Apogee (APOG) Risk Analysis

The loss of our CEO or any of our key senior executives could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition, particularly if we are unable to hire and integrate suitable replacements on a timely basis. Further, as we continue to grow our business, we will continue to adjust our senior management team. If we are unable to attract or retain the right individuals for the team, it could hinder our ability to efficiently execute our business, and could disrupt our operations or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business. Additionally, our success depends on the skills of construction project managers and other key technical personnel, and our ability to secure sufficient manufacturing and installation labor. In recent years, strong residential and non-residential construction and low U.S. unemployment have caused increased competition for experienced construction project managers and other labor. If we are unable to retain existing employees, provide a safe and healthy working environment, and/or recruit and train additional employees with the requisite skills and experience, our operating results could be adversely impacted.

Our Architectural Framing Systems and Architectural Services Segments use aluminum as a significant input to their products and our operating results in those two segments could be negatively impacted by supply chain disruptions and adverse price movements in the market for raw aluminum. In recent years, we have seen increased volatility in the price of aluminum that we purchase from both domestic and international sources. Due to our Architectural Framing Systems and Architectural Services Segments presence in Canada, we have significant cross-border activity, as our Canadian businesses purchase inputs from U.S.-based suppliers and sell to U.S.-based customers. A significant change in U.S. trade policy with Canada could, therefore, have an adverse impact on our operating results. Our Architectural Glass and LSO Segments use raw glass as a significant input to their products. We periodically experience a tighter supply of raw glass when there is growth in automotive manufacturing and residential and non-residential construction. Failure to acquire a sufficient amount of raw glass on terms as favorable as current terms, including as a result of a significant unplanned downtime or shift in strategy at one or more of our key suppliers, could negatively impact our operating results. Our suppliers are subject to the fluctuations in general economic cycles. Global economic conditions and trade policies may impact their ability to operate their businesses. They may also be impacted by the increasing costs or availability of raw materials, labor and distribution, resulting in demands for less attractive contract terms or an inability for them to meet our requirements or conduct their own businesses. The performance and financial condition of one or more suppliers may cause us to alter our business terms or to cease doing business with a particular supplier or suppliers, or change our sourcing practices generally, which could in turn adversely affect our business and financial condition. If we encounter problems with distribution, our ability to deliver our products to market could be adversely affected. Our operations are vulnerable to interruptions in the event of work stoppages, whether due to public health concerns, labor disputes or shortages, and natural disasters that may affect our distribution and transportation to job sites. Moreover, our distribution system includes computer-controlled and automated equipment, which may be subject to a number of risks related to data and system security or computer viruses, the proper operation of software and hardware, power interruptions or other system failures. If we encounter problems with our distribution systems, our ability to meet customer and consumer expectations, manage inventory, manage transportation-related costs, complete sales and achieve operating efficiencies could be adversely affected.

We utilize certain aluminum products in our manufacturing processes. Tariffs imposed in the U.S. or other countries on these aluminum products imported into the U.S. could result in increased costs and a decreased available supply. We may be unable to pass price increases on to our customers and may be unable to secure adequate alternative sources. The tariffs, and our inability to offset them with higher pricing, could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

We are subject to a legal and regulatory framework imposed under federal and state laws and regulatory agencies, including laws and regulations that apply specifically to U.S. public companies and laws and regulations applicable to our manufacturing and construction site operations. Our efforts to comply with evolving laws, regulations, and reporting standards, including climate-related regulations, may increase our general and administrative expenses, divert management time and attention, or limit our operational flexibility, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, and results of operations. Additionally, new laws, rules, and regulations, or changes to existing laws or their interpretations, could create added legal and compliance costs and uncertainty for us. We use hazardous materials in our manufacturing operations, and have air and water emissions that require controls. Accordingly, we are also subject to federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations, including those governing the storage and use of hazardous materials and disposal of wastes. A violation of such laws and regulations, or a release of such substances, may expose us to various claims, including claims by third parties, as well as remediation costs and fines.

Significant judgment is required to determine our effective tax rate and evaluate our tax positions. We provide for uncertain tax positions when such tax positions do not meet the recognition thresholds or measurement criteria prescribed by applicable accounting standards. Fluctuations in federal, state, local and foreign taxes or a change to uncertain tax positions, including related interest and penalties, may impact our effective tax rate and financial results. Additionally, we are subject to audits in the various taxing jurisdictions in which we conduct business. In cases where audits are conducted and issues are raised, a number of years may elapse before such issues are finally resolved. Unfavorable resolution of any tax matter could increase the effective tax rate, which could have an adverse effect on our operating results and cash flow. The impact of future tax legislation in the U.S. or abroad is always uncertain. Changes in such laws could adversely impact our effective income tax rate.

