Alphatec Holdings Inc

We are a medical technology company, headquartered in Carlsbad, California, focused on the design, development, and advancement of technology for better surgical treatment of spine disorders. By applying our unique, 100% spine focus and deep, collective industry know-how, we aim to revolutionize the approach to spine surgery through clinical distinction. The sophisticated approaches that we create from the ground up integrate with our expanding Alpha InformatiX™ ("AIX") product platform to objectively inform surgery and achieve the goals of spine surgery more predictably and more reproducibly. We have a comprehensive product portfolio designed to address the spine’s various pathologies, and are perpetually innovating to accomplish our ultimate vision, which is to be the standard bearer in spine.

Total revenue was $482.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, representing an increase of $131.4 million, or 37% compared to $350.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. We believe our future success will continue to be fueled by increasing adoption of the new and existing integrated technologies that distinguish our approach-specific procedures. We feel that ATEC is well-positioned to continue to capitalize on spine market dynamics.

Background

The year 2018 marked the beginning of a business transformation that replaced 100% of our executive team, 92% of our Board of Directors, and 96% of the remaining team with experienced professionals, infusing industry-leading spine know-how throughout our organization. Efforts that year founded the ATEC Organic Innovation Machine™, in-house product design, development and testing capabilities that harnessed the team’s collective spine expertise to create clinical distinction.

From 2019 through 2021, we focused on building a foundation capable of supporting the organization as we scale. We invested in new headquarters to substantially increase surgeon and sales training capacity and opened a distribution facility in Memphis, Tennessee, to ensure predictable and expedient surgical support as our footprint expands. We developed and released several key elements of our approach-based portfolio, including a comprehensive posterior fixation system and approach-specific IdentiTi™ porous titanium implants. We also acquired and integrated SafeOp™, technology that integrates uniquely with our approaches to provide information about both the location and the health of nerves intra-operatively. SafeOp became the informational foundation of the Prone TransPsoas (“PTP”) approach, which we developed and launched in 2020 to advance first-generation lateral spine surgery. We also acquired EOS®, technology that enables full-body, calibrated, 3D images that integrate throughout the span of patient spine care to influence procedure planning and improve and quantify the understanding of global alignment. As we execute our vision for EOS, we believe it will set new standards for spine care.

From 2022 to 2023, the momentum of PTP™ was robust, as both lateral-experienced and surgeons new to lateral surgery adopted the approach. We applied learnings from PTP to develop and introduce the Lateral TransPsoas ("LTP") and Midline ALIF approaches. Like PTP, the approaches were built from the ground up and integrated with SafeOp, and are designed to enable single-position surgery for the most commonly treated levels in spine. We believe that our lateral franchise boasts unparalleled optionality, the capacity to address the clinical requirements for every pathology and surgeon preference regardless of patient position. The lateral sophistication that we have created is earning surgeons’ confidence and loyalty, and that is fueling portfolio-wide utilization of even our most conventional procedures.

The application of our team’s deep spine know-how, coupled with a willingness to invest holistically in each of the technologies integrated into all of ATEC’s procedural approaches continues to increasingly compel surgeons and sales talent to partner with us. That adoption-driven validation has been the source of industry-leading market share expansion, which has delivered an approximately 40% revenue compound annual growth rate since our transformation commenced in 2018.

Recent Developments

Public Offering

On October 27, 2023, we completed an underwritten public offering (the “Public Offering”) of 14,300,000 shares of our common stock at a price of $10.50 per share. In connection with the Public Offering, we granted the underwriters a 30-day option (the "Green-Shoe") to purchase additional shares of common stock in the offering at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The net proceeds from the Public Offering and Green-Shoe, were approximately $145.8 million, including the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses paid by us. We expect to use the net proceeds from the Public Offering to fund general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, or research and development.

Asset Purchase Agreement

On April 19, 2023, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Integrity Implants Inc. and Fusion Robotics, LLC (collectively, the “Sellers”), whereby we acquired certain assets, liabilities, employees, and contracts related to the Sellers’ navigation-enabled robotics platform ("Valence"). We paid the Sellers cash consideration of $55.0 million for the purchase of Valence.

Underwritten Offering

On April 19, 2023, we completed a registered securities offering (the “Offering”) of 4,285,715 shares of our common stock at a price of $14.00 per share. The net proceeds from the Offering were approximately $57.5 million, including the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses paid by us. We used a portion of the net proceeds of the offering to fund the purchase of Valence. We expect to use the remaining proceeds to fund the costs related to the post-closing integration and research and development activities related to Valence, as well as to fund general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, or research and development.

On January 6, 2023, we entered into a $150.0 million term loan credit facility with Braidwell Transaction Holdings, LLC (the “Braidwell Term Loan”). The Braidwell Term Loan provided for an initial term loan of $100.0 million which was funded on the closing date. On September 28, 2023, we drew the additional $50.0 million (the “delayed draw term loan(s)” or the “DDTL”). The Braidwell Term Loan matures on January 6, 2028. Borrowings under the Braidwell Term Loan bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate for such SOFR business day ("SOFR") subject to a 3% floor, plus 5.75%.

Strategy

Our vision is to be the standard bearer in spine. By creating clinically distinct solutions that improve surgical outcomes, we believe that we are positioned to continue to earn share of the U.S. spine market, becoming the partner of choice for spine surgeons, hospitals, healthcare systems, and payors.

To achieve our vision and unlock long-term value, we have, and will continue to prioritize the following three key strategic initiatives:

1. Create Clinical Distinction

Clinical distinction is paramount to our value creation strategy. We are committed to continuing to invest in the development, launch, and promotion of approaches and technologies intended to revolutionize spine surgery. We have developed, and continue to seek to develop, next-generation surgical approaches that advance spine care with seamlessly integrated access systems, implants, positioners, biologics and enabling technologies, each specifically designed to beget objective decision-making and to more successfully address the core spine pathologies.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, we continued to champion adoption of our lateral franchise, including both PTP and LTP, and launched Calibrate LTX™, a lateral expandable interbody implant system. We also continued to foster development of Alpha InformatiX, a workflow-integrated informatic ecosystem being designed to automatically and objectively inform spine patient care before, during and after surgery. A foundation of that ecosystem, the EOS imaging system, drove revenue growth of over 20%, while significant progress was made on initiatives intended to materially advance the system’s capabilities. We also acquired a robotic-enabled navigation system, branded "Valence", which is currently being developed to integrate into our lateral procedural workflow.

