Heritage Gartner Total Contract Value up 16% YoY FX Neutral
Heritage Gartner Fourth Quarter Revenue up 15% YoY and 13% YoY FX Neutral
Consolidated Results Highlights
Our consolidated and segment results below for the three and twelve months ended
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Act") was signed into law on
For fourth quarter 2017 total revenue was
For the twelve months ended
Segment Results Highlights
Research
Revenue for fourth quarter 2017 was
Heritage
Consulting
Revenue for fourth quarter 2017 was
Events
Revenue for fourth quarter 2017 was
Talent Assessment & Other
Revenue for fourth quarter 2017 was
Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Highlights
The Company generated
Financial Outlook for 2018
The table below provides the Company's preliminary financial outlook for full year 2018:
($ in millions, except per share data) (1) | |||||||||||
2018 Projected Range (2) | |||||||||||
Revenue: | |||||||||||
Research | $ | 3,095 | — | $ | 3,145 | ||||||
Consulting | 340 | — | 355 | ||||||||
Events | 380 | — | 400 | ||||||||
Talent Assessment & Other | 280 | — | 300 | ||||||||
Total Revenue (GAAP) | 4,095 | — | 4,200 | ||||||||
Deferred revenue fair value adjustment | 10 | — | 10 | ||||||||
Total Adjusted Revenue (Non-GAAP) | $ | 4,105 | — | $ | 4,210 | ||||||
Operating income (GAAP) | $ | 301 | $ | 351 | |||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) | 750 | 800 | |||||||||
Diluted EPS (GAAP) | 1.26 | 1.66 | |||||||||
Adjusted EPS (Non-GAAP) | 3.71 | 4.11 | |||||||||
Operating Cash Flow (GAAP) | $ | 460 | $ | 510 | |||||||
Acquisition, integration, and other non-recurring payments | 126 | 126 | |||||||||
Capital Expenditures | (135 | ) | (145 | ) | |||||||
Free Cash Flow (Non-GAAP) | $ | 451 | $ | 491 |
(1) See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for definitions of our Non-GAAP metrics. |
(2) Includes the Talent Assessment business. |
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Certain financial measures used in this Press Release are not defined by generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and as such are considered non-GAAP financial measures. We provide these measures to enhance the user’s overall understanding of the Company’s current financial performance and the Company’s prospects for the future. Investors are cautioned that these Non-GAAP financial measures may not be defined in the same manner by other companies and as a result may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. Also, these Non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as alternatives, or superior, to other measures determined in accordance with GAAP.
The Company's Non-GAAP financial measures are as follows:
Adjusted Revenue: Represents GAAP revenue plus non-cash fair value adjustments on pre-acquisition deferred revenues. The majority of the pre-acquisition deferred revenue is recognized ratably over the remaining period of the underlying revenue contract. We believe Adjusted Revenue is an important measure of our recurring operations as it provides a more accurate period-over-period comparison of trends in revenues.
Adjusted EBITDA: Represents GAAP operating income (loss) excluding stock-based compensation expense; depreciation, amortization, and accretion on excess facilities obligations; amortization of adjustments to pre-acquisition deferred revenues; acquisition and integration charges; and other non-recurring items. We believe Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of our recurring operations as it excludes items not representative of our core operating results.
Adjusted Net Income: Represents GAAP net income adjusted for the impact of certain items directly related to acquisitions and other non-recurring items. These adjustments include the amortization of acquired intangibles; incremental and directly-related acquisition and integration charges related to the achievement of certain performance targets and employment conditions, as well as legal, consulting, severance, and other costs; the amortization of fair value adjustments on pre-acquisition deferred revenues; the non-recurring impact from the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017; and other non-recurring items. We believe Adjusted Net Income is an important measure of our recurring operations as it excludes items not indicative of our core operating results.
Adjusted EPS:Represents Adjusted Net Income divided by the weighted average diluted shares outstanding. We believe Adjusted EPS is an important measure of our recurring operations as it excludes items that may not be indicative of our core operating results.
Free Cash Flow: Represents cash provided by operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP plus payments for acquisition and integration items directly-related to our acquisitions and certain non-recurring items; less payments for capital expenditures. We believe that Free Cash Flow is an important measure of the recurring cash generated by the Company’s core operations that may be available to be used to repay debt obligations, repurchase our stock, invest in future growth through new business development activities, or make acquisitions.
