Neogen (NEOG) Risk Analysis

Our facilities and our distribution systems are subject to catastrophic loss due to fire, flood, terrorism or other natural or man-made disasters. If any of our facilities were to experience a catastrophic loss, it could disrupt our operations, delay production, shipments and revenue and result in significant expenses to repair or replace the facility and/or distribution system. If such a disruption were to occur, we could breach agreements, our reputation could be harmed, and our business and operating results could be adversely affected. Although we carry insurance for property damage and business interruption, we do not carry insurance or financial reserves for interruptions or potential losses arising from terrorism. Economic conditions and uncertainties in global markets could adversely affect the cost and other terms upon which we are able to obtain third party insurance. If we are unable to obtain sufficient and cost-effective third-party insurance coverage, or to the extent we have elected to self-insure, we could be at greater risk that our operations will be harmed by a catastrophic loss.

We purchase raw materials and components for use in our products, which exposes us to volatility in prices for certain raw materials and products. Prices and availability of these raw materials are subject to substantial fluctuations that are beyond our control due to factors such as changing economic conditions, inflation, currency and commodity price fluctuations, tariffs, resource availability, transportation costs, weather conditions and natural disasters, political unrest and instability, and other factors impacting supply and demand pressures. Significant price increases for these supplies could adversely affect our operating profits. Current and future inflationary effects may be driven by, among other things, supply chain disruptions and governmental stimulus or fiscal policies. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, resulted in raw material price inflation as well as supply chain constraints and disruptions. While we will generally attempt to mitigate the impact of increased raw material prices by endeavoring to make strategic purchasing decisions, broadening our supplier base and passing along increased costs to customers, there may be a time delay between the increased raw material prices, and our mitigation efforts. Additionally, we may be unable to increase the prices of products due to a competitor's pricing pressure or other factors, or may be unable to raise the price of our products in a manner that is proportional to the level of inflation in our input costs, which would materially and adversely affect our results of operations. Certain of our food safety product lines depend on a sole or single source supplier or vendor. The ability of these third parties to deliver raw materials and products may be affected by events beyond our control. In addition, public health threats, such as COVID-19, severe influenza and other highly communicable viruses or diseases could affect our supply of raw materials, by limiting our ability to transport raw materials from our vendors or increasing demand and competition for supplies, which could adversely affect our ability to obtain necessary raw materials for certain of our products. Any sustained interruption in our receipt of adequate raw materials, supply chain disruptions impacting the receipt or distribution of products, or disruption to key manufacturing sites' operations due to natural and other disasters or events or other legal or regulatory requirements, could result in a significant price increase in raw materials, or their unavailability, which could result in a loss of customers or otherwise adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

The markets in which we operate are characterized by rapidly changing technologies and the frequent introduction of new products. As a result, our success is dependent upon our ability to develop or acquire new products and services on a cost-effective basis, to introduce them into the marketplace in a timely manner and to protect and maintain critical intellectual property assets related to these developments. Difficulties or delays in research, development or production of new products and technologies, or failure to gain market acceptance of new products and technologies, could significantly reduce future revenue and materially and adversely affect our competitive position. While we intend to continue to commit financial resources and effort to the development of new products and services, we may not be able to successfully differentiate our products and services from those of our competitors. Our customers may not consider our proposed products and services to be of value to them or may not view them as superior to our competitors' products and services. In addition, our competitors or customers could develop new technologies or products which reflect similar or improved solutions to our existing technologies. Further, we may not be able to adapt to evolving markets and technologies, develop new products, achieve and maintain technological advantages or protect technological advantages through intellectual property rights. If we do not successfully compete through the development and introduction of new products and technologies, our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

We rely on our information systems' infrastructure to integrate departments and functions, enhance our ability to service customers, improve our control environment, and manage our cost reduction initiatives. If a security breach or cyberattack of our information technology ("IT") networks and systems occurs, our operations could be interrupted. Any issues involving our critical business applications and infrastructure could adversely impact our ability to manage our operations and the customers we serve. Although we have controls and security measures in place to prevent such attacks, experienced computer hackers are increasingly organized and sophisticated. Malicious attack efforts operate on a large scale and sometimes offer targeted attacks as a paid-for service. In addition, the techniques used to access or sabotage networks change frequently and generally are not recognized until launched against a target. We rely on several information systems throughout our company, as well as those of our third-party business partners, to provide access to our web-based products and services, keep financial records, analyze results of operations, process customer orders, manage inventory, process shipments to customers, store confidential or proprietary information and operate other critical functions. Although we employ system backup measures and engage in information system redundancy planning and processes, such measures, as well as our current disaster recovery plan, may be ineffective or inadequate to address all vulnerabilities. Further, our information systems and our business partners' and suppliers' information systems may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers and other security breaches, including computer viruses and malware, through the internet (including via devices and applications connected to the internet), email attachments and persons with access to these information systems, such as our employees or third parties with whom we do business. As information systems and the use of software and related applications by us, our business partners, suppliers and customers become more cloud-based, there has been an increase in global cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threats, including more sophisticated and targeted cyber-related attacks that pose a risk to the security of our information systems and networks and the confidentiality, availability and integrity of data and information. While we have implemented network security and internal control measures, including for the purpose of protecting our connected products and services from cyberattacks, and invested in our data and IT infrastructure, there can be no assurance that these efforts will prevent a system disruption, attack, or security breach and, as such, the risk of system disruptions and security breaches from a cyberattack remains. If our security and information systems are compromised, interrupted or destroyed, or employees fail to comply with the applicable laws and regulations, or the information we maintain is obtained by unauthorized persons or used inappropriately, it could adversely affect our business and reputation, as well as our results of operations, and could result in litigation, the imposition of regulatory sanctions or penalties, or significant expenditures to remediate any damage to persons whose personal information has been compromised. In fiscal year 2024, we implemented our SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for our U.S. food safety business and at a manufacturing facility in Wales. The first phase of this implementation also included upgrades to many of our existing operating and financial systems. Such an implementation is a major undertaking, both financially and from a management and personnel perspective. Should the subsequent phases of implementation not occur successfully, or if the systems do not perform in a satisfactory manner, our business and operations could be disrupted and our results of operations could be adversely affected, including our ability to report accurate and timely financial results.

