I need help with this project. I have attached all of the instructions and relevant information. The final draft is due August 20th.

Course Project: A Financial Statement Analysis

A Comparative Analysis of Nike, Inc. and Under Armour, Inc.

Below is the link for the financial statements for Nike, Inc. for the fiscal year ending 2014. First, select 2014 using the drop-down arrow labeled Year, and then select Annual Filings using the drop-down arrow labeled All.

You should select the 10k dated 7/15/2014, and choose to download in PDF, Word, or Excel format.

http://investors.nike.com/investorsews-events-and-reports/?

Below is the link for the financial statements for Under Armour, Inc. for the fiscal year ending 2014.

First, select Annual using the drop-down arrow labeled View, and then select 2015 using the drop-down arrow labeled Year.

You should select the 10k dated 2/20/2015, and choose to download it in PDF or Excel format.

http://www.uabiz.com/sec.cfm

A sample project template is available for download from the Course Resources page's Course-Specific Resources section. The sample project compares the ratio performance of Tootsie Roll and Hershey using the 2014 financial statements of Tootsie Roll and Hershey provided at their websites.

Description

This course contains a Course Project, where you will be required to submit one draft of the project at the end of Week 5, and the final completed project at the end of Week 7. Using the financial statements for Nike, Inc. and Under Armour, Inc.,respectively, you will calculate and compare the financial ratios listed further down this document for the fiscal year ending 2014, and prepare your comments about the two companies' performances based on your ratio calculations. The entire project will be graded by the instructor at the end of the final submission in Week 7, and one grade will be assigned for the entire project.

Overall Requirements

For the Final Submission:

Your final Excel workbook submission should contain the following. You cannot use any other software but Excel to complete this project.

• A Completed Worksheet Title Page tab, which is really a cover sheet with your name, the course, the date, your instructor's name, and the title for the project.
• A Completed Worksheet Profiles tab which contains a one-paragraph description regarding each company with information about their history, what products they sell, where they are located, and so forth.
• All 16 ratios for each company with the supporting calculations and commentary on your Worksheet Ratio tab. Supporting calculations must be shown either as a formula or as text typed into a different cell. The ratios are listed further down this document. Your comments for each ratio should include more than just a definition of the ratio. You should focus on interpreting each ratio number for each company and support your comments with the numbers found in the ratios. You need to specifically state which company performed better for each ratio.
• The Summary and Conclusions Worksheet tab is an overall comparison of how each company compares in terms of the major category of ratios described in Chapter 13 of your textbook. A nice way to conclude is to state which company you think is the better investment and why.
• The Bibliography Worksheet tab must contain at least your textbook as a reference. Any other information that you use to profile the companies should also be cited as a reference.

Required Ratios for Final Project Submission

• Earnings per Share of Common Stock

1. Current Ratio
2. Gross (Profit) Margin Percentage
3. Rate of Return (Net Profit Margin) on Sales
4. Inventory Turnover
5. Days' Inventory Outstanding (DIO)

• Accounts Receivable Turnover
• Days' Sales Outstanding (DSO)

1. Asset Turnover
2. Rate of Return on Total Assets (ROA)
3. Debt Ratio
4. Times-Interest-Earned Ratio
5. Dividend Yield [For the purposes of this ratio, use Yahoo Finance to look up current dividend per share and stock price; just note the date that you looked up this information.]
6. Rate of Return on Common Stockholders' Equity (ROE)
7. Free cash flow
8. Price-Earnings Ratio (Multiple) [For the purpose of this ratio, for Nike, use the market price per share on May 30, 2014, and for Under Armour, use the market price per share on December 31, 2014.]

The Excel files uploaded in the Dropboxes should not include any unnecessary numbers or information (such as previous years' ratios, ratios that were not specifically asked for in the project, etc.).

Please upload your final submission to the Week 7 Dropbox by the Sunday ending Week 7.

For the Draft:

Create an Excel spreadsheet or use the project template to show your computations for the first 10 ratios listed above. The more you can complete regarding the other requirements, the closer you will be to completion when Week 7 arrives. Supporting calculations must be shown either as a formula or as text typed into a different cell. If you plan on creating your own spreadsheet, please follow the format provided in the Tootsie Roll and Hershey template file.

