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TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

Commission file number 001-09913

KINETIC CONCEPTS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (210) 524-9000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý    No o

        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendments to this Form 10-K. o

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.) Yes o    No ý

        The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates on February 15, 2005 was $3.3 billion, based upon the closing sales price for the registrant's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange.

        As of February 15, 2005, there were 68,858,389 shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding.

        Documents Incorporated by Reference: Certain information called for by Part III of this Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed not later than 120 days after the close of the Company's fiscal year.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
KINETIC CONCEPTS, INC.
INDEX

TRADEMARKS

        The following terms used in this report are our trademarks: AirMaxxis™, AtmosAir®, BariAir®, BariKare®, BariMaxx® II, BariMaxx®, DynaPulse®, FirstStep®, FirstStep® Advantage™, FirstStep® Plus, FirstStep Select®, FirstStep Select® Heavy Duty, FluidAir Elite®, FluidAir® II, KCI®, KinAir® III, KinAir® IV, KinAir MedSurg®, Kinetic Concepts®, Kinetic Therapy™, MaxxAir ETS™, Maxxis® 300, Maxxis® 400, PediDyne®, PlexiPulse®, PlexiPulse® AC, Pulse IC™, Pulse SC™, RIK®, RotoProne®, Roto Rest®, Roto Rest® Delta, T.R.A.C.®, The Clinical Advantage®, TheraPulse®, TheraPulse® II, TheraRest®, TriaDyne® II, TriaDyne Proventa®, TriCell®, V.A.C.®, V.A.C.®^ATS, V.A.C. Freedom®, V.A.C.® Therapy™, The V.A.C.® System™, Vacuum Assisted Closure® and V.A.C.® Instill™. All other trademarks appearing in this report are the property of their holders.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the "safe harbor" created by those sections. The forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and projections about future events. Discussions containing forward-looking statements may by found in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Risk Factors," and elsewhere in this report. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "predicts," "projects," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," or the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology, including, but not limited to, the following:

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any projections of revenues, earnings, cash balances or cash flow, synergies or other financial items;



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any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations;



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any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance;



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implementing our business strategy;



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attracting and retaining customers;



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obtaining and expanding market acceptance of the products and services we offer;



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competition in our market;



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statements regarding the outcome of pending litigation;



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trends in the rental and sales product mix and from lower-therapy products to capital purchases;



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future demand for V.A.C. systems;



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expenditures with respect to our therapeutic surfaces business and demand for our bariatric products;



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changes in patient demographics; and



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any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.

        These forward-looking statements are only predictions, not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions. Actual results, levels of activity, performance, achievements and events could differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The factors that could contribute to such differences include those discussed under the caption "Risk Factors." These risks include the fluctuations in our operating results and the possible inability to meet our published revenue, operating margins and net earnings guidance or the expectations of the equity research analysts covering us for future periods; intense and growing competition that we face; our dependence on our intellectual property; our dependence on new technology; the clinical efficacy of V.A.C. therapy relative to alternate devices or therapies; and third party reimbursement policies and collections. You should consider each of the risk factors and uncertainties under the caption "Risk Factors" among other things, in evaluating KCI's prospects and future financial performance. The occurrence of the events described in the risk factors could harm the business, results of operations and financial condition of KCI. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this report. KCI disclaims any obligation to update or alter these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General

        Kinetic Concepts, Inc. is a global medical technology company with leadership positions in advanced wound care and therapeutic surfaces. We design, manufacture, market and service a wide range of proprietary products which can significantly improve clinical outcomes while reducing the overall cost of patient care. Our advanced wound care systems incorporate our proprietary V.A.C. technology, which has been clinically demonstrated to promote wound healing and reduce the cost of treating patients with serious wounds. Our therapeutic surfaces, including specialty hospital beds, mattress replacement systems and overlays, are designed to address complications associated with immobility and obesity, such as pressure sores and pneumonia.

        We were founded in 1976 and are incorporated in Texas. Our principal executive offices are located at 8023 Vantage Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78230. Our telephone number is (210) 524-9000. Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(e) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, are available free of charge on our website at www.kci1.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after we file or furnish such information with the SEC. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference to this report.

Clinical Applications

        Our advanced wound care systems and therapeutic surfaces address four principal clinical applications:

Wound Healing and Tissue Repair

        In the acute care setting, serious trauma wounds, failed surgical closures, amputations (especially those resulting from complications of diabetes), and serious pressure ulcers present special challenges to the physician. These are often deep and/or large wounds that are prone to serious infection and further complications due to the extent of tissue damage or the compromised state of the patient's health. These wounds are often difficult—or in the worst cases, impossible—to treat quickly and successfully with traditional treatments. In addition, when surgeons use skin grafts to close wounds, a substantial portion of the closures are not fully effective. Physicians and hospitals need a therapy that addresses the special needs of these wounds with high levels of clinical and cost effectiveness. Given the high cost and infection risk of treating these patients in health care facilities, the ability to create healthy wound beds and reduce bacterial levels in the wound is particularly important. Our V.A.C. systems are designed to meet these needs by quickly reducing edema, managing exudate, reducing infection risk, and stimulating the growth of healthy, vascularized granulation tissue.

        In the extended care and home care settings, different types of wounds—with different treatment implications—present the most significant challenges. Although a large number of acute wounds require post-discharge treatment, a majority of the challenging wounds in the home care setting are non-healing chronic wounds. These wounds often involve physiologic and metabolic complications such as reduced blood supply, compromised lymphatic system or immune deficiencies that interfere with the body's normal wound healing processes. Diabetic ulcers, arterial and venous insufficiency wounds and pressure ulcers are often slow-to-heal wounds. These wounds often develop due to a patient's impaired vascular and tissue repair capabilities. These conditions can also inhibit a patient's healing process, and wounds such as these often fail to heal for many months, and sometimes for several years. Difficult-to-treat wounds do not always respond to traditional therapies, such as hydrocolloids, hydrogels and alginates.

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        Physicians and nurses look for therapies that can promote the healing process and overcome the obstacles of patients' compromised conditions. They also prefer therapies that are easy to administer, especially in the home care setting, where full-time skilled care is generally not available. In addition, because many of these patients are not confined to bed, they want therapies which are minimally disruptive to their lives. Our V.A.C. Freedom system is designed to allow patients mobility to conduct normal lives while their wounds heal.

Therapies to Treat Pulmonary Complications in the Intensive Care Unit

        The most critically ill patient population is cared for in the intensive care unit, or ICU, of a hospital, where they can receive the most intense medical attention. Patients seen in the ICU usually suffer from serious acute or chronic diseases or severe traumatic injuries. These patients often have, or develop, pulmonary complications, such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, or ARDS, resulting directly from their conditions or stemming from their impaired mobility. Some ICU patients are in such acute distress that their organ systems are at risk of failure and many are on some type of life-support. In 2001, there were approximately 1.0 million ICU patients in the United States with pulmonary complications.

        Treating pulmonary complications requires special equipment and treatment methods. Because of the aggressive and specialized treatments required to address these life-threatening conditions, daily patient care costs in the ICU are high. Our Critical Care Therapies consist of Kinetic Therapy and Prone Therapy to provide mobility to patients who cannot mobilize themselves. Kinetic Therapy involves the side-to-side rotation of a patient to an angle of at least 40 degrees per side and has been shown in independent clinical studies to reduce the incidence of certain pulmonary complications and length of stay in the ICU. Prone Therapy involves turning a patient from the supine to prone position and often is done manually by nurses in the ICU. Proning a patient has been shown in some ICU patients to improve oxygenation in ARDS patients and reduce ventilator time and ICU length of stay. Our Critical Care Therapies product portfolio includes the RotoProne Therapy System, offering the combination of Kinetic Therapy and Prone Therapy, the RotoRest Delta, TriaDyne II and TriaDyne Proventa Therapy Systems, offering Kinetic Therapy.

Bariatric Care

        In the U.S., the prevalence of obesity has increased from 15% in the late 1970s to over 30% in 2000. In addition, obesity is now the second leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., and has been estimated at 5.3% of total medical spending. Obese patients are often unable to fit into standard-sized beds and wheelchairs and pose an increased risk to caregivers. KCI's BariatricSupport™, a comprehensive offering of therapy driven, safety focused products, education and training, provides obese patients with the surface therapies, accessories, and support they need. In addition, our bariatric products enable caregivers to care for obese patients in a safe and dignified manner in all care settings. While our bariatric products are generally used for patients weighing from 300 to 600 pounds, most are expandable and can accommodate patients weighing up to 850 to 1,000 pounds. Our most sophisticated bariatric products can serve as a chair, weight scale, and x-ray table; and they provide therapies like those in our wound treatment and prevention systems. Moreover, treating obese patients is a significant staffing issue for many health care facilities because moving and handling obese patients increases the risk of injury to health care personnel. Our products and accessories enable health care personnel to treat these patients in a manner that is safer for health care personnel, and safer and more dignified for the patient.

Wound Treatment and Prevention

        Our pressure relieving therapeutic surfaces provide therapy for the treatment of pressure sores, burns, ulcers, skin grafts, and other skin conditions. They also help prevent the formation of pressure

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sores that can develop in immobile individuals. Our therapeutic surfaces reduce the amount of pressure on a patient's intact skin (prevention) or an existing wound site (treatment) through the use of air, foam, silicon beads, or viscous fluid. Our products also help to reduce shear, a major factor in the development of pressure ulcers, by reducing the amount of friction between the skin surface and the surface of the bed. In addition to providing pressure relieving therapy, some of our products provide for pulsing of air into the surface cushions, known as Pulsation Therapy, which helps improve blood and lymphatic flow to the skin. Some of our products further promote healing and reduce nursing time by providing an automated "wound care" turn of at least 20 degrees. Our wound care therapeutic surfaces are utilized by patients in hospitals, residents in nursing homes and individuals in the home.

Products

        We offer a wide range of products in each clinical application to meet the specific needs of different subsets of the market, providing innovative, cost effective, outcome driven therapies across multiple care settings.

Wound Healing and Tissue Repair

        Our four wound healing and tissue repair systems incorporate our proprietary V.A.C. technology. A V.A.C. system consists of the therapy unit and four types of disposables: a foam dressing, an occlusive drape, a tube system connecting the dressing to the therapy unit and a canister. The therapy unit consists of a pump that generates controlled negative pressure and internal software that controls and monitors the application of the therapy. The therapy can be programmed for individualized use. Our V.A.C.^ATS and V.A.C. Freedom systems enable the unit to flexibly control the time, rate and application of negative pressure to the wound and adapt its operations as it senses the progress of the application of the therapy to the originally targeted levels. Additionally, the V.A.C.^ATS and V.A.C. Freedom units include safety alarms that respond in real time to alert users of any blockage or other interference with the pre-set protocol. The systems have a number of on screen user-assist features such as treatment protocols and suggestions to address specific patient issues.

        The negative pressure therapy is delivered to the wound bed through a proprietary foam dressing cut to fit the wound size. The dressing is connected to the therapy unit through a tube which both delivers the negative pressure and senses the pressure delivered to the wound surface. An occlusive drape covers the dressing and secures the foam, thereby allowing negative pressure to be maintained at the wound site. Negative pressure can also be applied intermittently to the wound site, which we believe further accelerates the growth of granulation tissue. The canister collects the fluids, or exudates, and helps reduce odors through the use of special filters. V.A.C. dressings are typically changed every 48 hours for non-infected wounds, versus traditional dressings which often require dressing changes one or more times per day. Our V.A.C. dressings are specially designed to address the unique physical characteristics of different wound types, such as large open wounds, surgical wounds, diabetic foot ulcers and open abdominal wounds, among others.