With the expansion and increasing capabilities of our product portfolio, we continue to drive year-over-year growth in the number of product categories used per surgery, surgical volume, and average revenue per surgery. Aggregate product categories used per surgery expanded to 2.4 for the full-year 2023, compared to 2.2 in the prior year. For the full year 2023, surgical volume grew 31% and average revenue per surgery expanded 7% compared to 2022.

Looking to 2024 and beyond, we intend to continue to pioneer spine innovation that improves surgical outcomes. As such, we expect continued growth in the number of products sold into each surgery, surgical volume and revenue per surgery.

2. Compel Surgeon Adoption

An integral part of our strategy is to compel surgeon adoption with the clinical distinction that we have, and will continue to introduce. Central to inspiring surgeon interest in our approaches is the “ATEC Experience,” an outcomes-based educational program for visiting surgeons facilitated at our headquarters in Carlsbad, California. The program provides an interactive learning environment tailored to surgeon needs through both a peer-to-peer and subject matter expert approach. We leverage our state-of-the-art, 7-station cadaveric lab to enable visiting surgeons to gain deep practical experience with our procedural solutions and educate participants on our role in shaping innovation.

The surgeon relationships we are creating through that educational program continue to fuel strong growth. Over 500 new and existing surgeons participated in the ATEC Experience in 2023, driving 27% growth in our surgeon user base. Over time, we cultivate the relationships created, partnering with each surgeon in an increasing number of surgeries and fostering training to inspire partnership in increasingly complex surgeries. We seek to gradually expand utilization and position us well for sustained long-term growth.

3. Elevate Distribution

We market and sell our products through a strategic network of independent sales agents and direct sales representatives. To deliver consistent, predictable growth, we have added, and intend to continue to add, clinically astute and exclusive independent sales agents and direct sales representatives to reach untapped surgeons, hospitals, and national accounts and better penetrate existing accounts and territories. We believe the opportunity to expand our strategic sales network is vast, with approximately one third of U.S. territories, including many of the U.S.' most significant spine markets, still under- or completely unrepresented.

With our acquisition of EOS, we aligned EOS’ U.S.-based capital sales team with our regional sales teams and leadership. The EOS sales team focuses on hospital administrators, with the benefits of leads generated by our sales team and enhanced service support.

In 2023, we continued to enhance the expertise within our Memphis distribution facility. With expedient, flexible access to nearby distribution centers, we believe the facility will foster centralized, predictable surgical support as we grow.

We are also in the nascent stages of building an international footprint. Beginning in 2022, we partnered with surgeons to treat our first patients in Australia and New Zealand. Looking forward, we intend to focus our international investments in economically attractive markets with strong surgeon influence and reasonable regulatory pathways where we believe we can build a direct sales team that mirrors the sophistication of our U.S. network.

Spine Anatomy

The spine is the core of the human skeleton, providing important structural support and alignment while remaining flexible to allow movement. A column of 33 vertebrae, it protects the spinal cord and provides the main support for the body. Each bony segment of the spine is referred to as a vertebra (two or more are called vertebrae). The spine has five regions containing groups of similar bones, listed from top to bottom: seven cervical vertebrae in the neck, twelve thoracic vertebrae in the mid-back (each attached to a rib), five lumbar vertebrae in the lower back, five sacral vertebrae fused together to form one bone called the sacrum, which sits in the pelvis, and four coccygeal bones fused together that form the tailbone. At the front of each vertebra is a block of bone called the vertebral body. Vertebrae are stacked on top of each other and separated from each other through a cushioning intervertebral disc in the front, and bony joints in the back, which create the stability and mobility needed for sitting, standing, and walking. Strong muscles and bones, flexible tendons and ligaments, and sensitive nerves contribute to a healthy spine.

Pain can be caused when any of the spine’s structures is affected by strain, injury, or disease, and spine surgery seeks to alleviate that pain. While the spine has been surgically intervened upon for decades, research demonstrates that surgical outcomes in spine are generally inferior to surgical outcomes delivered by most other orthopedic specialties, particularly in terms of durability, predictability and reproducibility. ATEC’s procedural offerings are designed to treat the various spine pathologies by better achieving the three goals of surgery including: (1) decompression, (2) stabilization, and (3) alignment. We believe there is vast opportunity to create value by innovating to improve surgical outcomes in spine.

The Alphatec Solution

Our mission to improve outcomes by revolutionizing spine surgery affords a differentiated procedural investment thesis. Unlike most of our peers, we take a holistic approach to the approaches that we bring to market, investing not just in the highest dollar components of the approach, but in each of the technologies that integrate to enhance the clinical predictability and reproducibility of an approach. Our procedures seamlessly incorporate technology engendered by that thesis, including an expanding informatic ecosystem designed to automatically and objectively inform spine patient care before, during and after surgery, as well as approach-specific, ergonomic patient positioning and surgical access technology.

Our principal offerings include comprehensive approaches designed and developed to specifically meet the requirements of the various spine approaches that treat conditions ranging from degenerative disc disease to complex deformity and trauma. Depending on the approach, our solutions may comprise pre-, intra-, and post-operative information, positioners, access systems, interbody implants, fixation systems, and various biologics offerings; all designed to more reproducibly and predictably improve patient outcomes.

Our flagship approach, PTP, was designed and released in 2020 by the team that created the first-generation lateral approach for spinal fusion to directly address the known challenges that limited earlier adoption of the technique. Engineered to leverage the benefits achieved by lateral spinal fusion procedures, such as reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery times, PTP safely treats a wide range of patient pathologies.

Compared to a standard lateral procedure, the PTP approach positions the patient in a prone (face down) position, allowing simultaneous access to the spine laterally (from the side) and posteriorly (from the back), all while in a position that is more familiar to surgeons and offering a more streamlined, more orthogonal approach. Single-position lateral surgery in the prone position minimizes unnecessary patient repositioning, enhances time efficiencies, provides surgeons with increased optionality, and achieves spinal alignment objectives more reproducibly.