The food and animal safety industries are subject to rapid and substantial changes in technology and are characterized by extensive research and development and intense competition. Our competitors and potential competitors may have greater financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing, research and development and management resources than us. These competitors could use their resources, reputations and ability to leverage existing customer relationships to provide a competitive advantage over us that could impact our results of operations. They might also succeed in developing products that are more reliable and effective than our products, are less costly than our products or provide alternatives to our products. If the products of a competitor are better able to meet our customers' requirements, then our operating results could be adversely affected.

Our primary customers are in the agricultural and food production industries. Economic conditions affecting agricultural industries are cyclical and are dependent upon many factors outside of our control, including weather conditions, changes in consumption patterns or commodity prices. Any of these factors in the agricultural marketplace could affect our sales and overall financial performance.

We sell many of our products, both within and outside of the U.S., through independent distributors. As a result, we are dependent on distributors to sell our products and assist us in promoting and creating demand for our products. Our distributors sometimes offer products from several different companies, and those distributors may carry our competitors' products and promote our competitors' products over our own. We have limited ability, if any, to cause our distributors to devote adequate resources to promoting, marketing, selling and supporting our products. We cannot assure that we will be successful in maintaining and strengthening our relationships with our distributors or establishing relationships with new distributors who have the ability to market, sell, and support our products effectively. We may rely on one or more key distributors for a product or region, and the loss of one or more of these distributors could reduce our revenue. Distributors could face financial difficulties, including bankruptcy, which could impact our ability to collect our accounts receivable and negatively impact our financial results. In addition, violations of anti-bribery and anti-corruption or similar laws by our distributors could have a material impact on our business. Further, termination of a distributor relationship could result in increased competition in the applicable jurisdiction. Failing to manage the risks associated with our use of distributors could reduce sales, increase expenses and weaken our competitive position, which could have a negative impact on our operating results.

We believe that market awareness and recognition of our brands have contributed significantly to the success of our business. We also believe that maintaining and enhancing these brands, especially market perceptions of the quality of our products, is critical to maintaining our competitive advantage. If any of our products are subject to recall or are proven to be, or are claimed to be, ineffective or inaccurate for their stated purpose, then this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, because we are dependent on market perceptions, negative publicity associated with product quality or other adverse effects resulting from, or perceived to be resulting from, our products could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our sales and marketing efforts are anchored by promoting our products to potential customers. Therefore, our sales and marketing force, whether in-house sales representatives or third-party commercial partners, must possess an up-to-date understanding of industry trends and products, as well as promotion and communication skills. While we will continue to promote our brands to remain competitive, we may not be successful in doing so. If we are unable to increase or maintain the effectiveness and efficiency of our sales and marketing activities, or if we incur excessive sales expenses to do so, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Changes in the political conditions in markets in which we manufacture, sell or distribute our products are difficult to predict and could affect our business and financial results adversely. In addition, results of elections, referendums or other political processes in certain markets in which our products are manufactured, sold, or distributed could create uncertainty regarding how existing governmental policies, laws and regulations may change, including with respect to sanctions, taxes, the movement of goods, services, capital and people between countries and other matters. The potential implications of such uncertainty, which include, among others, exchange rate fluctuations, trade barriers and market contraction, could adversely affect our business and financial results.

Expanding sales globally is part of our overall growth strategy, and we expect sales from outside the U.S. to continue to represent a significant portion of our revenue. In fiscal year 2025, sales to customers outside of the U.S. accounted for 50.2% of our total revenue, compared to 49.7% and 48.4% of our total revenues in fiscal year 2024 and 2023, respectively. Our international operations are subject to general risks related to such operations, including: - political, social and economic instability and disruptions, including social unrest, geopolitical tensions, inflation and interest rate uncertainties;- government export controls, economic sanctions, embargoes or trade restrictions;- the imposition of duties and tariffs and other trade barriers;- limitations on ownership and on repatriation or dividend of earnings;- transportation delays and interruptions;- labor unrest and current and changing employment and labor regulatory environments;- increased compliance costs, including costs associated with disclosure requirements and related due diligence;- difficulties in staffing and managing multi-national operations;- limitations on our ability to enforce legal rights and remedies;- the ability of our current products to comply with product standards established by foreign regulatory bodies;- differing regulatory and legal systems and environments;- diminished protection of intellectual property in some countries;- access to or control of networks and confidential information due to local government controls and vulnerability of local networks to cyber risks; and - fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. If we are unable to successfully manage the risks associated with expanding our global business or adequately manage operational risks of our existing international operations, these risks could have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy into new geographical markets, reputation, business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, the impact of such risks could be outside of our control and could decrease our ability to sell products internationally, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We continue to monitor the impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and conflict in the Middle East. While it is difficult to anticipate the effect the sanctions announced to date could have on us, any further sanctions imposed or actions taken by the U.S. or other countries, could affect the global price and availability of raw materials, reduce our sales and earnings or otherwise have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations