Investors Statement of Risks

Investors Statement of Risks

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this document are "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, and financial or other business targets, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. We believe that the most significant risk factors that could affect our financial performance in the near-term include: (i) the impacts to underlying demand for our products and/or foreign currency fluctuations from global economic conditions, political uncertainty, changes in environmental standards and governmental regulations, including as a result of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic; (ii) competitors’ actions, including pricing, expansion in key markets, and product offerings; (iii) the degree to which higher costs can be offset with productivity measures and/or passed on to customers through price increases, without a significant loss of volume; and (iv) the execution and integration of acquisitions.

Actual results and trends may differ materially from historical or anticipated results depending on a variety of factors, including but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the following:

  • COVID-19
  • International Operations – worldwide and local economic and market conditions; changes in political conditions; and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and other risks associated with foreign operations, including in emerging markets.
  • Our Business – changes in our markets due to competitive conditions, technological developments, environmental standards, laws and regulations, and customer preferences; fluctuations in demand affecting sales to customers; execution and integration of acquisitions; selling prices; fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw materials and energy; the impact of competitive products and pricing; customer and supplier concentrations or consolidations; financial condition of distributors; outsourced manufacturers; product and service quality; timely development and market acceptance of new products, including sustainable or sustainably-sourced products; investment in development activities and new production facilities; successful implementation of new manufacturing technologies and installation of manufacturing equipment; our ability to generate sustained productivity improvement; our ability to achieve and sustain targeted cost reductions; and collection of receivables from customers.
  • Income Taxes – fluctuations in tax rates; changes in tax laws and regulations, and uncertainties associated with interpretations of such laws and regulations; retention of tax incentives; outcome of tax audits; and the realization of deferred tax assets.
  • Information Technology – disruptions in information technology systems, including cyber-attacks or other intrusions to network security; successful installation of new or upgraded information technology systems; and data security breaches.
  • Human Capital – recruitment and retention of employees; fluctuations in employee benefit costs; and collective labor arrangements.
  • Our Indebtedness – credit risks; our ability to obtain adequate financing arrangements and maintain access to capital; volatility of financial markets; fluctuations in interest rates; and compliance with our debt covenants.
  • Ownership of Our Stock – potential significant variability of our stock price and amounts of future dividends and share repurchases.
  • Legal and Regulatory Matters – protection and infringement of intellectual property and impact of legal and regulatory proceedings, including with respect to environmental, health and safety, anti-corruption and trade compliance.
  • Other Financial Matters – fluctuations in pension costs and goodwill impairment.

For a more detailed discussion of these factors, see “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 2020 Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2021.

The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document, and we undertake no obligation to update these statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, other than as may be required by law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This presentation contains certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC rules. We report our financial results in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, and also communicate with investors using certain non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, nor are they a substitute for or superior to, the comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are intended to supplement the presentation of our financial results that are prepared in accordance with GAAP. Based upon feedback from investors and financial analysts, we believe that the supplemental non-GAAP financial measures we provide are useful to their assessments of our performance and operating trends, as well as liquidity. In accordance with Regulation G, reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, including limitations associated with these non-GAAP financial measures, are provided in Appendix B of this document.