SWT Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

Risks

• Changes in customer preferences, the inability to maintain mutually beneficial relationships with large customers, inventory reductions by customers, and the inability to penetrate new channels of distribution could adversely affect the Company’s business.
• The Company faces active global competition and if it does not compete effectively, its business may suffer.
• Customer consolidation could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.
• Low demand for new products and the inability to develop and introduce new products at favorable margins could adversely impact the Company’s performance and prospects for future growth.
• The Company’s brands are important assets of its businesses and violation of its trademark rights by imitators, or the failure of its licensees or vendors to comply with the Company’s product quality, manufacturing requirements, marketing standards, and other requirements could negatively impact revenues and brand reputation. Any inability to protect the Company's other intellectual property rights could also reduce the value of its products and services or diminish its competitiveness.
• The pace of technological change continues to accelerate and the Company's ability to react effectively to such change may present significant competitive risks.
• The Company has significant operations outside of the United States, which are subject to political, legal, economic and other risks arising from operating outside of the United States.
• The Company’s business is subject to risks associated with sourcing and manufacturing overseas.
• The Company’s success depends on its ability to improve productivity and streamline operations to control or reduce costs.
• The Company is exposed to risks related to cybersecurity.
• The performance of the Company may suffer from business disruptions or other costs associated with information technology, system implementations, or catastrophic losses affecting distribution centers and other infrastructure.
• The Company’s results of operations could be negatively impacted by inflationary or deflationary economic conditions which could affect the ability to obtain raw materials, component parts, freight, energy, labor and sourced finished goods in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Uncertainty about the financial stability of economies outside the U.S. could have a significant adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
• Continuing uncertainty associated with Brexit could adversely affect the Company’s business.
• The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates which could negatively impact profitability.
• The Company has incurred, and may incur in the future, significant indebtedness, and may in the future issue additional equity securities, in connection with mergers or acquisitions which may impact the manner in which it conducts business or the Company’s access to external sources of liquidity. The potential issuance of such securities may limit the Company’s ability to implement elements of its growth strategy and may have a dilutive effect on earnings.
• The Company is exposed to counterparty risk in its hedging arrangements.
• Tight capital and credit markets or the failure to maintain credit ratings could adversely affect the Company by limiting the Company’s ability to borrow or otherwise access liquidity.
• The Company’s acquisitions, as well as general business reorganizations, may result in significant costs and certain risks for its business and operations.
• Expansion of the Company's activity in emerging markets may result in risks due to differences in business practices and cultures.
• Significant judgment and certain estimates are required in determining the Company’s worldwide provision for income taxes. Future tax law changes and audit results may materially increase the Company’s prospective income tax expense.
• The Company’s failure to continue to successfully avoid, manage, defend, litigate and accrue for claims and litigation could negatively impact its results of operations or cash flows.
• The Company’s products could be recalled.
• The Company is exposed to credit risk on its accounts receivable.
• If the Company were required to write-down all or part of its goodwill, indefinite-lived trade names, or other definite-lived intangible assets, its net income and net worth could be materially adversely affected.
• If the investments in employee benefit plans do not perform as expected, the Company may have to contribute additional amounts to these plans, which would otherwise be available to cover operating expenses or other business purposes.