--- ticker: STE company: STE filing_type: 10-K year_current: 2024 year_prior: 2023 risks_added: 1 risks_removed: 2 risks_modified: 5 risks_unchanged: 29 source: SEC EDGAR url: https://riskdiff.com/ste/2024-vs-2023/ markdown_url: https://riskdiff.com/ste/2024-vs-2023/index.md generated: 2026-05-10 --- # STE: 10-K Risk Factor Changes 2024 vs 2023 > Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR) > Generated: 2026-05-10 > All data extracted directly from official filings. No hallucinated content. > **[AI-Generated Summary]** The paragraph below was produced by a language > model and may contain errors. All other content on this page is deterministically > extracted from the original SEC filing. > STE's 2024 risk factor disclosures show a shift toward operational execution risks, with the company adding a new risk around business realignment initiatives while removing two risks related to distributor dependencies and acquisition accretion. The most substantive modifications involve heightened focus on pandemic disruption contingencies, M&A integration challenges, and geopolitical volatility, suggesting management is prioritizing internal transformation and external uncertainty over prior concerns about specific business relationships. --- ## Summary | Status | Count | |--------|-------| | New risks added | 1 | | Risks removed | 2 | | Risks modified | 5 | | Unchanged | 29 | --- ## New in Current Filing: Our business realignment initiatives may not be as successful as anticipated. We execute organizational realignments to support our growth and cost management strategies. We also engage in initiatives aimed to increase productivity, efficiencies and cash flow and to reduce costs. We commit significant resources to identify, develop and retain key employees to maintain uninterrupted leadership and direction. If we are unable to successfully manage these and other organizational changes, the ability to complete such activities and realize anticipated synergies or cost savings as well as our results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. We cannot offer assurances that any of these initiatives will be beneficial to the extent anticipated, or that the estimated efficiency improvements, incremental cost savings or cash flow improvements will be realized as anticipated or at all. --- ## No Match in Current: Net sales and profitability of our Dental segment are highly dependent on our relationships with a limited number of large distributors. *This section from the 2023 filing does not have a high-confidence textual match in 2024. It may have been removed, merged, or substantially reworded.* The distribution network in the U.S. dental industry is concentrated, with relatively few distributors of consumable products accounting for a significant share of the sales volume to dentists. Historically, the top three Customers of Cantel's Dental segment accounted for more than 40.0% of its revenues. The loss of a significant amount of business from any of these Customers would have a material adverse effect on our Dental segment. In addition, because our Dental segment products are primarily sold through third-party distributors and not directly to end users, we cannot control the amount and timing of resources that our distributors devote to our products. There can be no assurance that there will not be a loss or reduction in business from one or more of our major Customers. In addition, we cannot assure that revenues from Customers that have accounted for significant revenues in the past, either individually or as a group, will reach or exceed historical levels in any future period. --- ## No Match in Current: Past and future business acquisitions may not be as accretive to STERIS's earnings per share and cash flow from operations per share, which may negatively affect the market price of STERIS Shares. *This section from the 2023 filing does not have a high-confidence textual match in 2024. It may have been removed, merged, or substantially reworded.* Past and future acquisitions may not be as accretive to STERIS's earnings per share and cash flow from operations per share as expected. Future events and conditions could decrease or delay any expected accretion, result in dilution or cause greater dilution than is currently expected, including adverse changes in market conditions, production levels, operating results, competitive conditions, laws and regulations affecting STERIS, capital expenditure obligations, higher than expected integration costs, lower than expected synergies and general economic conditions. Any decrease or delay of any accretion to, STERIS's earnings per share or cash flow from operations per share could cause the price of the STERIS's ordinary shares to decline. --- ## Modified: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our operations and could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition if further significant disruptions occur. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "We experienced temporary mandatory and voluntary facility closures in certain jurisdictions in which we operate and experienced less demand for certain of our products and services as a result of reduced volume of medical procedures, and other factors, which we believe was exacerbated by the impact of stay-at-home orders and government responses to COVID-19." - Removed sentence: "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and its ultimate duration, severity and disruption to our business, Customers and supply chain, and the related financial impact to us, cannot be accurately forecasted at this time." - Removed sentence: "Should such additional significant disruptions occur and continue for an extended period, the adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition could be more severe." - Removed sentence: "Additionally, weak economic conditions, the pace for economic recovery, and rising inflation, could result in extended weak demand for our products