        Our wound healing and tissue repair systems are targeted to meet the needs of specific care settings and wound or patient requirements.

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The V.A.C.^ATS System was introduced in 2002 to meet the acute care requirements for a flexible, easy-to-use, high-capacity system that is effective with the largest and most challenging trauma, orthopedic reconstruction and abdominal wounds. The V.A.C.^ATS incorporates advanced features and controls to provide flexibility to customize the treatment protocol to the requirements of different wound types and physician preferences. It also incorporates our proprietary T.R.A.C. technology, which enables the system to monitor pressure at the wound site and automatically adjust system operation to maintain the desired therapy protocol. The V.A.C.^ATS also simplifies dressing changes and incorporates smart alarms that help ensure patient safety.

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The V.A.C. Instill System was introduced in 2003 to add additional therapy capability to V.A.C. systems. The V.A.C. Instill combines the ability to instill fluids into the wound with V.A.C. therapy. Fluids prescribed by physicians for topical use—including antibiotics, antiseptics and anesthetics—can be instilled, making the system particularly well suited for infected and painful wounds. Future uses could include cytokines, growth factors, or other agents to stimulate wound healing. Because the V.A.C. Instill is based on the V.A.C.^ATS system, it also includes all the capabilities and features of the V.A.C.^ATS.



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The V.A.C. Freedom System was introduced in 2002 to meet the requirements for a robust, lightweight, high-performance product suitable for patients who are able to walk and are not confined to bed. Similar to the V.A.C.^ATS system, it incorporates advanced features and T.R.A.C. technology, but in a 3.2 pound package adapted for convenient unobtrusive use by more active patients. It also includes special filters that help reduce wound odor, a common and embarrassing problem for many ambulatory wound patients, and a controlled drawdown feature that helps reduce pain when therapy is initiated. While the design of the V.A.C. Freedom system addresses the treatment needs of chronic wound patients, its 300 cc canister capacity also makes it appropriate for patient with highly exudating wounds.



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The V.A.C. Classic System, launched in 1995, is a first-generation system that provides the basic therapeutic functionality and wound healing capability of our other V.A.C. products. For those who do not require the advanced features of our newer V.A.C. products, it provides our most economical advanced wound-healing package.

        The superior clinical efficacy of our V.A.C. systems is supported by an extensive collection of published clinical studies. V.A.C. systems have been reviewed in at least 173 peer reviewed journal articles, 303 abstracts, 25 case studies and 42 textbook citations. Of these, the research for 31 articles and 47 abstracts was funded by research grants from KCI. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, as delivered by V.A.C. therapy, has been granted a seal of approval by the American Podiatric Medical Association, the German Wound Healing Society and the Austrian Wound Healing Society. Independent consensus conferences have issued guidelines for the use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for diabetic wounds, pressure ulcers, complex chest wounds and hospital treated wounds.

        In addition, we are conducting 10 prospective, randomized and controlled multicenter clinical studies specifically designed to provide statistically significant evidence of V.A.C. therapy's clinical efficacy for treating a wide range of targeted wound types. These clinical studies are managed by our 24-member medical department.

Products Treating Pulmonary Complications in the ICU

        Our Critical Care Therapies line includes both Kinetic Therapy products and Prone Therapy products. In 2004, we introduced the RotoProne Therapy System, an advanced patient care system for the treatment and prevention of pulmonary complications associated with immobility. Providing both Kinetic Therapy and Prone Therapy, the RotoProne Therapy System enables caregivers to rotate immobile patients with respiratory complications from the supine to the prone position and to also rotate them from side to side up to 62 degrees in both the supine and prone positions. The RotoProne Therapy System features include rotation that is programmable in one-degree increments, up to 62 degrees in either the prone or supine position, with an acclimation mode as well as pause and hold functions to suspend the patient in a side-lying position for ease in nursing care. Other features of the RotoProne Therapy System include a tube management system, electronically monitored buckles, an ergonomically-designed head positioning system and 40-second or less return to supine from the prone position for CPR. The RotoProne Therapy System can help improve patient outcomes by delivering the benefits of Prone Therapy along with Kinetic Therapy in an easier-to-use automated system.

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        Our Kinetic Therapy products include the TriaDyne Proventa, TriaDyne II, Roto Rest Delta and PediDyne Therapy systems. The TriaDyne Therapy System product line is used primarily in acute care settings and provides patients with four distinct therapies on an air suspension surface. The TriaDyne Therapy System applies Kinetic Therapy by rotating the patient up to 45 degrees on each side. There are three different modes of rotation: upper body only, full body rotation, and counter rotation, simultaneously rotating the patient's torso and lower body in opposite directions to keep the patient centered on the patient surface. The TriaDyne Therapy System also accommodates prone therapy with the proning accessory kit, percussion therapy to loosen mucous buildup in the lungs and pulsation therapy to promote capillary and lymphatic flow. The Roto Rest Delta is a specialty bed that can rotate a patient up to 62 degrees on each side for the treatment of severe pulmonary complications. The Roto Rest Delta has been shown to improve the care of patients suffering from multiple trauma, spinal cord injury, severe pulmonary complications, respiratory failure and deep vein thrombosis. Kinetic Therapy has been clinically studied in at least 16 randomized clinical trials, 55 peer reviewed articles, 10 other published articles, 42 abstracts, 19 case studies and three textbook citations. Of these, the research for 14 articles, 32 abstracts and 19 case studies was funded by research grants from KCI.

Bariatric Care

        Our bariatric products provide a range of therapy options and the proper support needed by obese patients that enable nurses to properly care for these patients in a safe and dignified manner. The most advanced product in this line is the BariAir therapy system, which can serve as a bed, cardiac chair or x-ray table. The BariAir, first introduced in 1996, provides low air loss pressure relief, continuous turn assist, percussion and step-down features designed for both patient comfort and nurse assistance. This product can be used for patients who weigh up to 850 pounds. We believe that the BariAir is the most advanced product of its type available today. In addition to therapy, the BariAir provides a risk management platform for patients weighing up to 850 pounds. It is a front exit bed with the ability to convert to a cardiac chair position. In 1996, we introduced the FirstStep Select Heavy Duty overlay which, when placed on a BariKare bed, provides pressure-relieving low air loss therapy. Our AirMaxxis product provides a therapeutic air surface for the home environment for patients weighing up to 650 pounds. The Maxxis 300 and Maxxis 400 provide a home care bariatric bed frame for patients weighing up to 600 pounds and 1,000 pounds, respectively.

        The newest system in our bariatric product line is the BariMaxx II bed and the new MaxxAir ETS (Expandable Turning Surface) mattress replacement system which fits on the Bari Maxx II. The BariMaxx II provides a basic risk management platform for patients weighing up to 1,000 pounds for those customers looking for a set of features including built-in scales and an expandable frame at a lower cost. The BariMaxx II side exit feature allows the caregiver to assist patients in a more traditional exit of the bed. This is an important factor in a patient's rehabilitation and prepares them for facility discharge. The MaxxAir ETS is a low-air pressure relieving surface option for the BariMaxx II that also includes rotational therapy of up to 30 degrees on each side. Our bariatric beds are now combined with an EZ-Lift patient transfer system and other accessories such as wheelchairs, walkers and commodes to create a complete bariatric offering.

Wound Treatment and Prevention

        We offer a wide variety of therapeutic surfaces for wound treatment and prevention, providing pressure relief, pressure reduction, pulsation, alternating pressure, and a continuous turn of a minimum of 20 degrees. Most of our therapy beds and surfaces incorporate the exclusive use of GoreTex® fabric in the patient contact areas to provide an ideal microclimate for skin protection and moisture control. Our pressure relief products include a variety of framed beds and overlays such as the KinAir MedSurg and KinAir IV framed beds; the FluidAir Elite and FluidAir II bead beds; the FirstStep, FirstStep Plus, FirstStep Select, FirstStep Advantage and TriCell overlays, the AtmosAir family of non-powered,

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dynamic mattress replacement and seating surfaces; and the RIK fluid mattress and overlay. Our pulsation products include the KinAir MedSurg Pulse and TheraPulse ATP framed beds and the DynaPulse overlay. Our alternating pressure or air cycling products include a powered model of the AtmosAir, and the Intercell. Our turn assist products include the KinAir IV, Therapulse ATP, and a powered AtmosAir model.

        The KinAir III, KinAir MedSurg and KinAir IV have been shown to provide effective skin care therapy in the treatment of pressure sores, burns and post-operative skin grafts and flaps and to help prevent the formation of pressure sores and certain other complications of immobility. The FluidAir Elite and FluidAir II support the patient on a low-pressure surface of air-fluidized beads providing pressure relief and shear relief for skin grafts or flaps, burns and pressure sores. The FirstStep family overlays are designed to provide pressure relief and help prevent and treat pressure sores. The AtmosAir family are for-sale mattress replacement products that have been shown to be effective for the treatment and prevention of pressure sores in a series of hospital-based case studies. The proprietary AtmosAir with Self Adjusting Technology (SAT) utilizes atmospheric pressure and gravity to deliver non-powered dynamic pressure relief.

        The KinAir MedSurg Pulse and TheraPulse ATP framed beds and the DynaPulse overlay provide a more aggressive form of treatment through a continuous pulsating action which gently massages the skin to help improve capillary and lymphatic circulation in patients suffering from severe pressure sores, burns, skin grafts or flaps, swelling or circulatory problems.

        The KinAir IV, Therapulse ATP and a powered AtmosAir model all provide turn assist of a minimum of 20 degrees to each side. Turn Assist helps the caregiver reposition and/or turn a patient in order to provide patient care and pressure relief.

Customers

        We have broad reach across all health care settings. In the United States, for example, we have relationships with over 3,400 acute care hospitals, over 5,600 extended care facilities and approximately 9,500 home health care agencies and wound care clinics. As of December 31, 2004, we served approximately 2,300 medium to large hospitals in the United States. Through our network of 138 U.S. and 69 international service centers, we are able to rapidly deliver our critically needed products to major hospitals in the United States, Canada, Australia and most major European countries. This extensive network is critical to securing national contracts with group purchasing organizations, or GPOs, and allows us to efficiently serve the home market directly. Our network also provides a platform for the introduction of additional products.

        Our agreements with GPOs and reimbursement under Medicare Part B account for a significant portion of our revenues. We have agreements with numerous GPOs, which represent large groups of acute care and extended care facilities in order to negotiate rental and purchase terms on behalf of all of their members. Our largest GPO relationship is with Novation, LLC. Under our agreements with Novation, we provide products and therapies to over 1,700 acute care and extended care facilities. Rentals and sales to Novation participants in the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, accounted for $145.3 million, or 14.6% of total revenue, and $128.7 million, or 16.8% of total revenue, respectively. Medicare, which reimburses KCI for placement of products and therapies with Medicare participants, accounted for $114.6 million, or 11.5% of total revenue, and $83.6 million, or 10.9% of total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. No other customers or payers accounted for 10% or more of total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

        Our customers generally prefer to rent our V.A.C. systems and therapeutic surfaces and purchase the related disposable products, such as V.A.C. dressings. We believe that some of our customers, who tend to be our larger customers, desire alternatives to rental for at least some of their business. We

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expect this trend to continue as V.A.C. penetration increases, and we are exploring alternative models so that we can respond to our customers' needs.

