Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1A. Risk Factors
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated and supplemented in Part II, "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 and as further updated and supplemented below, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. Except as presented below, there have been no material changes from the risk factors described in our Form 10-K.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted worldwide economic conditions, and our operations and our financial results have been and will in the future be materially adversely impacted, and the duration and extent to which it will impact our business remains uncertain.
COVID-19, a novel strain of coronavirus, was reported in December 2019, with the World Health Organization declaring it a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant volatility, uncertainty and disruption, with severe impacts on the United States and global economies. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted a large portion of the world, including our domestic and international operations. If the pandemic continues to create disruptions or turmoil in the credit or financial markets, or impacts our credit ratings, it could adversely affect our ability to access capital on favorable terms or at all, meet our liquidity needs or amend and/or refinance our existing credit arrangements.
The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the Company will depend on numerous factors and future developments that we cannot predict, including the severity of the virus; the occurrence of a “second wave” or additional spikes; the duration of the outbreak; governmental, business or other actions taken in response to the pandemic; and impacts on our supply chain, our ability to keep operating locations open, and on customer demand.
As the pandemic continues to spread throughout the United States, consumer fears about COVID-19 continue and recommendations and/or mandates from federal, state and local authorities to avoid large gatherings of people or self-quarantine have persisted and/or increased, which has and will continue to adversely affect our operations. We have incurred and continue to incur additional costs related to efforts to protect the health and well-being of our team members, customers and the communities we serve. We expect to continue to incur additional costs, which may be significant, as we continue to implement operational changes in response to this pandemic.
We may further restrict the operations of our various distribution centers, branches or store facilities in both of our segments if we deem such action necessary or appropriate or if recommended or mandated by local government authorities. Additionally, we may incur significant incremental costs to ensure we meet the needs of our customers and our employees, including additional cleanings of our stores and other facilities. Also, if we do not respond appropriately to the pandemic, or if customers do not perceive our response to be adequate or appropriate for a particular region or the Company as a whole, we could suffer damage to our reputation and our brand, which could adversely affect our business in the future. These items could have a further material impact on our sales and profits and could lead to significantly higher losses on outstanding customer receivables, guaranteed loans and asset impairment charges, among other things.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in work and travel restrictions and delays, which have been expanded throughout the continued progression of the pandemic. These restrictions and delays have impacted and may continue to impact suppliers and manufacturers of certain of our products. This may make it difficult for our suppliers to source and manufacture products in, and to export our products from, affected areas. As a result, we may continue to face delays or difficulty sourcing certain products. These supply chain disruptions, as well as associated labor shortages within the supply chain, could cause inventory shortages, delays in order fulfillment and increased backlogs, and we may be unable to meet our customers’ expectations and requirements as result, which could negatively affect our business and financial results. Even if we are able to find alternate sources for such products, they may cost more, which could adversely impact our profitability and financial condition.
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Additional adverse changes in economic conditions as a result of the pandemic may also lead to increased credit concerns and challenges to recover accounts receivable, reduced liquidity, adverse impacts on our suppliers and customers, including on their abilities to continue to operate as a going concern.
Further, the Company and management are focused on mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has required and will continue to require, a large investment of time and resources and may delay other strategic initiatives. Additionally, many of our employees are working remotely and may continue to do so for an extended period. An extended period of remote work arrangements could strain our business continuity plans, introduce operational risk, including but not limited to our ability to manage our business, cyber-security and data security risks, the potential vulnerabilities to our financial reporting systems and our internal control environment and the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting.
Due to the unprecedented nature of COVID-19 and the myriad of responses thereto, we cannot identify all of the risks we face from the pandemic and its resulting impacts. Even after the pandemic has subsided, we may continue to experience adverse impacts to our business as a result of any economic recession that has occurred or may occur. The pandemic could also amplify other risks and uncertainties described in our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The ultimate adverse impacts relating to the potential effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the costs that we may incur as a result cannot be reasonably estimated but could be material.
There is uncertainty surrounding potential legal, regulatory and policy changes by a new presidential administration in the United States that may directly affect the Company and the global economy.
The Company faces regulatory and tax uncertainties on account of the upcoming 2020 U.S. presidential election. The nature, timing and economic and political effects of any potential change to the current legal and regulatory framework affecting the Company remain highly uncertain. Uncertainty surrounding future changes may adversely affect our operating environment and have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
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