and services." **Prior (2023):** The COVID-19 pandemic, along with the response to the pandemic by governmental and other actors, disrupted our operations. We have experienced temporary mandatory and voluntary facility closures in certain jurisdictions in which we operate. Furthermore, we have experienced less demand for certain of our products and services as a result of reduced volume of medical procedures, and other factors, which we believe was exacerbated by the impact of stay-at-home orders and government responses to COVID-19. Additionally, the COVID-19 outbreak has caused temporary disruptions and rising costs in our labor supply and supply chain and distribution network. Long-term facility closures or other restrictions could materially adversely affect our ability to adequately staff, supply or otherwise maintain our operations. Such restrictions also may have a substantial impact on our Customers and our sales cycles. The COVID-19 pandemic may put pressure on overall spending for our products and services, and may cause our Customers to modify spending priorities or delay or abandon purchasing decisions. Moreover, because a large number of our employees have been and will continue to work from home routinely, we may be subject to increased vulnerability to cyber and other information technology risks. We have modified, and may further modify, our business practices in response to the risks and negative impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there can be no assurance that these measures will be temporary or successful. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and its ultimate duration, severity and disruption to our business, Customers and supply chain, and the related financial impact to us, cannot be accurately forecasted at this time. Should such additional significant disruptions occur and continue for an extended period, the adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition could be more severe. Additionally, weak economic conditions, the pace for economic recovery, and rising inflation, could result in extended weak demand for our products and services. Furthermore, future public health crises are possible and could involve some or all of the risks discussed above. **Current (2024):** The COVID-19 pandemic, along with the response to the pandemic by governmental and other actors, disrupted our operations. We experienced temporary mandatory and voluntary facility closures in certain jurisdictions in which we operate and experienced less demand for certain of our products and services as a result of reduced volume of medical procedures, and other factors, which we believe was exacerbated by the impact of stay-at-home orders and government responses to COVID-19. Additionally, the COVID-19 outbreak caused disruptions and rising costs in our labor supply and supply chain and distribution network. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its residual effects continues to evolve and its ultimate duration, severity and disruption to our business, Customers and supply chain, and the related financial impact to us, cannot be accurately forecasted at this time. For instance, the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may put pressure on overall spending for our products and services, and may cause our Customers to modify spending priorities or delay or abandon purchasing decisions. Moreover, because a large number of our employees have worked and are expected to continue to work from home routinely, we may be subject to increased vulnerability to cyber and other information technology risks. We have modified, and may further modify, our business practices in response to the risks and negative impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there can be no assurance that these measures will be temporary or successful. Furthermore, future public health crises are possible and could involve some or all of the risks discussed above. --- ## Modified: The integration of acquired businesses into STERIS may not be as successful as anticipated. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "We have made large acquisitions of businesses, including the acquisitions of Cantel Medical and Key Surgical." - Reworded sentence: "Potential difficulties that may be encountered in the integration process include, among other factors: 23 23 23 Table of Contents Table of Contents •the inability to successfully integrate the business of an acquired business into STERIS in a manner that permits STERIS to achieve the full revenue and cost savings anticipated from the acquisition;•complexities associated with managing the larger, more complex, integrated business;•not realizing anticipated operating synergies or incurring unexpected costs to realize such synergies;•integrating personnel from acquired businesses into STERIS while maintaining focus on providing consistent, high-quality products and services;•potential unknown liabilities and unforeseen expenses associated with the acquisition;•loss of key employees;•integrating relationships with Customers, vendors and business partners;•performance shortfalls as a result of the diversion of management's attention caused by integration activities; and•the disruption of, or the loss of momentum in, an acquired business and STERIS's ongoing business or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies.Past and future business acquisitions may not be as accretive to STERIS's earnings per share and cash flow from operations per share, which may negatively affect the market price of STERIS shares." **Prior (2023):** In recent years we have made several large acquisitions of business, including the acquisitions of Cantel Medical and Key Surgical. The integration of acquired businesses into STERIS involves numerous operational, strategic, financial, accounting, legal, tax and other risks; potential liabilities associated with the acquired businesses; and uncertainties related to design, operation