Billing and Reimbursement

        We have extensive contractual relationships and reimbursement coverage for the V.A.C. in the United States. In acute and extended care, we have contracts with nearly all major hospital-organizations, and most major extended-care group purchasing organizations. Generally, facilities pay us directly for our services. In the home care market, we provide V.A.C. products and services directly to patients and bill third-party payers, including Medicare and private insurance. V.A.C. systems are covered by Medicare Part B. We currently have V.A.C. contracts with private and governmental organizations covering over 200 million member lives in the United States as of December 31, 2004. This represents more than 10 times the number of member lives we had under contract as of mid-2000.

        The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage of revenue derived from different types of payers:

Employees

        As of December 31, 2004, we had approximately 4,980 employees, and approximately 1,800 of these employees were located in San Antonio, Texas and perform functions associated with corporate, manufacturing, finance and administration. As of December 31, 2004, we had approximately 1,395 employees in our international facilities. Approximately 80 employees in our France facility are represented by a workers' council, pursuant to applicable industrial relations laws. Our employees are not otherwise represented by labor unions or workers' councils and we consider our employee relations to be good.

Corporate Organization

        Our business has two geographical operating segments: USA and International.

        With approximately 2,035 employees as of December 31, 2004, our USA division serves the domestic acute care, extended care and home care markets with the full range of our products and services. The domestic division distributes our medical devices and therapeutic surfaces to over 3,400 acute care hospitals and more than 5,600 extended care facilities and also directly serves the home care market through our service center network. Our USA division accounted for approximately 75%, 76%, and 77% of our total revenue in the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.

        As of December 31, 2004, our International division had direct operations in 16 foreign countries including Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, Singapore and South Africa. The International division distributes our medical devices and therapeutic surfaces through a network of 69 service centers. Our international corporate office is located in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. We have international manufacturing and engineering operations based in the United Kingdom. In addition, our International division serves the demands of a growing global market through relationships with approximately 50 independent distributors in Latin America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia. The International division consists of approximately 1,395 employees who are responsible for all sales, service and administrative functions within the various countries we serve. Our International division accounted for approximately 25%, 24% and 23% of our total revenue in the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

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Sales and Marketing Organization

        Our worldwide sales organization consists of approximately 1,485 individuals, over 40% of whom have medical or clinical backgrounds. Our sales organization is organized by care setting. Since physicians and nurses are critical to the adoption and use of advanced medical systems, a major element of the sales force's responsibility is to educate and train these medical practitioners in the application of our products, including the specific knowledge necessary to assure that the use of our systems results in optimal clinical and economic outcomes. We have approximately 420 clinical consultants, all of whom are health care professionals, whose principal responsibilities are to make product rounds, consult on complex cases and assist facilities and home health agencies to develop their patient care protocols. Our clinicians educate the hospital, long-term care facility or home health agency staff on the use of our products. In addition, we employ approximately 130 field-based specialists who consult with our customers regarding the often demanding and complex paperwork required by Medicare and private insurance companies. In fulfilling the paperwork requirements, these specialists enhance the overall productivity of our sales force.

        Our international sales organization includes more than 510 employees in 16 foreign countries. In each foreign market where we have a presence, we sell our products through our direct sales force or through local distributors with local expertise.

        Selling, marketing and advertising expenses in each of the periods below were as follows (dollars in thousands):

Service Organization

        Our USA division has a national 24-hour, seven day-a-week customer service communications system, which allows us to quickly and efficiently respond to our customers' needs. The domestic division distributes our medical devices and therapeutic surfaces through a network of 138 domestic service centers. Our USA division's network gives us the ability to deliver our products to any major Level I domestic trauma center within hours. Our International division distributes our medical devices and therapeutic surfaces through a network of 69 service centers.

        In addition to delivery, pick-up, and technical support services, our service organization cleans, disinfects, and reconditions products between rentals. To assure availability when products are needed, the service organization manages our rental fleet of approximately 85,000 units, deploying units to meet individual service center demand patterns while maintaining high levels of rental asset utilization. Services are provided by approximately 900 people in the United States and approximately 480 people internationally.

Research and Development

        We have a successful track record of pioneering new wound care and therapeutic surface technologies through new product introductions and significant enhancements to existing products. Our development and commercialization of V.A.C. systems and disposable dressing variations have established KCI as a leader in advanced wound care. Our therapeutic surfaces technology originated

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with the introduction of the Roto Rest bed 28 years ago. Since that time, we have developed and commercialized a broad spectrum of therapeutic surfaces, a number of which have significantly enhanced patient care. Most recently, we have developed a broad portfolio of bariatric surface products to improve the care of obese patients.

        Our primary focus for innovation is to increase the clinical and economic benefit of our products to our customers and their patients. In addition, we strive to make our products user-friendly and increase their operational efficiency, both of which are critical in the demanding and sometimes short-staffed world of health care today. Significant investments in our 2004 research and development included:

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new, advanced wound healing systems and dressings tailored to the needs of different care settings and wound types;



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new technologies in wound healing and tissue repair;



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new applications of V.A.C. technology and enhanced therapeutic effectiveness through improved understanding of the V.A.C. systems' various mechanisms of action; and



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commercialization of RotoProne, an advanced therapeutic surface to address critical needs of patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, and development of a new therapeutic surface to provide neuroprotection for cardiac arrest and stroke patients;

        Expenditures for research and development, including clinical trials, in each of the periods below, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

        We intend to increase our research and development expenditures in absolute dollars and as a percentage of revenue. However, we expect that research and development spending will remain a modest percentage of overall revenue.

Patents, Trademarks and Licenses

        To protect our proprietary rights in our products, new developments, improvements and inventions, we rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secret and other laws, and contractual restrictions on disclosure, copying and transfer of title, including confidentiality agreements with vendors, strategic partners, co-developers, employees, consultants and other third parties. We seek patent protection in the United States and abroad. We have approximately 130 issued U.S. patents relating to our existing and prospective lines of therapeutic medical devices. We also have approximately 50 pending U.S. patent applications. Many of our specialized beds, medical devices and services are offered under proprietary trademarks and service marks. We have 50 trademarks and service marks registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. We also have agreements with third parties that provide for the licensing of patented and proprietary technology.

        We have patent protection for our current V.A.C. products, in the form of owned and licensed patents, including at least 18 issued U.S. patents and at least 12 U.S. patent applications pending. Our international patent portfolio (including owned and licensed patents) relating to current and prospective technologies in the field of V.A.C. therapy includes more than 150 issued patents and more than 100 pending patent applications, including protection in Europe, Canada, Australia and Japan. Most of the V.A.C. patents in our patent portfolio have a term of 20 years from their date of priority.

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Our base V.A.C. utility patents do not begin to expire until 2013. We have multiple patents covering unique aspects, and improvements to the V.A.C. system.

        On October 6, 1993, we entered into a license agreement with Wake Forest University that we rely on in connection with our V.A.C. business. Under this agreement, Wake Forest University has licensed to us on a worldwide, exclusive basis the right to use, lease, sell and sublicense its rights to certain patents that are integral to the technology that we incorporate in our V.A.C. products. The term of the agreement continues for as long as the underlying patents are in effect, subject to Wake Forest University's right to terminate earlier if we fail to make required royalty payments or are otherwise in material breach or default of the agreement.

Manufacturing

        Our manufacturing processes for V.A.C. systems, therapeutic surfaces, mattress replacement systems and overlays involve producing final assemblies in accordance with a master production plan. Assembly of our products is accomplished using (1) metal parts that are fabricated, machined, and finished internally, (2) fabric that is cut and sewn internally and externally, and (3) plastics, electronics and other component parts that are purchased from outside suppliers. Component parts and materials are obtained from industrial distributors, original equipment manufacturers and contract manufacturers. The majority of parts and materials are readily available in the open market (steel, aluminum, plastics, fabric, etc.) for which price volatility is low. The manufacturing process is in compliance with ISO 9001 (1994), ISO 13485, and FDA's Quality System Regulation.

        We contract for the manufacture of V.A.C. disposables through Avail Medical Products, Inc., a leading contract manufacturer of sterile medical products. We entered into a sole-source agreement with Avail for our V.A.C. related disposable products, which became effective in October 2002 for our U.S. related orders and in May 2003 for our international related orders. This supply agreement was recently extended through October 2007, with automatic extensions for additional twelve month periods if neither party gives notice of termination. Approximately 21% of our total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2004 was generated from the sale of these disposable supplies. The terms of the supply agreement provide that key indicators be provided to us that would alert us to Avail's inability to perform under the agreement. In the event that Avail is unable to fulfill the terms of this agreement, we have identified other suppliers that could provide such inventory to meet our needs. However, in the event that we are unable to replace a shortfall in supply, our revenue could be negatively impacted in the short term. We maintain an inventory of disposables sufficient to support our business for approximately six weeks in the United States and eight weeks in Europe.

Working Capital Management

        We maintain inventory parts and supplies to support customer needs in our service centers and in our manufacturing facilities. We also maintain inventory for conversion to our surface and V.A.C. rental fleet in our manufacturing facilities. Our V.A.C. rental equipment cannot be used without the disposables that support the V.A.C. systems. As such, we buy and ship disposable inventory directly from our sole supplier to the customer.

        Our payment terms with hospitals and extended care facilities are consistent with industry standards and provide for payment within 30 days of invoice. Our payment terms with third party payers, including Medicare and private insurance, are consistent with industry standards and provide for payment within 45 days. A portion of our receivables relate to unbilled revenues arising in the normal course of business, due to monthly billing cycles requested by our hospital or extended care facility customers or due to our internal paperwork processing procedures regarding billing third party payers.

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Competition

        We believe that the principal competitive factors within our markets are clinical efficacy, cost of care, clinical outcomes and service. Furthermore, we believe that a national presence with full distribution capabilities is important to serve large, national and regional health care group purchasing organizations, or GPOs. We have contracts with nearly all major hospital GPOs and most major extended care GPOs for V.A.C. systems. The medical device industry is highly competitive and is characterized by rapid product development and technological change. In order to remain competitive with other companies in our industry, we must continue to develop new cost-effective products and technologies.

        In wound healing and tissue repair, we compete with other treatment methods offered by a number of companies in the advanced wound care business. These methods are substantially different than the V.A.C. and include traditional wound care dressings, advanced wound care dressings (hydrogels, hydrocolloids, alginates), skin substitutes, products containing growth factors and medical devices used for wound care. Many of these devices can be used to compete with the V.A.C. or as adjunctive therapy which complements the V.A.C. For example, caregivers may use one of our V.A.C. systems to prepare a healthy wound bed in order to reduce the wound size, and then use a skin substitute to manage the wound to final closure. As the market for, and revenues generated by, the V.A.C. expand, we believe additional competitors may introduce products designed to mimic the V.A.C. Recently, BlueSky Medical Corporation introduced a medical device that is being marketed to directly compete with V.A.C. systems. We believe that this device violates our intellectual property rights and we have taken legal action against Blue Sky, its suppliers and several of its distributors to protect our rights. BlueSky has recently received FDA clearance of its pump and one of its dressings. BlueSky's clearance is not as broad as the FDA clearance received by KCI. BlueSky has also announced that a large Midwest Managed Care Organization has covered its product. We also have successfully challenged the marketing of imitative V.A.C. systems by several European companies.

