On February 24, 2022, Russian forces launched significant military actions against Ukraine, and sustained conflict and disruption in the region remains ongoing. Additionally, the U.S. and foreign government bodies in jurisdictions in which we operate have implemented targeted sanctions and export control measures and have announced potential additional sanctions and export control measures, which have and could in the future result in, among other things, severe or complete restrictions on exports to and other commerce and business dealings involving Russia, certain regions of Ukraine, and/or particular entities and individuals. The impact of these government measures, as well as any further retaliatory actions taken by Russia and the U.S. and foreign government bodies, is currently unknown. Potential impacts related to the conflict could include additional unilateral or multilateral export control and sanctions measures, market disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices, credit and capital markets, supply chain and logistics disruptions, adverse global economic conditions resulting from escalating geopolitical tensions and the exclusion of Russian financial institutions from the global banking system, further volatility and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates, inflationary pressures on raw materials and heightened cybersecurity threats, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations, in particular, CRYOPDP’s business activities in Russia, as well as our other European business operations.
The functional currency for most of our foreign operations is the applicable local currency. As a result, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates affect the results of our operations and the value of our foreign assets and liabilities, which in turn may adversely affect results of operations and cash flows and the comparability of period-to-period results of operations. For example, recent fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, including the increased strength of the U.S. dollar against the Euro, British Pound, Chinese Yuan, and Indian Rupee has adversely impacted our results of operations and cash flow from our operations in EMEA and APAC. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates may also affect the relative prices at which we and foreign competitors sell products in the same market. Foreign governmental policies and actions regarding currency valuation could result in actions by the United States and other countries to offset the effects of such fluctuations. Given the unpredictability and volatility of foreign currency exchange rates, ongoing or unusual volatility may adversely impact our business and financial conditions.
Risks Related to Our Technology and Intellectual Property
We rely upon certain critical information systems, including our Cryoportal® software platform, for the operation of our business and the failure of any critical information system could adversely impact our reputation and future revenues and we may be required to increase our spending on data and system security.
We rely upon certain critical information systems, including our Cryoportal® software platform which is used by our customers and business partners to automate the entry of orders, prepare customs documentation and facilitate status and location monitoring of shipped orders while in transit. In addition, the provision of service to our customers and the operation of our networks and systems involve the storage and transmission of significant amounts of proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data, including personal information of customers, employees and others. Our technology infrastructure and critical information systems are subject to damage or interruption from a number of potential sources, including unauthorized intrusions, cyberattacks, software viruses or other malware, natural disasters, power failures, employee error or malfeasances and other events. Despite our best efforts, no cybersecurity or emergency recovery process is failsafe, and if our safeguards fail or our technology infrastructure or critical information systems are compromised, the safety and efficiency of our operations could be materially harmed, our reputation could suffer, and we could face additional costs, liabilities, costly legal challenges.
Cyberattacks, data incidents and breaches in the security of our information systems and networks and of the electronic and confidential information in our possession could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations, in addition to our reputation and relationships with our employees, customers, suppliers and business partners.
As part of our normal business activities, we collect and store or have access to certain proprietary confidential, and personal information, including information about our employees, customers, suppliers and business partners, which may be entitled to protection under a number of regulatory regimes. The protection and security of our network systems and our own information, as well as information relating to our employees, customers, suppliers, business partners and others, is vitally important to us. Any failure of us to maintain the security of our network systems and the proprietary, confidential, and personal data in our possession, including via the penetration of our network security and the misappropriation of proprietary, confidential and personal information, could result in costly investigations and remediation, business disruption, damage to our reputation, financial obligations to third parties, fines, penalties, regulatory proceedings and private litigation with potentially large costs, and also result in deterioration in our employees’, customers’, suppliers’ and business partners’ confidence in us and other competitive disadvantages, and thus could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.