2002 Management’s Financial Review

 
 


Cautionary Statement for Purpose of the “Safe Harbor” Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Our disclosure and analysis in this report contains forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties. From time to time, we may also provide oral or written forward-looking statements in other materials we release to the public. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of possible future results or events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. We often use words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “believe” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance.

Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following:

  • the sensitivity of the industry to weather conditions
  • the intense competition and low barriers to entry in the industry
  • the sensitivity of the industry to general economic and market conditions
  • our ability to:
  • penetrate new markets
  • identify appropriate acquisition candidates, complete acquisitions on satisfactory terms and successfully integrate acquired businesses
  • obtain financing on satisfactory terms
  • generate sufficient cash flows to support expansion plans and for general operating activities
  • maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships
  • remain in compliance with the numerous environmental, health and safety requirements to which we are subject
  • the effectiveness of our advertising, marketing and promotional programs
  • changes in laws and regulations, including changes in accounting standards and taxation requirements (including tax rate changes, new tax laws and revised tax law interpretations)
  • the risk of fire, safety and casualty losses and related liability claims inherent in the storage of chemicals that we sell

 

 

 

 

 

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