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08/03/2022 | 17:50 CET | Company announcement

Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

Judgment in patent infringement case – Advanced Bionics files appeal

Stäfa (Switzerland), March 8, 2022 – Sonova Holding AG, a leading provider of hearing care solutions, informs that the Regional Court of Mannheim in Germany has reached a judgment in the first instance in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geräte GmbH (Med-El) against its German subsidiary Advanced Bionics GmbH and Swiss subsidiary Advanced Bionics AG (AB). The court’s judgment includes an injunction which, if and when enforced by Med-El, would prevent sales of the HiRes Ultra 3D cochlear implant in and from Germany. AB believes the complaint has no merit and has therefore appealed the judgment. The judgment does not affect Sonova’s guidance for financial year 2021/22.

AB will continue to offer its existing and also 1.5T MRI-safe product HiRes Ultra and related accessories in Germany. If enforced, the injunction by Med-El is expected to reduce annual revenues by a mid- to high-single digit million euro amount.

AB has carefully investigated the patent involved and concluded that the patent asserted by Med-El is not infringed and/or not valid. While the ultimate outcome of the dispute remains open, AB continues to believe the complaint has no merit and is vigorously defending its position and intellectual property in court. AB strongly disagrees with the judgment and has appealed the decision. In connection with the appeal, AB will request the appellate court to issue a temporary stay of enforcement of the injunction.

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