        With respect to therapeutic surfaces for treatment of pulmonary complications in the ICU, wound treatment and prevention and bariatric care, our primary competitors are Hill-Rom Company, Huntleigh Healthcare and Pegasus Limited. In the bariatric market, our primary competitors are Hill-Rom, Sizewise Rentals and Huntleigh Healthcare. We also compete on a regional, local and market segment level with a number of smaller companies.

Market Outlook

Health Care Reform

        Health care reform legislation will most likely remain focused on reducing the cost of health care. We believe that efforts by private payers to contain costs through managed care and other efforts will continue in the future as efforts to reform the health care system continue. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (the "BBA") significantly reduced the annual increases in federal spending for Medicare and Medicaid, changed the payment system for both skilled nursing facilities ("SNFs") and home health care services from cost-based to prospective payment systems and allowed states greater flexibility in controlling Medicaid costs at the state level. Certain portions of the BBA were amended by the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 (the "BBRA") and the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 ("BIPA").

        On December 8, 2003, the President of the United States signed into law the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 ("MMA"), which includes revisions to payment methodologies and other standards for items of DME. These revisions could have a direct impact on our business. At this time, we are unable to determine with precision whether and to what extent these changes would be applied to our products and our business. Several provisions of the MMA are significant. First, beginning in 2004 through 2008, the payment amounts for DME, including

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V.A.C. systems will no longer be increased on an annual basis. Second, beginning in 2007, a competitive acquisition program will be phased in to replace the existing fee schedule payment methodology. Third, supplier quality standards will be established for DME suppliers. The standards will be applied by independent accreditation organizations. Fourth, clinical conditions for payment will be established for certain products.

        On February 11, 2003, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS," formerly the Health Care Financing Administration) made effective an interim final rule implementing "inherent reasonableness" authority, which allows the agency and carriers to adjust payment amounts by up to 15% per year for certain items and services covered by Medicare Part B when the existing payment amount is determined to be grossly excessive or grossly deficient. The regulation lists factors that may be used by CMS and the carriers to determine whether an existing reimbursement rate is grossly excessive or grossly deficient and to determine what is a realistic and equitable payment amount. CMS may make a larger adjustment each year if they undertake prescribed procedures for determining the appropriate payment amount for a particular service. Using this authority, CMS and the carriers may reduce reimbursement levels for certain items and services covered by Medicare Part B. This rule remains in effect after the MMA.

        In addition, under the MMA, starting in 2007, Medicare will begin to implement a nationwide competitive bidding program in ten high population metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), and in 2009, this program is to be expanded to 80 MSAs (and additional areas thereafter). We do not know what impact inherent reasonableness and competitive bidding would have on us or the reimbursement of our products.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Compliance

        The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) covers a variety of provisions which impact our business including the privacy of patient health care information, the security of that information and the standardization of electronic data transactions for billing. Sanctions for violating HIPAA include criminal penalties and civil sanctions. HIPAA regulations regarding standardization of electronic data billing transactions will also impact our business. At the present time, we invoice third-party payers using a variety of different systems. In 2003, we transitioned our billing systems to the American National Standard Institute format for electronic data billing transactions as required by HIPAA. In some instances, we found it difficult to differentiate between products which are covered by a single billing code but have different prices. Therefore, we applied to CMS for additional product codes to support our current billing practices. However, CMS may not establish any of the requested billing codes. We have been working with all business associates with whom we share protected health information in order to make the transition to standardized billing codes as smooth as possible. However, the transition to standardized billing codes may create billing difficulties or business interruptions for us.

Consolidation of Purchasing Entities

        The many health care reform initiatives in the United States have caused health care providers to examine their cost structures and reassess the manner in which they provide health care services. This review, in turn, has led many health care providers to merge or consolidate with other members of their industry in an effort to reduce costs or achieve operating synergies. A substantial number of our customers, including proprietary hospital groups, GPOs, hospitals, national nursing home companies and national home health care agencies, have been affected by this consolidation. An extensive service and distribution network and a broad product line are key to servicing the needs of these larger provider networks. In addition, the consolidation of health care providers often results in the re-negotiation of contracts and the granting of price concessions. Finally, as GPOs and integrated health care systems increase in size, each contract represents a greater concentration of market share and the adverse consequences of losing a particular contract increases considerably.

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Reimbursement of Health Care Costs

        The importance of payer coverage policies has been demonstrated by our experience with our V.A.C. technology in the home care setting. On October 1, 2000, a Medicare Part B policy was approved, which provided for reimbursement codes, an associated coverage policy and allowable rates for the V.A.C. systems and V.A.C. disposable products in the home care setting. The policy facilitated claims processing, permitted electronic claims submissions and created a more uniform claims review process. Because many payers look to Medicare for guidance in coverage, a specific Medicare policy is often relied upon by other payers. In contrast with this U.S. experience, coverage in several European countries has been limited to case-by-case approvals until the appropriate approvals have been granted by the government-sponsored approval body. Switzerland approved home care reimbursement in 2004, which has opened the market for broad use in the home. Germany is currently considering approval. In other countries, such as Austria and the Netherlands, coverage by insurance companies is widespread, even without formal government approval.

        A significant portion of our wound healing systems revenue is derived from home placements, which are reimbursed by both governmental and non-governmental third-party payers. The reimbursement process for home care placements requires extensive documentation, which has slowed the cash receipts cycle relative to the rest of the business.

        In light of increased scrutiny on Medicare spending, as well as revisions to payment methodologies imposed by the MMA, the outcome of future coverage or payment decisions for any of our products or services by governmental or non-governmental third-party payers remain uncertain.

Patient Demographics

        U.S. Census Bureau statistics indicate that the 65-and-over age group is one of the fastest growing population segments and is expected to be approximately 40 million by the year 2010. Management of wounds and circulatory problems is crucial for elderly patients. These patients frequently suffer from deteriorating physical conditions and their wound problems are often exacerbated by circulatory problems, incontinence and poor nutrition.

        Obesity is increasingly being recognized as a serious medical complication. In 2003, approximately 1.6 million patients in U.S. hospitals had a primary or secondary diagnosis of obesity. Obese patients tend to have limited mobility and are, therefore, at risk for circulatory problems and skin breakdown.

Government Regulation

United States

        Our products are subject to regulation by numerous governmental authorities, principally the United States Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, and corresponding state and foreign regulatory agencies. Pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the FDA regulates the design, clinical testing, manufacture, labeling, distribution, sale and promotion of medical devices. Noncompliance with applicable requirements can result in, among other things, fines, injunctions, civil penalties, recall or seizure of products, total or partial suspension of production, failure of the government to grant pre-market clearance or pre-market approval for devices, withdrawal of marketing clearances or approvals and criminal prosecution. The FDA also has the authority to demand the repair, replacement or refund of the cost of any device that we manufacture or distribute that violates statutory or regulatory requirements.

        In the United States, medical devices are classified into one of three classes (Class I, II or III) on the basis of the controls deemed necessary by the FDA to reasonably ensure their safety and effectiveness. Although many Class I devices are exempt from certain FDA requirements, Class I devices are subject to general controls (for example, labeling, pre-market notification and adherence to

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the Quality System Regulation). Class II devices are subject to general and special controls (for example, performance standards, post-market surveillance, patient registries and FDA guidelines). Generally, Class III devices are high-risk devices that receive significantly greater FDA scrutiny to ensure their safety and effectiveness (for example, life-sustaining, life-supporting and implantable devices, or new devices which have been found not to be substantially equivalent to legally marketed Class I or Class II devices). Before a new medical device can be introduced in the market, the manufacturer must generally obtain FDA clearance (510(k) clearance) or pre-market application (PMA) approval. All of our current products have been classified as Class I or Class II devices, which typically are marketed based upon 510(k) clearance or related exemptions. A 510(k) clearance will generally be granted if the submitted information establishes that the proposed device is "substantially equivalent" in intended use and technological characteristics to a legally marketed Class I or Class II medical device or to a Class III device on the market since May 28, 1976, for which PMA approval has not been required. A PMA approval requires proof to the FDA's satisfaction of the safety and effectiveness of a Class III device. A clinical study is generally required to support a PMA application and is sometimes required for a 510(k) pre-market notification. For "significant risk" devices, such clinical studies generally require submission of an application for an Investigational Device Exemption, or IDE. The FDA's 510(k) clearance process usually takes from four to twelve months, but may take longer. The PMA approval process is much more costly, lengthy and uncertain. The process generally takes from one to three years; however, it may take even longer.

        Devices that we manufacture or distribute are subject to pervasive and continuing regulation by the FDA and certain state agencies, including record-keeping requirements and mandatory reporting of certain adverse experiences resulting from use of the devices. Labeling and promotional activities are subject to regulation by the FDA and, in certain circumstances, by the Federal Trade Commission. Current FDA enforcement policy prohibits the marketing of approved medical devices for unapproved uses and the FDA scrutinizes the labeling and advertising of medical devices to ensure that unapproved uses of medical devices are not promoted.

        Manufacturers of medical devices for marketing in the United States are required to adhere to applicable regulations, including the Quality System Regulation (QSR, formerly the Good Manufacturing Practice regulation), which imposes design, testing, control and documentation requirements. Manufacturers must also comply with the Medical Device Reporting (MDR) regulation, which generally requires that manufacturers report to the FDA if their device may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if it were to recur. We are subject to routine inspection by the FDA and certain state agencies for compliance with QSR requirements, MDR requirements and other applicable regulations.

Fraud and Abuse Laws

        We may also be subject to federal and state physician self-referral laws. Federal physician self-referral legislation (commonly known as the "Stark Law") prohibits, subject to certain exceptions, physician referrals of Medicare and Medicaid patients to an entity providing certain "designated health services" if the physician or an immediate family member has any financial relationship with the entity. A person who engages in a scheme to circumvent the Stark Law's referral prohibition may be fined up to $100,000 for each such arrangement or scheme. The penalties for violating the Stark Law also include civil monetary penalties of up to $15,000 per referral and possible exclusion from federal health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. The Stark Law also prohibits the entity receiving the referral from billing any good or service furnished pursuant to an unlawful referral, and any person collecting any amounts in connection with an unlawful referral is obligated to refund such amounts. Various states have corollary laws to the Stark Law, including laws that require physicians to disclose

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any financial interest they may have with a health care provider to their patients when referring patients to that provider. Both the scope and exceptions for such laws vary from state to state.

        We may also be subject to federal and state anti-kickback laws. Section 1128B(b) of the Social Security Act, commonly referred to as the "Anti-Kickback Law", prohibits persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce either the referral of an individual, or the furnishing, recommending, or arranging for a good or service, for which payment may be made under a federal health care program such as Medicare and Medicaid. The Anti-Kickback Law is broad, and it prohibits many arrangements and practices that are otherwise lawful in businesses outside of the health care industry. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued regulations, commonly known as safe harbors, that set forth certain provisions which, if fully met, will assure health care providers and other parties that they will not be prosecuted under the federal Anti-Kickback Law. Although full compliance with these provisions ensures against prosecution under the federal Anti-Kickback Law, the failure of a transaction or arrangement to fit within a specific safe harbor does not necessarily mean that the transaction or arrangement is illegal or that prosecution under the federal Anti-Kickback Law will be pursued. The penalties for violating the Anti-Kickback Law include imprisonment for up to five years, fines of up to $25,000 per violation and civil penalties and possible exclusion from federal health care programs. Penalties of up to $50,000, plus up to three times the amount of the remuneration without regard to whether any portion was attributable to legitimate services, may be imposed. Many states have adopted laws similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Law, and some of these state prohibitions apply to referral of patients for health care services reimbursed by any source, not only federal health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

        In addition, HIPAA created two new federal crimes: (i) health care fraud and (ii) false statements relating to health care matters. The health care fraud statute prohibits knowingly and willfully executing or attempting to execute a scheme or artifice to defraud any health care benefit program, including private payers. The false statements statute prohibits knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation in connection with the delivery of or payment for health care benefits, items or services. This statute applies to any health benefit plan, not just Medicare and Medicaid. Additionally, HIPAA granted expanded enforcement authority to the DHHS and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and provided enhanced resources to support the activities and responsibilities of the DHHS's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the DOJ by authorizing large increases in funding for investigating fraud and abuse violations relating to health care delivery and payment.

