Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes _______ No ___X____
Appraisal Report SP-0126/13-04
FLORESTAL NACIONAL S.A. |
REPORT: |
SP-0126/13-04 |
BASE DATE: |
August 31, 2013 |
|
Report SP-0126/13-04 1 |
REQUESTING COMPANY: |
COMPANHIA SIDERÚRGICA NACIONAL, hereinafter referred to as CSN. |
A corporation, with headquarters at Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, nº 3.400, 15º andar (parte), 19º e 20º andares, Itaim Bibi, in the city and state of São Paulo, inscribed in the roll of corporate taxpayers (CNPJ/MF) under no. 33.042.730/0001-04. | |
OBJECT: |
FLORESTAL NACIONAL S.A., hereinafter referred to as FLORESTAL. |
A privately-held corporation, with headquarters at Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, nº 3.400, 20º andar, Sala: Volta Redonda, Itaim Bibi, in the city and state of São Paulo, inscribed in the roll of corporate taxpayers (CNPJ/MF) under no. 09.295.323/0001-24. | |
PURPOSE: |
To determine the book value of FLORESTAL’s shareholders’ equity, for the purpose of its merger by CSN, pursuant to Articles 226 and 227 of Law 6404/76 (Brazilian Corporate Law). |
Report SP-0126/13-04 2
APSIS CONSULTORIA E AVALIAÇÕES LTDA., hereinafter referred to as APSIS, with headquarters at Rua da Assembleia, nº 35, 12º andar, in the city and state of Rio de Janeiro, inscribed in the roll of corporate taxpayers (CNPJ/MF) under no. 08.681.365/0001-30, was designated to verify the book value of FLORESTAL’s shareholders’ equity, for the purpose of its merger by CSN, pursuant to Articles 226 and 227 of Law 6404/76 (Corporate Law).
When preparing this report, we used data and information provided by third parties, in the form of documents and oral interviews with the client. The estimates used in this process are based on documents and information, including but not limited to:
§ Analytical Balance Sheet of FLORESTAL on August 31, 2013.
APSIS has recently appraised the following firms for publicly-held companies for a variety of reasons:
§ AMÉRICA LATINA LOGÍSTICA DO BRASIL S/A
§ BANCO PACTUAL S/A
§ CIMENTO MAUÁ S/A
§ ESTA-EMPRESA SANEADORA TERRITORIAL AGRÍCOLA S/A.
§ GEODEX COMMUNICATIONS DO BRASIL S/A
§ GERDAU S/A
§ HOTÉIS OTHON S/A
§ IBEST S/A
§ L.R. CIA. BRAS. PRODS. HIGIENE E TOUCADOR S/A
§ LIGHT SERVIÇOS DE ELETRICIDADE S/A
§ LOJAS AMERICANAS S/A
§ REPSOL YPF BRASIL S/A
§ TAM TRANSPORTES AÉREOS MERIDIONAL S/A
§ WAL PETROLEO S/A
The APSIS team responsible for this project comprised the following professionals:
§ AMILCAR DE CASTRO
Commercial Officer
§ ANA CRISTINA FRANÇA DE SOUZA
Vice-President
Civil Engineer, Postgraduate studies in Accounting (CREA/RJ 1991103043)
§ ANTONIO LUIZ FEIJÓ NICOLAU
Executive Officer
§ ERIVALDO ALVES DOS SANTOS FILHO
Accountant (CRC/RJ-100990/O-1)
§ LUCILIA NICOLINI
Accountant (CRC/SP-107639/O-6)
§ LUIZ PAULO CESAR SILVEIRA
Vice-President
Mechanical Engineer, Master in Business Administration (CREA/RJ 1989100165)
§ MARCIA APARECIDA DE LUCCA CALMON
Technical Officer (CRC/SP-143169/O-4)
§ MÁRCIA MOREIRA FRAZÃO DA SILVA
Executive Officer (CRC/RJ-106548/O-3)
§ RENATA POZZATO CARNEIRO MONTEIRO
Vice-President
§ RICARDO DUARTE CARNEIRO MONTEIRO
Chief Executive Officer
Civil Engineer, Postgraduate studies in Economic Engineering (CREA/RJ 1975102453)
§ SERGIO FREITAS DE SOUZA
Executive Officer
Economist (CORECON/RJ 23521-0)
Report SP-0126/13-04 4
The following information is important and should be read carefully.
