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Afya (AFYA)
NASDAQ:AFYA
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Risk Overview Q4, 2020
Risk Distribution
41% Finance & Corporate
23% Legal & Regulatory
13% Production
9% Macro & Political
7% Tech & Innovation
7% Ability to Sell
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.
Risk Change Over Time
S&P500 Average
Sector Average
Risks removed
Risks added
Risks changed
Afya Risk Factors
New Risk (0)
Risk Changed (0)
Risk Removed (0)
No changes from previous report
The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
Risk Highlights Q4, 2020
Main Risk Category
Finance & Corporate
With 28 Risks
Finance & Corporate
With 28 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
69
-1
From last reportS&P 500 Average: 31
69
-1
From last reportS&P 500 Average: 31
Recent Changes
1Risks added
2Risks removed
9Risks changed
Since Dec 2020
1Risks added
2Risks removed
9Risks changed
Since Dec 2020
Number of Risk Changed
9
+9
From last reportS&P 500 Average: 3
9
+9
From last reportS&P 500 Average: 3
See the risk highlights of Afya in the last period.
Risk Word Cloud
The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 69
Finance & Corporate
Total Risks: 28/69 (41%)Above Sector Average
Share Price & Shareholder Rights17 | 24.6%
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
An active trading market for our Class A common shares may not be sustainable. If an active trading market is not maintained, investors may not be able to resell their shares and our ability to raise capital in the future may be impaired.Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2
Class A common shares eligible for future sale may cause the market price of our Class A common shares to drop significantly.The market price of our Class A common shares may decline as a result of sales of a large number of our Class A common shares in the market (including Class A common shares issuable upon conversion of Class B common shares) or the perception that these sales may occur. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate.
As of April 26, 2021, we have outstanding 45,662,790 Class A common shares and 48,034,315 Class B common shares, that except as set forth below, are freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act by persons other than our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 of the Securities Act.
Our shareholders or entities controlled by them or their permitted transferees will be able to sell their shares in the public market from time to time without registering them, subject to certain limitations on the timing, amount and method of those sales imposed by regulations promulgated by the SEC.
If any of our shareholders, the affiliated entities controlled by them or their respective permitted transferees were to sell a large number of their shares, the market price of our Class A common shares may decline significantly. In addition, the perception in the public markets that sales by them might occur may also adversely affect the market price of our Class A common shares.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3
Our Articles of Association contain anti-takeover provisions that may discourage a third party from acquiring us and adversely affect the rights of holders of our Class A common shares.Our Articles of Association contain certain provisions that could limit the ability of others to acquire our control, including a provision that grants authority to our board of directors to establish and issue from time to time one or more series of preferred shares without action by our shareholders and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over the prevailing market price by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain our control in a tender offer or similar transactions.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4
Our dual class equity structure means our shares will not be included in certain indices. We cannot predict the impact this may have on our share price.In 2017, FTSE Russell, S&P Dow Jones and MSCI announced changes to their eligibility criteria for inclusion of shares of public companies on certain indices to exclude companies with multiple classes of shares of common stock from being added to such indices. FTSE Russell announced plans to require new constituents of its indices to have at least five percent of their voting rights in the hands of public stockholders, whereas S&P Dow Jones announced that companies with multiple share classes, such as ours, will not be eligible for inclusion in the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400 and S&P SmallCap 600, which together make up the S&P Composite 1500. MSCI also opened public consultations on their treatment of no-vote and multi-class structures and temporarily barred new multi-class listings from its ACWI Investable Market Index and U.S. Investable Market 2500 Index; however, in October 2018, MSCI announced its decision to include equity securities "with unequal voting structures" in its indices and to launch a new index that specifically includes voting rights in its eligibility criteria.
We cannot assure you that other stock indices will not take a similar approach to FTSE Russell, S&P Dow Jones and MSCI in the future. Under the announced policies, our dual class equity structure would make us ineligible for inclusion in any of these indices and, as a result, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and other investment vehicles that attempt to passively track these indices will not invest in our stock. It continues to be somewhat unclear what effect, if any, these policies will have on the valuations of publicly traded companies excluded from the indices, but in certain situations they may depress these valuations compared to those of other similar companies that are included. Exclusion from indices could make our Class A common shares less attractive to investors and, as a result, the market price of our Class A common shares could be adversely affected.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 5
The dual class equity structure of our common stock has the effect of concentrating voting control with the Esteves Family and Crescera; this will limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters.Each Class A common share entitles its holder to one vote per share, and each Class B common share will entitle its holder to 10 votes per share, so long as the total number of the issued and outstanding Class B common shares is at least 10% of the total number of shares outstanding. Due to the 10-to-one voting ratio between our Class B and Class A common shares, the beneficial owners of our Class B common shares (composed of the Esteves Family and Crescera) collectively will continue to control a majority of the combined voting power of our common shares and therefore be able to control all matters submitted to our shareholders so long as the total number of the issued and outstanding Class B common shares is at least 10% of the total number of shares outstanding.
In addition, our Articles of Association provide that at any time when there are Class A common shares in issue, additional Class B common shares may only be issued pursuant to (1) a share split, subdivision of shares or similar transaction or where a dividend or other distribution is paid by the issue of shares or rights to acquire shares or following capitalization of profits, (2) a merger, consolidation, or other business combination involving the issuance of Class B common shares as full or partial consideration, or (3) an issuance of Class A common shares, whereby holders of the Class B common shares are entitled to purchase a number of Class B common shares that would allow them to maintain their proportional ownership interests in Afya (following an offer by us to each holder of Class B common shares to issue to such holder, upon the same economic terms and at the same price, such number of Class B common shares as would ensure such holder may maintain a proportional ownership interest in Afya pursuant to our Articles of Association).
Future transfers by holders of Class B common shares will generally result in those shares converting to Class A common shares, subject to limited exceptions, such as certain transfers effected to permitted transferees or for estate planning or charitable purposes. The conversion of Class B common shares to Class A common shares will have the effect, over time, of increasing the relative voting power of those holders of Class B common shares who retain their shares in the long term.
In light of the above provisions relating to the issuance of additional Class B common shares, the fact that future transfers by holders of Class B common shares will generally result in those shares converting to Class A common shares, subject to limited exceptions as provided in the Articles of Association; as well as the 10-to-one voting ratio of our Class B common shares and Class A common shares, holders of our Class B common shares will in many situations continue to maintain control of all matters requiring shareholder approval. This concentrated control will limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters for the foreseeable future. For a description of our dual class equity structure, see "Item 10. Additional Information-B. Memorandum and Articles of Association-Description of Share Capital-Voting Rights."
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 6
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability. The rights of our shareholders, including with respect to fiduciary duties and corporate opportunities, may be different from the rights of shareholders governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions.We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability. Our corporate affairs are governed by our Articles of Association and by the laws of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders and the responsibilities of members of our board of directors may be different from the rights of shareholders and responsibilities of directors in companies governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions. In particular, as a matter of Cayman Islands law, directors of a Cayman Islands company owe fiduciary duties to the company and separately a duty of care, diligence and skill to the company.
Under Cayman Islands law, directors and officers owe the following fiduciary duties: (i) duty to act in good faith in what the director or officer believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole; (ii) duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose; (iii) directors should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion; (iv) duty to exercise powers fairly as between different sections of shareholders; (v) duty to exercise independent judgment; and (vi) duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests. Our Articles of Association have varied this last obligation by providing that a director must disclose the nature and extent of his or her interest in any contract or arrangement, and following such disclosure and subject to any separate requirement under applicable law or the listing rules of the Nasdaq, and unless disqualified by the chairman of the relevant meeting, such director may vote in respect of any transaction or arrangement in which he or she is interested and may be counted in the quorum at the meeting. Conversely, under Delaware corporate law, a director has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its stockholders (made up of two components) and the director's duties prohibit self-dealing by a director and mandate that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. See "Item 10. Additional Information-B. Memorandum and Articles of Association-Description of Share Capital-Principal Differences between Cayman Islands and U.S. Corporate Law."
