AMETEK INC/ (AME) FY 2023 MD&A

Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This report includes forward-looking statements based on the Company’s current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. When used in this report, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “may,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words. In this report, the Company discloses important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management’s expectations. For more information on these and other factors, see “Forward-Looking Information” herein.

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Business Overview

AMETEK’s operations are affected by global, regional and industry-specific economic factors. However, the Company’s strategic geographic and industry diversification, and its mix of products and services, have helped to mitigate the potential adverse impact of any unfavorable developments in any one industry or the economy of any single country on its consolidated operating results. In 2023, the Company posted record sales, operating income, operating margins, net income, diluted earnings per share, orders, backlog, and operating cash flow. Positive market trends, the Company's record backlog, contributions from recent acquisitions, and continued focus on and implementation of Operational Excellence initiatives had a positive impact on 2023 results. The Company also benefited from its strategic initiatives under AMETEK's four key strategies: Operational Excellence, Strategic Acquisitions, Global & Market Expansion and New Products.

Highlights in 2023 were:

•Net sales for 2023 were a record $6,597.0 million, an increase of $446.5 million or 7.3%, compared with net sales of $6,150.5 million in 2022. The increase in net sales for 2023 was due to a 4% organic sales increase and a 3% increase from acquisitions.

•Net income for 2023 was a record $1,313.2 million, an increase of $153.7 million or 13.3%, compared with $1,159.5 million in 2022.

•Diluted earnings per share for 2023 were a record $5.67, an increase of $0.66 or 13.2%, compared with $5.01 per diluted share in 2022.

•Cash provided by operating activities totaled a record $1,735.3 million in 2023, an increase of $585.9 million or 51.0%, compared with cash provided by operating activities of $1,149.4 million in 2022.

•The Company's backlog of unfilled orders at December 31, 2023 was a record $3,534.1 million.

•During 2023, the Company spent $2,237.9 million in cash, net of cash acquired, to purchase four businesses:

•In March 2023, AMETEK acquired Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. ("Bison"), a designer and manufacturer of custom motion control solutions.

•In August 2023, AMETEK acquired United Electronic Industries ("UEI"), a designer and manufacturer of high-performance test, measurement, simulation and control solutions.

•In October 2023, AMETEK acquired Amplifier Research Corp. ("Amplifier Research"), a leading provider of amplifiers and electromagnetic compatibility testing equipment.

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•In December 2023, AMETEK acquired Paragon Medical ("Paragon"), a leading provider of highly engineered medical components and instruments.

•EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization) was a record $2,014.7 million in 2023, compared with $1,829.7 million in 2022.

•The Company continued its emphasis on investment in research, development and engineering, spending $351.7 million in 2023. Approximately 25% of sales in 2023 were from products introduced in the past three years.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth net sales and income by reportable segment and on a consolidated basis:

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The following “Results of Operations of the year ended December 31, 2023 compared with the year ended December 31, 2022” section presents an analysis of the Company’s consolidated operating results displayed in the Consolidated Statement of Income. A discussion regarding our financial condition and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 can be found under Item 7 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 21, 2023.

Results of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared with the year ended December 31, 2022

Net sales for 2023 were $6,597.0 million, an increase of $446.5 million or 7.3%, compared with net sales of $6,150.5 million in 2022. The increase in net sales for 2023 was due to a 4% organic sales increase and a 3% increase from acquisitions. EIG net sales were $4,624.3 million in 2023, an increase of 9.3%, compared with $4,229.4 million in 2022. EMG net sales were $1,972.7 million in 2023, an increase of 2.7%, compared with $1,921.2 million in 2022.

Total international sales for 2023 were $3,128.2 million or 47.4% of net sales, an increase of $131.9 million or 4.4%, compared with international sales of $2,996.3 million or 48.7% of net sales in 2022. The increase in

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international sales was primarily driven by strong demand in Europe and Asia as well as contributions from recent acquisitions. Export shipments from the United States, which are included in total international sales, were $1,732.4 million in 2023, an increase of $43.7 million or 2.6%, compared with $1,688.7 million in 2022.

Orders for 2023 were $6,912.4 million, an increase of $273.3 million or 4.1% compared with $6,639.1 million in 2022. The increase in orders was due to a 7% increase from acquisitions, a 1% favorable effect of foreign currency translation, partially offset by an organic order decrease. The Company’s backlog of unfilled orders at December 31, 2023 was a record $3,534.1 million, an increase of $315.5 million or 9.8%, compared with $3,218.6 million at December 31, 2022.

