F. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”) that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this Report can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate” and “potential,” among others. Forward-looking statements provide our current expectations, intentions or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements include statements about expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions, assumptions and other statements that are not statements of historical fact. Words or phrases such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” or similar words or phrases, or the negatives of those words or phrases, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors and are based on potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those expected in our forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the factors described in “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report. In addition, even if our actual results are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this Report, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods.
For example, factors that could cause our actual results to vary from projected future results include, but are not limited to:
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our dependence on the image and reputation of the BIRKENSTOCK brand;
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the intense competition we face from both established companies and newer entrants into the
market;
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our ability to execute our DTC growth strategy and risks associated with our e-commerce
platforms;
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our ability to adapt to changes in consumer preferences and attract new customers;
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harm to our brand and market share due to counterfeit products;
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our ability to successfully operate and expand retail stores;
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losses and liabilities arising from leased and owned real estate;
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risks related to our non-footwear products;
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failure to realize expected returns from our investments in our businesses and operations;
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our ability to adequately manage our acquisitions, investments or other strategic initiatives;
•
our ability to manage our operations at our current size or manage future growth effectively;
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risks related to global or regional health events;
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our dependence on third parties for our sales and distribution channels;
•
risks related to the conversion of wholesale distribution markets to owned and operated markets and risks related to productivity or efficiency initiatives;
•
operational challenges related to the distribution of our products;
•
deterioration or termination of relationships with major wholesale partners;
•
seasonality, weather conditions and climate change;
•
adverse events influencing the sustainability of our supply chain or our relationships with major
suppliers or increases in raw materials or labor costs;
•
our ability to effectively manage inventory; unforeseen business interruptions and other operational problems at our production facilities, as well as disruptions to our shipping and delivery arrangements;