Tables provided in this Press Release provide reconciliations of these Non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
Conference Call Information
About
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained in this press release regarding the Company’s growth and prospects, projected financial results and all other statements in this release other than recitation of historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, estimates, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different.
Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following: our ability to achieve and effectively manage growth, including our ability to integrate our recent acquisitions and consummate and integrate future acquisitions; our ability to pay our debt; our ability to maintain and expand our products and services; our ability to expand or retain our customer base; our ability to grow or sustain revenue from individual customers; our ability to attract and retain a professional staff of research analysts and consultants as well as experienced sales personnel upon whom we are dependent; our ability to achieve continued customer renewals and achieve new contract value, backlog and deferred revenue growth in light of competitive pressures; our ability to carry out our strategic initiatives and manage associated costs; our ability to successfully compete with existing competitors and potential new competitors; our ability to enforce or protect our intellectual property rights; additional risks associated with international operations including foreign currency fluctuations; the impact of restructuring and other charges on our businesses and operations; general economic conditions; risks associated with the creditworthiness and budget cuts of governments and agencies; the impact of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017; and other factors described under “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
Forward-looking statements included herein speak only as of the date hereof and
GARTNER, INC. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations |
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(Unaudited; in thousands, except per share amounts) |
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Three Months Ended December 31, |
Twelve Months Ended December 31, |
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2017 (a) | 2016 | 2017 (a) | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Research (b) | $ | 692,799 | $ | 485,844 | 43 | % | $ | 2,471,280 | $ | 1,857,001 | 33 | % | |||||||||||
Consulting (b) | 85,257 | 81,058 | 5 | % | 327,661 | 318,934 | 3 | % | |||||||||||||||
Events | 166,476 | 136,315 | 22 | % | 337,903 | 268,605 | 26 | % | |||||||||||||||
Talent Assessment & Other | 69,977 | — | 100 | % | 174,650 | — | 100 | % | |||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 1,014,509 | 703,217 | 44 | % | 3,311,494 | 2,444,540 | 35 | % | |||||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of services and product development | 398,378 | 279,063 | 43 | % | 1,320,198 | 945,648 | 40 | % | |||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expense | 465,371 | 289,862 | 61 | % | 1,599,004 | 1,089,184 | 47 | % | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation | 18,260 | 9,782 | 87 | % | 63,897 | 37,172 | 72 | % | |||||||||||||||
Amortization of intangibles | 53,260 | 6,183 | >100% | 176,274 | 24,797 | >100% | |||||||||||||||||
Acquisition and integration charges | 16,346 | 9,640 | 70 | % | 158,450 | 42,598 | >100% | ||||||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 951,615 | 594,530 | 60 | % | 3,317,823 | 2,139,399 | 55 | % | |||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 62,894 | 108,687 | (42 | )% | (6,329 | ) | 305,141 | >(100)% | |||||||||||||||
Interest (expense), net | (36,312 | ) | (5,822 | ) | >(100)% | (124,936 | ) | (25,116 | ) | >(100)% | |||||||||||||
Other income, net | 1,795 | 3,320 | (46 | )% | 3,448 | 8,406 | (59 | )% | |||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes | 28,377 | 106,185 | (73 | )% | (127,817 | ) | 288,431 | >(100)% | |||||||||||||||
(Benefit) provision for income taxes | (78,930 | ) | 39,700 | >(100)% | (131,096 | ) | 94,849 | >(100)% | |||||||||||||||
Net income (c) | $ | 107,307 | $ | 66,485 | 61 | % | $ | 3,279 | $ | 193,582 | >(98)% | ||||||||||||
Net income per share: (c) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 1.18 | $ | 0.80 | 48 | % | $ | 0.04 | $ | 2.34 | (98 | )% | |||||||||||
