Tyson Foods 2014 Annual Report Download - page 8

PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
We have filed a number of patents and trademarks relating to our processes and products that either have been approved or are in the process of
application. Because we do a significant amount of brand name and product line advertising to promote our products, we consider the
protection of our trademarks to be important to our marketing efforts. We also have developed non-public proprietary information regarding
our production processes and other product-related matters. We utilize internal procedures and safeguards to protect the confidentiality of such
information and, where appropriate, seek patent and/or trademark protection for the technology we utilize.
INDUSTRY PRACTICES
Our agreements with customers are generally short-term, primarily due to the nature of our products, industry practices and fluctuations in
supply, demand and price for such products. In certain instances where we are selling further processed products to large customers, we may
enter into written agreements whereby we will act as the exclusive or preferred supplier to the customer, with pricing terms that are either fixed
or variable.
AVAILABILITY OF SEC FILINGS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTS ON INTERNET WEBSITE
We maintain an internet website for investors at http://ir.tyson.com. On this website, we make available, free of charge, annual reports on Form
10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) reports, and all
amendments to any of those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such reports with, or furnish to, the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Also available on the website for investors are the Corporate Governance Principles, Audit Committee charter,
Compensation and Leadership Development Committee charter, Governance and Nominating Committee charter, Strategy and Acquisitions
Committee charter, Code of Conduct and Whistleblower Policy. Our corporate governance documents are available in print, free of charge to
any shareholder who requests them.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF “SAFE
HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
Certain information in this report constitutes forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
current views and estimates of our outlook for fiscal 2015, other future economic circumstances, industry conditions in domestic and
international markets, our performance and financial results (e.g., debt levels, return on invested capital, value-added product growth, capital
expenditures, tax rates, access to foreign markets and dividend policy). These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors
and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and experiences to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in
such forward-looking statements. We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only
as of the date made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
Among the factors that may cause actual results and experiences to differ from anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-
looking statements are the following: (i) the effect of, or changes in, general economic conditions; (ii) fluctuations in the cost and availability of
inputs and raw materials, such as live cattle, live swine, feed grains (including corn and soybean meal) and energy; (iii) market conditions for
finished products, including competition from other global and domestic food processors, supply and pricing of competing products and
alternative proteins and demand for alternative proteins; (iv) successful rationalization of existing facilities and operating efficiencies of the
facilities; (v) risks associated with our commodity purchasing activities; (vi) access to foreign markets together with foreign economic
conditions, including currency fluctuations, import/export restrictions and foreign politics; (vii) outbreak of a livestock disease (such as avian
influenza (AI) or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)), which could have an adverse effect on livestock we own, the availability of
livestock we purchase, consumer perception of certain protein products or our ability to access certain domestic and foreign markets; (viii)
changes in availability and relative costs of labor and contract growers and our ability to maintain good relationships with employees, labor
unions, contract growers and independent producers providing us livestock; (ix) issues related to food safety, including costs resulting from
product recalls, regulatory compliance and any related claims or litigation; (x) changes in consumer preference and diets and our ability to
identify and react to consumer trends; (xi) significant marketing plan changes by large customers or loss of one or more large customers; (xii)
adverse results from litigation; (xiii) impacts on our operations caused by factors and forces beyond our control, such as natural disasters, fire,
bioterrorism, pandemic or extreme weather; (xiv) risks associated with leverage, including cost increases due to rising interest rates or changes
in debt ratings or outlook; (xv) compliance with and changes to regulations and laws (both domestic and foreign), including changes in
accounting standards, tax laws, environmental laws, agricultural laws and occupational, health and safety laws; (xvi) our ability to make
effective acquisitions or joint ventures and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into existing operations; (xvii) failures or security
breaches of our information technology systems; (xviii) effectiveness of advertising and marketing programs; and (xix) those factors listed
under Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”
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