The PTP approach is enabled through a combination of purposefully developed technologies that address the unique challenges of approaching the spine laterally while prone. One such challenge, and probably the greatest limit to earlier adoption of lateral approaches overall, is the need to safely and predictably navigate across the lumbar plexus, an essential collection of nerves, to access the lumbar spine during surgery. Key to our PTP approach is the integration of SafeOp Advanced Neuromonitoring, a proprietary technology that couples automated electromyographic (“EMG”) and somatosensory evoked potential (“SSEP”) monitoring. SafeOp technology, as a result, is designed to uniquely beget real-time, surgeon-directed intra-operative information about both the location and the health of the patient’s nerves, enhancing the predictability and reproducibility of lateral approach outcomes.

Our Technology

Alpha InformatiX

Designed to provide actionable information that controls clinical variables in spine care, our AIX™ product platform comprises our EOS imaging system and VEA™ alignment mobile application, our SafeOp Neural InformatiX System and Valence. While some AIX applications are commercially available, significant development is underway to integrate and interconnect these technologies and bring unprecedented functionalities to market in 2024 and beyond.

Our EOS imaging system is designed to provide unbiased, high-quality, and calibrated full-body imaging that enables a 3D model of patients’ skeletal systems and to provide valuable diagnostic and surgical planning capabilities. The integration of our approach-specific solutions into EOS’ 3D surgical planning platform is expected to better inform surgery and enhance the predictability of outcomes. Development is expected to allow surgeons to more effectively and efficiently assess patients’ full-body alignment, assess level-specific bone quality, establish surgical objectives, bend patient-specific rods pre-operatively, reconcile to surgical objectives intra-operatively, and determine whether surgical objectives were met post-operatively. Ultimately, we believe the standardized images uniquely made possible by EOS pre-, intra-, and post-operatively can be the foundation for predictive care in spine.

Our SafeOp Neural InformatiX System was the first advanced technology to launch from the AIX product platform. SafeOp is a patented technology that automates both EMG and SSEP monitoring. As a result, the system can provide surgeons with objective, real-time, and actionable information about both nerve location and nerve health intra-operatively on a small, easy-to-use tablet platform. Integration of the information with our advanced access, implant, and fixation technologies equips surgeons with procedural solutions designed to enhance safety, efficiency, and reproducibility. The VEA mobile alignment application is designed to leverage EOS technology to more quickly quantify alignment parameters on a mobile device. Further development is aimed at enabling broad EOS image access for the integration of intraoperative solutions.

Valence was acquired in 2023. An intra-operative system developed by spine experts with deep navigation and robotics know-how, Valence integrates navigation and robotics into spine procedures utilizing either a 3D imaging scan or 2D fluoroscopic images of the patient. Utilizing a small, table-mounted navigation system, a robotic arm guides instrumentation and implants to a pre-determined destination during surgery. While we achieved regulatory clearance to place Invictus® screws through the system late in 2023, we are seeking to further develop and commercialize our vision for Valence, which we expect to integrate the navigation and robotics into our lateral procedures to improve surgical predictability, reduce radiation exposure, and enhance intra-operative precision.

Positioners

We have developed approach-specific patient positioning systems that integrate with our other access systems, providing for a more rigid construct and enhanced reproducibility. The PTP Patient Positioning System™, for example, was developed specifically for the PTP procedure as an adjunct to the Sigma™-PTP Access System. Designed to maximize the positional effects of having the patient in a prone position while streamlining operating room setup, PTP enables a single-position surgery. Key features include bi-lateral structural support to minimize patient movement, adjustable side paddle position to accommodate varying patient habitus, an integrated bed-rail system and compatibility with the Jackson frame. In addition, the system’s ultra-radiolucent carbon fiber frame is designed to help enhance fluoroscopic visibility and its coronal bending mechanism is designed to create reproducible access to L4-5 and upper lumbar regions.

Access Systems

We have differentiated surgical access instruments that are designed to maximize patient outcomes through enhanced visibility and rigidity, intuitive orthogonality, and approach-specific exposure. We offer several split-blade retractors which allow for direct, illuminated visualization and freedom of maneuverability within the operative corridor. Our retractors also provide for stable positioning by attaching directly to the surgical table. We also offer procedure-specific access systems, including our Sigma-ALIF Access System which allows for custom anterior abdominal exposure through freehand placement of dissecting blades and connection to a ringed frame. The Sigma-ALIF Access System provides an unobstructed working corridor with custom features to enable an ALIF approach in either supine or lateral decubitus.

Implants and Fixation Systems

Our portfolio of specialized spinal implants and fixation systems are designed to specifically meet the requirements of each approach. Available in varying shapes, sizes, and lordosis options, our spinal implants include implants made from allograft, PEEK, and porous titanium. We offer NanoTec™ surface modifications to our interbody systems to increase the surface area for cell adhesion and proliferation. Customization can be enhanced with our lordotic expandable intervertebral body fusion system, Calibrate™ PSX, which was released in 2022. We also offer several standalone implants designed to provide for height restoration and stabilization in one integrated solution.

Invictus is our next-generation comprehensive spinal fixation solution, designed to treat the range of pathologies, with intraoperative adaptability and surgical predictability through an open, minimally invasive, or hybrid approach. The sophistication of the Invictus Posterior Fixation System continues to expand. The commercial release of Invictus OCT in early 2021 extended the system’s proficiencies to include the occiput and cervical spine, creating a single system capable of addressing the entire spine from occiput to ilium with familiar and consistent instrument design, simplified screw insertion, and intraoperative adaptability. The launch of Invictus OsseoScrew® later in 2021 advanced the system with the first and only expandable screw commercially available in the U.S. OsseoScrew has been designed to optimize fixation and address fixation failure in compromised bone.

Biologics

We have a variety of biologics designed to facilitate the process of spinal fusion. Our biologics offerings consist of several allograft (donated human tissue) options, including 3D ProFuse™ Osteoconductive Bioscaffold, and a family of AlphaGRAFT® products. 3D ProFuse Osteoconductive Bioscaffold is highly compressible when hydrated, allowing for ease of handling and better endplate-to-endplate contact. Our AlphaGRAFT Demineralized Bone Matrix (“DBM”) consists of demineralized human tissue that is available in gel, putty, and fiber forms. AlphaGRAFT DBM Fibers combine the regenerative capacity of interconnected fibers with the maximum availability of growth factors endogenous to bone. Composed of 100% demineralized fibers, AlphaGRAFT DBM Fibers offer moldable, cohesive handling characteristics. AlphaGRAFT Cellular Bone Matrix (“CBM”) is a growth factor-enriched cellular bone matrix that exhibits the angiogenic, osteoinductive, and mitogenic growth factors necessary for bone growth. AlphaGRAFT CBM may be delivered in granular, fiber, or structural form. We also offer BioCORE™ Moldable Bioactive Graft which is a synthetic mineral-collagen composite matrix that can be molded to fit the bone defect. Our Amnioshield® Amniotic Tissue Barrier is an allograft for spinal surgical barrier applications. The composite amniotic membrane is intended to act as a biological barrier and provide an excellent dissection plane.

