3.9Contingent assets and liabilities

Lawsuits and disputes

In May 2025, Advanced Bionics (“AB”) fully resolved via settlement all pending litigation with MED-EL Elektronische Geräte GmbH and MED-EL Corporation, US (together, “MED-EL”). Litigation with MED-EL regarding alleged patent infringement had been ongoing since October 2018, starting in United States District Court for the District of Delaware and later spreading to courts in Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Unified Patent Court in Europe, and the United States International Trade Commission, as well as the United States and European Patent and Trademark Offices. The settlement resolved the pending litigation in all jurisdictions worldwide, and also provided a full release to the parties.

Legal costs in the amount of CHF 28.2 million related to patent-litigation fees and settlement are considered in the income statement in line “General and administration”.