Diluted | $ | 1.16 | $ | 0.79 | 47 | % | $ | 0.04 | $ | 2.31 | (98 | )% | |||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic | 90,785 | 82,637 | 10 | % | 88,466 | 82,571 | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||
Diluted | 92,152 | 83,939 | 10 | % | 89,790 | 83,820 | 7 | % |
(a) | Includes CEB results beginning on April 5, 2017, the date of acquisition. The Research segment includes the results of CEB's core subscription-based best practice and decision support research activities. Events includes the results of CEB's former Evanta business and destination event activities, while the Talent Assessment & Other segment includes the results of CEB's previously disclosed Talent Assessment business as well as certain CEB non-subscription based talent products and services. | |
(b) | Effective June 30, 2017, the Company began reporting the results of its strategic advisory services ("SAS") business in the Research segment whereas previously the SAS business was reported with Consulting. The impact of the reclassification was not significant, however, prior periods have been updated to conform to the current period presentation. | |
(c) | Net income for both the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 includes a favorable impact of approximately $59.6 million due to the Tax Act. As a result, both basic and diluted earnings per share increased by approximately $0.65 for the three months ended December 31, 2017, and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, both basic and diluted increased by approximately $0.66 per share. | |
BUSINESS SEGMENT DATA |
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(Unaudited; in thousands) |
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Revenue |
Direct |
Gross |
Contribution |
||||||||||||
Three Months Ended 12/31/17 (a), (b) | |||||||||||||||
Research (c) | $ | 692,799 | $ | 227,690 | $ | 465,109 | 67% | ||||||||
Consulting | 85,257 | 63,172 | 22,085 | 26% | |||||||||||
Events | 166,476 | 82,309 | 84,167 | 51% | |||||||||||
Talent Assessment & Other | 69,977 | 28,240 | 41,737 | 60% | |||||||||||
TOTAL | $ | 1,014,509 | $ | 401,411 | $ | 613,098 | 60% | ||||||||
Three Months Ended 12/31/16 (b) | |||||||||||||||
Research | $ | 485,844 | $ | 154,509 | $ | 331,335 | 68% | ||||||||
Consulting | 81,058 | 62,433 | 18,625 | 23% | |||||||||||
Events | 136,315 | 63,234 | 73,081 | 54% | |||||||||||
Talent Assessment & Other | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
TOTAL | $ | 703,217 | $ | 280,176 | $ | 423,041 | 60% | ||||||||
Twelve Months Ended 12/31/17 (a), (b) | |||||||||||||||
Research (c) | $ | 2,471,280 | $ | 818,266 | $ | 1,653,014 | 67% | ||||||||
Consulting | 327,661 | 234,018 | 93,643 | 29% | |||||||||||
Events | 337,903 | 174,423 | 163,480 | 48% | |||||||||||
Talent Assessment & Other | 174,650 | 84,401 | 90,249 | 52% | |||||||||||
TOTAL | $ | 3,311,494 | $ | 1,311,108 | $ | 2,000,386 | 60% | ||||||||
Twelve Months Ended 12/31/16 (b) | |||||||||||||||
Research | $ | 1,857,001 | $ | 571,390 | $ | 1,285,611 | 69% | ||||||||
Consulting | 318,934 | 229,200 | 89,734 | 28% | |||||||||||
Events | 268,605 | 131,950 | 136,655 | 51% | |||||||||||
Talent Assessment & Other | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
TOTAL | $ | 2,444,540 | $ | 932,540 | $ | 1,512,000 | 62% |
(a) | Includes CEB results beginning on April 5, 2017, the date of acquisition. The Research segment includes the results of CEB's core subscription-based best practice and decision support research activities. Events includes the results of CEB's former Evanta business and destination event activities, while the Talent Assessment & Other segment includes the results of CEB's previously disclosed Talent Assessment business as well as certain CEB non-subscription based talent products and services. | |
(b) | Effective June 30, 2017, the Company began reporting the results of its strategic advisory services ("SAS") business in the Research segment whereas previously the SAS business was reported with Consulting. The impact of the reclassification was not significant, however, prior periods have been updated to conform to the current period presentation. | |
(c) | The Research gross contribution margin was 69% for both the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 excluding the deferred revenue fair value adjustment resulting from our recent acquisitions. | |
SELECTED STATISTICAL DATA (unaudited) |
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Heritage Gartner | CEB | ||||||||||||||||
December |
December |
December |
December |
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Research | |||||||||||||||||