This report has been drawn up in strict compliance with the fundamental principles listed below:
§ The consultants have no direct or indirect interest in the companies involved or in the operation, nor is there any other relevant circumstance that could constitute a conflict of interest.
§ APSIS’ professional fees have no relation whatsoever to the conclusions of this report.
§ To the best of the consultants’ knowledge and belief, the analysis, opinions and conclusions expressed in this Report are based on true and accurate data, investigations, research and surveys.
§ The information received from third parties is deemed to be accurate as its sources are cited in this Report.
§ For projection purposes, we have assumed that there are no liens or encumbrances of any nature, judicial or extra-judicial, on the companies in question, other than those listed in this Report.
§ This Report presents all the limiting conditions, if any, imposed by the adopted methodologies that may affect the analyses, opinions and conclusions of said Report.
§ The Report was prepared by APSIS and no one apart from its own consultants was involved in preparing its analyses and corresponding conclusions.
§ APSIS assumes total responsibility for the appraisal material, including implicit content, for the exercise of its functions, especially that established in laws, codes or internal regulations.
§ This Report has been drawn up in accordance with the criteria and recommendations established by the Brazilian Standards Bureau (ABNT), the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC), as well as requirements imposed by different bodies such as the Accounting Pronouncements Committee (CPC), the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, Banco do Brasil, the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM), the Superintendence of Private Insurance (SUSEP), Income Tax Regulations (RIR) and the Brazilian Committee of Business Appraisers (CBAN), among others.
§ The controlling company and management of the companies involved did not direct, limit, place difficulties upon or practice any acts that could have jeopardized access to, as well as the use or knowledge of the information, goods, documents or working methods that were important to the conclusions of this Report.
Report SP-0126/13-04 5
§ When preparing this Report, APSIS made use of data and information from historical accounting registers audited by third parties or unaudited, furnished in writing by the company’s management or obtained from cited sources. Consequently, APSIS has assumed that the data and information obtained for this Report is true and consistent and therefore accepts no responsibility in relation to its veracity or otherwise.
§ The scope of this work does not include auditing the company’s financial statements or reviewing the work of its auditors. Consequently, APSIS is not expressing any opinion on the financial statements of the requesting company.
§ We accept no responsibility for any losses suffered by the requesting company and its subsidiaries, partners, officers, creditors or other parties, resulting from the use of the data or information supplied by the company and presented in this Report.
§ Our work was developed exclusively for the use of the requesting company and its partners for the purpose described above.
Report SP-0126/13-04 6
Examination of the already mentioned supporting documentation, in order to verify good bookkeeping in line with the legal, regulatory, normative and structural provisions governing the material, in accordance with accounting practices adopted in Brazil.
We examined FLORESTAL’s accounting books and all other necessary documents for the preparation of this Report, which was based on FLORESTAL´s balance sheet on August 31, 2013 (Exhibit 1).
In the opinion of the appraisers, FLORESTAL´s assets and liabilities have been duly recorded.
Report SP-0126/13-04 7
FLORESTAL’s accounting books and all other necessary documents for the preparation of this Report were duly examined.