Please upload your draft submission to the Week 5 Dropbox by the Sunday at the end of Week 5.

Other Helpful Information:

If you feel uncomfortable with Excel, you can find many helpful tutorials on Excel by performing a Google search.

Chapter 13 contains ratio calculations and comparison comments related to Apple and Dell, so you will likely find this information helpful.

BigCharts.com provides historical stock quotes.

Either APA or MLA style can be used to complete the references on your Bibliography tab. There is a tutorial for APA and MLA style within the Plagiarism link, which can be accessed through the Syllabus.

Course Project: A Financial Statement Analysis A Comparative Analysis of Nike, Inc. and Under Armour, Inc. Below is the link for the financial statements for Nike, Inc. for the fiscal year ending 2014. First, select 2014 using the drop-down arrow labeled Year, and then select Annual Filings using the drop-down arrow labeled All. You should select the 10k dated 7/15/2014, and choose to download in PDF, Word, or Excel format. http://investors.nike.com/investorsews-events-and-reports/?toggle=filings Below is the link for the financial statements for Under Armour, Inc. for the fiscal year ending 2014. First, select Annual using the drop-down arrow labeled View, and then select 2015 using the drop-down arrow labeled Year. You should select the 10k dated 2/20/2015, and choose to download it in PDF or Excel format. http://www.uabiz.com/sec.cfm A sample project template is available for download from the Course Resources page's Course-Specific Resources section. The sample project compares the ratio performance of Tootsie Roll and Hershey using the 2014 financial statements of Tootsie Roll and Hershey provided at their websites. Description This course contains a Course Project, where you will be required to submit one draft of the project at the end of Week 5, and the final completed project at the end of Week 7. Using the financial statements for Nike, Inc. and Under Armour, Inc.,respectively, you will calculate and compare the financial ratios listed further down this document for the fiscal year ending 2014, and prepare your comments about the two companies' performances based on your ratio calculations. The entire project will be graded by the instructor at the end of the final submission in Week 7, and one grade will be assigned for the entire project. Overall Requirements For the Final Submission: Your final Excel workbook submission should contain the following. You cannot use any other software but Excel to complete this project. 1. A Completed Worksheet Title Page tab, which is really a cover sheet with your name, the course, the date, your instructor's name, and the title for the project. 2. A Completed Worksheet Profiles tab which contains a one-paragraph description regarding each company with information about their history, what products they sell, where they are located, and so forth. 3. All 16 ratios for each company with the supporting calculations and commentary on your Worksheet Ratio tab. Supporting calculations must be shown either as a formula or as text typed into a different cell. The ratios are listed further down this document. Your comments for each ratio should include more than just a definition of the ratio. You should focus on interpreting each ratio number for each company and support your comments with the numbers found in the ratios. You need to specifically state which company performed better for each ratio. 1 | Course Project: A Financial Statement Analysis 4. The Summary and Conclusions Worksheet tab is an overall comparison of how each company compares in terms of the major category of ratios described in Chapter 13 of your textbook. A nice way to conclude is to state which company you think is the better investment and why. 5. The Bibliography Worksheet tab must contain at least your textbook as a reference. Any other information that you use to profile the companies should also be cited as a reference. Required Ratios for Final Project Submission 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Earnings per Share of Common Stock Current Ratio Gross (Profit) Margin Percentage Rate of Return (Net Profit Margin) on Sales Inventory Turnover Days' Inventory Outstanding (DIO) Accounts Receivable Turnover Days' Sales Outstanding (DSO) Asset Turnover Rate of Return on Total Assets (ROA) Debt Ratio Times-Interest-Earned Ratio Dividend Yield [For the purposes of this ratio, use Yahoo Finance to look up current dividend per share and stock price; just note the date that you looked up this information.] 