Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
7K characters. Original on sec.gov ·
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND PROJECTIONS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K and the information we are incorporating by reference contain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “believe,” “estimate,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “trends,” “goals” and similar expressions generally identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to our future financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions, expectations, plans and projections that we believe to be reasonable when made, but which may change over time. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and inherently involve a wide range of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Specific risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those identified under “Risk Factors” and other important factors disclosed in this report and from time to time in our other filings with the SEC. These risks and uncertainties are amplified by the global macroeconomic, health, security and political environments, including inflationary pressures, labor and supply chain challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have caused and will continue to cause significant challenges, instability and uncertainty. They include:
Industry and Economic Risks
- our dependence on the U.S. government for a substantial portion of our business
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NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
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significant delays or reductions in appropriations and/or for our programs, and U.S. government funding and program support more broadly, including as a result of a prolonged continuing resolution and/or government shutdown, and/or related to hostilities and other global events
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significant delays or reductions in payments as a result of or related to a breach of the debt ceiling
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the use of estimates when accounting for our contracts and the effect of contract cost growth and our efforts to recover or offset such costs and/or changes in estimated contract costs and revenues, including as a result of inflationary pressures, labor shortages, supply chain challenges and/or other macroeconomic factors, and risks related to management’s judgments and assumptions in estimating and/or projecting contract revenue and performance which may be inaccurate
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continued pressures from macroeconomic trends, including inflation, supply chain delays and disruptions, and labor challenges, including on costs, schedules, performance and ability to meet expectations
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increased competition within our markets and bid protests
Legal and Regulatory Risks
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investigations, claims, disputes, enforcement actions, litigation (including criminal, civil and administrative) and/or other legal proceedings
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the improper conduct of employees, agents, subcontractors, suppliers, business partners or joint ventures in which we participate, including the impact on our reputation and our ability to do business
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changes in procurement and other laws, SEC, DoD and other rules and regulations, contract terms and practices applicable to our industry, findings by the U.S. government as to our compliance with such requirements, more aggressive enforcement of such requirements and changes in our customers’ business practices globally
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environmental matters, including unforeseen environmental costs and government and third party claims
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unanticipated changes in our tax provisions or exposure to additional tax liabilities
Business and Operational Risks
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impacts related to health epidemics, pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, such as labor, supply chain or financial, schedule or cost impacts (without corresponding recovery), among other impacts
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cyber and other security threats or disruptions faced by us, our customers or our suppliers and other partners, and changes in related regulations
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our ability to attract and retain a qualified, talented and diverse workforce with the necessary security clearances to meet our performance obligations
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the performance and viability of our subcontractors and suppliers and the availability and pricing of raw materials and components, particularly with inflationary pressures, increased costs, shortages in labor and financial resources, supply chain disruptions, and extended material lead times
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environmental, social and governance matters, including especially climate change, their impacts on our company, our operations and our stakeholders (employees, suppliers, customers, shareholders and regulators), and changes in laws, regulations and priorities related to these issues
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our exposure to additional risks as a result of our international business, including risks related to global security, geopolitical and economic factors, misconduct, suppliers, laws and regulations
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our ability to meet performance obligations under our contracts, including obligations that require innovative design capabilities, are technologically complex, require certain manufacturing expertise or are dependent on factors not wholly within our control
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natural disasters
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products and services we provide related to hazardous and high risk operations, including the production and use of such products, which subject us to various environmental, regulatory, financial, reputational and other risks
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our ability appropriately to exploit and/or protect intellectual property rights
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our ability to develop new products and technologies, progress digital transformation, and maintain technologies, facilities, and equipment to win new competitions and meet the needs of our customers
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NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
General and Other Risk Factors
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the adequacy and availability of, and ability to obtain, insurance coverage, customer indemnifications or other liability protections
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the future investment performance of plan assets, gains or losses associated with changes in valuation of marketable securities related to our non-qualified benefit plans, changes in actuarial assumptions associated with our pension and other postretirement benefit plans and legislative or other regulatory actions impacting our pension and postretirement benefit obligations
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changes in business conditions that could impact business investments and/or recorded goodwill or the value of other long-lived assets, and other potential future liabilities
We urge you to consider the limitations on, and risks associated with, forward-looking statements and not unduly rely on the accuracy of forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date this report is first filed or, in the case of any document incorporated by reference, the date of that document. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
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