The appraisers concluded that the book value of FLORESTAL’s shareholders’ equity for the purpose of its merger by CSN was negative by three hundred ninety-one million, three hundred eighty-nine thousand, one hundred and seven reais and five centavos (R$391,389,107.05), on August 31, 2013, as shown in the adjacent table:
BALANCE SHEET (R$) |
FLORESTAL NACIONAL ON 8/31/2013 |
CURRENT ASSETS |
4,173,980.41 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |
1,758,948.60 |
Cash and cash equivalents |
1,758,948.60 |
OTHER ASSETS |
2,415,031.81 |
Taxes recoverable |
2,415,031.81 |
LONG-TERM ASSETS |
115,760,744.77 |
Deferred income tax and social contribution |
115,760,744.77 |
PERMANENT ASSETS |
279,782,030.24 |
Investments |
260,209,888.61 |
Property, plant and equipment |
19,572,141.63 |
TOTAL ASSETS |
399,716,755.42 |
CURRENT LIABILITIES |
192,543,223.17 |
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES |
192,543,223.17 |
Trade accounts payable |
1,288,246.57 |
Taxes payable |
62,177.24 |
Loans and financings |
191,186,201.01 |
Provisions |
6,598.35 |
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES |
598,562,639.30 |
Loans and financings |
598,562,639.30 |
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
- 391,389,107.05 |
Capital stock |
24,616,208.00 |
Comprehensive income |
45,072,052.74 |
Accrued income/losses |
- 461,077,367.79 |
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
399,716,755.42 |
Report SP-0126/13-04 8
Following the examination of the previously mentioned documents and based on APSIS´ own studies, the appraisers concluded that the book value of FLORESTAL´s shareholders’ equity for the purpose of its merger by CSN was negative by three hundred ninety-one million, three hundred eighty-nine thousand, one hundred and seven reais and five centavos (R$391,389,107.05), on August 31, 2013.
Having concluded Report SP-0126/13-04, consisting of nine (9) written pages and two (2) exhibits, APSIS Consultoria e Avaliações Ltda. (CRC/RJ-005112/O-9), a company specializing in the appraisal of goods, legally represented by its executive officers, is available to clarify any doubts that may arise.
São Paulo, September 10, 2013.
Report SP-0126/13-04 9
Board of Executive Officers |
Accounting Company Registration: CRC/SP-107639/O-6 |
Report SP-0126/13-04 10
1. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
RIO DE JANEIRO - RJ Rua da Assembleia, nº 35, 12º andar Centro, CEP 20011-001 Tel.: + 55 (21) 2212-6850 Fax: + 55 (21) 2212-6851
|
SÃO PAULO - SP Av. Angélica, nº 2.503, Conj. 42 Consolação, CEP 01227-200 Tel.: + 55 (11) 3666-8448 Fax: + 55 (11) 3662-5722 |
EXHIBIT 1
Report SP-0126/13-04 11
FLORESTAL NACIONAL S.A. |
||||
(Amounts in R$) |
||||
Balance on 8/31/2013 | ||||
10000000 ASSETS |
||||
11000000 CURRENT ASSETS |
||||
11010000 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |
||||
11010200 TRANSACTION ACCOUNTS |
||||
11010203 |
BANCO DO BRASIL RJ-TRANSACTION ACCOUNT |
3,793.34 | ||
11010254 |
BANCO PACTUAL - TRANSACTION ACCOUNT |
497.68 | ||
TOTAL TRANSACTION ACCOUNTS |
4,291.02 | |||
110110 CASH EQUIVALENTS (UP TO 90 D) |
||||
11011000 FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS |
||||
11011001 |
EXCLUSIVE FUNDS |