14. Rate of Return on Common Stockholders' Equity (ROE) 15. Free cash flow 16. Price-Earnings Ratio (Multiple) [For the purpose of this ratio, for Nike, use the market price per share on May 30, 2014, and for Under Armour, use the market price per share on December 31, 2014.] The Excel files uploaded in the Dropboxes should not include any unnecessary numbers or information (such as previous years' ratios, ratios that were not specifically asked for in the project, etc.). Please upload your final submission to the Week 7 Dropbox by the Sunday ending Week 7. For the Draft: Create an Excel spreadsheet or use the project template to show your computations for the first 10 ratios listed above. The more you can complete regarding the other requirements, the closer you will be to completion when Week 7 arrives. Supporting calculations must be shown either as a formula or as text typed into a different cell. If you plan on creating your own spreadsheet, please follow the format provided in the Tootsie Roll and Hershey template file. Please upload your draft submission to the Week 5 Dropbox by the Sunday at the end of Week 5. Other Helpful Information: If you feel uncomfortable with Excel, you can find many helpful tutorials on Excel by performing a Google search. Chapter 13 contains ratio calculations and comparison comments related to Apple and Dell, so you will likely find this information helpful. BigCharts.com provides historical stock quotes. 2 | Course Project: A Financial Statement Analysis Either APA or MLA style can be used to complete the references on your Bibliography tab. There is a tutorial for APA and MLA style within the Plagiarism link, which can be accessed through the Syllabus. Grade Information The entire project will be graded by the instructor at the end of the final submission in Week 7, and one grade will be assigned for the entire project. The project will count for 15% of your overall course grade. Category Points % Description Documentation and Formatting 9 6% The report will be submitted in the form of an Excel Workbook, with each page (worksheet) of the workbook named appropriately. Please do not use any other software (such as MS Works or Lotus) to complete the project. A quality report will include a Title Worksheet tab, a Worksheet tab for the profile of the two companies, a Worksheet tab for the ratio calculations and comments, a Worksheet tab for the summary and conclusion, proper citations if applicable, and a Bibliography Worksheet tab for the references. Organization and Cohesiveness 6 4% A quality report will include the content described above in the documentation and formatting section. The ratios should be listed in the same order in which they appear in the project information above. Editing 15 10% A quality report will be free of any spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. Sentences and paragraphs will be clear, concise, and factually correct. Ratios will be expressed as numbers or percentages, depending on what is appropriate, as is shown in the textbook. Note that not all ratios are shown as percentages. You should be consistent with the number of decimal places used in the Course Project template. Content 120 80% A quality report will have correct ratio calculations and accurate supporting commentary. Any assumptions, if made, should be spelled out clearly. Supporting calculations must be shown, either as a formula, or as text typed into a different cell. Total 150 100% A quality report will meet or exceed all of the above requirements. 3 | Course Project: A Financial Statement Analysis 4 | Course Project: A Financial Statement Analysis Go to the Course Resources page within the CourseSpecific Resources section. The Course Resources page is under Course Home. Complete your Title page on this tab. Please include your name, the course, the date, your instructor's name, and the title for the project. Complete one paragraph, profiling each company's business, including information such as a brief history, where they are located, number of employees, the products they sell, and so forth. Please reference any websites that you used for the Profiles on the Bibliography tab. Tootsie Roll Industries began in a small candy store in New York in 1896. Tootsie Roll is now headquartered in Chicago and primarily sells their products in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. According to Yahoo Finance, Tootsie Roll has 2,000 full-time employees. Tootsie Roll sells the following branded candy: Tootsie Roll, Tootsie Roll Pop, Charms Blow Pop, Mason Dots, Andes, Sugar Daddy, Charleston Chew, Double Bubble, Razzles, Caramel Apple Pop, and Junior Mints. Tootsie Roll had 2014 net product sales of $539.9 million. Hershey Company was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1893 and is headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania. According to Yahoo Finance, Hershey has 20,800 full-time employees. Hershey is famous for Good & Plenty, Hershey Bar, Hershey's Kisses, Hershey's Bliss, Reese's, Rolo, Twizzlers, Almond Joy, Kit Kat, and Ice Breakers. Hershey had net product sales of $7.4 billion for 2014. Use this Excel spreadsheet to compute ratios; show your computations for all ratios on this tab, and also include your commentary. The 2014 financial statements used to calculate these ratios are available in the