XML 34 R28.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.24.3
Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
17.
Commitments and Contingencies

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 450, Contingencies, the Company accrues anticipated costs of settlement, damages or other costs to the extent specific losses are probable and reasonably estimable. These accruals are adjusted periodically as assessments change or additional information becomes available.

Litigation and Related Contingencies

Lawsuits, claims and proceedings of a nature considered normal to its businesses may be pending from time to time against the Company. Loss contingency provisions are recorded if the potential loss from any claim, asserted or unasserted, or legal proceeding related to patents, products and other matters, is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, or a range of loss can be determined. These accruals represent management’s best estimate of probable loss. Disclosure is provided when a loss is considered probable but the loss is not reasonably estimable and when a material loss is reasonably possible but not probable. The outcome of any of these proceedings cannot be accurately predicted, and the ultimate resolution of any of these existing matters, net of amounts accrued in the Company's balance sheet, may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business or financial condition.

Third parties might allege that the Company or its collaborators are infringing their patent rights or that the Company is otherwise violating their intellectual property rights. An adverse outcome in any of these proceedings could result in one of more of the following and have material impact on our business or consolidated results of operations and financial position: (i) loss of patent protection; (ii) inability to continue to engage in certain activities; (iii) payment of significant damages, royalties, penalties and/or license fees to third parties; and, (iv) with respect to products acquired through acquisitions accounted for as business combinations, potentially significant intangible asset impairment charges.

In September 2019, Luxendo GmbH (“Luxendo”), a subsidiary of Bruker Corporation, was sued in Germany by Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH, a subsidiary of Carl Zeiss AG (“Zeiss”), for infringement of a registered German utility model. After the utility model was canceled by the German Patent and Trademark Office in 2021, Zeiss withdrew its infringement action at the end of 2022 and the proceedings were terminated. However, a parallel European patent application, a family member of the utility model, is still pending in the European Patent Office (“EPO”). The Company is closely monitoring progress in the granting procedure and does not believe that a grant is imminent. The Company is presently unable to predict the EPO's final decision on the patent application.

In connection with the acquisition of NanoString, the Company assumed certain of its liabilities, including the liabilities associated with the litigation matters related to NanoString’s GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler products (the “GeoMx Matter”) and CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager products (the “CosMx Matter”). In the GeoMx Matter, in November 2023, a jury verdict was entered in favor of the plaintiffs, 10x Genomics, Inc. (“10x”) and Prognosys Biosciences, Inc. (collectively, the “Plaintiffs”) awarding approximately $31.6 million in damages. NanoString filed post-trial motions asking the Court to overturn the jury’s verdict and/or amend the judgment. The Plaintiffs asked the Court in their post-trial motions to enhance the damages award and for injunctive relief.

The Court has not yet ruled on the post-trial motions. The CosMx Matter complaint concerns claims by 10x and the President and Fellows of Harvard College (“Harvard”) of patent infringement with respect to CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager products as well as counterclaims against 10x and Harvard for antitrust and unfair competition violations. The CosMx Matter complaint seeks unspecified damages and injunctive relief. At this stage of the CosMx Matter, the Company is unable to estimate a range of loss, if any, that could result should there be an adverse final decision.

In addition, the Company is subject to regulation by national, state and local government agencies in the United States and other countries in which the Company operates. From time to time, the Company is the subject of governmental investigations often involving regulatory, marketing and other business practices. These governmental investigations may result in the commencement of civil and criminal proceedings, fines, penalties and administrative remedies which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations and/or liquidity.

As of September 30, 2024, provisions for contingencies related to the matters described above have been recorded. While the Company believes it has meritorious defenses for the matters described above, the ultimate resolution of, or increase in accruals for, one or more of these matters in any reporting period may have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and cash flows for that period.