AMD 2012 Annual Report Download - page 39

• changes in tax laws, trade protection measures and import or export licensing requirements;
• difficulties in protecting our intellectual property;
• difficulties in managing staffing and exposure to different employment practices and labor laws;
• changes in foreign currency exchange rates;
• restrictions on transfers of funds and other assets of our subsidiaries between jurisdictions;
• changes in freight and interest rates;
• disruption in air transportation between the United States and our overseas facilities;
• loss or modification of exemptions for taxes and tariffs; and
• compliance with U.S. laws and regulations related to international operations, including export control
and economic sanctions laws and regulations and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
In addition, our worldwide operations (or those of our business partners) could be subject to natural
disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, typhoons and volcanic eruptions that disrupt manufacturing or
other operations. For example, our Sunnyvale operations are located near major earthquake fault lines in
California. Any conflict or uncertainty in the countries in which we operate, including public health or safety,
natural disasters, fire, disruptions of service from utilities, nuclear power plant accidents, or general economic or
political factors, could have a material adverse effect on our business. Any of the above risks, should they occur,
could result in an increase in the cost of components, production delays, general business interruptions, delays
from difficulties in obtaining export licenses for certain technology, tariffs and other barriers and restrictions,
potentially longer payment cycles, potentially increased taxes, restrictions on the repatriation of funds and the
burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws, any of which could ultimately have a material adverse
effect on our business.
Worldwide political conditions may adversely affect demand for our products.
Worldwide political conditions may create uncertainties that could adversely affect our business. The United
States has been and may continue to be involved in armed conflicts that could have a further impact on our sales
and our supply chain. The consequences of armed conflict, political instability or civil or military unrest are
unpredictable and we may not be able to foresee events that could have a material adverse effect on us. Terrorist
attacks or other hostile acts may negatively affect our operations, or adversely affect demand for our products,
and such attacks or related armed conflicts may impact our physical facilities or those of our suppliers or
customers. Furthermore, these attacks or hostile acts may make travel and the transportation of our products more
difficult and more expensive, which could materially adversely affect us. Any of these events could cause
consumer spending to decrease or result in increased volatility in the United States economy and worldwide
financial markets.
Unfavorable currency exchange rate fluctuations could continue to adversely affect us.
We have costs, assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies, primarily the Canadian
dollar. As a consequence, movements in exchange rates could cause our foreign currency denominated expenses
to increase as a percentage of revenue, affecting our profitability and cash flows. Whenever we believe
appropriate, we hedge a portion of our short-term foreign currency exposure to protect against fluctuations in
currency exchange rates. We determine our total foreign currency exposure using projections of long-term
expenditures for items such as payroll. We cannot assure you that these activities will be effective in reducing
foreign exchange rate exposure. Failure to do so could have an adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, results of operations and cash flow. In addition, the majority of our product sales are denominated in
U.S. dollars. Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the local currency can cause increases
or decreases in the cost of our products in the local currency of such customers. An appreciation of the U.S.
dollar relative to the local currency could reduce sales of our products.
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