchaser”), for the sale of our facility located at 5115 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, Florida, as more fully described in the Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Property”) for a purchase price of $7,650,000. On May 8, 2023 we closed the Purchase Agreement and concurrently executed a 10-year agreement to leaseback the underlying Property from the Purchaser.
For a more in-depth description of the terms of the Purchase Agreement see Notes 6 and 7 in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
During January 2023, we were notified that the IRS examination process of our 2018, 2019 and 2020 tax returns was complete and that the Company's tax refunds were approved for approximately $0.2 million more than the amount recorded in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2022. On August 10, 2023, we received $8.1 million from the IRS, which included approximately $0.4 million of interest on the $7.7 of million income tax refunds.
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APYX MEDICAL CORPORATION
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued
We believe that the actions already taken, including replacing the MidCap Credit Agreement with the Perceptive Credit Agreement, alleviated the conditions that previously raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least one year from the date of issuance of our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other Matters
During 2023, we continued to drive sales in our Advanced Energy business by increasing the adoption and utilization of our handpieces in the U.S. cosmetic surgery market and fulfilling demand from distributors in our international markets. Management estimates that our products have been sold in more than 60 countries. As of December 31, 2023, we had a direct sales force of 31 field-based selling professionals and utilized 3 independent sales agencies. We also had 4 sales managers. This selling organization, along with our international network of distributors, is focused on the use of Renuvion and J-Plasma in the cosmetic and hospital surgical markets, supported by our global medical affairs team. This global team of clinical support specialists focuses on supporting our users to ensure optimal outcomes for their patients. In addition, we have invested in training programs and marketing-related activities to support accelerated adoption of Renuvion into surgeons' practices.
We believe that our continued investment and focus on the following strategic initiatives in 2023 and beyond will position the Company for long-term growth in the cosmetic surgery market:
•To formalize our regulatory strategy to pursue specific clinical indications that will enable us to sell our Renuvion products for targeted procedures
•To secure new clinical evidence demonstrating the safety and efficacy of our Helium Plasma Technology
•To provide enhanced physician and practice support for our cosmetic surgery customers
•To improve our manufacturing capabilities and efficiencies
In regards to our operating segments, our results are aggregated into reportable segments only if they exhibit similar economic characteristics. In addition to similar economic characteristics, we also consider the following factors in determining the reportable segments: the nature of business activities, the management structure directly accountable to our chief operating decision maker for operating and administrative activities, availability of discrete financial information, and information presented to the Board of Directors and investors. Asset information is not reviewed by the chief operating decision maker by segment and is not available by segment and, accordingly, we have not presented a measure of assets by reportable segment.
Our reportable segments are disclosed as principally organized and managed as two operating segments: Advanced Energy and OEM. “Corporate & Other” includes certain unallocated corporate and administrative costs which are not specifically attributed to any reportable segment. The OEM segment is primarily development and manufacturing contract and product driven, and all related expenses are recorded as cost of sales, therefore no segment specific operating expenses are incurred.
We strongly encourage investors to visit our website: www.apyxmedical.com to view the most current news and to review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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APYX MEDICAL CORPORATION
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued
Results of Operations
Sales
Year EndedDecember 31,
Sales by Reportable Segment
Sales by Domestic and International
Total revenue increased by 17.6% or approximately $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 when compared with 2022. Advanced Energy segment sales increased 17.9% or approximately $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 when compared with 2022. The Advanced Energy sales increase was driven primarily by domestic customers who upgraded their generators to our new Apyx One Console, which we launched in January 2023, a higher average selling price on sales of new generators due to the introduction of the Apyx One Console and an increase in volume of single-use handpieces, domestically.
The OEM product line consists of proprietary products designed specifically for third party equipment manufacturers. Revenue for this product line increased 16.3%, or approximately $1.3 million, when compared to 2022. The increase in OEM sales was due to increases in sales volume to existing customers as well as incremental new sales upon the commencement of the supply arrangement related to the completion of the development portion of some of our OEM development agreements.
International sales represented approximately 26.8% and 29.9% of total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively. Management estimates our products have been sold in more than 60 countries through local distributors coordinated by sales and marketing personnel through our facilities in Clearwater, Florida and Sofia, Bulgaria.
Gross Profit
Year EndedDecember 31,
Percentage of sales 35.5 % 34.6 %
Percentage of sales 64.5 % 65.4 %
Our gross profit margin as a percentage of sales decreased by approximately 1.0% during the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with 2022. The decrease in gross profit margins for the year ended December 31, 2023 from the prior year is primarily attributable to changes in product mix within our Advanced Energy Segment, customer mix, higher material and inbound shipping costs to manufacture our inventory and additional reserves on inventories as a result of lower than expected sales. These decreases were partially offset by geographic mix within our Advanced Energy segment, with higher margin domestic sales comprising a higher percentage of total sales and the mix of newer product models as we obtain registrations, allowing these products to be introduced into the markets we serve.