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 7
Some of the properties that we occupy are owned by companies controlled by one of our controlling shareholders. Therefore, we are exposed to conflicts of interest, since the administration of such properties may conflict with our interests, those of such controlling shareholder and those of our other shareholders.Some of the properties we occupy, including properties where some of our campuses are located, are owned and operated by companies controlled by one of our controlling shareholders. Therefore, the interests of our controlling shareholder in the administration of such property may conflict with our interests and those of our other shareholders. For further information, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions-Related Party Transactions" and note 8 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 8
The interests of our management team may be focused on the short-term market price of our Class A common shares, which may not coincide with your interests. In addition, our shareholders may suffer dilution of their interests in our share capital and in the value of their investments due to the issuance of new shares for settlement of our share-based incentive plans.Our directors and officers, among others, own shares issued by us and are beneficiaries under our stock option plans. Our 2018 stock option plan, which has now been formally terminated, was fully vested and exercised upon the completion of our initial public offering and we approved a new stock option plan for our managers and employees in August 2019 (as amended in July 2020), and reserved up to 4% of our common shares at any time for issuance under this new equity incentive plan. See "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees-B. Compensation-New Long-Term Incentive Plan."
Due to the issuance of stock options to members of our management team, a significant portion of their compensation is closely tied to our results of operations and, more specifically to the trading price of our Class A common shares, which may lead such individuals to direct our business and conduct our activities with an emphasis on short-term profit generation. In view of the market disruption cause by the COVID-19 pandemic, the trading price of our Class A common shares has significantly decreased, which if sustained for a longer period of time may also adversely affect our ability to retain members of our management. As a result of these factors, the interests of our management team may not coincide with the interests of our other shareholders that have longer-term investment objectives.
Once the options have been exercised by the participants, our board of directors will determine whether our capital stock should be increased through the issuance of new shares to be subscribed by participants, or if they will be settled through shares held in treasury. In the event settlement occurs through the issuance of new shares, our shareholders will suffer dilution, of their interests in our share capital and in the value of their investments, up to a maximum of 4% of our common shares at any time.
In case of new stock option grants, whether under existing plans or new plans that may be approved by our shareholders at the shareholders' meeting, our shareholders will be subject to additional dilution. For additional information on our stock option plan, see "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees-B. Compensation of Directors and Officers" for additional information.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 9
As a foreign private issuer, we have different disclosure and other requirements than U.S. domestic registrants and non-emerging growth companies.Changed
As a foreign private issuer, we are subject to different disclosure and other requirements than domestic U.S. registrants. For example, as a foreign private issuer, in the United States, we are not subject to the same disclosure requirements as a domestic U.S. registrant under the Exchange Act, including the requirements to prepare and issue quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or to file current reports on Form 8-K upon the occurrence of specified significant events, the proxy rules applicable to domestic U.S. registrants under Section 14 of the Exchange Act or the insider reporting and short-swing profit rules applicable to domestic U.S. registrants under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we rely on exemptions from certain U.S. rules which permit us to follow Cayman Islands legal requirements rather than certain of the requirements that are applicable to U.S. domestic registrants.
We follow Cayman Islands laws and regulations that are applicable to Cayman Islands companies. However, Cayman Islands laws and regulations applicable to Cayman Islands companies do not contain any provisions comparable to the U.S. proxy rules, the U.S. rules relating to the filing of reports on Form 10-Q or 8-K or the U.S. rules relating to liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time, as referred to above.
Furthermore, foreign private issuers are required to file their annual report on Form 20-F within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, while U.S. domestic issuers that are accelerated filers are required to file their annual report on Form 10-K within 75 days after the end of each fiscal year. Foreign private issuers are also exempt from Regulation Fair Disclosure, aimed at preventing issuers from making selective disclosures of material information, although we will be subject to Cayman Islands laws and regulations having substantially the same effect as Regulation Fair Disclosure. As a result of the above, even though we are required to file reports on Form 6-K disclosing the limited information which we have made or are required to make public pursuant to Cayman Islands law, or are required to distribute to shareholders generally, and that is material to us, you may not receive information of the same type or amount that is required to be disclosed to shareholders of a U.S. company.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 10
If securities or industry analysts publish inaccurate or unfavorable research, about our business, the price of our Class A common shares and our trading volume could decline.Changed
The trading market for our Class A common shares will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us, our business, our market or our competitors. In the event one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades us or releases negative publicity about our Class A common shares, our share price would likely decline.
Further, as we are not required to publish quarterly financial information, if we cease to publish that information, any analysts covering us may not have enough information to compare us to our peers on a regular basis and may choose to cease coverage. If one or more of these analysts ceases to cover us or fails to regularly publish reports on us, interest in our Class A common shares may decrease, which may cause our share price or trading volume to decline.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 11
The Esteves Family and Crescera, our largest group of shareholders, own 100% of our outstanding Class B common shares, which represents approximately 92.9% of the voting power of our issued share capital, and control all matters requiring shareholder approval. This concentration of ownership and voting power limits your ability to influence corporate matters.Changed
Nicolau Carvalho Esteves, Rosângela de Oliveira Tavares and NRE Capital Ventures Limited, or the Esteves Family, and Crescera control our company and beneficially own 51.6% of our issued share capital through their beneficial ownership of all of our outstanding Class B common shares, and consequently, 92.9% of the combined voting power of our issued share capital. Our Class B common shares are entitled to 10 votes per share and our Class A common shares, which are the common shares trading on NASDAQ, are entitled to one vote per share. Our Class B common shares are convertible into an equivalent number of Class A common shares and generally convert into Class A common shares upon transfer subject to limited exceptions. As a result, the Esteves Family and Crescera control the outcome of all decisions at our shareholders' meetings, and are able to elect a majority of the members of our board of directors. They are also able to direct our actions in areas such as business strategy, financing, distributions, acquisitions and dispositions of assets or businesses. For example, the Esteves Family and Crescera may cause us to make acquisitions that increase the amount of our indebtedness or outstanding Class A common shares, sell revenue-generating assets or inhibit change of control transactions that benefit other shareholders. The decisions of the Esteves Family and Crescera on these matters may be contrary to your expectations or preferences, and they may take actions that could be contrary to your interests. They are able to prevent any other shareholders, including you, from blocking these actions. For further information regarding shareholdings in our company, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions-A. Major Shareholders." In addition, for so long as they beneficially own more than two-thirds of our issued share capital, the Esteves Family and Crescera also have the ability to unilaterally amend our Articles of Association, which may be amended only by special resolution of shareholders (requiring a two-thirds majority, of those attending the relevant shareholder meeting, vote).
So long as the Esteves Family and Crescera continue to beneficially own a sufficient number of Class B common shares, even if they beneficially own significantly less than 50% of our outstanding share capital, acting together, they will be able to effectively control our decisions. For example, if our Class B common shares amounted to 15% of our outstanding common shares, beneficial owners of our Class B common shares (consisting of the Esteves Family and Crescera), would collectively control 63.8% of the voting power of our outstanding common shares. If the Esteves Family and Crescera sell or transfer any of their Class B common shares, they will generally convert automatically into Class A common shares, subject to limited exceptions, such as transfers to affiliates, to trustees for the holder or its affiliates and certain transfers to U.S. tax exempt organizations. The fact that any Class B common shares convert into Class A common shares if the Esteves Family or Crescera sell or transfer them means that the Esteves Family and Crescera will in many situations continue to control a majority of the combined voting power of our outstanding share capital, due to the voting rights of any Class B common shares that they retain. However, if our Class B common shares at any time represent less than 10% of the total number of shares in the capital of the Company outstanding, the Class B common shares then outstanding will automatically convert into Class A common shares. For a description of our dual class equity structure, see "Item 10. Additional Information-B. Memorandum and Articles of Association-Description of Share Capital."
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 12
There can be no assurance that we will not be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for any taxable year, which could subject United States investors in our Class A common shares to significant adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), we will be a PFIC for any taxable year in which, after the application of certain look-through rules with respect to subsidiaries, either (i) 75% or more of our gross income consists of "passive income," or (ii) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of our assets consists of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, "passive income." Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, certain non-active rents and royalties, and capital gains. Cash is a passive asset for these purposes. Goodwill is an active asset to the extent attributable to activities that produce active income.
Based on the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets, including goodwill, which is based on the price of our Class A common shares, we believe that we were not a PFIC for the taxable year of 2020.