Investor Relations section of the Tootsie Roll and Hershey websites. Tootsie Roll Interpretation and comparison between the two companies' ratios (reading Chapter 13 will help you prepare the commentary). Hershey The comparison of the ratios is an important part of the project. A good approach is to briefly explain what the ratio tells us. Indicate whether a higher or lower ratio is better. Then compare the two companies on this basis. Remembereach ratio below requires a comparison. Earnings per Share of Common Stock (basic - common) Current Ratio As given in the income statement $ 1.05 $ 3.91 Current assets Current liabilities $264,621 $64,459 = 4.11 $2,247,047 $1,935,647 = 1.16 Gross margin Net sales $198,962 $539,895 = 36.9% $3,336,166 $7,421,768 = 45.0% Net income Net sales $63,298 $539,895 = 11.7% $846,912 $7,421,768 = 11.4% Inventory Turnover Cost of goods sold Average inventory $340,933 $66,118 5.2 times $4,085,602 $730,289 Days' inventory outstanding (DIO) 365 Inventory turnover 365 5.2 = 71 days 365 5.6 = 65 days Accounts Receivable Turnover Net sales (assume all sales are credit sales) Average net accounts receivable $539,895 $41,987 = 12.9 $7,421,768 $537,426 = 13.8 Days' Sales Outstanding (DSO) 365 Accounts receivable turnover 365 12.9 28.4 days 365 13.8 = 26.4 days Net sales Average total assets $539,895 $899,398 = 0.60 $7,421,768 $5,493,502 = 1.35 = 7.0% = 15.4% Gross (Profit) Margin Percentage Rate of Return (Net Profit Margin) on Sales Asset turnover Rate of Return on Total Assets (ROA) Debt Ratio Times-Interest-Earned Ratio Dividend Yield (Please follow the Course Project instructions to calculate the current dividend yield.) Rate of Return on Common Stockholders' Equity (ROE) Free cash flow Price-Earnings Ratio (Multiple) (Please see the Course Project instructions for the dates to use for this ratio.) Rate of return on sales times asset turnover = 5.6 times Total Liabilities Total Assets $219,250 $910,386 = 24.1% $4,109,986 $5,629,516 = 73.0% Income from operations Interest expense $83,923 $99 = 847.7 1,389,575 83,532 = 16.6 Dividend per share of common stock (Yahoo Finance 12/24/2015) Market price per share of common stock (Yahoo Finance 12/24/2015) $0.36 $32.04 = 1.1% $2.33 $90.32 = 2.6% Net income - Preferred dividends Average common stockholders' equity $63,298 $685,721 9.2% $846,912 $1,567,791 = 54.0% = Net cash provided by operating activities minus cash payments earmarked for investments in plant assets Market price per share of common stock as of 12/31/2014 Earnings per share = $30.65 $1.05 = $ $78,065 29 492,274 = $103.93 $3.91 = 27 You all get the chance to play the role of financial analyst below. The summary should be a comparison of each company's performance for each major category of ratios listed below. Focus on major differences as you compare each company's performance. A nice way to conclude is to state which company you feel is the better investment and why. Measuring Ability to Pay Current Liabilities: Tootsie Roll has the advantage for the current ratio. Tootsie Roll has $4.11 in current assets for every dollar in current liabilities, while Hershey has only $1.16 in current assets for every dollar in current liabilities. Measuring Turnover: Hershey has the advantage for the inventory turnover and accounts receivable turnover ratios. Hershey turns over its inventory 5.6 times to Tootsie Roll's 5.2 times, and Hershey turns over its accounts receivable 13.8 times to Tootsie Roll's 12.9 times. Measuring Leverage - Overall Ability to Pay Debts: Tootsie Roll has significantly less debt than Hershey as evidenced by Tootsie Roll's 24.1% debt-to-asset ratio as compared to Hershey's 73% debt-to-asset ratio. Tootsie Roll can cover its interest expense 847.7 times with income before interest and taxes, while Hershey can only cover its interest expense 16.6 times with their income before interest and taxes. Tootsie Roll has the advantage for each of these ratios. Measuring Profitability: Hershey has the advantage for 4 of the 5 profitability ratios. Hershey has a significant edge in return on common stockholders' equity, with a 54% return on common stockholders' equity, as compared to Tootsie Roll's 9.2% return on common stockholders' equity. Hershey has a higher gross profit rate (45.0%- 36.9%), while Tootise Roll has a higher net profit margin ratio (11.7%-11.4%). Hershey also has a significant advantage for asset turnover (1.35-.60) and rate of return on total assets (15.4%-7.0%). Analyzing Stock as an Investment: Hershey returns a 2.6% dividend yield to its investors, while Tootsie Roll's yield is 1.1%. Hershey has positive free cash flow of $492.2 million, while Tootsie Roll has positive free cash flow of $78.1 million. Free cash flow can be used to undertake acquisitions, pay additional dividends, pay down debt, or buy back stock. Conclusion: Tootsie Roll is the safer investment when you examine their ability to pay current liabilities and overall liabilities; however, Hershey has