| Safe Harbor This presentation and our commentary contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Specifically, forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our future economic performance, business prospects, revenue, income, and financial condition; and statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words “plans,“ expects," "believes," "intends," "will," "anticipates," “confident,” “strategy,” “continuing,” “to be,” “opportunity,” “well-positioned,” “excited about” and similar terms that relate to future events, performance, or our results. Examples of forward-looking statements in this presentation and our commentary include but are not limited to: statements regarding our ability to win back lost business and accelerate organic growth; statements regarding whether a focus on organic growth will improve achievement of our long-term goals; statements regarding our ability to evaluate and reduce the cost structure in improve returns in Europe; statements regarding our ability to supplement outsourced manufacturing capacity with our own capacity at the Marietta manufacturing plant; statements regarding our continued roll-out of our transportation management system and its ability to help reduce freight expense; statements regarding the timing of the resolution of the attorney’s fees due with respect to the California litigation; statements regarding our organic growth continuing at a better rate, excluding the effects of the fire; statements regarding policy changes in the North American Sales and Service business and the ability of those changes to increase sales rep productivity; statements regarding the ability of policy changes in the North American Sales and Service business to minimize headcount churn and grow sales rep headcount while providing a better return on investment; statements about our ability to build sales pipeline momentum in Zep Vehicle Care, distribution and retail by making investments in sales capacity; statements regarding fiscal 2015 expense rates and the ability to generate results in future periods; statements regarding the free cash flow characteristics of the business allowing for rapid debt reduction and a shift in enterprise value from debt holders to equity holders; and statements regarding higher capital spending in fiscal 2015 to support normal operations and rebuild aerosol capacity. Our forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, expectations, or outcomes to differ materially from our historical experience as well as management's present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the impact of the fire that occurred at our aerosol manufacturing facility on May 23, 2014 on financial results, operations and prospects; economic conditions in general; the cost or availability of raw materials; competition; our ability to realize anticipated benefits from strategic planning and restructuring initiatives and the timing of the benefits of such actions; market demand; our ability to maintain our customer relationships; and litigation and other contingent liabilities, such as environmental matters. A variety of other risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements. A number of those risks are discussed in Part I, "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. We believe the forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. Further, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events. Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures referenced in this presentation to their nearest GAAP measure are included in the earnings press release available on the Zep Inc. website. 2 © 2014 Zep Inc. - All rights reserved. |
