Big Lots 2012 Annual Report Download - page 86

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In the “Investor Relations” section of our website (www.biglots.com) under the “Corporate Governance”
and “SEC Filings” captions, the following information relating to our corporate governance may be found:
Corporate Governance Guidelines; charters of our Board of Directors’ Audit, Compensation, Nominating/
Corporate Governance, Strategic Planning, and Public Policy and Environmental Affairs Committees; Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics; Code of Ethics for Financial Officers; Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer certifications related to our SEC filings; the means by which shareholders may communicate
with our Board of Directors; and transactions in our securities by our directors and executive officers. The
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applies to all of our associates, including our directors and our principal
executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer. The Code of Ethics for Financial
Professionals applies to our Chief Executive Officer and all other Senior Financial Officers (as that term is
defined therein) and contains provisions specifically applicable to the individuals serving in those positions. We
intend to post amendments to and waivers from, if any, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (to the extent
applicable to our directors and executive officers) and our Code of Ethics for Financial Professionals in the
“Investor Relations” section of our website (www.biglots.com) under the “Corporate Governance” caption. We
will provide any of the foregoing information without charge upon written request to our Corporate Secretary.
The contents of our websites are not part of this report.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The statements in this section describe the material risks to our business and should be considered carefully. In
addition, these statements constitute cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995.
Our disclosure and analysis in this Form 10-K and in our 2012 Annual Report to Shareholders contain forward-
looking statements that set forth anticipated results based on management’s plans and assumptions. From time
to time, we also provide forward-looking statements in other materials we release to the public as well as oral
forward-looking statements. Such statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events; they do
not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Such statements are commonly identified by using words such
as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “objective,” “goal,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “will,” “should,”
“may,” “target,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “outlook,” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of
future operating or financial performance. In particular, forward-looking statements include statements relating
to future actions, future performance, or results of current and anticipated products, sales efforts, expenses,
interest rates, the outcome of contingencies, such as legal proceedings, and financial results.
We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized. Achievement of future results is
subject to risks, uncertainties, and potential inaccurate assumptions. Should known or unknown risks or
uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could differ
materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated, or projected results set forth in the forward-
looking statements. You should bear this in mind as you consider forward-looking statements.
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date
thereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events, or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we
make on related subjects in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with
the SEC.
Also note that we provide the following cautionary discussion of material risks, uncertainties, and assumptions
relevant to our businesses. There can be no assurances that we have correctly and completely identified,
assessed, and accounted for all factors that do or may affect our business, financial condition, results of
operations, and liquidity. These are factors that, individually or in the aggregate, we think could cause our
actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. Additional risks not presently known to
us or that we presently believe to be immaterial also may adversely impact us. Should any risks or uncertainties
develop into actual events, these developments could have material adverse effects on our business, financial
condition, results of operations, and liquidity. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements are qualified
by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the results or developments we anticipate will
be realized or that they will have the expected effects on our business or operations. We note these factors for