Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: our ability to achieve our financial, strategic and operational plans or initiatives; our ability to predict and manage medical costs and price effectively and develop and maintain
good relationships with physicians, hospitals and other health care providers; the impact of modifications to our operations and processes; our ability to identify potential strategic acquisitions or transactions and realize the expected benefits of such transactions, including with respect to the Merger; the substantial level of government regulation over our business and the potential effects of new laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations; the outcome of litigation, regulatory audits, investigations, actions and / or guaranty fund assessments; uncertainties surrounding participation in government - sponsored programs such as Medicare; the effectiveness and security of our information technology and other business systems; unfavorable industry,
economic or political conditions, including foreign currency movements; acts of war, terrorism, natural disasters or pandemics; our ability to obtain shareholder or regulatory approvals required for the Merger or the requirement to accept conditions that could reduce the anticipated benefits of the Merger as a condition to obtaining regulatory approvals; a longer
time than anticipated to consummate the proposed Merger; problems regarding the successful integration of the businesses of Express Scripts and Cigna; unexpected costs regarding the proposed Merger; diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities
during the pendency of the Merger; potential litigation associated with the proposed Merger; the ability to retain key personnel; the availability of financing, including relating to the proposed Merger; effects on the businesses as a result of uncertainty surrounding the proposed Merger; as
well as
more specific risks and uncertainties discussed in our most recent report on Form 10 - K and subsequent reports on Forms 10 - Q and 8 - K available on the Investor Relations section of www.cigna.com as
well as on Express Scripts» most recent report on Form 10 - K and subsequent reports on Forms 10 - Q and 8 - K available on the Investor Relations section of www.express-scripts.com.
«They prevented older,
more expensive teachers from being discriminated against
during lean
economic times, and administrators often appreciated the simplicity of «last - in, first - out», especially because there was no consensus on how to
best evaluate teachers» performance.»
This means that
during tough
economic times, schools are forced to cut some of their
best teachers even as they keep ineffective teachers who happen to have worked in the district for a few
more years.