We operate in competitive industries in which the actions of our existing competitors or new competitors could result in loss of customers and/or market share. Changes in our competitors' products, prices or services could negatively impact our share of demand and our operating results. Our LSO Segment competes with several specialty glass manufacturers and acrylic suppliers. If these competitors are able to successfully improve their product attributes, service capabilities and production capacity and/or improve their sales and marketing focus within the markets we serve, this segment's operating results could be negatively impacted.

The LSO Segment is highly dependent on a relatively small number of customers for its sales, while working to grow in new markets and with new customers. Accordingly, loss of a significant customer, a significant reduction in pricing, or a shift to a less favorable mix of value-added picture framing glass or acrylic products for one or more of those customers could materially reduce the segment's operating results.

Our operations are dependent upon various information technology systems that are used to process, transmit and store electronic information and data, and to manage or support our manufacturing operations and a variety of other business processes and activities, some of which are managed by third parties. We could encounter difficulties in maintaining our existing systems, developing and implementing new systems, or integrating information technology systems across our business units. Such difficulties could lead to disruption in business operations and/or significant additional expenses that could adversely affect our results. Additionally, our information technology and Internet based systems, and those of our third-party service providers, are subject to disruption and data loss due to natural disasters, power losses, unauthorized access, telecommunication failures and cyber-attacks of increasing frequency and sophistication. These systems have in the past been, and may in the future be, subject to cyber-attacks and other attempts to gain unauthorized access, breach, damage, disrupt or otherwise compromise such systems, none of which have been material to us in the last three fiscal years. The occurrence of any of these events could adversely affect our reputation and could result in the compromise of confidential information, litigation, manipulation and loss of data and intellectual property, regulatory action, production downtimes, disruption in availability of financial data, misrepresentation of information via digital media, and increased costs and operational consequences of implementing further data protection systems. Our security measures may also be breached in the future as a result of employee error, failure to implement appropriate processes and procedures, advances in computer and software capabilities and encryption technology, new tools and discoveries, malfeasance, third-party action, including cyber-attacks or other international misconduct by computer hackers or otherwise. Additionally, we may have heightened cybersecurity, information security and operational risks as a result of work-from-home arrangements. Our workforce operates with a combination of remote work and flexible work schedules opening us up for cybersecurity threats and potential breaches as a result of increased employee usage of networks other than company-managed. This could result in one or more third-parties obtaining unauthorized access to our customer or supplier data or our internal data, including personally identifiable information, intellectual property and other confidential business information. Third-parties may also attempt to fraudulently induce employees into disclosing sensitive information such as user names, passwords or other information in order to gain access to customer or supplier data or our internal data, including intellectual property, financial, and other confidential business information. We believe our mitigation measures reduce, but cannot eliminate, the risk of a cyber incident; however, there can be no assurance that our existing and planned precautions of backup systems, regular data backups, security protocols and other procedures will be adequate to prevent significant damage, system failure or data loss and the same is true for our partners, vendors and other third parties on which we rely. Because techniques used to obtain unauthorized access or sabotage systems change frequently and generally are not identified until they are launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative or mitigation measures. Though it is difficult to determine what harm may directly result from any specific interruption or breach, any failure to maintain performance, reliability, security and availability of our network infrastructure or otherwise maintain the confidentiality, security, and integrity of data that we store or otherwise maintain on behalf of third-parties may harm our reputation and our employee, and customer relationships. If such unauthorized disclosure or access does occur, we may be required to notify our customers, employees or those persons whose information was improperly used, disclosed or accessed. We may also be subject to claims of breach of contract for such use or disclosure, investigation and penalties by regulatory authorities and potential claims by persons whose information was improperly used or disclosed. We could also become the subject of regulatory action or litigation from our customers, employees, suppliers, service providers, and shareholders, which could damage our reputation, require significant expenditures of capital and other resources, and cause us to lose business. Additionally, an unauthorized disclosure or use of information could cause interruptions in our operations and might require us to spend significant management time and other resources investigating the event and dealing with local and federal law enforcement. Regardless of the merits and ultimate outcome of these matters, we may be required to devote time and expense to their resolution. In addition, the increase in the number and the scope of data security incidents has increased regulatory and industry focus on security requirements and heightened data security industry practices. New regulation, evolving industry standards, and the interpretation of both, may cause us to incur additional expense in complying with any new data security requirements. As a result, the failure to maintain the integrity of and protect customer or supplier data or our confidential internal data could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.