821,665.36 | ||
11011003 |
THIRD-PARTY FUNDS-DOMESTIC CURRENCY |
932,992.22 | ||
TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (UP TO 90 D) |
1,754,657.58 | |||
TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (UP TO 90 D) |
1,754,657.58 | |||
TOTAL CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |
1,758,948.60 | |||
11350000 OTHER LONG-TERM RECEIVABLES |
||||
11350200 RECOVERABLE TAXES |
||||
11350206 |
IRRF ON FINANCIAL OPERATIONS |
301,142.72 | ||
11350223 |
IRPJ/IRRF TO OFFSET |
1,998,459.08 | ||
11350238 |
PIS-LAW 10637 |
20,590.22 | ||
11350239 |
COFINS - LAW 10833/03 |
94,839.79 | ||
TOTAL RECOVERABLE TAXES |
2,415,031.81 | |||
TOTAL OTHER LONG-TERM RECEIVABLES |
2,415,031.81 | |||
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS |
4,173,980.41 | |||
12000000 LONG-TERM RECEIVABLES |
||||
12470000 DEFERRED IRPJ (LONG TERM) |
||||
12470100 DEFERRED IRPJ (LONG TERM) |
||||
12470101 |
DEFERRED IRPJ (LONG TERM) |
150,013,776.56 | ||
12470110 |
IRPJ - DEFERRED LIABILITIES (-) |
-17,072,747.25 | ||
12470111 |
IRPJ- DEFERRED ASSETS - CONTRA ACCOUNT (-) |
-47,822,834.63 | ||
TOTAL DEFERRED IRPJ (LONG TERM) |
85,118,194.68 | |||
TOTAL DEFERRED IRPJ (LONG TERM) |
85,118,194.68 | |||
12480000 DEFERRED CSLL (LONG TERM) |
||||
12480100 DEFERRED CSLL (LONG TERM) |
||||
12480101 |
DEFERRED CSLL (LONG TERM) |
54,004,959.57 | ||
12480110 |
CSLL - DEFERRED LIABILITIES (-) |
-6,146,189.01 | ||
12480111 |
CSLL-DEFERRED ASSET - CONTRA ACCOUNT (-) |
-17,216,220.47 | ||
TOTAL DEFERRED CSLL (LONG TERM) |
30,642,550.09 | |||
TOTAL DEFERRED CSLL (LONG TERM) |
30,642,550.09 | |||
TOTAL LONG TERM RECEIVABLES |
115,760,744.77 | |||
13000000 PERMANENT ASSETS |
||||
13010000 INVESTMENTS |
||||
13010100 STATED AT EQUITY METHOD |
||||
13010809 |
INVESTMENT IN CIA FLORESTAL DO BRASIL |
19,358,448.61 | ||
TOTAL STATED AT EQUITY METHOD |
19,358,448.61 | |||
13011000 STATED AT ACQUISITION COST |
||||
13011022 |
USIMINAS |
581,323,647.00 | ||
13011023 |
USIMINAS - INVESTMENT ADJUSTMENT |
-340,472,207.00 | ||
TOTAL STATED AT ACQUISITION COST |
240,851,440.00 | |||
TOTAL INVESTMENTS |
260,209,888.61 | |||
13050000 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT |
||||
13050300 CURRENT WORKS |
||||
13050301 |
CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS |
19,572,141.63 | ||
TOTAL CURRENT WORKS |
19,572,141.63 | |||
TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT |
19,572,141.63 | |||
TOTAL PERMANENT ASSETS |
279,782,030.24 | |||
TOTAL ASSETS |
399,716,755.42 |
FLORESTAL NACIONAL S.A. |
||||
(Amounts in R$) |
||||
Balance on 8/31/2013 | ||||
20000000 LIABILITIES |
||||
21000000 CURRENT LIABILITIES |
||||
21080000 LOANS AND BORROWINGS-CHARGES |
||||
21080100 DOMESTIC CURRENCY |
||||
21080129 |
INTERCOMPANY LOAN - INTEREST |
-152,948,960.81 | ||
21080130 |
INCOME TAX IN DOMESTIC CURRENCY - INVESTEES |
-38,237,240.20 | ||
TOTAL DOMESTIC CURRENCY |
-191,186,201.01 | |||
TOTAl LOANS AND BORROWINGS-CHARGES |
-191,186,201.01 | |||
21150000 TRADE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE |
||||
21150100 TRADE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE - THIRD PARTIES |
||||
21150101 |
DOMESTIC SUPPLIERS |
-1,288,246.57 | ||
