Tucows 2014 Annual Report Download - page 25

• currency fluctuations and exchange rates;
• potentially adverse tax consequences or an inability to realize tax benefits; and
• the lower level of adoption of the Internet in many international markets.
We may not succeed in our efforts to expand our international presence as a result of the factors described above
or other factors that may have an adverse impact on our overall financial condition and results of operations.
We currently license many third party technologies and may need to license further technologies which could delay
and increase the cost of product and service developments.
We currently license certain technologies from third parties and incorporate them into certain of our services
including email, anti-spam and anti-virus. The Internet services market is evolving and we may need to license additional
technologies to remain competitive. We may not be able to license these technologies on commercially reasonable terms
or at all. To the extent we cannot license necessary solutions, we may have to devote our resources to development of
such technologies, which could delay and increase the cost of product and service developments overall.
In addition, we may fail to successfully integrate licensed technology into our services. These third party
licenses may expose us to increased risks, including risks related to the integration of new technology and potential
intellectual property infringement claims. In addition, an inability to obtain needed licenses could delay product and
service development until equivalent technology can be identified, licensed and integrated. Any delays in services or
integration problems could hinder our ability to attract and retain customers and cause our business and operating results
to suffer.
Our advertising revenues may be subject to fluctuations.
We believe that Internet advertising spending, as in traditional media, fluctuates significantly with economic
cycles and during any calendar year, with spending being weighted towards the end of the year to reflect trends in the
retail industry. Our advertisers can generally terminate their contracts with us at any time. Advertising spending is
particularly sensitive to changes in general economic conditions and typically decreases when economic conditions are
not favorable. A decrease in demand for Internet advertising could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
We may acquire companies or make investments in, or enter into licensing arrangements with, other companies with
technologies that are complementary to our business and these acquisitions or arrangements could disrupt our
business, cause us to require additional financing and dilute your holdings in our company.
We may acquire companies, assets or the rights to technologies in the future in order to develop new services or
enhance existing services, to enhance our operating infrastructure, to fund expansion, to respond to competitive pressures
or to acquire complementary businesses. Entering into these types of arrangements entails many risks, any of which could
materially harm our business, including:
• the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns;
• the failure to effectively integrate the acquired technology or company into our business;
• the incurring of significant acquisition costs;
• the loss of key employees from either our current business or the acquired business; and
• the assumption of significant liabilities of the acquired company.
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