the advantage for the turnover and profitability ratios. For the conservative investor, Tootsie Roll looks like the way to go because of their strong current and times-interestearned ratios. For the growth-oriented investor, Hershey is the way to go because of their stronger profitability ratios and large amount of free cash flow. Your textbook and any information that you use to profile the companies should be cited as a reference below. Big Charts for Hershey (12/31/2014). Retrieved December 24, 2015 from http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.as symb=hsy&closeDate=12%2F31%2F14&x=0&y=0 Big Charts for Tootsie Roll (12/31/2014). Retrieved December 24, 2015 from http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default symb=tr&closeDate=12%2F31%2F14&x=0&y=0 Harrison, W.T., Horngren C.T. & Thomas, C.W. (2015). Financial Accounting, 10th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Educat Hershey's 2014 Annual Report (2015). Retrieved December 24, 2015 from http://www.thehersheycompany.com/pdfs/PDF_Prox %20Statement_2014.pdf HSY Profile (2015). Retrieved December 24, 2015 from http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=HSY+Profile HSY Stock Price (2015). Retrieved December 24, 2015 from http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=hsy&ql=1 Tootsie Roll Industries 2014 Annual Report (2015). Retrieved December 24, 2015 from http://tootsie.com/financials/ TR Profile (2015). Retrieved December 24, 2015 from http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=TR+Profile TR Stock Price (2015). Retrieved December 24, 2015 from http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=TR&ql=1 NIKE INC FORM 10-K (Annual Report) Filed 07/25/14 for the Period Ending 05/31/14 Address Telephone CIK Symbol SIC Code Industry Sector Fiscal Year ONE BOWERMAN DR BEAVERTON, OR 97005-6453 5036713173 0000320187 NKE 3021 - Rubber and Plastics Footwear Footwear Consumer Cyclical 05/31 http://www.edgar-online.com Copyright 2015, EDGAR Online, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Distribution and use of this document restricted under EDGAR Online, Inc. Terms of Use. Table of Contents UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K (Mark One) \u0001 \u0003 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED May 31, 2014 OR TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO . Commission File No. 1-10635 (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) OREGON 93-0584541 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (IRS Employer Identification No.) One Bowerman Drive, Beaverton, Oregon 97005-6453 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (503) 671-6453 (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code) SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT: Class B Common Stock New York Stock Exchange (Title of Each Class) (Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered) SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT: NONE Indicate by check mark YES NO if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. \u0001 \u0003 if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. \u0003 \u0001 whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. \u0001 \u0003 whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (229.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). \u0001 \u0003 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. \u0003 \u0001 whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of \"large accelerated filer,\" \"accelerated filer\" and \"smaller reporting company\" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer \u0001 Accelerated filer \u0003 Non-accelerated file whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). \u0003 Smaller Reporting Company \u0003 \u0003 \u0001 As of November 30, 2013, the aggregate market values of the Registrant's Common Stock held by non-affiliates were: Class A $ Class B 3,536,091,219 56,098,067,138 $ 59,634,158,357 As of July 18, 2014, the number of shares of the Registrant's Common Stock outstanding were: Class A 177,557,876 Class B 690,739,620 868,297,496 DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: Parts of Registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on September 18, 2014 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report. Table of Contents NIKE, INC. ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K Table of Contents Page 1 PART I ITEM 1. ITEM 1A. ITEM 1B. ITEM 2. ITEM 3. ITEM 4. Business 1 General 1 Products 1 Sales and Marketing 2 United States Market 2 International Markets 2 Significant Customer 2 Orders 3 Product Research, Design and Development 3 Manufacturing 3 International Operations and Trade 4 Competition 4 Trademarks and Patents 4 Employees 5 Executive Officers of the Registrant Risk Factors Unresolved Staff Comments Properties Legal Proceedings Mine Safety Disclosures PART II ITEM 5. ITEM 6. ITEM 7. ITEM 7A. ITEM 8. ITEM 9. ITEM 9A. ITEM 9B. 15 Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities Selected Financial Data Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk Financial Statements and Supplementary Data Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure Controls and Procedures Other Information PART III ITEM 10. ITEM 11. ITEM 12. ITEM 13. ITEM 14. 