TOTAL TRADE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE - THIRD PARTIES |
-1,288,246.57 | |||
TOTAL TRADE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE |
-1,288,246.57 | |||
21300000 TAXES PAYABLE |
||||
21300100 TAXES PAYABLE |
||||
21300102 |
CSLL, COFINS AND PIS - WITHHOLDING TAX |
-47,012.06 | ||
21300104 |
IRRF - SERVICES RENDERED |
-15,165.18 | ||
TOTAL TAXES PAYABLE |
-62,177.24 | |||
TOTAL TAXES PAYABLE |
-62,177.24 | |||
21500000 PROVISIONS |
||||
21500500 OTHER PROVISIONS |
||||
21500506 |
PROVISION FOR SERVICES RENDERED |
-6,598.35 | ||
TOTAL OTHER PROVISIONS |
-6,598.35 | |||
TOTAL PROVISIONS |
-6,598.35 | |||
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES |
-192,543,223.17 | |||
22000000 LONG-TERM LIABILITIES |
||||
22010000 LOANS AND BORROWINGS-PRINCIPAL |
||||
22010100 DOMESTIC CURRENCY |
||||
22010121 |
INVESTEE LOAN IN DOMESTIC CURRENCY |
-590,248,537.39 | ||
TOTAL DOMESTIC CURRENCY |
-590,248,537.39 | |||
TOTAL LOANS AND BORROWINGS-PRINCIPAL |
-590,248,537.39 | |||
22060000 CURRENT ACCOUNTS / LOANS |
||||
22060300 ADVANCES FOR FUTURE CAPITAL INCREASE |
||||
22060301 |
ADVANCES FOR FUTURE CAPITAL INCREASE - CSN |
-8,314,101.91 | ||
TOTAL ADVANCES FOR FUTURE CAPITAL INCREASE |
-8,314,101.91 | |||
TOTAL CURRENT ACCOUNTS / LOANS |
-8,314,101.91 | |||
TOTAL LONG-TERM LIABILITIES |
-598,562,639.30 | |||
2423 EQUITY AND NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST |
||||
24 EQUITY |
||||
24010000 CAPITAL STOCK |
||||
24010100 PAID-IN SHARES |
||||
24010101 |
COMMON SHARES |
-24,616,208.00 | ||
TOTAL PAID-IN SHARES |
-24,616,208.00 | |||
TOTAL CAPITAL STOCK |
-24,616,208.00 | |||
240800 COMPREHENSIVE INCOME |
||||
24081600 GAINS AND LOSSES FROM AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE FINANCIAL ASSETS |
||||
24081602 |
GAINS AND LOSSES FROM AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE FINANCIAL ASSETS-USIMINAS |
-68,290,989.00 | ||
24081690 |
DEFERRED SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION |
6,146,189.01 | ||
24081695 |
DEFERRED INCOME TAX |
17,072,747.25 | ||
TOTAL LOSSES FROM AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE FINANCIAL ASSETS |
-45,072,052.74 | |||
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME |
-45,072,052.74 | |||
24100000 RETAINED EARNINGS OR ACCUMULATED LOSSES |
||||
24100100 FROM PRIOR YEARS |
||||
24100101 |
RETAINED EARNINGS/ ACCUMULATED LOSSES |
420,528,599.61 | ||
TOTAL PRIOR-YEAR RETAINED EARNINGS/ ACCUMULATED LOSSES |
420,528,599.61 | |||
24100300 CURRENT YEAR |
||||
24100301 LOSS FOR THE YEAR |
40,548,768.18 | |||
TOTAL RETAINED EARNINGS OR ACCUMULATED LOSSES |
461,077,367.79 | |||
TOTAL EQUITY |
391,389,107.05 | |||
TOTAL EQUITY AND NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST |
391,389,107.05 | |||
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
-399,716,755.42 |
FLORESTAL NACIONAL S.A. |
||||
(Amounts in R$) |
||||
Balance on 8/31/2013 | ||||
30000000 PROFIT/LOSS FOR THE YEAR |
||||
3RAIRCS PROFIT/LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAX/SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION |
||||
3RO OPERATING RESULT |
||||
4DROP OPERATING EXPENSES/INCOME |
||||
42020000 GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES |
||||
42020100 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES |
||||
42020101 |
G.A. EXPENSES - PRIMARY COSTS |
13 | ||
42020105 |
SERVICES |
16,496.51 | ||
TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES |
16,509.51 | |||
TOTAL GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES |
16,509.51 | |||
4ODROP OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES/INCOME |
||||
42060000 OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES |
||||
42060100 OTHER EXPENSES |
||||
42060139 |
IMPAIRMENT OF AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES |
1,242,801.00 | ||
42060190 |
NON-RECURRING EXPENSES |
7,833.13 | ||
TOTAL OTHER EXPENSES |
1,250,634.13 | |||
TOTAL OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES |
1,250,634.13 | |||
TOTAL OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES/INCOME |
1,250,634.13 | |||
4RFL NET FINANCIAL RESULT |
||||
42030000 FINANCIAL EXPENSES |
||||
42030400 INTEREST ON FINANCING - WORKING CAPITAL |
||||
42030402 |
INTEREST ON LOANS OF INVESTEES - MN |
39,378,951.02 | ||
TOTAL INTEREST ON FINANCING - WORKING CAPITAL |
39,378,951.02 | |||
42031200 OTHER FINANCIAL CHARGES |
||||
42031206 |
EXPENSES WITH FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS |
1,151.83 | ||
42031214 |
BANK EXPENSES |
445 | ||
42031220 |
OTHER FINANCIAL EXPENSES |
494,821.61 | ||
TOTAL OTHER FINANCIAL CHARGES |
496,418.44 | |||
TOTAL FINANCIAL EXPENSES |
39,875,369.46 | |||
33010000 FINANCIAL INCOME |
||||
33010100 FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS |
||||
33010101 |
EXCLUSIVE FUNDS |
-46,295.76 | ||
33010102 |
THIRD-PARTY FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS |
-43,667.63 | ||
TOTAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS |
-89,963.39 | |||
33010200 OTHER |
||||
33010217 |
INTEREST AND FINES RECEIVABLE |
-81,229.19 | ||
TOTAL OTHER |
-81,229.19 | |||
TOTAL FINANCIAL INCOME |
-171,192.58 | |||
TOTAL NET FINANCIAL RESULT |
39,704,176.88 | |||
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES/INCOME |
40,971,320.52 | |||
TOTAL OPERATING INCOME |
40,971,320.52 | |||
PROFIT/LOSS BEFORE INCOME LOSS/SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION |
40,971,320.52 | |||
4PIRCS PROVISION FOR INCOME TAX AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION |
||||
45010000 PROVISION FOR INCOME TAX |
||||
45010102 |
DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSETS - ST |
-310,700.25 | ||
TOTAL PROVISION FOR INCOME TAX |
-310,700.25 | |||
45020000 PROVISION FOR SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION |
||||
45020102 |
DEFERRED SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION ASSETS - ST |
-111,852.09 | ||
TOTAL PROVISION FOR SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION |
-111,852.09 | |||
TOTAL PROV. FOR INCOME TAX AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION |
-422,552.34 | |||
37010101 PROFIT/LOSS FOR THE YEAR |
-40,548,768.18 |
COMPANHIA SIDERÚRGICA NACIONAL | |
By: |
/S/ Benjamin Steinbruch
|
Benjamin Steinbruch
Chief Executive Officer |
| |
By: |
/S/ David Moise Salama
|
David Moise Salama
Investor Relations Executive Officer |
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.