Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and operations

CONMED Corporation (“CONMED”, the “Company”, “we” or “us”) is a medical technology company that provides surgical devices and equipment for minimally invasive procedures. The Company’s products are used by surgeons and physicians in a variety of specialties including orthopedics, general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery and gastroenterology.

Principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CONMED Corporation and its controlled subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and judgments which affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may differ from those estimates.

Cash and cash equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value determined on the FIFO (first-in, first-out) cost method.

We write-off excess and obsolete inventory resulting from the inability to sell our products at prices in excess of current carrying costs. We make estimates regarding the future recoverability of the costs of our products and record a provision for excess and obsolete inventories based on historical experience and expected future trends.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:



	Building and improvements	12 to 40 years
	Leasehold improvements	Shorter of life of asset or life of lease
	Machinery and equipment	2 to 15 years

Goodwill and other intangible assets

We have a history of growth through acquisitions. Assets and liabilities of acquired businesses are recorded at their estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition. Goodwill represents costs in excess of fair values assigned to the underlying net assets of acquired businesses. Factors that contribute to the recognition of goodwill include synergies that are specific to our business and are expected to increase net sales and profits; acquisition of a talented workforce; cost savings opportunities; the strategic benefit of expanding our presence in core and adjacent markets; and diversifying our product portfolio. Customer and distributor relationships, trademarks, tradenames, developed technology, patents and other intangible assets primarily represent allocations of purchase price to identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses. Sales representation, marketing and promotional rights represent intangible assets created under our agreement with Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (“MTF”).

Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized, but are subject to at least annual impairment testing. It is our policy to perform our annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter. The identification and measurement of goodwill impairment involves the estimation of the fair value of our business. Estimates of fair value are based on the best information available as of the date of the assessment. We completed our goodwill impairment testing during the fourth quarter of 2018. We performed our impairment test utilizing the market capitalization approach to determine whether the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. Based upon our assessment, the fair value continues to exceed carrying value.

Intangible assets with a finite life are amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset and are evaluated each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. Intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. The carrying amount of an intangible asset subject to amortization is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset. An impairment loss is recognized by reducing the carrying amount of the intangible asset to its current fair value.

For all other indefinite-lived intangible assets, we perform a qualitative impairment test. Based upon this assessment, we have determined that our indefinite-lived intangible assets are not impaired.

Other long-lived assets

We review other long-lived assets consisting of property, plant and equipment and field inventory for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that such carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized by reducing the recorded value to its current fair value.

The Company maintains field inventory consisting of capital equipment for customer demonstration and evaluation purposes. Field inventory is generally not sold to customers but rather continues to be used over its useful life for demonstration, evaluation and loaner purposes. An annual wear and tear provision has been recorded on field inventory. The net book value of such equipment at December 31, 2018 and 2017 is $50.4 million and $52.4 million, respectively.

Translation of foreign currency financial statements

Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries have been translated into United States dollars at the applicable rates of exchange in effect at the end of the period reported. Revenues and expenses have been translated at the applicable weighted average rates of exchange in effect during the period reported. Translation adjustments are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Transaction gains and losses are included in net income.

Foreign exchange and hedging activity

We manage our foreign currency transaction risks through the use of forward contracts to hedge forecasted cash flows associated with foreign currency transaction exposures. We account for these forward contracts as cash flow hedges. To the extent these forward contracts meet hedge accounting criteria, changes in their fair value are not included in current earnings but are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss. These changes in fair value will be reclassified into earnings as a component of sales or cost of sales when the forecasted transaction occurs.

We also enter into forward contracts to exchange foreign currencies for United States dollars in order to hedge our currency transaction exposures on intercompany receivables denominated in foreign currencies. These forward contracts settle each month at month-end, at which time we enter into new forward contracts. We have not designated these forward contracts as hedges and have not applied hedge accounting to them. We record these forward contracts at fair value with resulting gains and losses included in selling and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Income taxes

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards as measured by the enacted tax rates that are anticipated to be in effect in the respective jurisdictions when these differences reverse. The deferred income tax provision generally represents the net change in the assets and liabilities for deferred income taxes. A valuation allowance is established when it is necessary to reduce deferred income tax assets to amounts for which realization is likely. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we estimate future taxable income, considering the feasibility of ongoing tax planning strategies and the realizability of tax loss carryforwards following tax law ordering rules. Valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets may be impacted by changes to tax laws, changes to statutory tax rates, reversal of temporary differences and ongoing and future taxable income levels.

Deferred income taxes are not provided on the unremitted earnings of subsidiaries outside of the United States earned after December 31, 2017 as it is expected that these earnings are permanently reinvested. Such earnings may become taxable upon a repatriation of assets from a subsidiary or the sale or liquidation of a subsidiary. Deferred income taxes are provided when the Company no longer considers subsidiary earnings to be permanently invested, such as in situations where the Company’s subsidiaries plan to make future dividend distributions.

Revenue recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when we have satisfied a performance obligation by transferring a promised good or service (that is an asset) to a customer. An asset is transferred when the customer obtains control of that asset. The following policies apply to our major categories of revenue transactions:


•	Revenue is recognized when product is shipped at which point the performance obligation is satisfied and the customer obtains control of the product.