However, because we hold a substantial amount of cash (relative to the assets shown on our balance sheet) and because our PFIC status for any taxable year will depend on the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets from time to time (which may be determined, in part, by reference to the market price of our Class A common shares, which could be volatile), there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for any taxable year. If our Class A common share price declines while we continue to hold a substantial amount of cash for any taxable year, our risk of being or becoming a PFIC will increase. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. investor holds Class A common shares, we generally would continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to that U.S. investor for all succeeding years during which the U.S. investor holds Class A common shares, even if we ceased to meet the threshold requirement for PFIC status. Such a U.S. investor may be subject to certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences. See "Item 10. Additional Information-10.E. Taxation-U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations-Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules."
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 13
Our Class A common shares may not be a suitable investment for all investors, as investment in our Class A common shares presents risks and the possibility of financial losses.The investment in our Class A common shares is subject to risks. Investors who wish to invest in our Class A common shares are thus subject to asset losses, including loss of the entire value of their investment, as well as other risks, including those related to our Class A common shares, us, the sector in which we operate, our shareholders and the general macroeconomic environment in Brazil, among other risks.
Each potential investor in our Class A common shares must therefore determine the suitability of that investment in light of its own circumstances. In particular, each potential investor should:
- have sufficient knowledge and experience to make a meaningful evaluation of our Class A common shares, the merits and risks of investing in our Class A common shares and the information contained in this annual report;- have access to, and knowledge of, appropriate analytical tools to evaluate, in the context of its particular financial situation, an investment in our Class A common shares and the impact our Class A common shares will have on its overall investment portfolio;- have sufficient financial resources and liquidity to bear all of the risks of an investment in our Class A common shares;- understand thoroughly the terms of our Class A common shares and be familiar with the behavior of any relevant indices and financial markets; and - be able to evaluate (either alone or with the help of a financial adviser) possible scenarios for economic, interest rate and other factors that may affect its investment and its ability to bear the applicable risks.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 14
Judgments of Brazilian courts to enforce our obligations with respect to our Class A common shares may be payable only in reais.Most of our assets are located in Brazil. If proceedings are brought in the courts of Brazil seeking to enforce our obligations in respect of our Class A common shares, we may not be required to discharge our obligations in a currency other than the real. Under Brazilian exchange control laws, an obligation in Brazil to pay amounts denominated in a currency other than the real may only be satisfied in Brazilian currency at the exchange rate, as determined by the Central Bank, in effect on the date the judgment is obtained, and such amounts are then adjusted to reflect exchange rate variations through the effective payment date. The then-prevailing exchange rate may not afford non-Brazilian investors with full compensation for any claim arising out of or related to our obligations under the Class A common shares.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 15
Our shareholders may face difficulties in protecting their interests because we are a Cayman Islands exempted company.Our corporate affairs are governed by our Articles of Association, by the Companies Act (as revised) of the Cayman Islands and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under the laws of the Cayman Islands are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. Therefore, you may have more difficulty protecting your interests than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States, due to the comparatively less formal nature of Cayman Islands law in this area.
While Cayman Islands law allows a dissenting shareholder to express the shareholder's view that a court-sanctioned reorganization of a Cayman Islands company would not provide fair value for the shareholder's shares, Cayman Islands statutory law does not specifically provide for shareholder appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation of a company. This may make it more difficult for you to assess the value of any consideration you may receive in a merger or consolidation or to require that the acquirer gives you additional consideration if you believe the consideration offered is insufficient. However, Cayman Islands statutory law provides a mechanism for a dissenting shareholder in a merger or consolidation to apply to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for a determination of the fair value of the dissenter's shares if it is not possible for the company and the dissenter to agree on a fair price within the time limits prescribed.
Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies (such as us) have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records and accounts or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders. Our directors have discretion under our Articles of Association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 16
We may lose our foreign private issuer status, which would then require us to comply with the Exchange Act's domestic reporting regime and cause us to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses.In order to maintain our current status as a foreign private issuer, either (a) more than 50% of our Class A common shares must be either directly or indirectly owned of record by non-residents of the United States or (b)(i) a majority of our executive officers or directors may not be U.S. citizens or residents, (ii) more than 50% of our assets cannot be located in the United States and (iii) our business must be administered principally outside the United States. If we lose this status, we would be required to comply with the Exchange Act reporting and other requirements applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, which are more detailed and extensive than the requirements for foreign private issuers. We may also be required to make changes in our corporate governance practices in accordance with various SEC and Nasdaq rules. The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws if we are required to comply with the reporting requirements applicable to a U.S. domestic issuer may be significantly higher than the costs we will incur as a foreign private issuer.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 17
As a foreign private issuer, we rely on permitted exemptions from certain Nasdaq corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, including the requirement that a majority of an issuer's directors consist of independent directors. This may afford less protection to holders of our Class A common shares.Section 5605 of the Nasdaq equity rules requires listed companies to have, among other things, a majority of their board members be independent, and to have independent director oversight of executive compensation, nomination of directors and corporate governance matters. As a foreign private issuer, however, we are permitted to, and we will, follow home country practice in lieu of the above requirements. See "Item 10. Additional Information-B. Memorandum and Articles of Association-Description of Share Capital-Principal Differences between Cayman Islands and U.S. Corporate Law."
Accounting & Financial Operations5 | 7.2%
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1
A material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting has been identified relating to our information technology general controls, and if we fail to establish and maintain proper and effective internal controls over financial reporting, our results of operations and our ability to operate our business may be harmed.Changed
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2
Our limited operating history as a consolidated company, our recent acquisitions and the comparability of our results may make it difficult for investors to evaluate our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.Our limited operating history as a consolidated company and recent acquisitions may make it difficult for you to evaluate our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Because the historical information included elsewhere in this annual report may not be representative of our results as a consolidated company, investors may have limited financial information on which to evaluate us, their investment decision and our prior performance. Our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 are not directly comparable to our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019, and our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 are not directly comparable to our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2018, due to the effects of the acquisition of the Acquired Companies. Our ability to forecast our future operating results, including revenue, cash flows and profitability, as well as the operational inefficiencies that we may face as we continue to integrate the Acquired Companies, is limited and subject to a number of uncertainties. Moreover, past performance is no assurance of future returns.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 3
Our holding company structure makes us dependent on the operations of our subsidiaries. We depend on dividend distributions by our subsidiaries, and we may be adversely affected if the performance of our subsidiaries is not positive.We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability. Our material assets are our direct and indirect equity interests in our subsidiaries. We control a number of subsidiary companies that carry out the business activities of our corporate group. Our ability to comply with our financial obligations and to pay dividends to our shareholders depends on our ability to receive distributions from the companies we control, which in turn depends on the cash flow and profits of those companies. There is no guarantee that the cash flow and profits of our controlled companies will be sufficient for us to comply with our financial obligations and pay dividends or interest on shareholders' equity to our shareholders. Furthermore, exchange rate fluctuation will affect the U.S. dollar value of any distributions our subsidiaries make with respect to our equity interests in those subsidiaries.
In addition, the Brazilian federal government recently stated that the income tax exemption on the distribution of dividends may be repealed and income tax assessed on the distribution of dividends in the future, and that applicable taxes on the payment of interest on shareholders' equity may be increased in the future. Any repeal of the income tax exemption on the distribution of dividends and any increase in applicable taxes on the payment of interest on shareholders' equity may adversely affect us.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 4
If we are not able to maintain our current MEC evaluation ratings and the evaluation ratings of our students, we may be adversely affected.We and our students are regularly evaluated and rated by MEC. If our campuses, programs or students receive lower scores from MEC than in previous years in any of its evaluations, including the IGC (Índice Geral de Cursos), and the Student Performance National Exam (Exame Nacional de Desempenho de Estudantes, or ENADE), we may experience a reduction in enrollments and be adversely affected by perceptions of decreased educational quality, which may negatively affect our reputation and, consequently, our results of operations and financial condition.