Total contract value (a), (b) | $ | 2,213 | $ | 1,930 | $ | 557 | $ | 549 | |||||||||
Client retention | 84 | % | 84 | % | na | na | |||||||||||
Wallet retention | 106 | % | 104 | % | 96 | % | 90 | % | |||||||||
Client enterprises | 11,904 | 11,122 | na | na | |||||||||||||
Consulting | |||||||||||||||||
Backlog (c), (d) | $ | 95,200 | $ | 88,600 | na | na | |||||||||||
Quarterly utilization | 64 | % | 65 | % | na | na | |||||||||||
Quarterly billable headcount | 682 | 628 | na | na | |||||||||||||
Average annualized revenue per billable headcount (c) | $ | 371 | $ | 372 | na | na | |||||||||||
Events | |||||||||||||||||
Number of events for the quarter (e) | 13 | 14 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||
Number of attendees for the quarter (e) | 26,649 | 24,080 | 2,538 | 1,635 |
(a) | In millions. | |
(b) | The 2016 CEB contract value was calculated based on Gartner's 2017 foreign exchange rates. | |
(c) | In thousands. | |
(d) | The December 31, 2016 heritage Gartner consulting backlog was restated to reflect the reclassification of the SAS business. | |
(e) | Excludes single day, local events. | |
na - not applicable or not available. |
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Selected Balance Sheet Data (Unaudited; in thousands): |
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December 31, | ||||||||
2017 (a) | 2016 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 538,908 | $ | 474,233 | ||||
Fees receivable, net | 1,176,843 | 643,013 | ||||||
Total assets | 7,283,173 | 2,367,335 | ||||||
Deferred revenues | 1,630,198 | 989,478 | ||||||
Total current and long-term debt (b) | 3,278,845 | 694,391 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 6,299,708 | 2,306,457 | ||||||
Total stockholders’ equity | $ | 983,465 | $ | 60,878 |
(a) | Certain accounts exclude held-for-sale balances. | |
(b) | Net of deferred financing fees. | |
Selected Cash Flow Data (Unaudited; in thousands): |
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Twelve Months Ended |
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2017 | 2016 | ||||||||
Cash provided by operating activities | $ | 254,517 | $ | 365,632 | |||||
Cash paid for capital expenditures | (110,765 | ) | (49,863 | ) | |||||
Cash paid for treasury stock | (41,273 | ) | (58,961 | ) | |||||
Cash paid for acquisitions, net | (2,634,809 | ) | (34,186 | ) | |||||
Cash paid for acquisition, integration, and other non-recurring items | (120,874 | ) | (31,431 | ) | |||||
Cash receipts (payments) on debt and debt fees, net | $ | 2,569,391 | $ | (124,975 | ) | ||||
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The following tables provide reconciliations of certain Non-GAAP financial measures used in this Press Release with the most directly comparable GAAP measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" above for definitions of these Non-GAAP financial measures.
Reconciliation - GAAP Revenue to Adjusted Revenue (Unaudited; in thousands): |
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Three Months Ended |
Twelve Months Ended |
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2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||
GAAP total revenue | $ | 1,014,509 | $ | 703,217 | $ | 3,311,494 | $ | 2,444,540 | ||||||||
Deferred revenue fair value adjustment (a) | 50,085 | — | 205,425 | — | ||||||||||||
Adjusted Revenue | $ | 1,064,594 | $ | 703,217 | $ | 3,516,919 | $ | 2,444,540 |
(a) | The majority of the pre-acquisition deferred revenue is recognized ratably over the remaining period of the underlying revenue contract. | |
Reconciliation - Operating Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited; in thousands): |
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Three Months Ended December 31, |
Twelve Months Ended December 31, |
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2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||
GAAP net income | $ | 107,307 | $ | 66,485 | $ | 3,279 | $ | 193,582 | |||||||||
Interest expense, net | 36,312 | 5,822 | 124,936 | 25,116 | |||||||||||||
Other income, net | (1,795 | ) | (3,320 | ) | (3,448 | ) | (8,406 | ) | |||||||||
Tax (benefit) provision | (78,930 | ) | 39,700 | (131,096 | ) | 94,849 | |||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 62,894 | 108,687 | (6,329 | ) | 305,141 | ||||||||||||
Adjustments: | |||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense (a) | 8,972 | 10,533 | 61,303 | 46,661 | |||||||||||||
