• ensuring they are not adversely affected by the rules applying to «spare room subsidy» and the benefits cap, which currently works against potential family and friends carers taking on sibling groups; and • ensuring that all family and friends care households are exempt from the limiting of child tax credit to two children and are not penalised by
changes to pension credit.
Poor pensioners were also hit by
changes to pension credits, which will save the Treasury # 330m by 2014.
Not exact matches
Important factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those reflected in such forward - looking statements and that should be considered in evaluating our outlook include, but are not limited
to, the following: 1) our ability
to continue
to grow our business and execute our growth strategy, including the timing, execution, and profitability of new and maturing programs; 2) our ability
to perform our obligations under our new and maturing commercial, business aircraft, and military development programs, and the related recurring production; 3) our ability
to accurately estimate and manage performance, cost, and revenue under our contracts, including our ability
to achieve certain cost reductions with respect
to the B787 program; 4) margin pressures and the potential for additional forward losses on new and maturing programs; 5) our ability
to accommodate, and the cost of accommodating, announced increases in the build rates of certain aircraft; 6) the effect on aircraft demand and build rates of
changing customer preferences for business aircraft, including the effect of global economic conditions on the business aircraft market and expanding conflicts or political unrest in the Middle East or Asia; 7) customer cancellations or deferrals as a result of global economic uncertainty or otherwise; 8) the effect of economic conditions in the industries and markets in which we operate in the U.S. and globally and any
changes therein, including fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; 9) the success and timely execution of key milestones such as the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, including our ability
to obtain in a timely fashion any required regulatory or other third party approvals for the consummation of our announced acquisition of Asco, and customer adherence
to their announced schedules; 10) our ability
to successfully negotiate, or re-negotiate, future pricing under our supply agreements with Boeing and our other customers; 11) our ability
to enter into profitable supply arrangements with additional customers; 12) the ability of all parties
to satisfy their performance requirements under existing supply contracts with our two major customers, Boeing and Airbus, and other customers, and the risk of nonpayment by such customers; 13) any adverse impact on Boeing's and Airbus» production of aircraft resulting from cancellations, deferrals, or reduced orders by their customers or from labor disputes, domestic or international hostilities, or acts of terrorism; 14) any adverse impact on the demand for air travel or our operations from the outbreak of diseases or epidemic or pandemic outbreaks; 15) our ability
to avoid or recover from cyber-based or other security attacks, information technology failures, or other disruptions; 16) returns on
pension plan assets and the impact of future discount rate
changes on
pension obligations; 17) our ability
to borrow additional funds or refinance debt, including our ability
to obtain the debt
to finance the purchase price for our announced acquisition of Asco on favorable terms or at all; 18) competition from commercial aerospace original equipment manufacturers and other aerostructures suppliers; 19) the effect of governmental laws, such as U.S. export control laws and U.S. and foreign anti-bribery laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the United Kingdom Bribery Act, and environmental laws and agency regulations, both in the U.S. and abroad; 20) the effect of
changes in tax law, such as the effect of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the «TCJA») that was enacted on December 22, 2017, and
changes to the interpretations of or guidance related thereto, and the Company's ability
to accurately calculate and estimate the effect of such
changes; 21) any reduction in our
credit ratings; 22) our dependence on our suppliers, as well as the cost and availability of raw materials and purchased components; 23) our ability
to recruit and retain a critical mass of highly - skilled employees and our relationships with the unions representing many of our employees; 24) spending by the U.S. and other governments on defense; 25) the possibility that our cash flows and our
credit facility may not be adequate for our additional capital needs or for payment of interest on, and principal of, our indebtedness; 26) our exposure under our revolving
credit facility
to higher interest payments should interest rates increase substantially; 27) the effectiveness of any interest rate hedging programs; 28) the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting; 29) the outcome or impact of ongoing or future litigation, claims, and regulatory actions; 30) exposure
to potential product liability and warranty claims; 31) our ability
to effectively assess, manage and integrate acquisitions that we pursue, including our ability
to successfully integrate the Asco business and generate synergies and other cost savings; 32) our ability
to consummate our announced acquisition of Asco in a timely matter while avoiding any unexpected costs, charges, expenses, adverse
changes to business relationships and other business disruptions for ourselves and Asco as a result of the acquisition; 33) our ability
to continue selling certain receivables through our supplier financing program; 34) the risks of doing business internationally, including fluctuations in foreign current exchange rates, impositions of tariffs or embargoes, compliance with foreign laws, and domestic and foreign government policies; and 35) our ability
to complete the proposed accelerated stock repurchase plan, among other things.
Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation: (1) the effect of economic conditions in the industries and markets in which United Technologies and Rockwell Collins operate in the U.S. and globally and any
changes therein, including financial market conditions, fluctuations in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, levels of end market demand in construction and in both the commercial and defense segments of the aerospace industry, levels of air travel, financial condition of commercial airlines, the impact of weather conditions and natural disasters and the financial condition of our customers and suppliers; (2) challenges in the development, production, delivery, support, performance and realization of the anticipated benefits of advanced technologies and new products and services; (3) the scope, nature, impact or timing of acquisition and divestiture or restructuring activity, including the pending acquisition of Rockwell Collins, including among other things integration of acquired businesses into United Technologies» existing businesses and realization of synergies and opportunities for growth and innovation; (4) future timing and levels of indebtedness, including indebtedness expected
to be incurred by United Technologies in connection with the pending Rockwell Collins acquisition, and capital spending and research and development spending, including in connection with the pending Rockwell Collins acquisition; (5) future availability of
credit and factors that may affect such availability, including
credit market conditions and our capital structure; (6) the timing and scope of future repurchases of United Technologies» common stock, which may be suspended at any time due
to various factors, including market conditions and the level of other investing activities and uses of cash, including in connection with the proposed acquisition of Rockwell; (7) delays and disruption in delivery of materials and services from suppliers; (8) company and customer - directed cost reduction efforts and restructuring costs and savings and other consequences thereof; (9) new business and investment opportunities; (10) our ability
to realize the intended benefits of organizational
changes; (11) the anticipated benefits of diversification and balance of operations across product lines, regions and industries; (12) the outcome of legal proceedings, investigations and other contingencies; (13)
pension plan assumptions and future contributions; (14) the impact of the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements and labor disputes; (15) the effect of
changes in political conditions in the U.S. and other countries in which United Technologies and Rockwell Collins operate, including the effect of
changes in U.S. trade policies or the U.K.'s pending withdrawal from the EU, on general market conditions, global trade policies and currency exchange rates in the near term and beyond; (16) the effect of
changes in tax (including U.S. tax reform enacted on December 22, 2017, which is commonly referred
to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017), environmental, regulatory (including among other things import / export) and other laws and regulations in the U.S. and other countries in which United Technologies and Rockwell Collins operate; (17) the ability of United Technologies and Rockwell Collins
to receive the required regulatory approvals (and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the merger) and
to satisfy the other conditions
to the closing of the pending acquisition on a timely basis or at all; (18) the occurrence of events that may give rise
to a right of one or both of United Technologies or Rockwell Collins
to terminate the merger agreement, including in circumstances that might require Rockwell Collins
to pay a termination fee of $ 695 million
to United Technologies or $ 50 million of expense reimbursement; (19) negative effects of the announcement or the completion of the merger on the market price of United Technologies» and / or Rockwell Collins» common stock and / or on their respective financial performance; (20) risks related
to Rockwell Collins and United Technologies being restricted in their operation of their businesses while the merger agreement is in effect; (21) risks relating
to the value of the United Technologies» shares
to be issued in connection with the pending Rockwell acquisition, significant merger costs and / or unknown liabilities; (22) risks associated with third party contracts containing consent and / or other provisions that may be triggered by the Rockwell merger agreement; (23) risks associated with merger - related litigation or appraisal proceedings; and (24) the ability of United Technologies and Rockwell Collins, or the combined company,
to retain and hire key personnel.