Segment operating income for 2023 was $1,807.5 million, an increase of $214.2 million or 13.4%, compared with segment operating income of $1,593.3 million in 2022. Segment operating income, as a percentage of net sales, increased to 27.4% in 2023, compared with 25.9% in 2022. Segment operating income and operating margins were positively impacted by the increase in sales discussed above, which was primarily driven by our higher margin businesses, as well as continued benefits from the Company's Operational Excellence initiatives.

Cost of sales for 2023 was $4,212.5 million or 63.9% of net sales, an increase of $207.2 million or 5.2%, compared with $4,005.3 million or 65.1% of net sales for 2022. The cost of sales increase was primarily due to the net sales increase discussed above.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for 2023 were $677.0 million or 10.3% of net sales, an increase of $32.4 million or 5.0%, compared with $644.6 million or 10.5% of net sales in 2022. Selling expenses increased primarily due to the increase in net sales discussed above. General and administrative expenses for 2023 were $100.1 million, compared with $92.6 million in 2022. The general and administrative expenses in 2023 include higher employee compensation costs compared to 2022.

Consolidated operating income was $1,707.5 million or 25.9% of net sales for 2023, an increase of $206.8 million or 13.8%, compared with $1,500.7 million or 24.4% of net sales in 2022.

Other expense, net was $19.3 million for 2023, compared with $11.2 million of other income in 2022, a change of $30.5 million. During 2023, the Company recorded lower pension income of $21.1 million and higher acquisition-related due diligence expense compared to 2022.

The effective tax rate for 2023 was 18.3%, compared with 18.8% in 2022. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.

Net income for 2023 was $1,313.2 million, an increase of $153.7 million or 13.3%, compared with $1,159.5 million in 2022.

Diluted earnings per share for 2023 were $5.67, an increase of $0.66 or 13.2%, compared with $5.01 per diluted share in 2022.

Segment Results

EIG’s net sales totaled $4,624.3 million for 2023, an increase of $394.9 million or 9.3%, compared with $4,229.4 million in 2022. The net sales increase was due to a 6% organic sales increase and a 3% increase from acquisitions.

EIG’s operating income was $1,311.0 million for 2023, an increase of $221.3 million or 20.3%, compared with $1,089.7 million in 2022. EIG’s operating margins were 28.3% of net sales for 2023, compared with 25.8% of net sales in 2022. EIG's operating margins increased in 2023 compared to 2022 due to the sales increase discussed above, as well as continued benefits from the Company's Operational Excellence initiatives.

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EMG’s net sales totaled $1,972.7 million for 2023, an increase of $51.5 million or 2.7%, compared with $1,921.2 million in 2022. The net sales increase was due to a 5% increase from acquisitions, partially offset by an organic sales decrease.

EMG’s operating income was $496.6 million for 2023, a decrease of $7.0 million or 1.4%, compared with $503.6 million in 2022. EMG’s operating margins were 25.2% of net sales for 2023, compared with 26.2% of net sales in 2022. EMG's operating margins were negatively impacted by the dilutive impact of the 2023 acquisitions. In 2022, EMG's operating income included a $7.1 million gain on the sale of a facility, which increased EMG operating margins by 40 basis points. Excluding the dilutive impact of the 2023 acquisitions and the gain on the sale of a facility, EMG operating margins increased 70 basis points compared to 2022.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash provided by operating activities totaled $1,735.3 million in 2023, an increase of $585.9 million or 51.0%, compared with cash provided by operating activities of $1,149.4 million in 2022. The increase in cash provided by operating activities for 2023 was primarily due to improved working capital management and higher net income.

Free cash flow (cash flow provided by operating activities less capital expenditures) was $1,599.1 million in 2023, compared with $1,010.4 million in 2022. EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $2,014.7 million in 2023, compared with $1,829.7 million in 2022. Free cash flow and EBITDA are presented because the Company is aware that they are measures used by third parties in evaluating the Company. (See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a reconciliation of U.S. GAAP measures to comparable non-GAAP measures).

Cash used by investing activities totaled $2,376.4 million in 2023, compared with cash used by investing activities of $552.8 million in 2022. In 2023, the Company paid $2,237.9 million, net of cash acquired, to purchase Bison Gear & Engineering Corp., United Electronic Industries, Amplifier Research Corp. and Paragon Medical, compared to $429.7 million, net of cash acquired, to purchase Navitar, Inc. and RTDS Technologies Inc. in 2022. Additions to property, plant and equipment totaled $136.2 million in 2023, compared with $139.0 million in 2022.