        Under separate statutes, submission of claims for payment or causing such claims to be submitted that are "not provided as claimed" may lead to civil money penalties, criminal fines and imprisonment, and/or exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other federally funded state health programs. These false claims statutes include the federal False Claims Act, which prohibits the knowing filing of a false claim or the knowing use of false statements to obtain payment from the U.S. federal government. When an entity is determined to have violated the False Claims Act, it must pay three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus mandatory civil penalties of between $5,500 and $11,000 for each separate false claim. Suits filed under the False Claims Act, known as "qui tam" actions, can be brought by any individual on behalf of the government and such individuals (known as "relators" or, more commonly, as "whistleblowers") may share in the amounts paid by the entity to the government in fines or settlement. In addition, certain states have enacted laws modeled after the federal False Claims Act. Qui tam actions have increased significantly in recent years causing greater numbers of health care companies to have to defend false claim actions, pay fines or be excluded from the Medicare, Medicaid or other federal or state health care programs as a result of an investigation arising out of such action. Because we directly submit claims for payment for certain of

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our products, we are subject to these false claims statutes, and, therefore, could become subject to "qui tam" actions.

        The OIG has taken certain actions, which suggest that arrangements between manufacturers or suppliers of durable medical equipment or medical supplies and SNFs (or other providers) may be under continued scrutiny. In June 1995, the OIG issued a Special Fraud Alert setting forth fraudulent and abusive practices that the OIG had observed in the home health industry. Later that same year, OIG issued another Special Fraud Alert describing certain relationships between SNFs and suppliers that the OIG viewed as abusive under the federal Anti-Kickback Law. In July 1999, the OIG published OIG compliance program guidance for the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supply (DMEPOS) industry developed by the OIG in cooperation with, and with input from, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS"), the DOJ and representatives of various trade associations and health care practice groups. The guidance identifies specific areas of DMEPOS industry operations that may be subject to fraud and abuse. Furthermore, the OIG Work Plan for 2005 focused on compliance of durable medical equipment suppliers with Medicare rules and regulations. These initiatives create an environment in which there will continue to be significant scrutiny regarding compliance with federal and state fraud and abuse laws.

        Several states also have referral, fee splitting and other similar laws that may restrict the payment or receipt of remuneration in connection with the purchase or rental of medical equipment and supplies. State laws vary in scope and have been infrequently interpreted by courts and regulatory agencies, but may apply to all health care products or services, regardless of whether Medicaid or Medicare funds are involved.

Claims Audits

        The industry in which we operate is generally characterized by long collection cycles for accounts receivable due to complex and time-consuming documentation requirements for obtaining reimbursement from private and governmental third-party payers. Such protracted collection cycles can lead to delays in obtaining reimbursement. Moreover, the four durable medical equipment regional carriers ("DMERCs"), private entities that contract to serve as the government's agents for the processing of claims for products and services provided under Part B of the Medicare program for home use, and Medicaid agencies periodically conduct pre-payment and post-payment reviews and other audits of claims submitted. Medicare and Medicaid agents are under increasing pressure to scrutinize health care claims more closely. Reviews and/or similar audits or investigations of our claims and related documentation could result in denials of claims for payment submitted by us. Further, the government could demand significant refunds or recoupments of amounts paid by the government for claims which, upon subsequent investigation, are determined by the government to be inadequately supported by the required documentation.

ISO Certification

        Due to the harmonization efforts of a variety of regulatory bodies worldwide, certification of compliance with the ISO 9000 series of International Standards (ISO Certification) has become particularly advantageous and, in certain circumstances, necessary for many companies in recent years. We received ISO 9001 and EN46001 Certification in the fourth quarter of 1997 and Medical Device Agency registration in the fourth quarter of 2002 and therefore are certified to apply the CE mark for direct selling and distributing of our products within the European community. In addition, we received certification for ISO 13485 in the fourth quarter of 2002 and certification with Health Canada and, therefore, are certified to sell and distribute our products within Canada.

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Environmental Laws

        We are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations that govern our operations, including the handling and disposal of nonhazardous and hazardous substances and wastes, and emissions and discharges into the environment. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations could result in costs for corrective action, penalties or the imposition of other liabilities. We also are subject to laws and regulations that impose liability and cleanup responsibility for releases of hazardous substances into the environment. Under certain of these laws and regulations, such liabilities can be imposed for cleanup of previously owned or operated properties, or properties to which substances or wastes were sent from current or former operations at our facilities. From time to time, we have incurred costs and obligations for correcting environmental noncompliance matters and for cleanup of certain of our properties and third party sites. We believe we have complied with our environmental obligations to date in all material respects and that such liabilities will not have a material adverse effect on our business or financial performance. However, such liabilities in the future may have a material adverse effect on our business or financial performance.

Other Laws

        We are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to such matters as safe working conditions, manufacturing practices and fire hazard control.

International

        Sales of medical devices outside of the United States are subject to regulatory requirements that vary widely from country to country. Pre-market clearance or approval of medical devices is required by certain countries. The time required to obtain clearance or approval for sale in a foreign country may be longer or shorter than that required for clearance or approval by the FDA and the requirements vary. Failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements can result in loss of previously received approvals and other sanctions and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

        We operate in multiple tax jurisdictions both inside and outside the United States. In the normal course of our business, we will undergo reviews by taxing authorities regarding the tariff classifications of our products and the amount of tariffs we pay on the importation and exportation of these products. Foreign and domestic tariffs have not had a material impact on our results of to date, however, our profitability could be harmed if foreign governments impose additional unanticipated tariffs.

Reimbursement

        Our products are rented and sold principally to hospitals, extended care facilities and directly to patients who receive payment coverage for the products and services they utilize from various public and private third-party payers, including government-funded programs, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs in the U.S. In the home care market, we provide our products and services to patients and bill insurance companies, including Medicare Part B. As a result, the demand and payment for our products are dependent, in part, on the reimbursement policies of these payers. The manner in which reimbursement is sought and obtained for any of our products varies based upon the type of payer involved and the setting to which the product is furnished and in which it is utilized by patients.

        We believe that government efforts to contain or reduce health care costs are likely to continue. These trends may lead third-party payers to deny or limit reimbursement for our products, which could negatively impact the pricing and profitability of, or demand for, our products.

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Medicare

        Medicare is a federally funded program that provides health coverage primarily to the elderly and disabled. Medicare is composed of four parts: Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D. Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) covers, among other things, inpatient hospital care, home health care and skilled nursing facility services. Medicare Part B (supplementary medical insurance) covers various services, including those services provided on an outpatient basis. Medicare Part B also covers medically necessary durable medical equipment and medical supplies. Medicare Part C, also known as "Medicare Advantage," offers beneficiaries a choice of various types of health care plans, including several managed care options. Medicare Part D is the new Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program, which becomes effective in 2006. The Medicare program has established guidelines for the coverage and reimbursement of certain equipment, supplies and support services. In general, in order to be reimbursed by Medicare, a health care item or service furnished to a Medicare beneficiary must be reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body part and not otherwise excluded by statute. Effective October 1, 2000, we received Medicare Part B reimbursement codes, an associated coverage policy and allowable rates for our V.A.C. systems and related disposables in the home care setting.

        The methodology for determining the amount of Medicare reimbursement of our products varies based upon, among other things, the setting in which a Medicare beneficiary receives health care items and services. Most of our products are furnished in a hospital, skilled nursing facility or the beneficiary's home.

Hospital Setting

        Acute care hospitals are generally reimbursed for certain patients by Medicare for inpatient operating costs based upon prospectively determined rates. Under the prospective payment system, or PPS, acute care hospitals receive a predetermined payment rate based upon the Diagnosis-Related Group, or DRG, which is assigned to each Medicare beneficiary's stay, regardless of the actual cost of the services provided. Certain additional or "outlier" payments may be made to a hospital for cases involving unusually high costs or lengths of stay. Accordingly, acute care hospitals generally do not receive direct Medicare reimbursement under PPS for the distinct costs incurred in purchasing or renting our products. Rather, reimbursement for these costs is included within the DRG-based payments made to hospitals for the treatment of Medicare-eligible inpatients who utilize the products. Long-term care and rehabilitation hospitals also are now paid under a PPS rate that does not directly account for all actual services rendered. Because PPS payments are based on predetermined rates, and may be less than a hospital's actual costs in furnishing care, hospitals have incentives to lower their inpatient operating costs by utilizing equipment and supplies, such as our products, that will reduce the length of inpatient stays, decrease labor or otherwise lower their costs.

        Certain specialty hospitals like Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) or in-patient rehabilitation facility (IRF), also use our products. In 2003, these specialty hospital types completed a phase-in to a PPS reimbursement system. To date, we have not experienced a material impact on our business from this reimbursement change. However, in 2005, additional changes in admitting practices are being phased in to these specialty hospitals. These changes have the potential of impacting overall reimbursement for these specialty hospitals. We cannot predict the impact of these changes in admitting practices of LTACs and IRFs on the health care industry or on our financial position or results of operations.

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Skilled Nursing Facility Setting

        Reimbursement for SNFs under Medicare Part A changed from a cost-based system to a prospective payment system effective in 1998, which is based on resource utilization groups ("RUGs"). Under the RUGs system, a Medicare patient in a SNF is assigned to a RUGs category upon admission to the facility. The RUGs category to which the patient is assigned depends upon the medical services and functional support the patient is expected to require. The SNF receives a prospectively determined daily payment based upon the RUGs category assigned to each Medicare patient. These payments are intended generally to cover all inpatient services for Medicare patients, including routine nursing care, capital-related costs associated with the inpatient stay and ancillary services. Effective July 2002, the daily payments were based on the national average cost. Although the BBRA and BIPA increased the payments for certain RUGs categories, certain provisions of the BBRA and BIPA covering these payment increases expired on September 30, 2002 and, in effect, the RUGs rates for the most common categories of SNF patients decreased. Because the RUGs system provides SNFs with fixed daily cost reimbursement, SNFs have become less inclined to use products, such as the Company's therapeutic surfaces, which had previously been reimbursed as variable ancillary costs.