15 17 19 40 41 74 74 74 75 (Except for the information set forth under \"Executive Officers of the Registrant\" in Item 1 above, Part III is incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement for the NIKE, Inc. 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.) Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance Executive Compensation Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence Principal Accountant Fees and Services PART IV ITEM 15. 5 6 14 14 14 14 75 75 75 75 75 76 Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 76 Signatures 80 Table of Contents PART I ITEM 1. Business General NIKE, Inc. was incorporated in 1968 under the laws of the State of Oregon. As used in this report, the terms \"we,\" \"us,\" \"NIKE,\" and the "Company\" refer to NIKE, Inc. and its predecessors, subsidiaries, and affiliates, collectively, unless the context indicates otherwise. Our NIKE e-commerce website is located at www.nike.com. On our NIKE corporate website, located at www.nikeinc.com, we post the following filings as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"): our annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our definitive Proxy Statements are also posted. All such filings on our NIKE corporate website are available free of charge. Copies of these filings may also be obtained by visiting the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549 or by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains a website ( www.sec.gov ) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically. Also available on the NIKE corporate website are the charters of the committees of our Board of Directors, as well as our corporate governance guidelines and code of ethics; copies of any of these documents will be provided in print to any shareholder who submits a request in writing to NIKE Investor Relations, One Bowerman Drive, Beaverton, Oregon 97005-6453. Our principal business activity is the design, development, and worldwide marketing and selling of athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services. NIKE is the largest seller of athletic footwear and athletic apparel in the world. We sell our products to retail accounts, through NIKE-owned retail stores and internet websites (which we refer to as our \"Direct to Consumer\" or "DTC" operations), and through a mix of independent distributors and licensees throughout the world. Virtually all of our products are manufactured by independent contractors. Practically all footwear and apparel products are produced outside the United States, while equipment products are produced both in the United States and abroad. Products We focus our NIKE Brand product offerings in eight key categories: Running, Basketball, Football (Soccer), Men's Training, Women's Training, Action Sports, Sportswear (our sports-inspired lifestyle products), and Golf. Basketball includes our Brand Jordan product offerings and Men's Training includes our baseball and U.S. football product offerings. We also market products designed for kids, as well as for other athletic and recreational uses such as cricket, lacrosse, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, walking, and outdoor activities. NIKE's athletic footwear products are designed primarily for specific athletic use, although a large percentage of the products are worn for casual or leisure purposes. We place considerable emphasis on high-quality construction and innovation in our products. Sportswear, Running, Basketball, and Football (Soccer) are currently our top-selling footwear categories and we expect them to continue to lead in product sales. We sell sports apparel and accessories covering most of the above-mentioned categories, which feature the same trademarks and are sold predominantly through the same marketing and distribution channels as athletic footwear. We often market footwear, apparel, and accessories in \"collections\" of similar use or by category. We also market apparel with licensed college and professional team and league logos. We sell a line of performance equipment under the NIKE Brand name, including bags, socks, sport balls, eyewear, timepieces, digital devices, bats, gloves, protective equipment, golf clubs, and other equipment designed for sports activities. We also sell small amounts of various plastic products to other manufacturers through our wholly-owned subsidiary, NIKE IHM, Inc. One of our wholly-owned subsidiary brands, Hurley, headquartered in Costa Mesa, California (\"Hurley\"), designs and distributes a line of action sports and youth lifestyle apparel and accessories under the Hurley trademark. Sales of Hurley brand products are included