Stryker Reaches Settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office (press release)
Kalamazoo, Michigan – January 18, 2012 – Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) announced today that Stryker Biotech has reached a settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. As part of the settlement, Stryker has agreed to plead to one misdemeanor charge and pay a non-tax deductible fine of $15 million. As a result of this resolution, the Department of Justice has agreed to dismiss all thirteen felony charges against Stryker Biotech contained in a 2009 federal grand jury indictment. Stryker had previously disclosed in March 2009 that its Biotech division was the target of a federal grand jury investigation being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. With today’s announcement, Stryker believes it has realized its goal of obtaining an appropriate resolution of this matter.
From a financial standpoint, the settlement represents a Type I subsequent event as defined in the Subsequent Events topic of the FASB Codification and accordingly, the incremental charge to earnings of approximately $0.03 per diluted share will be recorded in the Company’s fourth quarter 2011 results. As a result of the settlement which was not factored into previously announced guidance, Stryker now expects to report 2011 adjusted diluted net earnings per share(1) at the low end of its current range of $3.72 to $3.74, an increase of 12% over adjusted diluted net earnings per share(1) of $3.33 in the prior year and at the high end of the adjusted diluted net earnings per share(1) range stated at the start of 2011 of $3.65 to $3.73.
- A reconciliation of reported diluted net earnings per share to adjusted diluted net earnings per share, a non-GAAP financial measure, and other important information, appears below.
Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and is dedicated to helping healthcare professionals perform their jobs more efficiently while enhancing patient care. The Company offers a diverse array of innovative medical technologies, including reconstructive, medical and surgical, and neurotechnology and spine products to help people lead more active and more satisfying lives. For more information about Stryker, please visit www.stryker.com.