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APYX MEDICAL CORPORATION
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued
Other Costs and Expenses
Research and development
Year EndedDecember 31,
Percentage of sales 9.3 % 10.2 %
Our expenses for research and development related activities increased by 6.6% or approximately $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with 2022. This increase was primarily due to higher spending on our product development initiatives and clinical studies ($0.2 million) and increased labor and benefits costs from the same period in the prior year ($0.1 million).
Professional services
Year EndedDecember 31,
Percentage of sales 13.4 % 20.3 %
Professional services expenses decreased 22.3%, or approximately $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with 2022. This decrease was primarily attributable to decreases in legal expenses ($1.2 million) associated with the estimated loss recorded in the prior year for certain legal actions and current year reversal of a legal loss contingency, physician consulting fees ($0.5 million), accounting and audit fees ($0.2 million) and board of director’s option expense ($0.2 million).
Salaries and related costs
Year EndedDecember 31,
Percentage of sales 37.5 % 41.8 %
Salaries and related expenses increased 5.5% or approximately $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2022. The increase was primarily driven by increases in bonus expense ($1.3 million), labor and benefits costs ($0.6 million) and temporary labor expenses ($0.3 million). These increases are partially offset by lower stock based compensation expense ($1.3 million).
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Year EndedDecember 31,
Percentage of sales 42.4 % 46.0 %
Selling, general and administrative expense increased by 8.4% or approximately $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with 2022. The change is primarily driven by increases in commissions ($1.1 million), insurance expense, as a result of increased product liability claims on our policies ($0.9 million), travel expense ($0.3 million), regulatory costs ($0.2 million), building lease expense ($0.2 million) and payment processing fees ($0.1 million). These increases were partially offset
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APYX MEDICAL CORPORATION
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued
by decreases in advertising expense, including trade show fees and related costs ($0.5 million), employee meeting and training costs ($0.3 million), foreign currency gains and losses ($0.2 million) and depreciation expense ($0.1 million).
Gain on sale-leaseback
Year EndedDecember 31,
Gain on sale-leaseback $ 2,692 $ —
Percentage of sales 5.1 % — %
During the year ended December 31, 2023, gain on sale-leaseback was approximately $2.7 million as a result of the gain on the sale and leaseback of our Clearwater, FL facility in May 2023.
Interest Income (Expense)
Year EndedDecember 31,
Percentage of sales 1.8 % 0.4 %
Interest expense $ (2,478) $ (15)
Percentage of sales (4.7) % — %
Interest income increased approximately $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with 2022. This increase is due to higher yields on our investments in money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities included in cash and cash equivalents combined with a higher average balance.
Interest expense increased approximately $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, when compared with the prior year. These increases are due to cash and noncash interest expense on the MidCap Credit Agreement executed on February 17, 2023, and the Perceptive Credit Agreement executed on November 8, 2023.
Other Income (Loss), net
Year EndedDecember 31,
Percentage of sales 1.2 % 1.1 %
Loss on extinguishment of debt $ (3,088) $ —
Percentage of sales (5.9) % — %
Other income, net increased approximately $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with 2022. This increase was primarily attributable to a small insurance recovery in 2023 ($0.2 million). This increase was partially offset by a decrease in the release of our joint and several payroll liability due to the lapse of the statute of limitations on a portion of the liability ($0.1 million).
During the year ended December 31, 2023, loss on extinguishment of debt was approximately $3.1 million as a result of the extinguishment of the MidCap Credit Agreement upon execution of the Perceptive Credit Agreement.
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APYX MEDICAL CORPORATION
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued
Income Taxes
Twelve Months EndedDecember 31,
Effective tax rate 11.4 % (1.6) %
Income tax (benefit) expense was approximately $2.4 million and $0.4 million, with effective tax rates of 11.4% and (1.6)%, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate primarily due to the valuation allowance on our Federal and State net operating losses (NOLs) combined with the reversal of our uncertain tax positions upon completion of the IRS audit of our tax return for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 years in January 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate primarily due to the valuation allowance on our Federal and State net operating losses (NOLs) combined with interest and penalties on our uncertain tax positions.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At December 31, 2023, we had approximately $43.7 million in cash and cash equivalents as compared to approximately $10.2 million in cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2022. Our working capital at December 31, 2023 was approximately $57.6 million compared with $31.1 million at December 31, 2022. The increase in working capital at December 31, 2023, was primarily due to proceeds received from the execution of the Perceptive Credit Agreement, less the proceeds used to payoff the MidCap Credit Agreement, the proceeds received upon the sale-leaseback of our Clearwater, FL facility in May 2023 and the reversal of our liability for uncertain tax positions upon the completion in January 2023 of the IRS examination of our 2018, 2019 and 2020 income tax returns. This increase was partially offset by the net loss we experienced in 2023, excluding non-cash activity, comprised primarily of stock-based compensation.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash used in operating activities was $5.2 million, which is inclusive of the receipt of our tax refund of approximately $8.1 million, which principally funded our loss from operations of $17.3 million, compared with net cash used in operating activities of approximately $20.3 million for 2022.