•

We place certain of our capital equipment with customers on a loaned basis and at no charge in exchange for commitments to purchase related single-use products over time periods generally ranging from one to three years. In these circumstances, no revenue is recognized upon capital equipment shipment as the equipment is loaned and subject to return if certain minimum single-use purchases are not met. Revenue is recognized upon the sale and shipment of the related single-use products. The cost of the equipment is amortized over its estimated useful life which is generally five years.

•

We recognize revenues in accordance with the terms of our agreement with MTF on a net basis as our role is that of an agent earning a commission or fee. MTF is responsible for the sourcing, processing and distribution of allograft tissue for sports medicine procedures while the Company represents, markets and promotes MTF’s sports medicine allograft tissues to customers. The Company is paid a Fee by MTF which is calculated as a percentage of the net amounts invoiced by MTF to customers for sports medicine allograft tissues. The Company accounts for the services provided to MTF as a series of distinct performance obligations and each service is recognized over time as MTF simultaneously receives and consumes the benefit.


•	Product returns are only accepted at the discretion of the Company and in accordance with our “Returned Goods Policy”. Historically, the level of product returns has not been significant. We accrue for sales returns, rebates and allowances based upon an analysis of historical customer returns and credits, rebates, discounts and current market conditions.


•	Our terms of sale to customers generally do not include any obligations to perform future services. Limited warranties are provided for capital equipment sales and provisions for warranty are provided at the time of product sale based upon an analysis of historical data.


•	Amounts billed to customers related to shipping and handling have been included in net sales. Shipping and handling costs included in selling and administrative expense were $14.0 million, $13.1 million and $13.4 million for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.


•	We sell to a diversified base of customers around the world and, therefore, believe there is no material concentration of credit risk.


•	We assess the risk of loss on accounts receivable and adjust the allowance for doubtful accounts based on this risk assessment. Historically, losses on accounts receivable have not been material. Management believes that the allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate to provide for probable losses resulting from accounts receivable.


•	We sell extended warranties to customers that are typically for a period of one to three years. The related revenue is recorded as a contract liability and recognized over the life of the contract on a straight-line basis, which is reflective of our obligation to stand ready to provide repair services.

Please refer to Note 9 and Note 16 for further detail on revenue and the impact of adopting Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, during 2018.

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share (“basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share (“diluted EPS”) gives effect to all dilutive potential shares outstanding resulting from employee stock options, restricted stock units, performance share units and stock appreciation rights during the period. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share at December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively:



	2018		2017		2016

Net income	$	40,854	$	55,487	$	14,664

Basic-weighted average shares outstanding	28,118		27,939		27,804

Effect of dilutive potential securities	772		232		160

Diluted-weighted average shares outstanding	28,890		28,171		27,964

Net income (per share)
Basic	$	1.45	$	1.99	$	0.53
Diluted	1.41		1.97		0.52

The shares used in the calculation of diluted EPS exclude options and stock appreciation rights ("SARs") to purchase shares where the exercise price was greater than the average market price of common shares for the year and the effect of the inclusion would be anti-dilutive. Such shares aggregated approximately 0.7 million, 1.2 million and 1.4 million at December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Stock-based compensation

All share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, restricted stock units, performance share units and stock appreciation rights are recognized in the financial statements based at their fair values. Compensation expense is generally recognized using a straight-line method over the vesting period. Compensation expense for performance share units is recognized using the graded vesting method.

We issue shares under our stock based compensation plans out of treasury stock whereby treasury stock is reduced by the weighted average cost of such treasury stock. To the extent there is a difference between the cost of the treasury stock and the exercise price of shares issued under stock based compensation plans, we record gains to paid in capital; losses are recorded to paid in capital to the extent any gain was previously recorded, otherwise the loss is recorded to retained earnings.

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

Accumulated other comprehensive loss consists of the following:



	Cash Flow Hedging Gain (Loss)			Pension Liability			Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Balance, December 31, 2015	$	1,201		$	(25,982	)	$	(29,113	)	$	(53,894	)

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	1,088			(2,229		)	(4,501		)	(5,642		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) before tax^(a)	(1,179		)	2,780			—			1,601
Income tax	436			(1,027		)	—			(591		)

Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	345			(476		)	(4,501		)	(4,632		)

Balance, December 31, 2016	$	1,546		$	(26,458	)	$	(33,614	)	$	(58,526	)

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	(5,529		)	(1,142		)	13,879			7,208
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) before tax^(a)	718			2,835			—			3,553
Income tax	(265		)	(1,048		)	—			(1,313		)

Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	(5,076		)	645			13,879			9,448

Balance, December 31, 2017	$	(3,530	)	$	(25,813	)	$	(19,735	)	$	(49,078	)

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	7,197			(2,711		)	(8,369		)	(3,883		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) before tax^(a)	913			2,689			—			3,602
Income tax	221			(650		)	—			(429		)

Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	8,331			(672		)	(8,369		)	(710		)

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle^(b)	(716		)	(5,233		)	—			(5,949		)

Balance, December 31, 2018	$	4,085		$	(31,718	)	$	(28,104	)	$	(55,737	)

(a) The cash flow hedging gain (loss) and pension liability accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in sales or cost of sales and as a component of net periodic pension cost, respectively. Refer to Note 15 and Note 11, respectively, for further details.

(b) We recorded the cumulative impact of adopting ASU 2018-02 in 2018, which allows for the elimination of the stranded tax effects of Tax Reform through a reclassification between accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and retained earnings. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion regarding the adoption of this accounting standard.