Finally, in the event that any of our programs receive unsatisfactory evaluations, the post-secondary education institution offering the programs may be required to enter into an agreement with MEC setting forth proposed measures and timetables to improve the program and remedy the unsatisfactory evaluation. Non-compliance with the terms of the agreement may result in additional penalties on the institution. These penalties could include, but are not limited to, suspending our ability to enroll students in our programs, denial of accreditation or re-accreditation of our institutions or prohibiting us from holding regular class sessions, all of which can adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 5
It is unlikely that we will declare any dividends on our common shares in the foreseeable future and therefore, you must rely on price appreciation of our common shares for a return on your investment.We do not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. Instead, we intend to retain earnings, if any, to fund the operation of our business and future growth. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our general meeting of shareholders, acting pursuant to a proposal by our board of directors, or by our board, and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that our general meeting of shareholders or board of directors may deem relevant. Accordingly, investors will most likely have to rely on sales of their common shares, which may increase or decrease in value, as the only way to realize cash from their investment. As a result, capital appreciation in the price of our Class A common shares, if any, will be your only source of gain on an investment in our Class A common shares. There is no guarantee that the price of our common shares will ever exceed the price that you pay.
Debt & Financing3 | 4.3%
Debt & Financing - Risk 1
Any further downgrading of Brazil's credit rating could reduce the trading price of our Class A common shares.Debt & Financing - Risk 2
We may need to raise additional capital in the future by issuing securities, use our Class A common shares as acquisition consideration or enter into corporate transactions with an effect similar to a merger, which may dilute your interest in our share capital and affect the trading price of our Class A common shares.Changed
We may need to raise additional funds to grow our business and implement our growth strategy going forward through public or private issuances of common shares or securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, our common shares, which may dilute your interest in our share capital or result in a decrease in the market price of our common shares. In addition, we may also use our Class A common shares as acquisition consideration or enter into mergers or other similar transactions in the future, which may dilute your interest in our share capital or result in a decrease in the market price of our Class A common shares. Any fundraising through the issuance of shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares, the use of our Class A common shares as acquisition consideration, or the participation in corporate transactions with an effect similar to a merger, may dilute your interest in our capital stock or result in a decrease in the market price of our Class A common shares.
Debt & Financing - Risk 3
We may require additional funds to continue our expansion strategy. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing on favorable terms to complete any potential acquisition and implement our expansion plans, our growth strategy may be materially and adversely affected.Added
In addition, we may face significant challenges in the process of integrating the operations of any acquired companies with our existing business, such as the inability to manage a greater number of geographically dispersed employees and create and implement efficient uniform controls, procedures and policies, in addition to the incurrence of high or unexpected integration costs. In particular, the social distancing policies currently in place in Brazil resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak may place additional challenges for an expedited and timely integration of such acquired companies with our existing business. As of the date of this annual report, we have fully integrated the operations of 11 of our acquisitions and are in the process of integrating the operations of another 9 of our acquisitions with our existing business (UniSL, PEBMED, FESAR, MedPhone, FCMPB, iClinic, Medicinae, Medical Harbour and Cliquefarma). The anticipated benefits of the acquisitions we may pursue will not be achieved unless we successfully and efficiently integrate the acquired companies into our operations and effectively manage, market and apply our business strategy to them. We may also be unable to integrate faculty and personnel with different professional experience and from different corporate cultures, and our relationship with current and new employees, including professors, may be impaired. In addition, we may face challenges in entering into successful collective bargaining arrangements with unions due to differences in the negotiation procedures followed in the different geographic regions of the acquired companies. If we are not able to manage our expanded operations and these integrations effectively, our business could be materially adversely affected.
As of the date of this annual report, the COVID-19 pandemic is still evolving, and Brazilian authorities may maintain a lockdown of our on-campus activities for an undefined extended period of time or impose a more severe lockdown, among other measures, all of which are outside of our control and have materially adversely affected our business and results of operations. For further information, see "-Public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our business," and "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects."
Corporate Activity and Growth3 | 4.3%
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1
We may not be able to identify and acquire new medical higher education institutions or meet our strategic and financial goals in connection with any business acquisition we seek, and difficulties in effectively integrating and managing a growing number of acquisitions may adversely affect our strategic objectives.Changed
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2
If we continue to grow, we may not be able to appropriately manage the expansion of our business and staff, the increased complexity of our software and platforms, or grow in our addressable market.We are currently experiencing a period of significant expansion and are facing a number of expansion-related issues, such as the acquisition and retention of experienced and talented personnel, cash flow management, corporate culture and efficacy of internal controls, among others. These issues and the significant amount of time spent on addressing them may result in the diversion of our management's attention from other business issues and opportunities. In addition, we believe that our corporate culture and values are critical to our success, and we have invested a significant amount of time and resources building them. If we fail to preserve our corporate culture and values, our ability to recruit, retain and develop personnel and to effectively implement our strategic plans may be harmed.
We must constantly update our software, enhance and improve our billing, transaction and other business systems, and add and train new software designers and engineers, as well as other personnel. This process is time intensive and expensive, and may lead to higher costs in the future. Furthermore, we may need to enter into relationships with various strategic partners other online service providers and other third parties necessary to our business. The increased complexity of managing multiple commercial relationships could lead to execution problems that can affect current and future revenues, and operating margins.
We cannot assure you that our current and planned platform and systems, procedures and controls, personnel and third-party relationships will be adequate to support our future operations. In addition, our current expansion has placed significant strain on management and on our operational and financial resources, and this strain is expected to continue. Our failure to manage growth effectively could seriously harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 3
Acquisitions of educational institutions, in certain circumstances, must be approved by the Administrative Council for Economic Defense.Brazilian legislation provides that acquisitions of educational institutions meeting certain requirements must be approved by Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica, or CADE) prior to the completion of the acquisition if one of the companies or group of companies involved has gross annual revenues in Brazil of at least R$750.0 million in the year immediately prior to the acquisition and any other party or group of companies involved has gross income of at least R$75.0 million in that same period. As part of this process, CADE must determine whether the specific operation affects the competitiveness of the market in question or the consumers in such markets. CADE may not approve our future acquisitions or may condition approval of our acquisitions on our disposal of some of the operations of the target of the acquisition, or impose restrictions on the operations and commercialization of the target. Failure to obtain approval for future acquisitions or any conditional approvals of future acquisitions may result in expenses that may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. As a result of our growth strategy through acquisitions of new entities, we may need additional funds to implement our strategy. Therefore, if we cannot obtain adequate financing to conclude any potential acquisition and implement our expansion plans, our growth strategy will be affected.
Legal & Regulatory
Total Risks: 16/69 (23%)Above Sector Average
Regulation8 | 11.6%
Regulation - Risk 1
The post-secondary education sector is highly regulated, and our failure to comply with existing or future laws and regulations could significantly impact our businessRegulation - Risk 2
We are subject to supervision by MEC and, consequently, may suffer sanctions as a result of non-compliance with any regulatory requirements.Brazilian Federal Law No. 10,861/2004, regulated by Decree No. 9,235/2017, implemented the activities of supervision of post-secondary education entities and courses in the Brazilian federal education system. The Secretariat for Regulation and Supervision of Post-secondary Education, or SERES, of MEC is responsible for the regular and special supervision of the corresponding courses and programs.
Regular supervision derives from complaints and allegations by students, parents and faculty members, as well as by public entities and the press. These complaints and allegations involve specific cases of entities with courses showing evidence of irregularities or deficiencies. We are subject to those complaints and representations. Special supervision, on the other hand, may be commenced by MEC itself, based on its post-secondary education regularity and quality standards, and involves more than one course or entity, grouped according to the criteria chosen for the special supervision. These criteria may include unsatisfactory results in the ENADE and the Difference Indicator between Expected and Actual Performance (Indicador de Diferença entre os Desempenhos Observado e Esperado), among other quality indicators, the history of course evaluations by INEP, as well as compliance with specific legal requirements as, for example, the minimum ratio between faculty members with master's or doctorate degrees.
Administrative irregularities can include, among others: (i) unlicensed or irregular post-secondary courses; (ii) any outsourcing of post-secondary education activities; (iii) the failure to file a re-accreditation or recognition or renewal request with respect to post-secondary education courses within the time periods enacted by MEC pursuant to Decree No. 9,235/2017; and (iv) failure to comply with any penalties imposed by the MEC.