Among the factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially are the following: (1) worldwide economic, political, and capital markets conditions and other factors beyond the Company's control, including natural and other disasters or climate
change affecting the operations of the Company or its customers and suppliers; (2) the Company's
credit ratings and its cost of capital; (3) competitive conditions and customer preferences; (4) foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates; (5) the timing and market acceptance of new product offerings; (6) the availability and cost of purchased components, compounds, raw materials and energy (including oil and natural gas and their derivatives) due
to shortages, increased demand or supply interruptions (including those caused by natural and other disasters and other events); (7) the impact of acquisitions, strategic alliances, divestitures, and other unusual events resulting from portfolio management actions and other evolving business strategies, and possible organizational restructuring; (8) generating fewer productivity improvements than estimated; (9) unanticipated problems or delays with the phased implementation of a global enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, or security breaches and other disruptions
to the Company's information technology infrastructure; (10) financial market risks that may affect the Company's funding obligations under defined benefit
pension and postretirement plans; and (11) legal proceedings, including significant developments that could occur in the legal and regulatory proceedings described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10 - K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2017, and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10 - Q (the «Reports»).
These risks and uncertainties include competition and other economic conditions including fragmentation of the media landscape and competition from other media alternatives;
changes in advertising demand, circulation levels and audience shares; the Company's ability
to develop and grow its online businesses; the Company's reliance on revenue from printing and distributing third - party publications;
changes in newsprint prices; macroeconomic trends and conditions; the Company's ability
to adapt
to technological
changes; the Company's ability
to realize benefits or synergies from acquisitions or divestitures or
to operate its businesses effectively following acquisitions or divestitures; the Company's success in implementing expense mitigation efforts; the Company's reliance on third - party vendors for various services; adverse results from litigation, governmental investigations or tax - related proceedings or audits; the Company's ability
to attract and retain employees; the Company's ability
to satisfy
pension and other postretirement employee benefit obligations;
changes in accounting standards; the effect of labor strikes, lockouts and labor negotiations; regulatory and judicial rulings; the Company's indebtedness and ability
to comply with debt covenants applicable
to its debt facilities; the Company's ability
to satisfy future capital and liquidity requirements; the Company's ability
to access the
credit and capital markets at the times and in the amounts needed and on acceptable terms; and other events beyond the Company's control that may result in unexpected adverse operating results.
To his credit, Prime Minister David Cameron and his ministers have been robust in defending the reforms, saying that the changes are designed to make public sector pensions affordable for the long term and failure to reform will bankrupt the whole system, a point even many on the Labour benches recognis
To his
credit, Prime Minister David Cameron and his ministers have been robust in defending the reforms, saying that the
changes are designed
to make public sector pensions affordable for the long term and failure to reform will bankrupt the whole system, a point even many on the Labour benches recognis
to make public sector
pensions affordable for the long term and failure
to reform will bankrupt the whole system, a point even many on the Labour benches recognis
to reform will bankrupt the whole system, a point even many on the Labour benches recognise.
Probably the best that can be said is that a lot of negative things that were expected
to materialize didn't happen — no increase in the capital gains tax inclusion rate, no increase in marginal tax rates, no
change in the dividend tax
credit and no
changes to pension splitting.
Rule
changes like this usually don't apply
to pension credits already earned, so it is unlikely
to affect you if you're already retired, and probably won't affect you much if you're close
to retirement.
Few ministers (or civil servants) understand IT or have a gut feeling about the risks of a big project, and this is not likely
to change (David Gauke, the Work and
Pensions minister responsible for Universal
Credit, is a solicitor and Ian Duncan Smith started life in the Scots Guards).