Cash provided by financing activities totaled $697.3 million in 2023, compared with $575.7 million of cash used by financing activities in 2022. At December 31, 2023, total debt, net was $3,313.3 million, compared with $2,385.0 million at December 31, 2022. In 2023, total borrowings increased by $892.3 million, compared with a decrease of $73.7 million in 2022. At December 31, 2023, the Company had available borrowing capacity of $1,829.3 million under its revolving credit facility and term loan, including the $700 million accordion feature.

On May 12, 2022, the Company along with certain of its foreign subsidiaries amended and restated its Credit Agreement dated as of September 22, 2011, as amended and restated as of March 10, 2016 and as further amended and restated as of October 30, 2018, with the lenders, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Bank of America, N.A., PNC Bank, National Association, Trust Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Syndication Agents. The credit agreement amends and restates the Company’s existing revolving credit facility to increase the size from $1.5 billion to $2.3 billion and terminates the $800 million term loan. The credit agreement places certain restrictions on allowable additional indebtedness. In November 2021, the Company further amended the Credit Agreement to address the cessation of LIBOR on certain currencies. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $1,116.0 million outstanding on the revolver with a maturity date of May 2027. The amount outstanding under the revolver that the Company expects, but is not required, to repay in 2024 is recorded in current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2023.

The debt-to-capital ratio was 27.5% at December 31, 2023, compared with 24.2% at December 31, 2022. The net debt-to-capital ratio (total debt, net less cash and cash equivalents divided by the sum of net debt and stockholders’ equity) was 25.0% at December 31, 2023, compared with 21.4% at December 31, 2022. The net debt-to-capital ratio is presented because the Company is aware that this measure is used by third parties in evaluating the

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Company. (See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a reconciliation of U.S. GAAP measures to comparable non-GAAP measures).

In 2023, the Company repurchased approximately 0.1 million shares of its common stock for $7.8 million, compared with $332.8 million used for repurchases of approximately 2.7 million shares in 2022. Effective May 5, 2022, the Company's Board of Directors approved a $1 billion share repurchase authorization. This authorization replaces an earlier $500 million share repurchase authorization approved by the Board in February 2019. At December 31, 2023, $816.1 million was available under the Company’s Board of Directors authorization for future share repurchases.

Additional financing activities for 2023 included cash dividends paid of $230.3 million, compared with $202.2 million in 2022. Effective February 9, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a 14% increase in the quarterly cash dividend on the Company’s common stock to $0.25 per common share from $0.22 per common share. Proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options were $50.9 million in 2023, compared with $49.9 million in 2022.

As a result of all of the Company’s cash flow activities in 2023, cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2023 totaled $409.8 million, compared with $345.4 million at December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $375.9 million in cash outside the United States, compared with $344.0 million at December 31, 2022. The Company utilizes this cash to fund its international operations, as well as to acquire international businesses. The Company is in compliance with all covenants, including financial covenants, for all of its debt agreements. The Company believes it has sufficient cash-generating capabilities from domestic and unrestricted foreign sources, available credit facilities and access to long-term capital funds to enable it to meet its operating needs and contractual obligations for the foreseeable future.

Subsequent Event

Effective February 9, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a 12% increase in the quarterly cash dividend on the Company’s common stock to $0.28 per common share from $0.25 per common share.

Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments

Material contractual obligations arising in the normal course of business primarily consist of purchase obligations, long-term debt and related interest payments, and leases. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information on the nature and timing of debt obligations.

Leases expire over a range of years from 2024 to 2032. Most of the leases contain renewal or purchase options, subject to various terms and conditions. See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information on the nature and timing of lease obligations.

Purchase obligations primarily consist of contractual commitments to purchase certain inventories at fixed prices. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $723.6 million of purchase obligations due within one year and $66.4 million of purchase obligations due in more than one year.