If MEC concludes, as part of its supervisory activities, that an irregularity constitutes an imminent risk or threat to students or the public interest, it may impose the following measures on the relevant educational institution for a period to be determined by SERES: (i) suspend the admission of new students; (ii) suspend the offering of undergraduate or postgraduate lato sensu courses; (iii) suspend the institution's discretionary ability to, among other things, create new post-secondary courses and establish course curricula, if applicable; (iv) suspend the license to establish new distance learning programs; (v) override any ongoing regulatory requests filed by the institution and prohibit new regulatory requests; (vi) suspend participation in the New FIES; (vii) suspend participation in PROUNI; and (viii) suspend or restrict participation in other federal education programs. The educational institution can contest the MEC's findings by filing motions with MEC or with Brazilian courts.
Upon completion of the supervisory process and to the extent MEC concludes that there are administrative irregularities, SERES may apply the penalties provided for by Law No. 9,394/1996, namely (i) discontinue courses; (ii) directly intervene in the educational institution; (iii) temporarily suspend the institution's discretionary ability to, among other things, create new post-secondary courses and establish course curricula, if applicable; (iv) disqualify the institution as an educational institution; (v) reduce the number of student vacancies; (vi) temporarily suspend new student enrollments; or (vii) temporarily suspend courses.
Regulation - Risk 3
Government agencies, MEC and third parties may conduct inspections, file administrative proceedings or initiate litigation against us.Because we operate in a highly regulated industry, government agencies, MEC or third parties may conduct inspections, file administrative proceedings or initiate litigation for non-compliance with regulations against us or the institutions we purchase. If the results of these proceedings or litigations are unfavorable to us, or if we are unable to successfully defend our cases, we may be required to pay monetary damages or be subject to fines, limitations, injunctions or other penalties. Even if we adequately address issues raised by an inspection conducted by an agency or successfully defend our case in an administrative proceeding or court action, we may have to set aside significant financial and management resources to settle issues raised by these proceedings or to those lawsuits or claims. Administrative proceedings or court actions brought against us may damage our reputation, even if such lawsuits or claims are without merit.
Regulation - Risk 4
We may be adversely affected if the government changes its investment strategy in education.According to Brazilian Federal Law No. 9,394/1996, as amended, providing education is a duty of the government and of the family, and private education is permitted, in accordance with the terms set forth by the Brazilian constitution and applicable laws and regulations. Certain public institutions may have certain competitive advantages over us in the admissions process, as they do not charge tuition fees and may be perceived to be more prestigious than private institutions, but the limited number of positions available and the competitive nature of the admission process to public institutions significantly restricts access to these institutions by students. However, the Brazilian government may change its policy and increase the competition we face by (i) increasing the level of public investment in basic education and post-secondary education in general, opening a higher amount of positions and increasing the quality of education offered by public entities; and (ii) shifting resources from institutions that are centers of excellence and research to public post-secondary education institutions. The introduction and extension of affirmative action admission policies by federal and state institutions based on income, race or ethnicity criteria could also heighten the level of competition in the industry. Any policy change affecting the level of public investment in any aspect of the education sector may adversely affect us. As of the date of this annual report, our management is not aware of any pending policy changes or proposed legislation affecting the level of public investment in the education sector in Brazil.
Regulation - Risk 5
We are currently in the process of obtaining or renewing local licenses and permits, including licenses from the fire department, for some of the real estate we use. Failure to obtain renewals of these licenses and permits in a timely manner may result in penalties, including closures of some of our campuses.Changed
The use of all of our buildings, including our operational and administrative buildings, is subject to the successful issuance of an occupancy permit (Habite-se), or equivalent certificate, issued by the municipality where the property is located, certifying that the building was constructed in compliance with applicable zoning and municipal regulations. In addition, non-residential properties are required to have a use and operations license and/or permit, issued by the competent municipality, and a fire department inspection certificate, issued by the fire department, prior to being used regularly.
We are currently in the process of obtaining and/or renewing these licenses for some of the real estate we use. The absence of such licenses may result in penalties ranging from fines to forced demolition of the areas that were not built in compliance with applicable codes or, in the worst-case scenario, the temporary or permanent closure of the campus or branch lacking the licenses and permits to the extent the relevant penalties and fines have not been paid and the licenses and permits have not been obtained following notifications from the relevant authorities. Any penalties imposed, and in particular the forced closure of any of our campuses or branches, may result in a material adverse effect on our business. Moreover, in the event of any accident at our campuses or branches, the lack of such licenses may result in civil and criminal liability, as well as cause the cancellation of insurance policies, if any, for the respective campus or branch and may damage our reputation.
Regulation - Risk 6
Difficulties in identifying, opening and efficiently managing new campuses or in obtaining regulatory authorizations and accreditations on a timely basis as part of our organic growth strategy may adversely affect our business.Our organic strategy includes expanding by opening new campuses and integrating them into our educational network. This growth plan creates significant challenges in terms of maintaining our teaching quality and culture, as a result of the complexity and difficulty of effectively managing a greater number of campuses and programs. If we are unable to maintain our current quality standards, we may lose market share and be adversely affected.
Establishing new campuses poses important challenges and requires us to make significant investments in infrastructure, marketing, personnel and other pre-operational expenses, mainly identifying new sites for lease or purchase. We prioritize identifying strategic sites, negotiating the purchase or lease of properties, building or refurbishing facilities (including libraries, laboratories and classrooms), obtaining local permits, hiring and training faculty and staff, and investing in administration and support.
We are also required to register our new campuses with MEC, before opening and operating them, as well as having our new programs accredited by MEC in order to issue official degrees and certificates to our students. If we do not succeed in identifying and establishing our campuses in a cost-effective manner or in obtaining such authorizations or accreditations on a timely basis, or if MEC imposes restrictions or conditions on our accreditation requests for new campuses, our business may be adversely affected.
Regulation - Risk 7
We may face restrictions and penalties under the Brazilian Consumer Protection Code in the future.Brazil has a series of strict consumer protection laws, referred to collectively as the Consumer Protection Code (Código de Defesa do Consumidor). These laws apply to all companies in Brazil that supply products or services to Brazilian consumers. They include protection against misleading and deceptive advertising, protection against coercive or unfair business practices and protection in the formation and interpretation of contracts, usually in the form of civil liabilities and administrative penalties for violations.
These penalties are often levied by the Brazilian Consumer Protection Agencies (Fundação de Proteção e Defesa do Consumidor, or PROCONs), which oversee consumer issues on a district-by-district basis. Companies that operate across Brazil may face penalties from multiple PROCONs, as well as from the National Secretariat for Consumers (Secretaria Nacional do Consumidor, or SENACON). Companies may settle claims made by consumers via PROCONs by paying compensation for violations directly to consumers and through a mechanism that allows them to adjust their conduct, called a conduct adjustment agreement (Termo de Ajustamento de Conduta, or TAC).
Brazilian public prosecutors may also commence investigations of alleged violations of consumer rights and require companies to enter into TACs. Companies that violate TACs face potential enforcement proceedings and other potential penalties such as fines, as set forth in the relevant TAC. Brazilian public prosecutors may also file public civil actions against companies who violate consumer rights or competition rules, seeking strict adherence to the consumer protection laws and compensation for any damages to consumers. In certain cases, we may also face investigations and/or sanctions by the CADE, in the event our business practices are found to affect the competitiveness of the markets in which we operate or the consumers in such markets.
Regulation - Risk 8
Changes to the rules or delays or suspension of tuition payments made through FIES may adversely affect our cash flows and our business.Some of our students finance their tuition fees through the Higher Education Student Financing Fund (Fundo de Financiamento ao Estudante do Ensino Superior, or FIES) created by the Brazilian federal government, and operated through the National Fund for Educational Development (Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento da Educação, or FNDE), which offers financing to low-income students enrolled in undergraduate programs in private higher education institutions. As of 2018, we have adhered to the "New FIES," a new federal program aimed at providing student financing. Similar to the FIES, the New FIES provides financial support for low-income students throughout Brazil, in particular in the North, Northeast and Midwest regions. As a result, our exposure to the risks associated with delays in the transfer of monthly tuition payments from the FIES program operated by the Brazilian federal government, which we calculate by dividing the sum of the historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees financed through FIES by total historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees, was 11.8%, 9.4% and 13.0% of total historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees as of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Should (i) the Brazilian federal government terminate or reduce the transfer of monthly payments to our institutions that participate in FIES or New FIES, (ii) the students benefiting from FIES or New FIES fail to meet the requirements for enrollment in the programs or (iii) the Brazilian federal government extend the term to make reimbursements under FIES or New FIES or adversely change their rules, our results of operations and cash flow may be materially adversely affected. We may also experience a decline in revenues and a decline in the number of students at our campuses from the FIES and the New FIES programs.
