United States Court of Appeals For the Seventh Circuit ____________________ Nos. 23-1555 and 23-1556 CHARLES HESS, et al., Plaintiffs-Appellees, Cross-Appellants,

v. BIOMET, INC. and ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC., Defendants-Appellants, Cross-Appellees. ____________________

Appeals from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division. No. 3:16-cv-00208-JD-MGG — Jon E. DeGuilio, Chief Judge. ____________________

ARGUED DECEMBER 4, 2023 — DECIDED JUNE 25, 2024 ____________________

Before ROVNER, SCUDDER, and PRYOR, Circuit Judges. SCUDDER, Circuit Judge. When medical-device manufac- turer Zimmer Biomet was still in its infancy, it signed a gen- erous compensation agreement with six leading sales distributors, guaranteeing them a lifetime of long-term commissions on all sales “made within the subject distribu- torship” after their retirement. The company proceeded to grow exponentially, acquiring half a dozen competitors, expand