The Company has standby letters of credit and surety bonds of $193.6 million related to performance and payment guarantees at December 31, 2023. Based on experience with these arrangements, the Company believes that any obligations that may arise will not be material to its financial position.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA represents earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is presented because the Company is aware that it is used by rating agencies, securities analysts, investors and other parties in evaluating the Company. It should not be considered, however, as an alternative to operating income as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance or as an alternative to cash flows as a measure of the Company’s overall liquidity as presented in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, EBITDA measures shown for the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The following table presents the reconciliation of net income reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) to EBITDA:

Free cash flow represents cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures. Free cash flow is presented because the Company is aware that it is used by rating agencies, securities analysts, investors and other parties in evaluating the Company. The following table presents the reconciliation of cash flow from operating activities reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP to free cash flow:

Net debt represents total debt, net minus cash and cash equivalents. Net debt is presented because the Company is aware that it is used by rating agencies, securities analysts, investors and other parties in evaluating the Company. The following table presents the reconciliation of total debt, net reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP to net debt:

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Internal Reinvestment

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures were $136.2 million or 2.1% of net sales in 2023, compared with $139.0 million or 2.3% of net sales in 2022. In 2023, approximately 64% of capital expenditures were for improvements to existing equipment or additional equipment to increase productivity and expand capacity. Capital expenditures in 2024 are expected to be approximately 2% of net sales, with a continued emphasis on spending to improve productivity.

Research, Development and Engineering

The Company is committed to, and has consistently invested in, research, development and engineering activities to design and develop new and improved products and solutions. Research, development and engineering costs before customer reimbursement were $351.7 million in 2023, $322.1 million in 2022 and $299.6 million in 2021. These amounts included research and development expenses of $220.8 million, $198.8 million and $194.2 million in 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. All such expenditures were directed toward the development of new products and solutions and the improvement of existing products and solutions.

Environmental Matters

Information with respect to environmental matters is set forth in Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Critical accounting policies are those policies that can have a significant impact on the presentation of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and that require the use of complex and subjective estimates based on the Company’s historical experience and management’s judgment. Because of the uncertainty inherent in such estimates, actual results may differ materially from the estimates used. Below are the policies used in preparing the Company's financial statements that management believes are the most dependent upon the application of estimates and assumptions. A complete list of the Company’s significant accounting policies is in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

•Business Combinations. The Company allocates the purchase price of an acquired company, including when applicable, the acquisition date fair value of contingent consideration between tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the acquired business based on their estimated fair values, with the residual of the purchase price recorded as goodwill. Third party appraisal firms and other consultants are engaged to assist management in determining the fair values of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed. In the absence of a third party appraisal, the Company uses internal valuation estimates based on pertinent data from comparable prior acquisitions. Estimating fair values requires significant judgments, estimates and assumptions, including but not limited to: discount rates, future cash flows and the economic lives of trade names, technology, and customer relationships. These estimates are based on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies and are inherently uncertain.

•Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives, primarily trademarks and trade names, are not amortized; rather, they are tested for impairment at least annually. The Company performs either a qualitative or quantitative analysis to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair values of its reporting units are less than the respective carrying values of those reporting units.

When testing goodwill for impairment, the Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely

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than not that the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the Company performs a qualitative assessment and determines that an impairment is more likely than not, then performance of a quantitative impairment test is required. In conducting a qualitative assessment, the Company analyzes actual and forecasted net sales and selling profit for each reporting unit, as well as historical performance and the results of prior quantitative tests performed. Additionally, the Company assesses critical areas that may impact its business, including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors, or any relevant events and factors that may impact projected financial results.

If performed, the quantitative goodwill impairment test uses a discounted cash flow analysis to determine the fair value of each reporting unit, which considers cash flows discounted at an appropriate discount rate. The annual goodwill impairment test requires the Company to make a number of assumptions and estimates concerning future levels of revenue growth, operating margins, depreciation, amortization and working capital requirements, which are based on the Company’s long-range plan and are considered level 3 inputs. The discount rate is an estimate of the overall after-tax rate of return required by a market participant whose weighted average cost of capital includes both equity and debt, including a risk premium. While the Company uses the best available information to prepare its cash flow and discount rate assumptions, actual future cash flows or market conditions could differ significantly resulting in future impairment charges related to recorded goodwill balances.