Moreover, recent changes to the rules to renew FIES contracts, as well as the shutdown of the system to enter into new student financing agreements, may negatively affect the number of students enrolled in our courses, causing a reduction in our revenues. For more information regarding the changes to FIES contracts, see "Item 4. Information on the Company-Business Overview-Regulatory Overview."
Litigation & Legal Liabilities3 | 4.3%
Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1
We may be held liable for extraordinary events that may occur at our campuses, which may have an adverse effect on our image and, consequently, our results of operations.Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 2
United States civil liabilities and certain Judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable.We are a Cayman Islands exempted company and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. In addition, the majority of our directors and officers are nationals and residents of countries other than the United States. A substantial portion of the assets of these persons is located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons. It may also be difficult to enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors who are not resident in the United States and the substantial majority of whose assets are located outside of the United States.
Further, it is unclear if original actions predicated on civil liabilities based solely upon U.S. federal securities laws are enforceable in courts outside the United States, including in the Cayman Islands and Brazil. Courts of the Cayman Islands may not, in an original action in the Cayman Islands, recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state of the United States on the grounds that such provisions are penal in nature. Although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction if such judgment is final, for a liquidated sum, provided it is not in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, is not inconsistent with a Cayman Islands' judgment in respect of the same matters, and was not obtained in a manner which is contrary to the public policy of the Cayman Islands. In addition, a Cayman Islands court may stay proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 3
Unfavorable decisions in our legal, arbitration or administrative proceedings may adversely affect us.We are, and we, our controlling shareholders, directors or officers may be in the future, party to legal, arbitration and administrative investigations, inspections and proceedings arising from the ordinary course of our business or from nonrecurring corporate, tax, criminal or regulatory events, involving our suppliers, students, faculty members, as well as environmental, competition and tax authorities, especially with respect to civil, tax, criminal and labor claims. We cannot guarantee that the results of these proceedings will be favorable to us or that we have made sufficient provisions for liabilities that may arise as a result of these or other proceedings. Adverse decisions on material legal, arbitration or administrative proceedings may damage our reputation and may adversely affect our results of operations and the price of our Class A common shares.
In addition, Mr. Nicolau Carvalho Esteves, our chairman and one of our controlling shareholders, is currently party to a public civil proceeding filed by the federal prosecutor's office against Mr. Carvalho Esteves and other individuals in connection with certain irregular administrative acts alleged to have taken place during each of their respective terms as Health Secretary of the State of Tocantins (Secretário de Saúde do Estado de Tocantins) between 2012 and 2014, a position held by Mr. Carvalho Esteves for a period of four months, from March 9, 2012 to July 20, 2012. If Mr. Carvalho Esteves is found liable, he may be subject to penalties, including a three-year prohibition on him or any legal entity under his control transacting with public entities or being granted tax incentives/benefits, including Afya. We cannot guarantee that the results of these proceedings will be favorable to Mr. Carvalho Esteves and any adverse decision may (i) damage our reputation, (ii) disqualify us from participating in the PROUNI program, and consequently cause us to lose our current tax incentives/benefits, including with respect to (a) corporate income tax (IRPJ) and CSLL rates, which were at an aggregate effective tax rate of 8.1% and 7.6% for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and which would gradually increase to an aggregate effective tax rate of up to 34.0%, and (b) PIS and COFINS rates, which are currently zero and which would gradually increase to an aggregate tax rate of up to 3.65%, (iii) result in our suspension from the New FIES program which would prohibit our institutions from enrolling new students that are funded by FIES (for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, FIES represented 11.8% and 9.4% and of our historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees), and (iv) prevent us from entering into new agreements with public entities located in Brazil, any of which may have an adverse effect on our business, reputation, results of operations and the price of our Class A common shares. For further information, see "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees-A. Directors and Senior Management-Legal Proceedings."
Taxation & Government Incentives3 | 4.3%
Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 1
Any change or review of the tax treatment of our activities, or the loss or reduction in tax benefits on the sale of books (including digital content) may materially adversely affect us.Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 2
An increase in delays and/or defaults in the payment of tuition fees may adversely affect our income and cash flows.We depend on the full and timely payment of the tuition we charge our students, including tuition payments we receive through FIES, which is largely outside of our control, such as in the context of an economic crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An increase in payment delinquency or default by our students may have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and our business, including our ability to meet our obligations. Our allowance for doubtful accounts expenses as a percentage of our net revenues was 2.7%, 2.0% and 2.3% for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 3
If we lose the benefits of federal tax exemptions provided under the PROUNI program, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.Some of our students participate in the University for All Program (Programa Universidade para Todos, or PROUNI program). Through the PROUNI program, the Brazilian federal government grants a number of full and partial scholarships to low-income post-secondary education students. As a result of our participation in the PROUNI program, we benefit from certain federal tax exemptions relating to bachelor's and associate's degree programs, such as (i) income tax, (ii) Social Contribution Tax on Gross Revenue (Programa de Integração Social, or PIS), (iii) Social Security Financing Tax on Gross Revenue (Contribuição para o Financiamento da Seguridade Social, or COFINS), and (iv) Social Contribution Tax on Net Profit (Contribuição Social sobre o Lucro Líquido, or CSLL), regarding our revenues from undergraduate and associate programs.
We may be disqualified from the PROUNI program and lose our tax exemptions if we do not comply with certain requirements, such as providing total or partial scholarships for a percentage of students who paid their tuition in the previous year, granting partial scholarships, and submitting to MEC semi-annual records of attendance, achievement and dropout of students receiving scholarships, among others. See "Item 4. Information on the Company-Business Overview-Regulatory Overview." If we lose our tax exemptions or are unable to comply with other, more stringent requirements that may be introduced in the future, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
There is a risk that additional changes in tax laws may prohibit, interrupt or modify the use of existing tax exemptions, and we cannot assure you that we will fully maintain such tax and other benefits related to PROUNI in the event the tax laws are amended further. Any suspension, accelerated default, repayment or inability to renew our tax exemptions may have an adverse effect on our results of operations. As of the date of this annual report, there are two main proposed tax law amendments that are under review by the Brazilian congress: (i) Bill No. 3887/2020, which expressly revokes the PIS and COFINS tax exemptions for the PROUNI program; and (ii) Constitutional Amendment Proposal No. 45/2020, which proposes a new tax to substitute PIS and COFINS (and other state and municipal taxes) with no tax exemptions. If we lose our tax exemptions and incentives, if we are unable to comply with future requirements or if changes in the law limit our ability to maintain these tax benefits, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be significantly and adversely affected.
Environmental / Social2 | 2.9%
Environmental / Social - Risk 1
Failure to comply with data privacy regulations could result in reputational damage to our brands and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Environmental / Social - Risk 2
We are subject to environmental laws and regulations, which may become more stringent in the future and increase our obligations and capital expenditures with respect to their compliance.We are subject to several environmental municipal, state and federal laws. Compliance with these laws and regulations is monitored by governmental agencies and bodies that may impose administrative, civil and criminal sanctions on us. Violations of these laws and regulations may result in the imposition of criminal and administrative sanctions, as well as civil liability, seeking redress for alleged environmental damages and damages to third parties. Causing environmental damage may lead to administrative sanctions, which may include, among other consequences, penalties such as fines (ranging from R$50 to R$50 million), revocation of our licenses and authorizations, and the temporary or permanent suspension of our activities. There is no limit to the amount that the courts may award to cover the costs of remediation in the case of civil liability or, if the environmental damage cannot be repaired, the payment of an indemnity. In addition, a claim seeking compensation for environmental damages is not subject to a statute of limitations. The enactment of more stringent laws and regulations or more stringent interpretations of existing laws and regulations may force us to increase our capital expenditures relating to environmental compliance, therefore diverting funds from previously planned investments. These changes could have a material adverse effect on us. Governmental agencies or other authorities may also significantly delay or deny the issuance of permits and authorizations required for our operations, preventing us from making constructions and improvements in our campuses. In addition, the improper disposal of solid waste, as well as accidents resulting from the transportation of such wastes, may give rise to administrative, civil and criminal sanctions. Considering the provision on strict and joint environmental civil liability, the hiring of third parties to provide services for the collection, transportation and final disposal of waste does not exempt us from liability for any environmental damage caused by such third parties.
