Kimberly-Clark 2007 Annual Report Download - page 57

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PART II
(Continued)
of the probability of an unfavorable outcome and the ability to make a reasonable estimate. Changes in these
estimates could affect the timing and amount of accrual of loss contingencies.
Legal Matters
The Corporation has been named a potentially responsible party under the provisions of the federal
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or analogous state statutes, at a number
of waste disposal sites, none of which, individually or in the aggregate, in management’s opinion, is likely to have a
material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
New Accounting Standards
See Item 8, Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of new accounting standards
and their anticipated effects on the Corporation’s financial statements.
Business Outlook
Based on the strength of its business results throughout 2007, in the face of significant inflationary
pressures, the Corporation is confident that it will continue to execute its Global Business Plan in 2008. The
Corporation expects top-line growth in 2008, consistent with its long-term objectives as it builds on momentum
in the personal care segment and developing and emerging markets and successfully drives its other targeted
growth initiatives. The Corporation intends to continue to aggressively reduce costs and will strive to improve
results in businesses that have been most significantly impacted by cost inflation. At the same time, the
Corporation will invest more to further strengthen key capabilities in innovation, marketing and customer
development—investments that will help it deliver sustainable growth. Finally, the Corporation will remain
focused on increasing cash flow and deploying it in shareholder-friendly ways.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain matters discussed in this Form 10-K or related documents, a portion of which are incorporated
herein by reference, concerning, among other things, the business outlook, including new product introductions,
cost savings, anticipated costs and benefits related to the Strategic Cost Reduction Plan, anticipated benefits from
the ASR program, anticipated financial and operating results, strategies, contingencies and anticipated
transactions of the Corporation, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based upon management’s expectations and beliefs concerning
future events impacting the Corporation. There can be no assurance that these events will occur or that the
Corporation’s results will be as estimated.
The assumptions used as a basis for the forward-looking statements include many estimates that, among other
things, depend on the achievement of future cost savings and projected volume increases. In addition, many factors
outside the control of the Corporation, including the prices and availability of the Corporation’s raw materials,
potential competitive pressures on selling prices or advertising and promotion expenses for the Corporation’s
products, energy costs, and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, as well as general economic conditions
in the markets in which the Corporation does business, could impact the realization of such estimates.
The factors described under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in this Form 10-K, or in our other Securities and
Exchange Commission filings, among others, could cause the Corporation’s future results to differ from those
expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Corporation. Other factors not
presently known to us or that we presently consider immaterial could also affect our business operations and
financial results.
37