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization (b) | 71,802 | 15,986 | 240,900 | 62,057 | |||||||||||||
Amortization of pre-acquisition deferred revenues (c) | 50,085 | — | 205,425 | — | |||||||||||||
Acquisition & integration charges and other non-recurring items (d) | 27,173 | 9,899 | 159,680 | 43,285 | |||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 220,926 | $ | 145,105 | $ | 660,979 | $ | 457,144 |
(a) | Consists of charges for stock-based compensation awards. | |
(b) | Includes depreciation expense, accretion on excess facilities obligations, and amortization of intangibles. | |
(c) | Consists of the amortization of non-cash fair value adjustments on pre-acquisition deferred revenues. The majority of the pre-acquisition deferred revenue is recognized ratably over the remaining period of the underlying revenue contract. | |
(d) | Consists of incremental and directly-related charges from acquisitions and other non-recurring items. | |
Reconciliation - GAAP Net Income to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS (Unaudited; in thousands, except per share amounts): |
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Three Months Ended |
Twelve Months Ended |
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2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||
GAAP net income | $ | 107,307 | $ | 66,485 | $ | 3,279 | $ | 193,582 | |||||||||
Acquisition and other adjustments: | |||||||||||||||||
Amortization of acquired intangibles (a) | 53,260 | 6,089 | 175,992 | 24,421 | |||||||||||||
Amortization of pre-acquisition deferred revenues (b) | 50,085 | — | 205,425 | — | |||||||||||||
Acquisition & integration charges and other non-recurring items (c), (d) | 29,034 | 9,899 | 174,310 | 43,285 | |||||||||||||
Impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (e) | (59,599 | ) | — | (59,599 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Tax impact of adjustments (f) | (72,044 | ) | (1,258 | ) | (201,773 | ) | (13,090 | ) | |||||||||
Adjusted net income | $ | 108,043 | $ | 81,215 | $ | 297,634 | $ | 248,198 | |||||||||
Diluted shares | 92,152 | 83,939 | 89,790 | 83,820 | |||||||||||||
Adjusted EPS (g) | $ | 1.17 | $ | 0.97 | $ | 3.31 | $ | 2.96 |
(a) | Consists of non-cash amortization charges from acquired intangibles. | |
(b) | Consists of the amortization of non-cash fair value adjustments on pre-acquisition deferred revenues. The majority of the pre-acquisition deferred revenue is recognized ratably over the remaining period of the underlying revenue contract. | |
(c) | Consists of incremental and directly-related charges related to acquisitions and other non-recurring items. | |
(d) | Includes the amortization and write-off of deferred financing fees for both the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, which is recorded in Interest expense, net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and in the Adjusted EBITDA table presented above. | |
(e) | Consists of the provisional, non-recurring net income tax benefit from the reduction of certain deferred tax liabilities and the repatriation tax on foreign earnings resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. | |
(f) | The effective tax rate was 54% and 36% for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, and 8% and 19% for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016, respectively. | |
(g) | Calculated by dividing Adjusted net income by the weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the respective period. | |
Reconciliation - GAAP Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow (a) (Unaudited; in thousands): |
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Three Months Ended December 31, |
Twelve Months Ended December 31, |
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2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||
GAAP cash provided by operating activities | $ | 22,250 | $ | 83,369 | $ | 254,517 | $ | 365,632 | |||||||||
Adjustments: | |||||||||||||||||
Plus: cash paid for acquisition, integration, and other non-recurring items | 27,270 | 6,575 | 120,874 | 31,431 | |||||||||||||
Less: cash paid for capital expenditures | (35,146 | ) | (12,986 | ) | (110,765 | ) | (49,863 | ) | |||||||||
Free Cash Flow | $ | 14,374 | $ | 76,958 | $ | 264,626 | $ | 347,200 | |||||||||
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180206005395/en/
Source:
Gartner
David Cohen, +1 203-316-6631
GVP, Investor Relations
investor.relations@gartner.com
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Gartner's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.