We have incurred recurring net losses and cash outflows from operations and we anticipate that losses will continue in the near term. We plan to continue to fund our operations and capital funding needs through existing cash, sales of our products and if necessary additional equity and/or debt financing. However, we cannot be certain that additional financing will be available when needed or that, if available, financing will be obtained on terms favorable to us or our existing stockholders. The sale of additional equity would result in dilution to our stockholders. Incurring additional debt financing would result in further debt service obligations, and the instruments governing such debt could provide for operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations. If we are unable to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts or on acceptable terms, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce, or terminate our sales, marketing and product development. Any of these actions could harm our business, results of operations and prospects.
On November 22, 2022, we filed a shelf registration statement providing us the ability to register and sell our securities in the aggregate amount up to $100 million. The shelf registration included an embedded ATM facility for up to $40 million. To date we have not utilized this facility.
On February 17, 2023, we entered into a Credit, Security and Guaranty Agreement (the “MidCap Credit Agreement”) with MidCap Funding IV Trust (as agent), and MidCap Financial Trust (as term loan servicer), and the lenders party thereto from time to time.
The MidCap Credit Agreement provided for an up to $35 million facility, consisting of senior secured term loans and a secured revolving facility. The MidCap Credit Agreement provided for senior secured term loans of up to $25 million, comprised of (i) an initial tranche of $10 million, (ii) a second tranche of $5 million, and (iii) a third tranche of $10 million. The secured revolving facility provided for loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $10 million, subject to a borrowing base equal to certain percentages of the Company’s eligible accounts receivable and inventory, as determined in accordance with the terms of
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APYX MEDICAL CORPORATION
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued
the MidCap Credit Agreement. The MidCap Credit Agreement was extinguished when, on November 8, 2023, we entered into a Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the “Perceptive Credit Agreement”), by and among Apyx Medical (as borrower), Apyx China Holding Corp. and Apyx Bulgaria EOOD, our wholly-owned subsidiaries (as subsidiary guarantors), and Perceptive Credit Holdings IV, LP (as initial lender and administrative agent) (“Perceptive”), and the lenders from time to time party thereto. The Perceptive Credit Agreement provides for a facility of up to $45 million, consisting of senior secured term loans. The Perceptive Credit Agreement provides for (i) an initial loan of $37.5 million and (ii) a delayed draw loan of $7.5 million.
For a more in-depth description of the terms of the Midcap Credit Agreement and the Perceptive Credit Agreement see Note 11 in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
On February 27, 2023, our Board of Directors approved a plan to sell and leaseback our real property located in Clearwater, FL. On March 14, 2023, we entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with VK Acquisitions VI, LLC (the “Purchaser”), for the sale of our facility located at 5115 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, Florida, as more fully described in the Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Property”) for a purchase price of $7,650,000. On May 8, 2023, we closed the Purchase Agreement and concurrently executed a 10-year agreement to leaseback the underlying Property from the Purchaser.
For a more in-depth description of the terms of the Purchase Agreement see Notes 6 and 7 in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
During January 2023, we were notified that the IRS examination process of our 2018, 2019 and 2020 tax returns was complete and that the Company's tax refunds were approved for approximately $0.2 million more than the amount recorded in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2022. On August 10, 2023, we received $8.1 million from the IRS, which included approximately $0.4 million of interest on the $7.7 million of income tax refunds.
We believe that the actions already taken, including replacing the MidCap Credit Agreement with the Perceptive Credit Agreement, alleviate the conditions that raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least one year from the date of issuance of our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Net cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $6.7 millionrelated to the sale of our Clearwater, FL facility ($7.3 million), partially offset by investments in property and equipment ($0.5 million). Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022, was $1.0 million related to investments in property and equipment.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $32.2 million, which primarily related to proceeds received upon the execution of the Perceptive Credit Agreement ($36.4 million) less debt issuance costs incurred in the transactions for both the Perceptive Credit Agreement and MidCap Credit Agreement ($3.1 million) and fees, premiums and costs to extinguish the MidCap Credit Agreement ($1.3 million).
At December 31, 2023, we had purchase commitments for inventories totaling approximately $3.8 million, all of which is expected to be purchased by the end of 2024.
Critical Accounting Estimates
In preparing the consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), we have adopted various accounting policies. Our most significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 2 in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.