The impairment test for indefinite-lived intangibles other than goodwill (primarily trademarks and trade names) consists of a comparison of the estimated fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset to the carrying value of the asset as of the impairment testing date. The Company can elect to perform a qualitative analysis to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair values of its indefinite-lived intangible assets are less than the respective carrying values of those assets. The Company elected to bypass performing the qualitative screen. The Company may elect to perform the qualitative analysis in future periods. The Company estimates the fair value of its indefinite-lived intangibles using the relief from royalty method using level 3 inputs, which is a widely used valuation technique for such assets. The fair value derived from the relief from royalty method is determined by applying a royalty rate to a projection of net revenues discounted using an appropriate discount rate. Each royalty rate is determined based on the profitability of the trade name to which it relates and observed market royalty rates. Certain impairment models have discount rates calculated based on a debt/equity cost of capital. While the Company uses the best available information to prepare its cash flow and discount rate assumptions, actual future cash flows or market conditions could differ significantly resulting in future impairment charges related to recorded intangible balances. While there are always changes in assumptions to reflect changing business and market conditions, the Company’s overall methodology and the population of assumptions used have remained unchanged.

The Company’s acquisitions have generally included a significant goodwill component and the Company expects to continue to make acquisitions. At December 31, 2023, goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $7,471.4 million or 49.7% of the Company’s total assets. The Company completed its required annual qualitative goodwill impairment test in the fourth quarter of 2023 and determined that the carrying values of the Company’s goodwill was not impaired. The Company completed its required annual indefinite-lived intangibles impairment tests in the fourth quarter of 2023 and determined that the carrying values of certain of the Company’s indefinite-lived intangibles were impaired primarily as a result of higher discount rates associated with higher interest rates, as well as decreased forecasted sales growth of specific product lines. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company recorded an immaterial non-cash impairment charge related to certain of the Company's trade names. There can be no assurance that goodwill or indefinite-lived intangibles impairment will not occur in the future.

•Pensions. The Company has U.S. and foreign defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans. The most significant elements in determining the Company’s pension income or expense are the assumed pension liability discount rate and the expected return on plan assets. The pension discount rate reflects the current interest rate at which the pension liabilities could be settled at the valuation date. At the end of each

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year, the Company determines the assumed discount rate to be used to discount plan liabilities. In estimating this rate for 2023, the Company considered rates of return on high-quality, fixed-income investments that have maturities consistent with the anticipated funding requirements of the plan. In estimating the U.S. and foreign discount rates, the Company’s actuaries developed a customized discount rate appropriate to the plans’ projected benefit cash flow based on yields derived from a database of long-term bonds at consistent maturity dates. The Company determines the expected long-term rate of return based primarily on its expectation of future returns for the pension plans’ investments. Additionally, the Company considers historical returns on comparable fixed-income and equity investments and adjusts its estimate as deemed appropriate.

•Income Taxes. The process of providing for income taxes and determining the related balance sheet accounts requires management to assess uncertainties, make judgments regarding outcomes and utilize estimates. The Company conducts a broad range of operations around the world and is therefore subject to complex tax regulations in numerous international taxing jurisdictions, resulting at times in tax audits, disputes and potential litigation, the outcome of which is uncertain. Management must make judgments currently about such uncertainties and determine estimates of the Company’s tax assets and liabilities. To the extent the final outcome differs, future adjustments to the Company’s tax assets and liabilities may be necessary.

The Company assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets, taking into consideration the Company’s forecast of future taxable income, available net operating loss carryforwards and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the deferred tax assets. Based on this assessment, management must evaluate the need for, and the amount of, valuation allowances against the Company’s deferred tax assets. To the extent facts and circumstances change in the future, adjustments to the valuation allowances may be required.

The Company assesses the uncertainty in its tax positions, by applying a minimum recognition threshold which a tax position is required to meet before a tax benefit is recognized in the financial statements. Once the minimum threshold is met, using a more likely than not standard, a series of probability estimates is made for each item to properly measure and record a tax benefit. The tax benefit recorded is generally equal to the highest probable outcome that is more than 50% likely to be realized after full disclosure and resolution of a tax examination. The underlying probabilities are determined based on the best available objective evidence such as recent tax audit outcomes, published guidance, external expert opinion, or by analogy to the outcome of similar issues in the past. There can be no assurance that these estimates will ultimately be realized given continuous changes in tax policy, legislation and audit practice. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2, Recent Accounting Pronouncements, to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding recently issued accounting pronouncements.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain matters discussed in this Form 10-K are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”), which involve risk and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment and can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining the Company’s actual future results. The Company wishes to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the PSLRA by cautioning readers that numerous important factors in some cases have caused, and in the future could cause, the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Some, but not all, of the factors or uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from present expectations are set forth above and under Item 1A. Risk Factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to

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publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise, unless required by the securities laws to do so.