Home Setting

        Our products are also provided to Medicare beneficiaries in home care settings. Medicare, under the Part B program, reimburses beneficiaries, or suppliers accepting an assignment of the beneficiary's Part B benefit, for the purchase or rental of DME for use in the beneficiary's home or a home for the aged (as opposed to use in a hospital or skilled nursing facility setting). As long as the Medicare Part B coverage criteria are met, certain of our products, including air fluidized beds, air-powered flotation beds, alternating pressure air mattresses and our V.A.C. systems and related disposables are reimbursed in the home setting under the DME category known as "Capped Rental Items." Pursuant to the fee schedule payment methodology for this category, Medicare pays a monthly rental fee (for a base treatment period generally not longer than four months for the V.A.C. system, and a period not to exceed 15 months for products other than the V.A.C. system) equal to 80% of the established allowable charge for the item. The patient (or his or her insurer) is responsible for the remaining 20%. The MMA provides for revisions to the manner in which payment amounts are to be calculated over the next five years (and thereafter). We cannot predict the full impact of the new law on our financial position or results of operations, which may be impacted negatively.

Medicaid

        The Medicaid program is a cooperative federal/state program that provides medical assistance benefits to qualifying low income and medically needy persons. State participation in Medicaid is optional and each state is given discretion in developing and administering its own Medicaid program, subject, among other things, to certain federal requirements pertaining to eligibility criteria and minimum categories of services. The Medicaid program finances approximately 50% of all care provided in nursing facilities nationwide. We sell or rent our products to nursing facilities for use in furnishing care to Medicaid recipients. Typically, nursing facilities receive Medicaid reimbursement directly from states for the incurred costs. However, the method and level of reimbursement, which generally reflects regionalized average cost structures and other factors, varies from state to state and is subject to each state's budget constraints. Current economic conditions have resulted in reductions in state funding for many Medicaid programs. Consequently, states are revising their policies for coverage of durable medical equipment in long-term care facilities and the home. We cannot predict the impact of the policy changes on our Medicaid revenue, but it is, and will continue to be, a difficult market to operate in profitably.

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Private Payers

        Many third-party private payers, including indemnity insurers, employer group health insurance programs and managed care plans, presently provide coverage for the purchase and rental of our products. The scope of coverage and payment policies varies among third-party private payers. Furthermore, many such payers are investigating or implementing methods for reducing health care costs, such as the establishment of capitated or prospective payment systems.

        We believe that government and private efforts to contain or reduce health care costs are likely to continue. These trends may lead third-party payers to deny or limit reimbursement for our products, which could negatively impact the pricing and profitability of, or demand for, our products.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

        We lease approximately 154,000 square feet at our corporate headquarters building in San Antonio, Texas, the majority of which is leased under a 10-year lease that expires in 2012. We also lease approximately 28,300 square feet in adjacent buildings that are used for general corporate purposes, and approximately 88,500 square feet of office space in San Antonio for our customer service center. In addition, in February 2004 and February 2005, we entered into 99-month leases for approximately 80,400 and 80,200 square feet of office space in San Antonio to be used as our research and development facility and for general corporate purposes, respectively.

        We conduct domestic manufacturing, shipping, receiving, engineering and storage activities in a 171,100 square foot facility in San Antonio, Texas, which we purchased in January 1988, and an adjacent 32,600 square foot facility purchased in 1993. Our operations are conducted with approximately 75% cumulative utilization of plant and equipment. We also lease two storage facilities in San Antonio. We lease approximately 138 domestic distribution centers, including each of our seven regional headquarters.

        Internationally, we lease 69 service centers. Our international corporate office is located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. International manufacturing and engineering operations are based in the United Kingdom and Belgium. The United Kingdom plant is approximately 24,800 square feet, and the Belgium plant is approximately 19,600 square feet. These plants operate with 100% cumulative utilization of plant and equipment.

        We believe that our current facilities will be adequate to meet our needs for the foreseeable future.

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        The following is a summary of our major facilities:

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        On February 21, 1992, Novamedix Limited filed a lawsuit against us in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division. Novamedix manufactures a product that directly competes with one of our vascular products, the PlexiPulse. The suit alleges that the PlexiPulse infringes several patents held by Novamedix, that we breached a confidential relationship with Novamedix and a variety of ancillary claims. Novamedix seeks injunctive relief and monetary damages. On April 12, 2004, a federal Magistrate completed a review of our motion for summary judgment. In his Memorandum and Recommendation on the summary judgment motions in the case, the Magistrate recommended to the Federal District Court Judge that one of Novamedix's causes of action for false advertising be significantly limited and that one of Novamedix's patent infringement damage theories be denied for summary judgment purposes. The Magistrate recommended that the remainder of our motions for summary judgment be denied and that our interpretation of an important phrase in certain of the Novamedix claims be rejected. On September 1, 2004, a Federal Magistrate issued a Supplemental Memorandum and Recommendation in the Novamedix case, which interpreted the claims of the patents involved in the case. Although we have appealed certain aspects of the recommendation, we believe that the claim construction set forth in the memorandum supports our contention that the PlexiPulse device does not infringe Novamedix's patents.

        On July 1, 1998, Mondomed N.V. filed an opposition in the European Patent Office to a European V.A.C. patent. They were joined in this opposition by Paul Hartmann A.G. on December 16, 1998. The patent was upheld at a hearing before a European Patent Office Opposition Division Panel on December 9, 2003, pursuant to a written interlocutory decision issued May 19, 2004. The decision corrects the patent to expand the range of pressures covered by the patent claims from 0.10 - 0.99 atmospheres to 0.01 - 0.99 atmospheres and modifies the patent claims to provide that the "screen means" is polymer foam. Under European patent law, the "screen means" would include equivalents to

21

polymer foam. The screen means in the patent, among other things, helps to remove fluid from within and around the wound, distributes negative pressure within the wound, enhances the growth of granulation tissue and prevents wound overgrowth. In our V.A.C. systems, the foam dressing placed in the wound serves as the screen means. We use two different types of polymer foams as the screen means in our V.A.C. systems. We and Paul Hartmann A.G. have appealed to the European Patent Office Board of Appeals in Munich, Germany. Mondomed N.V. has entered into a settlement with us. We believe it will take two to three years to complete the appeal process and we may not be successful in the appeal. During the pendency of an appeal, the original patents would remain in place. We believe that this decision will not affect our U.S. patents.

        On January 4, 2002, Safe Bed Technologies Company, or Safe Bed, filed a lawsuit against us in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division seeking damages for patent infringement. The suit alleges that certain of our therapeutic surfaces products, including the TriaDyne and BariAir products, infringe a Safe Bed patent. After KCI received a favorable ruling on patent claim interpretation, we agreed to settle this case.

        On August 28, 2003, KCI, KCI Licensing Inc., KCI USA, Inc. and Wake Forest University Health Sciences filed a lawsuit against BlueSky Medical Corporation, Medela AG, Medela, Inc. and Patient Care Systems, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, alleging infringement of multiple claims under two V.A.C. patents, arising from the manufacturing and marketing of a medical device by BlueSky. In addition to patent infringement, we asserted causes of action for breach of contract, tortious interference and unfair competition. We are seeking damages and injunctive relief in the case. BlueSky and Medela, Inc. filed answers to the complaint and asserted counterclaims against us for declarations of non-infringement and patent invalidity. BlueSky has filed a counterclaim in the case that alleges that the Company's marketing of the V.A.C. system violates federal anti-trust laws. Although it is not possible to reliably predict the outcome of this litigation, we believe our claims are meritorious.

        We are a party to several additional lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of our business. Provisions have been made in our financial statements for estimated exposures related to these lawsuits. We anticipate that the legal fees incurred in connection with the litigation discussed above will be immaterial. Although it is not possible to reliably predict the outcome of the litigation items described above, in the opinion of management, the disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

        The manufacturing and marketing of medical products necessarily entails an inherent risk of product liability claims. We currently have certain product liability claims pending for which provision has been made in our financial statements. We believe that resolution of these claims will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We have not experienced any significant losses due to product liability claims and we believe that we currently maintain adequate liability insurance coverage.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

        None.

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PART II—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

        Our common stock has traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "KCI" since February 24, 2004, the date of our initial public offering. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices for our common stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange:

        On February 15, 2005, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $64.65 per share. As of February 15, 2005, there were approximately 163 shareholders of record of our common stock.

        We do not currently pay cash dividends on our common stock. Our board of directors currently intends to retain any future earnings to support our operations and to finance the growth and development of our business and does not intend to declare or pay cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any future payment of cash dividends on our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our results of operations, earnings, capital requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board. In addition, our senior credit agreement and the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes limit our ability to declare or pay dividends on, or repurchase or redeem, any of our outstanding equity securities. (For more information regarding the restrictions under our Senior Credit Agreement and Indenture, see "Management's Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Debt Service.")

Equity Compensation Plan Information

        The following chart gives aggregate information regarding grants under all of our equity compensation plans through December 31, 2004:

(1)

Includes 290,330 shares available for future issuance under the 2003 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan and 6,040,776 shares available for future issuance under the 2004 Equity Plan, which both provide for grants of restricted stock, options and other awards. Also includes 2,457,148 shares available for future issuance under the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which makes stock available for purchase by employees at specified times.

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Use of Proceeds from Sales of Registered Securities

        On February 27, 2004, we closed an initial public offering of our common stock, consisting of 20,700,000 shares of common stock registered on Form S-1 (File No. 333-111677). Of these shares, 3,500,000 were newly issued shares sold by us and 17,200,000 were existing shares sold by selling shareholders. Proceeds to us after expenses were $94.4 million in the aggregate. Proceeds to the selling shareholders were $485.0 million in the aggregate. We used the $94.4 million in net proceeds for the following purposes:

•

to redeem $71.8 million principal amount of our 7³/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 on March 29, 2004; and



•

to pay approximately $19.3 million for bonuses and related employer payroll taxes to our named executive officers and other members of our management triggered by the initial public offering.

        On June 16, 2004, we completed a secondary offering of our common stock, through which selling shareholders sold an aggregate of 16.1 million existing shares at a price of $47.50 per share. KCI did not sell any shares or receive any proceeds in the offering.

Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities

        We did not purchase any shares of KCI common stock during the fourth quarter of 2004.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The following tables summarize our consolidated financial data for the periods presented. You should read the following financial information together with the information under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our consolidated financial statements and the notes to those consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report. The selected consolidated balance sheet data for fiscal 2003 and 2004 and the selected consolidated statements of operations data for fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. The selected consolidated financial data for fiscal 2000 and 2001 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data for fiscal 2002 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not included in this report. Reclassifications have been made to our results from prior years to conform to our current presentation (dollars in thousands, except per share data).

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(1)

Amounts for fiscal 2004 include bonuses paid of $19.3 million, including related payroll taxes, and approximately $562,000 of professional fees and other miscellaneous expenses in connection with our initial public offering.

(2)

Amounts for fiscal 2004 include $2.2 million of professional fees and other miscellaneous expenses in connection with our secondary offering, which was completed in June 2004.

(3)

Recapitalization expenses include non-interest related expenses incurred in connection with our 2003 recapitalization. See Note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements for additional information about our 2003 recapitalization.

(4)

Amounts for fiscal 2002 include accrual in connection with the first installment payment of $175.0 million ($173.3 million, net of expenses of $1.7 million) as part of an anti-trust settlement. Amounts for fiscal 2003 include the second and final payment of $75.0 million under this settlement. See Note 17 to our consolidated financial statements.

(5)

Amounts for fiscal 2003 include an aggregate of $16.3 million in expense for the redemption premium and consent fee paid in connection with the redemption of our previously-existing 9⁵/8% senior subordinated notes combined with the write off of unamortized loan issuance costs associated with the previously-existing senior credit facility. Amounts for fiscal 2004 include an aggregate of $11.7 million in expense incurred in connection with our offerings, including bond call premiums totaling $7.7 million incurred in connection with the redemption of $107.2 million of our outstanding senior subordinated notes and $4.0 million of loan issuance costs that we wrote off related to the retirement of debt.