Production
Total Risks: 9/69 (13%)Above Sector Average
Manufacturing1 | 1.4%
Manufacturing - Risk 1
Our success depends on our ability to operate in strategically located property that is easily accessible by public transportation.Employment / Personnel4 | 5.8%
Employment / Personnel - Risk 1
If we are unable to maintain consistent educational quality throughout our network, including the education materials of our post-secondary education institutions, or keep or adequately train our faculty members, we may be adversely affected.Employment / Personnel - Risk 2
We and our subsidiaries may be held directly or indirectly responsible for labor claims pursuant to contracted services.To meet the needs of our students and offer greater comfort and quality in all areas and aspects of our activities, we depend on service providers and suppliers for services such as cleaning, surveillance, telemarketing and security. We may be adversely affected if these third-party service providers and suppliers do not meet their obligations under Brazilian labor laws. In particular, according to Brazilian law we may be liable to the employees of these service providers and suppliers for labor obligations of these service providers and suppliers to the extent such service providers and suppliers fail to indemnify such employees pursuant to court orders, and we may also be fined by the relevant authorities. If we are held liable for such claims, we may be adversely affected.
Employment / Personnel - Risk 3
The ability to attract, recruit, retain and develop key personnel and qualified employees is critical to our success and growth. If we lose key personnel, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.In order for us to successfully compete and grow, we must attract, recruit, retain and develop the necessary personnel who can provide the needed expertise across the entire spectrum of our intellectual capital needs. While we have a number of our key personnel who have substantial experience with our operations, we must also develop our personnel to provide succession plans capable of maintaining continuity in the midst of the inevitable unpredictability of human capital. However, the market for qualified personnel is competitive, and we may not succeed in recruiting additional personnel or may fail to effectively replace key current personnel who depart with qualified or effective successors. We must continue to hire additional personnel to execute our strategic plans. Our effort to retain and develop personnel may also result in significant additional expenses, which could adversely affect our profitability. We cannot assure you that qualified employees will continue to be employed, that we will manage them successfully, or that, in the future, we will be able to attract qualified personnel with similar skills and expertise at equivalent cost and retain them.
We are also dependent upon the ability and experience of a number of our key personnel who have substantial experience with our operations. Many of our key personnel have worked for us for a significant amount of time or were recruited by us specifically due to their industry experience. It is possible that the failure to retain or attract the services of one or a combination of our senior executives, board members (including those with M&A experience related to our industry), or key managers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Employment / Personnel - Risk 4
We could be adversely affected if we are unable to renegotiate collective bargaining agreements with the labor unions representing our professors and administrative employees or by strikes and other union activity.Our payroll costs and expenses account for the majority of the costs of services and general and administrative expenses, or 53.3%, 59.2% and 65.8% of such costs and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Our faculty and administrative employees are represented by labor unions in the higher education sector and are covered by collective bargaining agreements or similar arrangements determining the number of working hours, minimum compensation, vacations and fringe benefits, among other terms. These agreements are subject to annual renegotiation and may be so modified. We could also be adversely affected if we fail to achieve and maintain cooperative relationships with our professors' or administrative employees' unions or face strikes, stoppages or other labor disruptions by our professors or employees. In addition, we may not be able to pass on any increase in costs arising from the renegotiation of collective bargaining agreements to the monthly tuition fees paid by students, which may have a material adverse effect on our business.
Costs4 | 5.8%
Costs - Risk 1
We may not be able to update, improve or offer the content of our existing programs to our students on a cost-effective basis, which may materially adversely affect our ability to attract and retain students.Costs - Risk 2
Our revenues are highly concentrated in the tuition fees we charge for our medical courses and other health sciences programs, and any economic, market or regulatory factors adversely affecting such medical courses and health sciences programs could lead to decreased demand in the medical and health courses we offer, which could materially adversely affect us.A significant portion of our historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees are currently concentrated in the tuition fees we charge for our medical courses and other health sciences programs across our network. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, 86.0%, 81.7% and 86.3% respectively, of total historical undergraduate programs combined tuition fees were derived from tuition fees we or our subsidiaries charged for medical courses and other health sciences programs. Therefore, economic, market or regulatory factors, such as in the context of an economic crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting either the amount of tuition fees we are able to charge for the medical courses and health sciences programs we offer or the ability of our students to pay such tuition fees could result in significantly decreased demand for our services, which could materially adversely affect us.
Costs - Risk 3
We may not be able to pass on increases in our costs by adjusting our monthly tuition fees.Our primary source of income is the monthly tuition payments we charge to our students. Our payroll costs and expenses account for the majority of the costs of services and general and administrative expenses, or 53.3%, 59.2% and 65.8% of such costs and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Our utilities expenses (comprised mainly of water, electricity and telephone expenses) represented 0.7%, 1.2% and 1.1%, respectively, of our costs of services and general and administrative expenses. Personnel costs and expenses, lease values and the cost of electricity are adjusted regularly using indices that reflect changes in inflation levels. If we are not able to transfer any increases in our costs and expenses to students by increasing the amounts of their monthly tuition fees, such as in the context of an economic crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our operating results may be adversely affected.
Costs - Risk 4
We may not be able to maintain or renew our existing leases.We lease substantially all of the properties on our campuses. According to Brazilian lease laws, a lessee has the right to renew existing leases for subsequent terms equal to the original term of the lease. In order for a lessee to enforce this right, the following criteria must be met (i) the non-residential lease agreement must have a fixed term equal to or greater than five consecutive years, or, in the event there is more than one agreement or amendment thereto regarding the same real estate, the aggregate term in such agreement or amendment must be greater than five consecutive years (ii) the lessee must have been using the property for the same purpose for a minimum and continuous period of three years and (iii) the lessee must claim the right of automatic renewal at the most one year and at least six months prior to the end of the term of the lease agreement.
Lease agreements with terms lasting less than five years are not entitled to a right of compulsory renewal and, as a result, the lessor has the right to refuse renewal of the lease upon expiration of its term. The lease agreements relating to our campuses generally have terms lasting from five to 20 years and are renewable in accordance with applicable Brazilian lease laws. If we are forced to close any of our campuses due to the termination of a lease agreement and our inability to renew the lease, our business and results of operations may be adversely affected.
In addition, most of our lease agreements are not registered with the relevant real estate registries. We therefore do not have a right of first refusal over the applicable property in the event of a sale by its landlord and the subsequent purchaser may require that we vacate the property.
Macro & Political
Total Risks: 6/69 (9%)Above Sector Average
Economy & Political Environment3 | 4.3%
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1
Inflation and certain measures by the Brazilian government to curb inflation have historically harmed the Brazilian economy and Brazilian capital markets, and high levels of inflation in the future would harm our business and the price of our Class A common shares.Economy & Political Environment - Risk 2
The Brazilian federal government has exercised, and continues to exercise, significant influence over the Brazilian economy. This involvement as well as Brazil's political and economic conditions could harm us and the price of our Class A common shares.The Brazilian federal government frequently exercises significant influence over the Brazilian economy and occasionally makes significant changes in policy and regulations. The Brazilian government's actions to control inflation and other policies and regulations have often involved, among other measures, increases or decreases in interest rates, changes in fiscal policies, wage and price controls, foreign exchange rate controls, blocking access to bank accounts, currency devaluations, capital controls and import and export restrictions. We have no control over and cannot predict what measures or policies the Brazilian government may take in the future. We and the market price of our securities may be harmed by changes in Brazilian government policies, as well as general economic factors, including, without limitation:
- growth or downturn of the Brazilian economy;- interest rates and monetary policies;- exchange rates and currency fluctuations;- inflation;- liquidity of the domestic capital and lending markets, in particular in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic;- import and export controls;- exchange controls and restrictions on remittances abroad and payments of dividends;- modifications to laws and regulations according to political, social and economic interests;- fiscal policy and changes in tax laws;- economic, political and social instability, including general strikes and mass demonstrations;- the regulatory framework governing the educational industry;- labor and social security regulations;- energy and water shortages and rationing;- commodity prices;- changes in demographics, in particular declining birth rates, which will result in a decrease in the number of enrolled students in education in the future; and - other political, diplomatic, social and economic developments in or affecting Brazil.