Products and Technologies Under Development

Internally Developed Products and Technologies

We are expanding our portfolio of products and technologies to enhance clinical outcomes across multiple pathologies, regardless of a surgeon’s preferred surgical approach. We expect to launch 8-10 new products during 2024.

Research and Development

Our research and development team seeks to better meet the requirements of each surgical approach and design and release new products that increase our penetration of the U.S. spine market. We are focused on developing technology platforms and products that span the largest market segments addressing degenerative and deformity spine pathologies. We have transformed our development process by focusing our programs and leveraging integrated teams to reduce the time frame from product concept to market commercialization. We also collaborate with surgeon partners to design products that are intended to enhance the clinical experience, simplify surgical techniques, and reduce overall costs, while improving patient outcomes. Most of our product development efforts are fully integrated in a singular location, our Carlsbad headquarters, which allows us to bring products from concept to market rapidly responding to surgeon and patient needs. Our resources include a technology advancement cell for rapid prototyping, a cadaveric lab, and mechanical testing laboratory.

Sales and Marketing

We market and sell our products through a sales force consisting of dedicated and non-dedicated independent sales agents and dedicated employee direct sales representatives. We employ a team of area vice presidents, sales directors, and regional business managers, who are responsible for overseeing the sales channel process in their territories. Although surgeons in the U.S. typically make the ultimate decision to use our products, we generally invoice the hospital for the products that are used and pay commissions to the sales representative, or the sales agent based on payment received from the hospital. We compensate our direct sales employees through salaries and incentive bonuses based on performance measures.

We evaluate and select our independent sales agent partners and sales employees based upon their expertise in selling spinal devices, reputation within the surgeon community, geographical coverage, and established sales network.

We market our products at various industry conferences, organized surgical training courses, and in industry trade journals and periodicals.

Surgeon Training and Education

We focus our surgeon training efforts on delivering critical technical skills needed to perform the entire spinal fusion procedure through a peer-to-peer approach for qualified surgeon customers. Well-timed surgeon education programs drive customer conversion and loyalty by focusing on delivering value through improved clinical outcomes. We devote significant resources to training and education and are committed to a culture of scientific excellence and ethics.

We believe that one of the most effective ways to introduce and build market demand for our products is by training and educating spine surgeons, independent sales agents, and direct sales representatives on the benefits and use of our products. Sales training programs are a platform for learning and organizational development, ensuring the sales force is clinically competitive and considered an essential resource to all stakeholders. We focus on cross-functional collaboration and alignment to deliver timely and relevant programs to meet surgeon and representative needs and positively impact the business.

Our training and education programs are designed to support new product introductions to the market as well as ongoing portfolio advancement. Our resources are nimble and responsive and include field-based engagements to supplement our core curriculum. We believe this is an effective way to increase overall surgeon adoption of our new products.

We believe that surgeons, independent sales agents, and direct sales representatives will become exposed to the merits and distinguishing features of our products through our training and education programs, and that such exposure will increase the use and promotion of our products. With a focus on the entire procedure, we expect to build awareness of the breadth of our product offering. We are conscientious in the pursuit of delivering value to all stakeholders. Our goal is to provide surgeon education programs, coupled with a growing and comprehensive sales training platform that create a sustainable competitive advantage for our organization.

Manufacture and Supply

We rely on third-party suppliers for the manufacture of all our implants and instruments. Outsourcing implant manufacturing reduces our need for capital investment and reduces operational expense. Additionally, outsourcing provides expertise and capacity necessary to scale up or down based on demand for our products. We select our suppliers to ensure that all of our products are safe, effective, adhere to all applicable regulations, are of the highest quality, and meet our supply needs. We employ a rigorous supplier assessment, qualification, and selection process targeted to suppliers that meet the requirements of the FDA, and International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”), and quality standards supported by internal policies and procedures. Our quality assurance process monitors and maintains supplier performance through qualification and periodic supplier reviews and audits.

The raw materials used in the manufacture of our non-biologic products are principally titanium, titanium alloys, stainless steel, cobalt chrome, ceramic, allograft, and PEEK. With the exception of PEEK, none of our raw material requirements is limited to any significant extent by critical supply. We are subject to the risk that Invibio, one of a limited number of PEEK suppliers, will be unable to supply PEEK in adequate amounts and in a timely manner. We believe our supplier relationships, alternative product offerings, vendor-managed inventory, and quality processes will support our potential capacity needs for the foreseeable future.

With respect to biologics products, we are FDA-registered and licensed in the states of California, New York, and Florida, the only states that currently require licenses. Our facility and the facilities of the third-party suppliers we use are subject to periodic unannounced inspections by regulatory authorities and may undergo compliance inspections conducted by the FDA and corresponding state and foreign agencies. Because our biologics products are processed from human tissue, maintaining a steady supply can sometimes be challenging. We have not experienced significant difficulty in locating and obtaining the materials necessary to fulfill our production requirements and we have not experienced a meaningful disruption to sales orders.

Competition

Although we believe that our current broad product portfolio and development pipeline is differentiated and has numerous competitive advantages, the spinal implant industry is highly competitive, subject to rapid technological change, and significantly affected by new product introductions. We believe that the principal competitive factors in our market include:

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improved outcomes for spine pathology procedures;

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ease of use, quality, and reliability of product portfolio;

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effective and efficient sales, marketing, and distribution;

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quality service and an educated and knowledgeable sales network;

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technical leadership and superiority;

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surgeon services, such as training and education;

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responsiveness to the needs of surgeons;

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acceptance by spine surgeons;

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product price and qualification for reimbursement; and

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speed to market.

Both our currently marketed products and any future products we commercialize are subject to intense competition. We believe that our most significant competitors are Medtronic (Sofamor Danek), Johnson & Johnson (DePuy Spine), Stryker, Zimmer Biomet, Globus Medical, and others, many of which have substantially greater financial resources than we do. In addition, these companies may have more established distribution networks, entrenched relationships with physicians and greater experience in developing, launching, marketing, distributing, and selling spinal implant products.