(6)

Due to their antidilutive effect, 2,990 and 7,522 dilutive potential common shares from preferred stock conversion have been excluded from the diluted weighted average shares calculation for the year ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

(7)

Total debt equals current and long-term debt, capital lease obligations and our asset/liability associated with interest rate swaps.

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

General

        Kinetic Concepts, Inc. is a global medical technology company with leadership positions in advanced wound care and therapeutic surfaces. We design, manufacture, market and service a wide range of proprietary products that can significantly improve clinical outcomes while reducing the overall cost of patient care. Our advanced wound care systems incorporate our proprietary V.A.C. technology, which has been clinically demonstrated to promote wound healing and to reduce the cost of treating patients with difficult-to-treat wounds. Our therapeutic surfaces, including specialty hospital beds, mattress replacement systems and overlays, are designed to address complications associated with immobility and obesity, such as pressure sores and pneumonia.

        We have direct operations in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, Singapore and South Africa, and we conduct additional business through distributors in Latin America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia. We manage our business in two geographical segments, USA and International. The United States accounted for 75.0% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2004.

        We derive our revenue from both rental and sale of our products. We generally rent our V.A.C. systems and therapeutic surfaces and sell the related disposable products. In the U.S. acute and extended care settings, which accounted for more than half of our U.S. revenue in 2004, we directly bill our customers, such as hospitals and extended care facilities. In the U.S. home care setting, where our revenue comes predominantly from V.A.C. systems, we provide products and services directly to patients and we directly bill third-party payers, such as Medicare and private insurance. Internationally, most of our revenue is generated from the acute care setting. Home care represents a minor part of international V.A.C. revenue, although it has been growing as more payers approve home care reimbursement.

        Since the fourth quarter of 2000, our growth has been driven primarily by increased revenue from V.A.C. system rentals and sales, which accounted for approximately 70.4% of total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2004, up from 63.1% in 2003. In the past, we have experienced a seasonal slowing of V.A.C. revenue growth beginning in December and lasting through January, which we believe is caused by year-end clinical treatment patterns, such as the postponement of elective surgeries, and increased discharges of individuals from the acute care setting around the holidays.

        For the year ended December 31, 2004, the home care market accounted for 43.3% of total V.A.C. revenue and 30.5% of our total revenue. We believe that the key factors underlying V.A.C. growth over the past year have been:

•

Improved V.A.C. acceptance among customers and physicians, both in terms of the number of users and the extent of use by each customer or physician.



•

Market expansion by adding new wound type indications for V.A.C. use and increasing the percentage of wounds that are considered good candidates for V.A.C. therapy. Recent advances include the use of V.A.C. in open abdominal wounds, dehisced sternal wounds, infected wounds and for the instillation of wound treatment fluids.



•

Strengthened contractual relationships with third-party payers. We increased the number of reported lives covered with private and governmental organizations from fewer than 20 million in mid-2000 to over 200 million as of December 31, 2004.

        Over the last three years, we have focused our marketing and selling efforts on increasing physician awareness of the benefits of V.A.C. therapy. These efforts are targeted at physician specialties

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that provide care to the majority of patients with wounds in our target categories. Within these specialties, we focus on those clinicians who serve the largest number of wound care patients. Over time, we have added new specialties as awareness in our initial priority groups begin to approach appropriate levels. In order to meet our goals of increasing physician awareness, we have increased our sales force substantially from approximately 990 at December 31, 2002 to 1,485 at December 31, 2004, of which 290 were added in 2004.

        Continuous enhancements in product portfolio and positioning are also important to our continued growth and market penetration. In 2003 and 2004, we benefited from the continuing rollout of the V.A.C.^ATS and the V.A.C. Freedom, which began in late 2002. We believe these advanced technology systems have increased customer acceptance and the perceived value of V.A.C. therapy. We have also benefited from the introduction of four new dressing systems designed to improve ease-of-use and effectiveness in treating pressure ulcers and serious abdominal wounds.

        At the same time, ongoing clinical experience and studies have increased the market acceptance of V.A.C. and expanded the range of wounds considered to be good candidates for V.A.C. therapy. We believe this growing base of data and clinical experience has driven the trend toward use of the V.A.C. on a routine basis for appropriate wounds.

        Our other major product line, therapeutic surfaces, has been a stable line of business for the last three years. Therapeutic surfaces revenue accounted for approximately $293.6 million in revenue in 2004, up from $282.0 million in 2003.

Results of Operations

Year ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Year ended December 31, 2003

        The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage relationship of each item to total revenue as compared to the same period of the prior year:

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        The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the amount of revenue derived from each of our geographical segments, USA and International (in thousands):

        For additional discussion on segment and geographical information, see Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements.

        Total Revenue.    Total revenue for 2004 was $992.6 million, an increase of $228.8 million, or 30.0%, from the prior year. The growth in total revenue was primarily due to the increased rental and sales volumes for V.A.C. wound healing devices and related disposables. V.A.C. revenue in 2004 was $699.0 million, an increase of $217.2 million, or 45.1%, from the prior year. The growth in V.A.C. revenue was attributable to the increased worldwide availability of the V.A.C.^ATS and V.A.C. Freedom, increased physician awareness of the benefits of V.A.C. therapy and increased product adoption across wound types. In 2004, worldwide V.A.C. revenue from the combined acute and extended care settings grew 46.4%, and V.A.C. revenue from the home care setting grew 43.4% as compared to the prior year. Foreign currency exchange movements accounted for 2.9% of the year-over- year increase in total revenue.

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Domestic Revenue.

        Total domestic revenue was $744.3 million for 2004, representing an increase of 28.4% as compared to the prior year. Total domestic V.A.C. revenue was $562.6 million for 2004, representing an increase of 40.7% as compared to the prior year. Domestic V.A.C. rental revenue of $417.0 million for 2004 increased $105.3 million, or 33.8%, due to a 39.6% increase in average units on rent as compared to the prior year. The unit increase was partially offset by a decline in the average V.A.C. rental pricing during 2004, due in part to the continued shift away from all-inclusive pricing for managed care organizations, which resulted in revenue movement from the rental classification to the sales classification. Additionally, revenue reserves were established against current period revenue related to expected future billing adjustments and estimated write-offs of uncollectible patient receivables after their third-party payer has settled the primary portion of the claim. Domestic V.A.C. sales revenue of $145.6 million in 2004 increased $57.4 million, or 65.1% from the prior year. This was due to higher sales volumes for V.A.C. disposables associated with V.A.C. system rentals, improved price realization from increased sales of our higher therapy disposables and a shift in pricing methodology for managed care organizations away from all-inclusive pricing.

        Historically, V.A.C. revenue growth has been somewhat seasonal with a slowdown in V.A.C. rentals beginning in December and lasting through January, which we believe is caused by year-end clinical treatment patterns. In this regard, we experienced a seasonal slowing of our growth of V.A.C. revenue in December 2004. We believe that the seasonal slowdown was further impacted by substantial increases in our sales force during the fourth quarter of 2004, which had a negative impact on productivity in the period. We do not know if this recent experience will prove to be indicative of future periods.

        Domestic therapeutic surfaces/other revenue was $181.7 million for 2004, an increase of 0.9% over the prior year. For 2004, domestic therapeutic surfaces rental revenue of $151.9 million increased 2.0%, as compared to the prior year, primarily due to a 3.0% average daily rental price increase resulting from favorable product mix changes, partially offset by a 1.2% decrease in the average number of units on rent as compared to the prior year.

International Revenue.

        Total international revenue was $248.3 million for 2004, representing an increase of 35.0% from the prior year as a result of increased V.A.C. demand, higher therapeutic surface rental revenue and favorable foreign currency exchange movements. Favorable foreign currency exchange movements accounted for 12.2% of the year-over-year increase in 2004.

        Total international V.A.C. revenue was $136.4 million in 2004, representing an increase of 66.4% from the prior year. Foreign currency exchange movements favorably impacted international V.A.C. revenue and accounted for 15.7% of the year-over-year increase from the prior year. International V.A.C. rental revenue of $68.5 million for 2004 increased $27.2 million, or 65.7%, due to a 45.1% increase in average units on rent per month together with a 4.2% increase in average rental price due to favorable product mix changes. International V.A.C. sales revenue of $67.9 million in 2004 increased $27.3 million, or 67.1%, from the prior year due to increased overall sales of V.A.C. disposables and increased price realization from the sale of higher therapy disposables.

        International therapeutic surfaces/other revenue was $112.0 million for 2004, representing an increase of 9.8% from the prior year. Foreign currency exchange movements favorably impacted international therapeutic surfaces/other revenue accounting for 9.4% of the year-over-year increase. The remaining increase was primarily due to a 14.5% increase in the average number of therapeutic surface rental units on rent for 2004 compared to the prior year, offset by a 11.8% decline in average rental pricing during 2004. The decline in average rental price resulted from competitive pressures and changes in product mix.

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        Rental Expenses.    Rental, or "field", expenses are comprised of both fixed and variable costs. Field expenses, as a percentage of total rental revenue, were 62.9% in 2004 as compared to 61.1% in the prior year. This increase was due to the impact of foreign currency exchange movements on field costs associated with our international business and our increasing investment in product marketing, which was partially offset by efficiencies recognized in our service model.

        Cost of Goods Sold.    Cost of goods sold were $70.8 million in 2004, representing an increase of 10.4% over the prior year. Sales margins in 2004 increased to 73.4% as compared to 64.6% in the prior year. The increased margins were due to favorable product mix changes, continued cost reductions resulting from our global supply contract for V.A.C. disposables and the shift away from all-inclusive pricing arrangements with managed care organizations.

        Gross Profit.    Gross profit was $464.6 million in 2004, representing an increase of 35.2% over the prior year due primarily to revenue increases. Gross profit margin in 2004 was 46.8%, up from 45.0% in the prior year. Sales productivity gains, continued cost reductions resulting from our global supply contract for V.A.C. disposables, improved service efficiency and favorable product mix changes contributed to the margin expansion.

        Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    Selling, general and administrative expenses represented 22.5% of total revenue in 2004, comparable to 22.3% in the prior year as expenses increased in proportion to revenue. Selling, general and administrative expenses include administrative labor and incentive compensation costs, product licensing expense, insurance costs, professional fees, depreciation and bad debt expense and finance and information systems costs. We plan to adopt SFAS 123 Revised "Share-Based Payment" on July 1, 2005 and expect to incur compensation expense in future periods related to our stock options and ESPP as a result.

        Research and Development Expenses.    Research and development expenses in 2004 increased 35.9% to $31.3 million and represented 3.2% of total revenue as compared to 3.0% in the prior year. The increase in research and development expenses is due to our investments in new advanced wound healing systems and dressings, new technologies in wound healing and tissue repair, new applications of V.A.C. technology and the commercialization of the RotoProne. We anticipate our rate of spending on research and development will increase in future periods.

        Public Equity Offering Expenses.    In 2004, we paid bonuses of $19.3 million, including related payroll taxes, and approximately $562,000 of professional fees and other miscellaneous expenses in connection with our initial public offering. In addition, we incurred $2.2 million in professional fees and other miscellaneous expenses in connection with our secondary offering, which was completed in June 2004.

        Recapitalization Expenses.    During the third quarter of 2003, we recognized $70.1 million in fees and expenses, excluding $16.3 million charged to interest expense, resulting from the transactions associated with our 2003 debt recapitalization.