Uncertainty over whether the Brazilian federal government will implement reforms or changes in policy or regulation affecting these or other factors in the future may affect economic performance and contribute to economic uncertainty in Brazil, which may have an adverse effect on our activities and consequently our operating results, and may also adversely affect the trading price of our Class A common shares. Recent economic and political instability has led to a negative perception of the Brazilian economy and higher volatility in the Brazilian securities markets, which also may adversely affect us and our Class A common shares. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects-Significant Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations-Brazilian Macroeconomic Environment."
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 3
Infrastructure and workforce deficiency in Brazil may impact economic growth and have a material adverse effect on us.Our performance depends on the overall health and growth of the Brazilian economy. Brazilian GDP growth has fluctuated over the past few years, with growth of 3.0% in 2013 but decreasing to 0.5% in 2014, a contraction of 3.5% in 2015, a contraction of 3.3% in 2016, a growth of 1.0% in 2017, a growth of 1.1% in 2018 and 1.1% in 2019 and a contraction of 4.1% in 2020. Growth is limited by inadequate infrastructure, including potential energy shortages and deficient transportation, logistics and telecommunication sectors, general strikes, the lack of a qualified labor force, and the lack of private and public investments in these areas, which limit productivity and efficiency. Any of these factors could lead to labor market volatility and generally impact income, purchasing power and consumption levels, which could limit growth and ultimately have a material adverse effect on us.
International Operations1 | 1.4%
International Operations - Risk 1
Developments and the perceptions of risks in other countries, including other emerging markets, the United States and Europe, may harm the Brazilian economy and the price of our Class A common shares.Natural and Human Disruptions1 | 1.4%
Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1
Public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our business.Changed
Capital Markets1 | 1.4%
Capital Markets - Risk 1
Exchange rate instability may have adverse effects on the Brazilian economy, us and the price of our Class A common shares.Tech & Innovation
Total Risks: 5/69 (7%)Below Sector Average
Innovation / R&D1 | 1.4%
Innovation / R&D - Risk 1
We may not be able to successfully expand our presence and performance in the distance learning business.Changed
Trade Secrets2 | 2.9%
Trade Secrets - Risk 1
We may in the future be subject to intellectual property claims, which are costly to defend and, if we do not succeed in defending such claims, could harm our business, financial condition and operating results.Trade Secrets - Risk 2
Failure to protect or enforce our intellectual property and other proprietary rights could adversely affect our business and financial condition and results of operations.We rely and expect to continue to rely on a combination of trademark, copyright, patent and trade secret protection laws, as well as confidentiality and license agreements with our employees, consultants and third parties with whom we have relationships to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights. As of the date of this annual report, we had no issued patents and one patent application pending in Brazil. As of December 31, 2020, we were party to 92 agreements, with third-party authors with respect to educational content. As of December 31, 2020, we owned 56 trademark registrations and 84 registered domain names in Brazil. We also had 16 pending trademark applications in Brazil as of the date of this annual report and unregistered trademarks that we use to promote our brand. From time to time, we expect to file additional patent, copyright and trademark applications in Brazil and abroad. Nevertheless, these applications may not be approved or otherwise provide the full protection we seek. Any dismissal of our "AFYA" trademark application may impact our business. Third parties may challenge any patents, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property and proprietary rights owned or held by us. Third parties may knowingly or unknowingly infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate our patents, copyrights, trademarks and other proprietary rights, and we may not be able to prevent infringement, misappropriation or other violation without substantial expense to us.
Furthermore, we cannot guarantee that:
- our intellectual property and proprietary rights will provide competitive advantages to us;- our competitors or others will not design around our intellectual property or proprietary rights;- our ability to assert or enforce our intellectual property or proprietary rights against potential competitors or to settle current or future disputes will not be limited by our agreements with third parties;- our intellectual property and proprietary rights will be enforced in jurisdictions where competition may be intense or where legal protection may be weak;- any of the patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets or other intellectual property or proprietary rights that we presently employ in our business will not lapse or be invalidated, circumvented, challenged or abandoned; or - we will not lose the ability to assert or enforce our intellectual property or proprietary rights against or to license our intellectual property or proprietary rights to others and collect royalties or other payments.
If we pursue litigation to assert or enforce our intellectual property or proprietary rights, an adverse decision in any of these legal actions could limit our ability to assert our intellectual property or proprietary rights, limit the value of our intellectual property or proprietary rights or otherwise negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. If the protection of our intellectual property and proprietary rights is inadequate to prevent use or misappropriation by third parties, the value of our brand and other intangible assets may be diminished, competitors may be able to more effectively mimic our service and methods of operations, the perception of our business and service to customers and potential customers may become confused in the marketplace and our ability to attract customers may be adversely affected.
Cyber Security1 | 1.4%
Cyber Security - Risk 1
Failure to prevent or detect a malicious cyber-attack on our systems and databases could result in a misappropriation of confidential information or access to highly sensitive information.Technology1 | 1.4%
Technology - Risk 1
Our success depends on our ability to monitor and adapt to technological changes in the education sector and maintain a technological infrastructure that works adequately and without interruption.Ability to Sell
Total Risks: 5/69 (7%)Below Sector Average
Competition1 | 1.4%
Competition - Risk 1
We face significant competition in each program we offer and each geographic region in which we operate. If we fail to compete efficiently, we may lose market share and our profitability may be adversely affected.Demand2 | 2.9%
Demand - Risk 1
Any increase in the attrition rates of students in our education programs may adversely affect our results of operations.Demand - Risk 2
Our Business Unit 2 is subject to seasonal fluctuations, which may cause our operating results to fluctuate from quarter-to-quarter and adversely impact our working capital and liquidity throughout the year, adversely affecting our business, financial condition and results of operations.Our revenues and operating results normally fluctuate as a result of seasonal variations in our business. In particular, the revenue we derive from Business Unit 2 (which comprises fees we charge for our residency preparatory courses and medical post-graduate specialization programs, delivery of printed and digital content, access to our online medical education platform and practical medical training), is concentrated in the first and last quarter of each year, when new content (books and e-books) is delivered and revenues are recognized, as a result of enrollments at the beginning of each year. The majority of the revenue of Business Unit 2 is derived from printed books and e-books, and revenue is recognized at the point in time when control is transferred to the customer. Consequently, in aggregate, the seasonality of our revenues will generally produce higher revenues in the first and fourth quarters of our fiscal year. In addition, the deterioration of Brazilian macroeconomic conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the reduction of the disposable income of current and prospective customers of our Business Unit 2, leading to the postponement of their residency and post-graduate specialization plans, consequently reducing the demand for our residency preparatory courses and medical post-graduate specialization programs. Uncertainties in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic have also affected the decision to purchase products that are not of primary need for the doctor, especially for post-graduate specialization programs. Regarding the preparatory courses, it is worth adding that there was a drop in demand in the courses with short duration due to the uncertainty on whether there would be exams or any related delays.
Accordingly, we expect quarterly fluctuations in our revenues and operating results to continue. These fluctuations could result in volatility and adversely affect our liquidity and cash flows. As our business grows, these seasonal fluctuations may become more pronounced. As a result, we believe that sequential quarterly comparisons of our financial results may not provide an accurate assessment of our financial position.
Sales & Marketing1 | 1.4%
Sales & Marketing - Risk 1
If we are not able to attract and retain students, or are unable to do so without decreasing our tuition fees, our revenues may decline.Brand / Reputation1 | 1.4%
Brand / Reputation - Risk 1
Our business depends on the continued success of the brands of each of our institutions, as well as the "Afya" brand, and if we fail to maintain and enhance recognition of our brands, we may face difficulty enrolling new students, and our reputation and operating results may be harmed.See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.
FAQ
What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.
They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.
It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
How do companies disclose their risk factors?
Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.
Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.
Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.
According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.
You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.
Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.
A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
What are all the risk factor categories?
TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.
1. Financial & Corporate
- Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
- Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
- Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.
2. Legal & Regulatory
- Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
- Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
- Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
- Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.
3. Production
- Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
- Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
- Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
- Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.
4. Technology & Innovation
- Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
- Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
- Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
- Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.
5. Ability to Sell
- Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
- Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
- Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
- Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.
6. Macro & Political
- Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
- Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
- International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
- Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.