Some of our competitors also provide non-operative therapies for spine disorder conditions. While these non-operative treatments are considered to be an alternative to surgery, surgery is typically performed in the event that non-operative treatments are unsuccessful. We believe that, to date, these non-operative treatments have not caused a material reduction in the demand for surgical treatment of spinal disorders.

Intellectual Property

We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and other intellectual property laws, nondisclosure agreements, proprietary information ownership agreements, and other measures to protect our intellectual property rights. We believe that in order to have a competitive advantage, we must develop, maintain, and enforce the proprietary aspects of our technologies. We require our employees, consultants, co-developers, sales agents and advisors to execute agreements governing the ownership of proprietary information and use and disclosure of confidential information in connection with their relationship with us. In general, these agreements require these individuals and entities to agree to disclose and assign to us all inventions that were conceived on our behalf, or which relate to our property or business and to keep our confidential information confidential and only use such confidential information in connection with our business.

Patents. As of December 31, 2023, we and our affiliates owned, or we exclusively owned 156 issued U.S. patents, 42 pending U.S. patent applications and 257 issued or pending foreign patents. We own multiple patents relating to unique aspects and improvements for several of our products. Patents for individual products extend for varying periods according to the date of filing or grant and legal term of patents in various countries where a patent is issued. We do not believe that the expiration of any single patent is likely to significantly affect our intellectual property position.

Trademarks. As of December 31, 2023, we and our affiliates owned 30 registered U.S. trademarks and 26 registered trademarks outside of the U.S.

Government Regulation

Our products are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and other U.S. federal and state regulatory bodies and comparable authorities in other countries. Our products are subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”), and in the case of our tissue products, also under the Public Health Service Act (“PHSA”). To ensure that our products are safe and effective for their intended use, the FDA regulates, among other things, the following activities that we or our partners perform and will continue to perform:

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product design and development;

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product testing;

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non-clinical and clinical research;

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product manufacturing;

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product labeling;

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product storage;

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premarket clearance or approval;

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advertising and promotion;

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product marketing, sales and distribution;

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import and export; and

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post-market surveillance, including reporting deaths or serious injuries related to products and certain product malfunctions.

Government Regulation—Medical Devices

FDA’s Premarket Clearance and Approval Requirements. Unless an exemption applies, each medical device we wish to commercially distribute in the U.S. will require either FDA clearance of a premarket notification requesting permission for commercial distribution under Section 510(k) of the FDCA, also referred to as a 510(k) clearance, or approval of a premarket approval application (“PMA”). The information that must be submitted to the FDA in order to obtain clearance or approval to market a new medical device varies depending on how the medical device is classified by the FDA. Under the FDCA, medical devices are classified into one of three classes - Class I, Class II or Class III - depending on the degree of risk associated with the use of the device and the extent of manufacturer and regulatory controls deemed to be necessary by the FDA to reasonably ensure their safety and effectiveness.

Class I devices are those with the lowest risk to the patient for which safety and effectiveness can be reasonably assured by adherence to a set of regulations, referred to as General Controls, which require compliance with the applicable portions of the FDA’s Quality System Regulation (“QSR”), facility registration and product listing, reporting of adverse events and malfunctions, and appropriate, truthful and non-misleading labeling and promotional materials. Some Class I devices also require 510(k) clearance by the FDA, though most Class I devices are exempt from the premarket notification requirements. Class II devices are those that are subject to the General Controls, as well as Special Controls, which can include performance standards, product-specific guidance documents and post-market surveillance. Manufacturers of most Class II devices are required to submit to the FDA a premarket notification under Section 510(k) of the FDCA. Class III devices include devices deemed by the FDA to pose the greatest risk such as life-supporting or life-sustaining devices, or implantable devices, in addition to those deemed not substantially equivalent following the 510(k) process. The safety and effectiveness of Class III devices cannot be reasonably assured solely by compliance with the General Controls and Special Controls described above. Therefore, these devices must be the subject of an approved PMA. Both 510(k)s and PMAs are subject to the payment of user fees at the time of submission for FDA review.

If the FDA determines that the device is not “substantially equivalent” to a predicate device following submission and review of a 510(k) premarket notification, or if the manufacturer is unable to identify an appropriate predicate device and the new device or new use of the device presents a moderate or low risk, the device sponsor may either pursue a PMA or seek reclassification of the device through the de novo process. Our current products on the market in the U.S. include Class II spinal implants, instruments, neuromonitoring systems, robotic navigation systems, x-ray imaging systems and software as a medical device (SaMD) marketed under 510(k) premarket clearance, as well as Class I 510(k) exempt spinal instruments and devices.

510(k) Clearance Pathway. To obtain 510(k) clearance, we must submit a premarket notification demonstrating that the proposed device is substantially equivalent to a device legally marketed in the U.S. A predicate device is a legally marketed device that is not subject to premarket approval, i.e., a device that was legally marketed prior to May 28, 1976 (pre-amendments device) and for which a PMA is not required, a device that has been reclassified from Class III to Class II or I, or a device that was found substantially equivalent through the 510(k) process. To be “substantially equivalent,” the proposed device must have the same intended use as the predicate device, and either have the same technological characteristics as the predicate device or have different technological characteristics and not raise different questions of safety or effectiveness than the predicate device. Clinical data is sometimes required to support substantial equivalence.

The FDA’s goal is to review and act on each 510(k) within 90 days of submission, but on average the process usually takes approximately six months. It may take less time depending on the type of device and it may take longer if the FDA requests additional information. Most 510(k)s do not require supporting data from clinical trials, but the FDA may request such data. If the FDA agrees that the device is substantially equivalent, it will grant clearance to commercially market the device.

After a device receives 510(k) clearance, any modification that could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness, or that would constitute a new or major change in its intended use, will require a new 510(k) clearance or, depending on the modification, require premarket approval. The FDA requires each manufacturer to determine whether the proposed change requires the submission of a 510(k) or PMA, but the FDA can review any such decision and can disagree with a manufacturer’s determination. If the FDA disagrees with a manufacturer’s determination, the FDA can require the manufacturer to cease marketing and/or recall the modified device until 510(k) clearance or PMA is obtained. If the FDA requires us to seek a new 510(k) clearance or PMA for any modifications to a previously cleared product, we may be required to cease marketing or recall the modified device until we obtain this clearance or approval. Also, in these circumstances, we may be subject to significant fines or penalties. We have made and plan to continue to make enhancements to our products for which we have not submitted 510(k)s or PMAs, and we will consider on a case-by-case basis whether a new 510(k) or PMA is necessary.

