ADT 2007 Annual Report Download - page 105

Available Information
Tyco is required to file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. Investors may read and copy any document that Tyco files, including this
Annual Report on Form 10-K, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580,
Washington, DC 20549. Investors may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site at
http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, from which investors can electronically access
Tyco’s SEC filings.
Our Internet website is www.tyco.com. We make available free of charge on or through our website
our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K,
reports filed pursuant to Section 16 and any amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably
practicable after we electronically file or furnish such materials to the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In addition, we have posted the charters for our Audit Committee, Compensation and
Human Resources Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee, as well as our Board
Governance Principles and Guide to Ethical Conduct, on our website under the heading ‘‘Corporate
Responsibility—Governance.’’ These charters and principles are not incorporated in this report by
reference. We will also provide a copy of these documents free of charge to shareholders upon request.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
You should carefully consider the risks described below before investing in our publicly traded securities.
The risks described below are not the only ones facing us. Our business is also subject to the risks that
affect many other companies, such as competition, technological obsolescence, labor relations, general
economic conditions, geopolitical events, climate change and international operations. Additional risks not
currently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial also may impair our business operations
and our liquidity.
Risks Relating to Our Businesses
Cyclical industry and economic conditions have affected and may continue to adversely affect our
financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Our operating results can be adversely affected by the general cyclical pattern of certain industries
in which we operate. For example, demand for our services and products is significantly affected by the
level of commercial construction, the amount of discretionary consumer and business spending and the
performance of the housing market, each of which historically has displayed significant cyclicality. A
downturn in any of these industries or the deterioration in general global economic conditions could
have a negative impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Our operations expose us to the risk of material environmental liabilities, litigation and violations.
We are subject to numerous foreign, federal, state and local environmental protection and health
and safety laws governing, among other things:
• the generation, storage, use and transportation of hazardous materials;
• emissions or discharges of substances into the environment; and
• the health and safety of our employees.
There can be no assurances that we have been or will be at all times in compliance with environmental
and health and safety laws. If we violate these laws, we could be fined, criminally charged or otherwise
sanctioned by regulators.
Certain environmental laws assess liability on current or previous owners or operators of real
property for the cost of removal or remediation of hazardous substances at their properties or at
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