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»).
Seniors often have
few debts and
obligations when they reach retirement age, but many continue to pay off mortgages,
credit card bills, car loans and
other debts.