The FDA began to consider proposals to reform its 510(k) marketing clearance process in 2011, and such proposals could include increased requirements for clinical data and a longer review period. Specifically, in response to industry and healthcare provider concerns regarding the predictability, consistency and rigor of the 510(k) regulatory pathway, the FDA initiated an evaluation of the 510(k) program, and as part of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, Congress reauthorized the Medical Device User Fee Amendments with various FDA performance goal commitments and enacted several “Medical Device Regulatory Improvements” and miscellaneous reforms, which are further intended to clarify and improve medical device regulation both pre- and post-clearance and approval. Further, in December 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act (“Cures Act”) was signed into law. The Cures Act, among other things, is intended to modernize the regulation of devices and spur innovation but its ultimate implementation is unclear.

Premarket Approval Pathway. Class III devices require PMA before they can be marketed, although some pre-amendment Class III devices for which the FDA has not yet required a PMA are cleared through the 510(k) process. The PMA process is generally more complex, costly and time consuming than the 510(k) process. A PMA must be supported by extensive data including, but not limited to, extensive technical information regarding device design and development, preclinical and clinical trials, manufacturing, and labeling information to demonstrate to the FDA’s satisfaction the safety and effectiveness of the device for its intended use. The PMA application must provide valid scientific evidence that demonstrates to the FDA’s satisfaction reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device for its intended use. Following receipt of a PMA, the FDA determines whether the application is sufficiently complete to permit a substantive review. If the FDA accepts the application for review, it has 180 days under the FDCA to complete its review of the PMA, although in practice, the FDA’s review often takes significantly longer, and can take up to several years. During this review period, the FDA may request additional information or clarification of information already provided, and the FDA may issue a major deficiency letter to the applicant, requesting the applicant’s response to deficiencies communicated by the FDA. Also, during the review period, an advisory panel of experts from outside the FDA may be convened to review and evaluate the application and provide recommendations to the FDA as to the approvability of the device. The FDA may or may not accept the panel’s recommendation. In addition, the FDA will conduct a preapproval inspection of the manufacturing facility to ensure compliance with QSR. The PMA process can be expensive, uncertain, and lengthy, and a number of devices for which FDA approval has been sought by other companies have never been approved by the FDA for marketing.

Clinical Trials. Clinical trials are almost always required to support a PMA and are sometimes required for a 510(k). All clinical investigations of investigational devices to determine safety and effectiveness must be conducted in accordance with the FDA’s investigational device exemption (“IDE”), regulations which govern investigational device labeling, prohibit promotion of the investigational device, and specify an array of recordkeeping, reporting, and monitoring responsibilities of study sponsors and study investigators. If the device is determined to present a “significant risk” to human health, the manufacturer may not begin a clinical trial until it submits an IDE application to the FDA and obtains approval of the IDE from the FDA. The IDE must be supported by appropriate data, such as animal and laboratory testing results, showing that it is safe to test the device in humans and that the testing protocol is scientifically sound. In addition, the study must be approved by, and conducted under the oversight of, an Institutional Review Board (“IRB”), for each clinical site. The IRB is responsible for the initial and continuing review of the IDE and may pose additional requirements for the conduct of the study. If an IDE application is approved by the FDA and one or more IRBs, human clinical trials may begin at a specific number of investigational sites with a specific number of patients, as approved by the FDA. If the device presents a non-significant risk to the patient, a sponsor may begin the clinical trial after obtaining approval for the trial by one or more IRBs without separate approval from the FDA, but must still follow abbreviated IDE requirements, such as monitoring the investigation, ensuring that the investigators obtain informed consent, and labeling and record-keeping requirements. A clinical trial may be suspended by FDA, the sponsor, or an IRB at any time for various reasons, including a belief that the risks to the study participants outweigh the benefits of participation in the trial. Even if a clinical trial is completed, the results may not demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a device to the satisfaction of the FDA or may be equivocal or otherwise not be sufficient to obtain approval of a device. We are not currently undertaking any FDA IDE trials, as all of our existing products are FDA-cleared through the 510(k) pathway. It is possible, however, that future device development may require IDE clinical trial for approval.

Pervasive and Continuing FDA Regulation. After a device is placed on the market, numerous FDA and other regulatory requirements continue to apply. These include:

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registration and listing requirements, which require manufacturers to register all manufacturing facilities and list all medical devices placed into commercial distribution;

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the QSR, which requires manufacturers, including third-party contract manufacturers, to follow stringent design, testing, control, supplier/contractor selection, documentation, record maintenance and other quality assurance controls, during all aspects of the manufacturing process and to maintain and investigate complaints;

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labeling regulations and unique device identification requirements;

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advertising and promotion requirements;

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restrictions on sale, distribution, or use of a device;

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FDA prohibitions against the promotion of products for uncleared or unapproved (“off-label”) uses;

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medical device reporting obligations, which require that manufacturers submit reports to the FDA of device may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if it were to reoccur;

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medical device correction and removal reporting regulations, which require that manufacturers report to the FDA field corrections and product recalls or removals if undertaken to reduce a risk to health posed by the device or to remedy a violation of the FDCA that may present a risk to health;

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device tracking requirements; and

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other post-market surveillance requirements, which apply when necessary to protect the public health or to provide additional safety and effectiveness data for the device.

Failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements can result in enforcement action by the FDA, which may include any of the following:

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warning letters and untitled letters;

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fines, injunctions, consent decrees, and civil penalties;

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recalls, withdrawals, administrative detention, or seizure of products;

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operating restrictions, partial suspension, or total shutdown of production;

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withdrawals of 510(k) clearances or PMAs that have already been granted;

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refusal to grant 510(k) clearance or PMAs of new products; and/or

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criminal prosecution.

