h3>Safe Harbor Statement This release contains "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, officers and representatives of ITT may from time to time make and discuss, projections, goals, assumptions, and statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather represent only a belief regarding future events based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections about our business, future financial results, and the industry in which we operate, and other legal, regulatory, and economic developments. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, future strategic plans and other statements that describe the company's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals, and any discussion of future events and future operating or financial performance.
We use words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "target," "future," "may," "will," "could," "should," "potential," "continue," "guidance" and other similar expressions to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are uncertain, and, by their nature, many are inherently unpredictable and outside of ITT's control, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in, or reasonably inferred from, such forward-looking statements.
Where in any forward-looking statement we express an expectation or belief as to future results or events, such expectation or belief is based on current plans and expectations of our management, expressed in good faith, and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will occur or that anticipated results will be achieved or accomplished.
Among the factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties inherent in our business including, without limitation:
- impacts on our business due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including:
- variant strains of the virus, as well as the timing, effectiveness and availability of, and people's receptivity to, vaccines or other medical remedies;
- disruptions to our operations and demand for our products, increased costs, disruption of supply chain and other constraints in the availability of materials and other necessary services;
- government-mandated site closures, employee illness, skilled labor shortages, the impact of potential travel restrictions, stay-in-place restrictions, and vaccination requirements on our business and workforce; and
- customer and supplier bankruptcies, impacts to the global economy and financial markets, and liquidity challenges in accessing capital markets;
- uncertain global economic and capital markets conditions, including those due to COVID-19, trade disputes between the U.S. and its trading partners, actions taken by the current U.S. administration, political and social unrest, and the availability and fluctuations in prices of steel, oil, copper, and other commodities;
- volatility in raw material prices and our suppliers' ability to meet quality and delivery requirements;
- failure to manage the distribution of products and services effectively;
- failure to compete successfully and innovate in our markets;
- failure to protect our intellectual property rights or violations of the intellectual property rights of others;
- the extent to which there are quality problems with respect to manufacturing processes or finished goods;
- the risk of cybersecurity breaches;
- loss of or decrease in sales from our most significant customers;
- risks due to our operations and sales outside the U.S. and in emerging markets;
- fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and the impact of such fluctuations on our hedging arrangements;
- fluctuations in demand or customers' levels of capital investment and maintenance expenditures, especially in the oil and gas, chemical, and mining markets, or changes in our customers' anticipated production schedules, especially in the commercial aerospace market;
- the risk of material business interruptions, particularly at our manufacturing facilities;
- risk of liabilities from past divestitures and spin-offs;
- failure of portfolio management strategies, including cost-saving initiatives, to meet expectations;
- risks related to government contracting, including changes in levels of government spending and regulatory and contractual requirements applicable to sales to the U.S. government, including the impact of COVID vaccine mandates on our ability to continue to participate in federal contracting;
- fluctuations in our effective tax rate, including as a result of possible tax reform legislation in the U.S.;
- changes in environmental laws or regulations, discovery of previously unknown or more extensive contamination, or the failure of a potentially responsible party to perform;
- failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (or other applicable anti-corruption legislation), export controls and trade sanctions, including tariffs;
- risk of product liability claims and litigation; and
- changes in laws relating to the use and transfer of personal and other information.
The forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation (and expressly disclaim any obligation) to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral or as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.