and integration of internal controls over financial reporting. Difficulties in integrating acquired businesses into STERIS may result in the business performing differently than expected, in operational challenges, in strategic changes or in the failure to realize anticipated expense-related efficiencies. STERIS's existing businesses could also be negatively impacted by the integration actions. Potential difficulties that may be encountered in the integration process include, among other factors: •the inability to successfully integrate the business of an acquired business into STERIS in a manner that permits STERIS to achieve the full revenue and cost savings anticipated from the acquisition;•complexities associated with managing the larger, more complex, integrated business;•not realizing anticipated operating synergies or incurring unexpected costs to realize such synergies;•integrating personnel from acquired businesses into STERIS while maintaining focus on providing consistent, high-quality products and services;•potential unknown liabilities and unforeseen expenses associated with the acquisition;•loss of key employees;•integrating relationships with Customers, vendors and business partners;•performance shortfalls as a result of the diversion of management's attention caused by integration activities; and•the disruption of, or the loss of momentum in, an acquired business and STERIS' ongoing business or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies. •the inability to successfully integrate the business of an acquired business into STERIS in a manner that permits STERIS to achieve the full revenue and cost savings anticipated from the acquisition; •complexities associated with managing the larger, more complex, integrated business; •not realizing anticipated operating synergies or incurring unexpected costs to realize such synergies; •integrating personnel from acquired businesses into STERIS while maintaining focus on providing consistent, high-quality products and services; •potential unknown liabilities and unforeseen expenses associated with the acquisition; •loss of key employees; •integrating relationships with Customers, vendors and business partners; •performance shortfalls as a result of the diversion of management's attention caused by integration activities; and •the disruption of, or the loss of momentum in, an acquired business and STERIS' ongoing business or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies. 22 22 22 Table of Contents Table of Contents **Current (2024):** We have made large acquisitions of businesses, including the acquisitions of Cantel Medical and Key Surgical. The integration of acquired businesses into STERIS involves numerous operational, strategic, financial, accounting, legal, tax and other risks; potential liabilities associated with the acquired businesses; and uncertainties related to design, operation and integration of internal controls over financial reporting. Difficulties in integrating acquired businesses into STERIS may result in the business performing differently than expected, in operational challenges, in strategic changes or in the failure to realize anticipated expense-related efficiencies. STERIS's existing businesses could also be negatively impacted by the integration actions. Potential difficulties that may be encountered in the integration process include, among other factors: 23 23 23 Table of Contents Table of Contents •the inability to successfully integrate the business of an acquired business into STERIS in a manner that permits STERIS to achieve the full revenue and cost savings anticipated from the acquisition;•complexities associated with managing the larger, more complex, integrated business;•not realizing anticipated operating synergies or incurring unexpected costs to realize such synergies;•integrating personnel from acquired businesses into STERIS while maintaining focus on providing consistent, high-quality products and services;•potential unknown liabilities and unforeseen expenses associated with the acquisition;•loss of key employees;•integrating relationships with Customers, vendors and business partners;•performance shortfalls as a result of the diversion of management's attention caused by integration activities; and•the disruption of, or the loss of momentum in, an acquired business and STERIS's ongoing business or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies.Past and future business acquisitions may not be as accretive to STERIS's earnings per share and cash flow from operations per share, which may negatively affect the market price of STERIS shares. •the inability to successfully integrate the business of an acquired business into STERIS in a manner that permits STERIS to achieve the full revenue and cost savings anticipated from the acquisition; •complexities associated with managing the larger, more complex, integrated business; •not realizing anticipated operating synergies or incurring unexpected costs to realize such synergies; •integrating personnel from acquired businesses into STERIS while maintaining focus on providing consistent, high-quality products and services; •potential unknown liabilities and unforeseen expenses associated with the acquisition; •loss of key employees; •integrating relationships with Customers, vendors and business partners; •performance shortfalls as a result of the diversion of management's attention caused by integration activities; and •the disruption of, or the loss of momentum in, an acquired business and STERIS's ongoing business or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies. Past and future acquisitions may not be as accretive to STERIS's earnings per share and cash flow from operations per share as expected. Future events and conditions could decrease or delay any expected accretion, result in dilution or cause greater dilution than is currently expected, including adverse changes in market conditions, production levels, operating results, competitive conditions, laws and regulations affecting STERIS, capital expenditure obligations, higher than expected integration costs, lower than expected synergies and general economic conditions. Any decrease or delay of any accretion to STERIS's earnings per share or cash flow from operations per share could cause the price of the STERIS's ordinary shares to decline. --- ## Modified: The effects of geopolitical instability, including as a result of the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas military conflicts, may adversely affect us and create significant risks and uncertainties for our business, with the ultimate impact dependent on future developments, which are highly uncertain and unpredictable. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "Ongoing geopolitical instability, including as a result of the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas military conflicts, has negatively impacted, and could in the future negatively impact, the global and U.S." - Reworded sentence: "The potential impacts include supply chain and logistics disruptions, financial impacts including volatility in foreign exchange 14 14 14 Table of Contents Table of Contents and interest rates, increased inflationary pressure on raw materials and energy, and other risks, including an elevated risk of cybersecurity threats and the potential for further sanctions." **Prior (2023):** Ongoing geopolitical instability, including as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has negatively impacted, and could in the future negatively impact, the global and U.S. economies, including by causing supply chain disruptions, rising energy costs, volatility in capital markets and foreign currency exchange rates, rising interest rates and heightened cybersecurity risks. The extent to which such geopolitical instability adversely affects our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as our liquidity and capital profile, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and unpredictable. If geopolitical instability adversely affects us, it may also have the effect of heightening other risks related to our business. In response to the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine that began in February 2022, the United States and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states, as well as non-member states, announced targeted economic sanctions on Russia. The long-term impact on our business resulting from the disruption of trade in the region caused by the conflict and associated sanctions and boycotts is uncertain at this time due to the fluid nature of the ongoing military conflict and response. The potential impacts include supply chain and logistics disruptions, financial impacts including volatility in foreign exchange and interest rates, increased inflationary pressure on raw materials and energy, and other risks, including an elevated risk of 13 13 13 Table of Contents Table of Contents cybersecurity threats and the potential for further sanctions. We have stopped commercial operations in Russia and Belarus, which includes shipments to Customers and purchases of cobalt-60 from our Russian supplier. A long-term disruption in cobalt-60 sourced from Russia may negatively impact gamma processing capacity or increase costs in certain portions of our AST operations. **Current (2024):** Ongoing geopolitical instability, including as a result of the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas military conflicts, has negatively impacted, and could in the future negatively impact, the global and U.S. economies, including by causing supply chain disruptions, rising energy costs, volatility in capital markets and foreign currency exchange rates, rising interest rates and heightened cybersecurity risks. The extent to which such geopolitical instability adversely affects our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as our liquidity and capital profile, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and unpredictable. If geopolitical instability adversely affects us, it may also have the effect of heightening other risks related to our business. In response to the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine that began in February 2022, the United States and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states, as well as non-member states, announced targeted economic sanctions on Russia. The long-term impact on our business resulting from the disruption of trade in the region caused by the conflict and associated sanctions and boycotts is uncertain at this time due to the fluid nature of the ongoing military conflict and response. The potential impacts include supply chain and logistics disruptions, financial impacts including volatility in foreign exchange 14 14 14 Table of Contents Table of Contents and interest rates, increased inflationary pressure on raw materials and energy, and other risks, including an elevated risk of cybersecurity threats and the potential for further sanctions. We have stopped commercial operations in Russia and Belarus, which includes shipments to Customers and purchases of cobalt-60 from our Russian supplier. A long-term disruption in cobalt-60 sourced from Russia may negatively impact gamma processing capacity or increase costs in certain portions of our AST operations. --- ## Modified: Supply chain disruption might increase our production costs, limit our production capabilities or curtail our operations. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "Changes in regulatory requirements regarding the use of, or the unavailability or short supply of, these products might disrupt or cause shutdowns of portions of our AST operations or have other adverse consequences." - Reworded sentence: "In response to the active Russia-Ukraine military conflict, we have stopped purchasing cobalt-60 from our Russian supplier." **Prior (2023):** We purchase raw materials, fabricated and other components, and energy supplies from a variety of suppliers. Key raw materials include stainless steel, organic and inorganic chemicals, fuel, cobalt-60 and EO, and key components include plastic components, as well as various electronics including control boards and computer chips. The availability and prices of raw materials and energy supplies are subject to volatility and are influenced by worldwide economic conditions, speculative action, world supply and demand balances, inventory levels, availability of substitute materials, currency exchange rates, anticipated or perceived shortages, and other factors. Also, certain of our key materials and components have a limited number of suppliers. Some are single-sourced in certain regions of the world, such as cobalt-60 and EO, which are necessary to our AST operations. Changes in regulatory requirements regarding the use of, the unavailability or short supply of these products might disrupt or cause shutdowns of portions of our AST operations or have other adverse consequences. Shortages in supply, increased regulatory or security requirements, or increases in the price of raw materials, components and energy supplies may adversely affect us. In response to the active conflict between Russian and Ukraine, we have stopped purchasing cobalt-60 from our Russian supplier. A long-term disruption in cobalt-60 sourced from Russia may negatively impact gamma processing capacity or increase costs in certain portions of our AST operations. **Current (2024):** We purchase raw materials, fabricated and other components, and energy supplies from a variety of suppliers. Key raw materials include stainless steel, organic and inorganic chemicals, fuel, cobalt-60 and EO, and key components include plastic components, as well as various electronics including control boards and computer chips. The availability and prices of raw materials and energy supplies are subject to volatility and are influenced by worldwide economic conditions, speculative action, world supply and demand balances, inventory levels, availability of substitute materials, currency exchange rates, anticipated or perceived shortages, and other factors. Also, certain of our key materials and components have a limited number of suppliers. Some are single-sourced in certain regions of the world, such as cobalt-60 and EO, which are necessary to our AST operations. Changes in regulatory requirements regarding the use of, or the unavailability or short supply of, these products might disrupt or cause shutdowns of portions of our AST operations or have other adverse consequences. Shortages in supply, increased regulatory or security requirements, or increases in the price of raw materials, components and energy supplies may adversely affect us. In response to the active Russia-Ukraine military conflict, we have stopped purchasing cobalt-60 from our Russian supplier. A long-term disruption in cobalt-60 sourced from Russia may negatively impact gamma processing capacity or increase costs in certain portions of our AST operations. --- ## Modified: A pandemic or similar public health crisis could have a material adverse impact on our ability to staff our operations. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "As supplier to Healthcare and Life Sciences Customers, we fell within a "critical infrastructure" sector, and were also considered an essential business and therefore were exempt under various stay-at -home/shelter-in-place orders associated with COVID-19." **Prior (2023):** As supplier to Healthcare and Life Sciences Customers, we fell within a "critical infrastructure" sector, and were also considered an essential business and therefore were exempt under various stay at home/shelter in place orders associated with COVID-19. These exemptions, however, may not persist in another pandemic or similar health crisis and there can be no assurance that in such a crisis, we will be able to operate in the same. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our employees continued to work because of the importance of our operations to the health and well-being of citizens in the countries in which we operate, and we implemented telework policies wherever possible for appropriate categories of employees. While based on our response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we believe that we have developed appropriate measures to ensure the health and well-being of our employees for similar or future health crises, there can be no assurances that our measures will be sufficient to protect our employees in our workplace or that they may not otherwise be exposed to an illness outside of our workplace. If a number of our essential employees become ill, incapacitated or are otherwise unable or unwilling to continue working during the current or any future health crises, our operations may be adversely impacted. **Current (2024):** As supplier to Healthcare and Life Sciences Customers, we fell within a "critical infrastructure" sector, and were also considered an essential business and therefore were exempt under various stay-at -home/shelter-in-place orders associated with COVID-19. These exemptions, however, may not be available in another pandemic or similar health crisis and there can be no assurance that in such a crisis, we will be able to operate in the same manner. While we believe that we have developed appropriate measures to ensure the health and well-being of our employees for future health crises, there can be no assurances that our measures will be sufficient to protect our employees in our workplace or that they may not otherwise be exposed to an illness outside of our workplace. If a large or otherwise impactful number of our employees become ill, incapacitated or are otherwise unable or unwilling to continue working during the current or any future health crises, our operations may be adversely impacted. --- *Data sourced from SEC EDGAR. Last updated 2026-05-10.*