Our facilities, records and manufacturing processes are subject to periodic announced and unannounced inspections by the FDA to evaluate compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

Regulation of Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-based Products. Certain products are regulated as human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (“HCT/Ps”). Section 361 of the PHSA authorizes the FDA to issue regulations to prevent the introduction, transmission or spread of communicable disease. HCT/Ps regulated as “361” HCT/Ps are subject to requirements relating to registering facilities and listing products with the FDA, screening and testing for tissue donor eligibility, or Good Tissue Practice, when processing, storing, labeling, and distributing HCT/Ps, including required labeling information, stringent record keeping, and adverse event reporting, among other applicable requirements and laws. If the HCT/P is minimally manipulated, is intended for homologous use only and meets other requirements, the HCT/P will not require 510(k) clearance, PMA, a Biologics License Application, or other premarket authorization from the FDA before marketing.

Environmental Matters

Our facilities and operations are subject to extensive federal, state, and local environmental and occupational health and safety laws and regulations. These laws and regulations govern, among other things, air emissions; wastewater discharges; the generation, storage, handling, use and transportation of hazardous materials; the handling and disposal of hazardous wastes; the cleanup of contamination; and the health and safety of our employees. Under such laws and regulations, we are required to obtain permits from governmental authorities for some of our operations. If we violate or fail to comply with these laws, regulations or permits, we could be fined or otherwise sanctioned by regulators. We could also be held responsible for costs and damages arising from any contamination at our past or present facilities or at third-party waste disposal sites. We cannot completely eliminate the risk of contamination or injury resulting from hazardous materials, and we may incur material liability as a result of any contamination or injury.

Compliance with Certain Applicable Statutes

We are subject to various federal and state laws pertaining to healthcare fraud and abuse, including anti-kickback laws, false claims laws, criminal health care fraud laws, physician payment transparency laws, data privacy and security laws, and foreign corrupt practice laws. Violations of these laws are punishable by criminal and/or civil sanctions, including, in some instances, fines, imprisonment and, within the U.S., exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and Veterans Administration health programs. These laws are administered by, among others, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services and state attorneys general. Many of these agencies have increased their enforcement activities with respect to medical device manufacturers in recent years.

The federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering, receiving, or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in exchange for or to induce either the referral of an individual, or the furnishing, arranging for or recommending a good or service, for which payment may be made in whole or part under federal healthcare programs, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is broad and prohibits many arrangements and practices that are lawful in businesses outside of the healthcare industry. For example, the definition of “remuneration” has been broadly interpreted to include anything of value, including, gifts, discounts, the furnishing of supplies or equipment, credit arrangements, payments of cash, waivers of payments, ownership interests and providing anything at less than its fair market value. In addition, among other things, the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (collectively referred to as “ACA”), amended the intent requirement of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Pursuant to the ACA, a person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of the Anti-Kickback Statute or specific intent to violate it. Furthermore, the ACA provides that the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal False Claims Act.

In implementing the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”), has issued a series of regulations, known as the safe harbors, which began in July 1991. These safe harbors set forth provisions that, in circumstances where all the applicable requirements are met, will assure healthcare providers and other parties that they will not be prosecuted under the Anti-Kickback Statute. The failure of a transaction or arrangement to fit precisely within one or more safe harbors does not necessarily mean that it is illegal or that prosecution will be pursued. However, conduct and business arrangements that do not fully satisfy all requirements of an applicable safe harbor may result in increased scrutiny by government enforcement authorities such as the OIG. Penalties for violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute include criminal penalties and civil sanctions such as fines, imprisonment and possible exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs. Many states have anti-kickback laws that are similar to the federal law, some of which apply to the referral of patients for healthcare items or services reimbursed by any source, and may also result in penalties, fines, sanctions for violations, and exclusions from state or commercial programs.

We have entered into various agreements with certain surgeons that perform services for us, including some who make clinical decisions to use our products. Some of our referring surgeons own our stock, which they may have received from us as consideration for services performed. We frequently review these arrangements to determine whether they are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In addition, physician-owned distribution companies (“PODs”) have become decreasingly involved in the sale and distribution of medical devices, including products for the surgical treatment of spine disorders. In many cases, these distribution companies enter into arrangements with hospitals that bill Medicare or Medicaid for the furnishing of medical services, and the physician-owners are among the physicians who refer patients to the hospitals for surgery. On March 26, 2013, the OIG issued a Special Fraud Alert entitled “Physician-Owned Entities, in which the OIG concluded, among other things, that PODs are “inherently suspect under the anti-kickback statute” and that PODs present “substantial fraud and abuse risk and pose dangers of patient safety.” Since 2013, the OIG has further increased its scrutiny of PODs and the Department of Justice has brought several high-profile cases against physician owners.

The federal False Claims Act prohibits persons from knowingly filing or causing to be filed a false or fraudulent claim to, or the knowing use of false statements to obtain payment from, the federal government. Private suits filed under the False Claims Act, known as qui tam actions, can be brought by individuals on behalf of the government. These individuals, sometimes known as “relators” or, more commonly, as “whistleblowers,” may share in any amounts paid by the entity to the government in fines or settlement. The number of filings of qui tam actions has increased significantly in recent years, causing more healthcare companies to have to defend a False Claim Act action. If an entity is determined to have violated the federal False Claims Act, it may be required to pay up to three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus civil penalties of between $13,964 and $27,894 for each separate false claim and may be subject to exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal healthcare programs. Various states have also enacted similar laws modeled after the federal False Claims Act which apply to items and services reimbursed under Medicaid and other state programs, or, in several states, apply regardless of the payor.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) created two new federal crimes: healthcare fraud and false statements relating to healthcare matters. The healthcare fraud statute prohibits knowingly and willfully executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, including private payors. The ACA changed the intent requirement of the healthcare fraud statute to such that a person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of this statute or specific intent to violate it. A violation of this statute is a felony and may result in fines, imprisonment or possible exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal healthcare programs. The false statements statute prohibits knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing, or covering up a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items, or services. A violation of this statute is a felony and may result in similar sanctions.

ACA also includes various provisions designed to significantly strengthen fraud and abuse enforcement in addition to those changes discussed above. Among these additional provisions include increased funding for enforcement efforts and new “sunshine” provisions to require us to report and disclose to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”), any payment or “transfer of value” made or distributed to physicians or teaching hospitals. These sunshine provisions also require certain group purchasing organizations, including physician-owned distributors, to disclose physician ownership information to CMS. We and other device manufacturers are required to collect and annually report specific data on payments and other transfers of value to physicians and teaching hospitals. There are various state laws and initiatives that require device manufacturers to disclose to the appropriate regulatory agency certain payments or other transfers of value made to physicians, and in certain cases prohibit some forms of these payments, with the risk of fines for any violation of such requirements.

HIPAA also includes privacy and security provisions designed to regulate the use and disclosure of “protected health information” (“PHI”), which is health information that identifies a patient and that is held by a health care provider, a health plan or health care clearinghouse. We are not directly regulated by HIPAA, but our ability to access PHI for purposes such as marketing, product development, clinical research or other uses is controlled by HIPAA and restrictions placed on health care providers and other covered entities. HIPAA was amended in 2009 by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH”) which strengthened the rule, increased penalties for violations, and added a requirement for the disclosure of breaches to affected individuals, the government, and in some cases the media. We must carefully structure any transaction involving PHI to avoid violation of HIPAA and HITECH requirements.

Almost all states have adopted data security laws protecting personal information including social security numbers, state issued identification numbers, credit card or financial account information coupled with individuals’ names or initials. We must comply with all applicable state data security laws, even though they vary extensively, and must ensure that any breaches or accidental disclosures of personal information are promptly reported to affected individuals and responsible government entities. We must also ensure that we maintain compliant, written information security programs or run the risk of civil or even criminal sanctions for non-compliance as well as reputational harm for publicly reported breaches or violations.

If any of our operations are found to have violated or be in violation of any of the laws described above and other applicable state and federal fraud and abuse laws, we may be subject to penalties, among them being civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, exclusion from government healthcare programs, and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations.

Third-Party Reimbursement

In the U.S., healthcare providers generally rely on third-party payors, principally private insurers, and governmental payors such as Medicare and Medicaid, to cover and pay for all or part of the cost of a spine surgery in which our medical devices are used. We expect that sales volumes and prices of our products will depend in large part on the continued availability of reimbursement from such third-party payors. These third-party payors may deny reimbursement if they determine that a device used in a procedure was not medically necessary in accordance with cost-effective treatment methods, as determined by the third-party payor, or was used for an unapproved indication. Particularly in the U.S., third-party payors continue to carefully review, and increasingly challenge, the prices charged for procedures and medical products. Medicare coverage and reimbursement policies are developed by CMS, the federal agency responsible for administering the Medicare program, and its contractors. CMS establishes these Medicare policies for medical products and procedures and such policies are periodically reviewed and updated. While private payors vary in their coverage and payment policies, the Medicare program is viewed as a benchmark. Medicare payment rates for the same or similar procedures vary due to geographic location, nature of the facility in which the procedure is performed (i.e., teaching or community hospital) and other factors. We cannot provide assurance that government or private third-party payors will cover and provide adequate payment for the procedures in which our products are used. ACA and other reform proposals contain significant changes regarding Medicare, Medicaid, and other third-party payors.

In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA was enacted. These changes include the Budget Control Act of 2011, which resulted in reductions to Medicare payments to providers of 2% per fiscal year, which went into effect on April 1, 2013 and will stay in effect through 2025 unless additional Congressional action is taken, as well as, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which, among other things, further reduced Medicare payments to several types of providers, including hospitals and imaging centers, and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. An expansion in government’s role in the U.S. healthcare industry may lower reimbursements for procedures using our products, reduce medical procedure volumes, and adversely affect our business and results of operations, possibly materially.

We believe that the overall escalating cost of medical products and services has led to, and will continue to lead to, increased pressures on the healthcare industry to reduce the costs of products and services. We cannot assure that government or private third-party payors will cover and provide adequate payment for the procedures using our products. In addition, it is possible that future legislation, regulation, or reimbursement policies of third-party payors will adversely affect the demand for procedures using our products or our ability to sell our products on a profitable basis. The unavailability or inadequacy of third-party payor coverage or reimbursement could have a significant adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Human Capital

As of December 31, 2023, we had 839 employees worldwide. Approximately 675 employees were located in the U.S. and 164 employees were located outside of the U.S. Of our U.S. employees, 428 were based in our Carlsbad, California headquarters, covering all of the following functional areas: sales, customer service, marketing, clinical education, advanced manufacturing, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, research and development, human resources, finance, legal, information technology, and administration.

Our workforce is highly educated and diverse, which we believe is important for our continued success as a leading innovator in the medical device market. We employ a number of strategies to best enable us to attract, retain, and engage our team members. To build a steady and diverse pipeline of talent, we have a robust recruiting program, which is focused on attracting and retaining the talent we believe is necessary to help achieve our strategy and mission. Further, we employ recruiting processes that mitigate unconscious biases and promote diverse candidate pools. Our employee base is comprised of men, women, underrepresented individuals, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans.

To attract and retain employees, we offer competitive, performance-based compensation and benefits, opportunities for discounted equity ownership, employee recognition programs, career development opportunities, and access to continual growth through in-house live trainings, as well as support and reimbursement for external trainings and educational programs. In addition, to further expand employee enrichment and engagement, we periodically survey our employees regarding their satisfaction levels. We use these survey results to determine how we can continue to create work environments that energize our employees and enable them to develop and maintain a positive working culture. We completed a survey in December 2023, in which over 88% of respondents indicated a willingness to recommend the Company to friends and family as a desirable place to work. High employee satisfaction is also reflected in our high employee engagement and low undesired turnover, which was approximately 3.7% for 2023.

We have never experienced a work stoppage due to labor difficulties and believe that our relations with our employees are good. We currently have no employees working under collective bargaining agreements.

Health and Wellness

We offer various health and wellness programs to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for our employees. In addition to our health and wellness program offerings, our corporate headquarters includes indoor and outdoor workout spaces, which our employees are able to access throughout the day, as well as various fitness and workout classes. We have provided health and wellness initiatives throughout the year to promote the continued wellbeing of our employees, as well as opportunities for our employees to participate in community volunteer and clean-up programs to foster camaraderie within our employee base.

Corporate and Available Information

We are a Delaware corporation incorporated in March 2005. Our principal executive office is located at 1950 Camino Vida Roble, Carlsbad, California 92008 and our telephone number is (760) 431-9286. Our Internet address is www.atecspine.com. We are not including the information contained on our website as a part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We file our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports, electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). We make these reports available to you free of charge through the Investor Relations section of our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials have been electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The public can also obtain any documents that we file with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.