        Litigation Settlement.    In December 2003, we received the second and final payment due under the 2002 anti-trust settlement which resulted in a pretax gain of $75.0 million in our 2003 results of operations.

        Operating Earnings.    Operating earnings for 2004, including expenses related to our stock offerings in 2004 and recapitalization and litigation settlement in 2003, increased 21.2% and operating margins decreased to 18.9% from 20.3% in the prior year. Operating margins were unfavorably impacted by the expenses incurred in connection with our stock offerings in 2004 and our recapitalization in 2003, partially offset by the positive impact of the litigation settlement in 2003.

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        Interest Expense.    Interest expense in 2004 was $44.6 million compared to $52.1 million, including $16.3 million related to our recapitalization, in the prior year. Interest expense for 2004 included payments of bond call and purchase premiums of $7.7 million associated with the redemption of a portion of our outstanding 7³/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 and the write-off of $5.5 million of loan issuance costs on debt retired. The remaining variance of $4.4 million in interest expense resulted from a decrease in our average interest rate, partially offset by an increase in our average outstanding debt balance for 2004.

        Net Earnings.    Net earnings for 2004, including after-tax expenses of $21.8 million related to our stock offerings and debt prepayments, were $96.5 million, an increase of $26.8 million, or 38.5%, from the prior year. The effective tax rate for 2004 was 35.5% compared to 37.5% for 2003. The income tax rate reduction is primarily attributable to a higher proportion of taxable income in lower tax jurisdictions.

        Net Earnings per Share Available to Common Shareholders.    Diluted net earnings per share available to common shareholders was $0.45 in 2004 compared to a net earnings per diluted share of $0.93 per share in the prior year.

Year ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Year ended December 31, 2002

        The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage relationship of each item to total revenue as well as the change in each line item as compared to the prior year:

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        Total Revenue.    Total revenue in 2003 increased $183.4 million, or 31.6%, from the prior year period due primarily to increased rental and sales volumes for V.A.C. systems and related disposables resulting from increased market penetration and product awareness. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the amount of revenue derived from each of our geographical segments (dollars in thousands):

Domestic Revenue

        Total domestic revenue for 2003 increased $130.7 million, or 29.1%, from the prior year due directly to increased usage of V.A.C. systems. Total domestic V.A.C. revenue increased $130.7 million, or 48.6%, from the prior year. V.A.C. rental revenue increased by $95.9 million, or 44.5%, due to a 48.9% increase in average units on rent per month for the year as compared to the prior year due to the introduction of two new systems, the V.A.C.^ATS and V.A.C Freedom, which was partially offset by a 2.9% decline in average rental price. The decline in average rental price was due to a shift in revenue from the rental classification to the sales classification as discussed in the next paragraph which was partially offset by an increase in price related to the two new V.A.C. systems.

        Domestic V.A.C. sales revenue increased in 2003 by $34.8 million, or 65.0%, from the prior year due primarily to increased sales volume for V.A.C. disposables associated with increased V.A.C. system rentals, together with the positive effect of a shift in pricing methodology for managed care

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organizations. Some managed care organizations pay an all-inclusive daily rate, which covers the rental of V.A.C. systems and all needed disposables during the rental period. Revenue associated with all-inclusive pricing is included in rental revenue. The cost of V.A.C. disposables, whether purchased through all-inclusive pricing or by itemized sale, is included in cost of goods sold.

        Domestic therapeutic surfaces/other revenue of $180.0 million for 2003 was essentially unchanged from the prior year due to an increase of $2.4 million in therapeutic surfaces revenue, which was offset by a decrease of $2.4 million in vascular compression therapy and other revenue. Therapeutic surfaces sales revenue increased 18.0% due primarily to a change in our product mix, while therapeutic surfaces rental revenue for 2003 decreased due primarily to a 5.7% decrease in the average number of units on rent per month as compared to the prior year, partially offset by a 5.2% price increase resulting from changes in our product mix. The change in our product mix resulted from increased demand for our bariatric products, and our other high-therapy products, where fewer competitive alternatives exist. We also experienced a reduction in the rental of our lower-therapy products due to competitive pricing pressures and a market trend toward capital purchases for these products, which was demonstrated by our increase in sales revenue. The additional revenue from the rental of our high-therapy products and the sale of our lower-therapy products has offset the impact of the competitive pricing pressures in the rental market for our lower-therapy products.

International Revenue

        Total international revenue for 2003 increased $52.7 million, or 40.2%, from the prior year due to an increase in rental and sales revenue from our V.A.C. systems and rental revenue from therapeutic surfaces, together with foreign currency exchange movements. V.A.C. revenue in 2003 increased $37.7 million, or 85.2%, from the prior year. V.A.C. rental revenue increased in 2003 by $20.1 million, or 94.9%, due to a 53.4% increase in average units on rent per month, together with a 10.1% increase in average rental price. V.A.C. sales revenue increased in 2003 by $17.6 million, or 76.2%, from the prior year due to increased sales volume for V.A.C. disposables associated with increased V.A.C. system rentals.

        International therapeutic surfaces/other revenue of $102.0 million for 2003 increased $15.0 million, or 17.3%, from the prior year due primarily to a 7.3% increase in the average number of therapeutic surface rental units on rent, together with foreign currency exchange movements, partially offset by a 1.8% decline in average rental pricing during the period. The increase in the average number of units on rent is due to increased market penetration and product awareness in the countries where we do business.

        Rental Expenses.    Rental, or "field," expenses of $356.1 million for 2003 increased $79.6 million, or 28.8%, including the effect of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, from $276.5 million in the prior year. Rental expenses are comprised of both fixed and variable costs. Field expenses for 2003 represented 61.1% of total rental revenue, comparable to 61.0% in 2002 as expenses increased in proportion to revenue.

        Cost of Goods Sold.    Cost of goods sold of $64.1 million in 2003 increased $12.3 million, or 23.7%, from $51.8 million in the prior year due to increased sales of V.A.C. disposables, foreign currency exchange rate variances and higher excess and obsolescence inventory reserve provisions related to therapeutic surface products with low demand. Sales margins increased to 64.6% in 2003 compared to 59.3% in the prior year due to the shift away from all-inclusive pricing arrangements discussed above and cost reductions resulting from favorable purchase pricing in our new global supply contract for V.A.C. disposables.

        Gross Profit.    Gross profit in 2003 increased approximately $91.5 million, or 36.3%, to $343.6 million from $252.1 million in the prior year due primarily to the year-to-year increase in revenue. Gross profit margin in 2003 was 45.0%, up from 43.4% in the prior year.

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        Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $50.9 million, or 35.7%, to $193.7 million in 2003 from $142.7 million in the prior year. As a percentage of total revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 25.4% in 2003 as compared to 24.6% in 2002. The percentage increase was primarily due to higher administrative costs associated with our national call center and billing and collections department.

        Research and Development Expenses.    Research and development expenses in 2003, including clinical studies, increased 22.9% over the prior year to $23.0 million and represented 3.0% of total revenue.

        Recapitalization Expenses.    During 2003, we incurred $70.1 million in fees and expenses, along with $16.3 million charged to interest expense, resulting from the recapitalization completed in the third quarter. (See Note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.)

        Litigation Settlement.    In December 2003, we received the second and final payment of $75.0 million due under the 2002 anti-trust lawsuit settlement which resulted in a gain in our 2003 results of operations. (See Note 17 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.)

        Operating Earnings.    Operating earnings for 2003 decreased $127.8 million, or 45.2%, to $154.9 million compared to $282.7 million in the prior year due primarily to recapitalization expenses of $70.1 million recorded in 2003 and the change in litigation settlement proceeds recorded in the fourth quarters of 2002 and 2003, of $173.5 million and $75.0 million, respectively. Operating margins were favorably impacted by the litigation settlements in 2003 and 2002 and unfavorably impacted by recapitalization expenses in 2003.

        Interest Expense.    Interest expense in 2003 was $52.1 million compared to $40.9 million in the prior year. This increase is due primarily to expenses related to the 2003 recapitalization, such as the write-off of debt issuance costs on retired debt, which we have accounted for as interest expense. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in interest expense due to the partial paydown on our previously existing senior credit facility resulting from the $175.0 million anti-trust settlement payment received in January 2003 and lower interest rates on our senior credit facility and our senior subordinated notes. See Notes 3 and 6 to our consolidated financial statements.

        Net Earnings.    Net earnings of $69.6 million for 2003 decreased $80.5 million, or 53.6%, from the prior year due primarily to the recapitalization expenses and the year-over-year change in the litigation settlement proceeds recorded in the fourth quarters of 2003 and 2002. Effective tax rates for 2003 and 2002 were 37.5% and 39.0%, respectively. Our worldwide effective tax rate decreased from 2002 to 2003 primarily as a result of the implementation of a more tax efficient foreign structure.

        Earnings per Share Available to Common Shareholders.    For 2003, diluted earnings per share available to common shareholders was $0.93 compared to $1.93 for the prior year due primarily to the recapitalization expenses and the year-over-year change in the litigation settlement proceeds.

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Non-GAAP Financial Information

        Supplementally, we have presented income statement items on a non-GAAP basis to exclude the impact of income and expenses and the acceleration of the in-kind preferred stock dividends incurred as a result of the 2004 stock offerings and debt prepayments, the 2003 and 2002 anti-trust litigation settlement gain and the 2003 leveraged recapitalization. These non-GAAP financial measures do not replace the presentation of our GAAP financial results. We have provided this supplemental non-GAAP information because it may provide meaningful information regarding our results on a basis that better facilitates comparisons between the periods presented. Management uses this non-GAAP financial information, along with GAAP information, for reviewing the operating results of its business segments and for analyzing potential future business trends. In addition, we believe some investors may use this information in a similar fashion. A reconciliation of our GAAP income statement for the periods presented to the non-GAAP financial information and a discussion of our results on a comparable basis is provided below.

Year ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Year ended December 31, 2003 (Excluding Impact of 2004 Stock Offerings and Debt Prepayments and 2003 Anti-trust Litigation Settlement and Recapitalization)

        On a comparable basis, operating earnings for the year ended December 31, 2004 increased $59.8 million, or 39.9%, to $209.8 million compared to $150.0 million for the prior year. Operating margins for 2004 on a comparable basis were 21.1% compared to 19.6% in the prior year. Interest expense was $32.9 million for 2004 compared to $35.8 million in the prior year. Net earnings for 2004 increased $41.5 million, or 54.0%, to $118.3 million compared to $76.8 million in the prior year. Net earnings per diluted share were $1.67 in 2004 compared to $1.04 for 2003, an increase of 60.6% from the prior year.

Year ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Year ended December 31, 2002 (Excluding Impact of 2003 and 2002 Anti-trust Litigation Settlements and Recapitalization)

        Operating earnings for the year ended December 31, 2003 increased $40.6 million, or 37.1%, to $150.0 million compared to $109.4 million for the prior year. Operating margins for 2003 were 19.6% compared to 18.9% in the prior year. Interest expense was $35.8 million for 2003 compared to $40.9 million in the prior year. Net earnings for 2003 increased approximately $33.1 million, or 75.5%, to $76.8 million compared to $43.7 million in the prior year. Diluted net earnings per share were $1.04 in 2003 compared to $0.56 for 2002, an increase of 85.7% from the prior year.

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Reconciliation of Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings(1)
For the Year ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)