within the NIKE Brand Action Sports category. Our Brand Jordan division designs, distributes and licenses athletic and casual footwear, apparel and accessories predominantly focused on Basketball using the Jumpman trademark. Sales of Brand Jordan products are included within the NIKE Brand Basketball category. Another of our wholly-owned subsidiary brands, Converse, headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts (\"Converse\"), designs, distributes, and licenses casual sneakers, apparel, and accessories under the Converse, Chuck Taylor, All Star, One Star, Star Chevron, and Jack Purcell trademarks. Converse results are reported on a stand-alone basis. In addition to the products we sell to our wholesale customers and directly to consumers through our Direct to Consumer operations, we have also entered into license agreements that permit unaffiliated parties to manufacture and sell using NIKE-owned trademarks, certain apparel, digital devices and applications, and other equipment designed for sports activities. On February 1, 2013, and November 30, 2012, we completed the divestitures of the Cole Haan and Umbro businesses, respectively, allowing us to better focus our resources on driving growth in the NIKE, Jordan, Converse, and Hurley brands. 1 Table of Contents Sales and Marketing Financial information about geographic and segment operations appears in Note 18 Operating Segments and Related Information of the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. We experience moderate fluctuations in aggregate sales volume during the year. Historically, revenues in the first and fourth fiscal quarters have slightly exceeded those in the second and third quarters. However, the mix of product sales may vary considerably as a result of changes in seasonal and geographic demand for particular types of footwear, apparel, and equipment. Because NIKE is a consumer products company, the relative popularity of various sports and fitness activities and changing design trends affect the demand for our products. We must, therefore, respond to trends and shifts in consumer preferences by adjusting the mix of existing product offerings, developing new products, styles and categories, and influencing sports and fitness preferences through extensive marketing. Failure to respond in a timely and adequate manner could have a material adverse effect on our sales and profitability. This is a continuing risk.We report our NIKE Brand operations based on our internal geographic organization. Each NIKE Brand geography operates predominantly in one industry: the design, development, marketing, and selling of athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services. Our reportable operating segments for the NIKE Brand are: North America, Western Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, Greater China, Japan, and Emerging Markets. Our NIKE Brand Direct to Consumer operations are managed within each geographic segment. Converse is also a reportable segment, and operates in one industry: the design, marketing, licensing, and selling of casual sneakers, apparel, and accessories. United States Market In fiscal 2014, NIKE Brand and Converse sales in the United States accounted for approximately 46% of total revenues, compared to 45% in fiscal 2013 and 42% in fiscal 2012. We sell to thousands of retail accounts in the United States, including a mix of footwear stores, sporting goods stores, athletic specialty stores, department stores, skate, tennis, and golf shops, and other retail accounts. During fiscal 2014, our three largest customers accounted for approximately 26% of sales in the United States. We make substantial use of our futures ordering program, which allows retailers to order five to six months in advance of delivery with the commitment that their orders will be delivered within a set time period at a fixed price. In fiscal 2014, 86% of our U.S. wholesale footwear shipments (excluding NIKE Golf, Hurley, and Converse) were made under the futures program, compared to 87% in fiscal 2013 and 86% in fiscal 2012. In fiscal 2014, 71% of our U.S. wholesale apparel shipments (excluding NIKE Golf, Hurley, and Converse) were made under the futures program, compared to 67% in fiscal 2013 and 64% in fiscal 2012. We utilize NIKE sales offices to solicit sales in the United States, as well as independent sales representatives to sell specialty products for golf, skateboarding, and snowboarding. In addition, our Direct to Consumer operations sell NIKE Brand products to consumers through our e-commerce website, www.nike.com , and through the following number of retail stores in the United States: U.S. Retail Stores Number NIKE Brand factory stores NIKE Brand in-line stores, including NIKETOWNs and employee-only stores Converse stores (including factory stores) Hurley stores (including factory and employee stores) 176 33 84 29 TOTAL 322 NIKE has five primary distribution centers in the United States located in Memphis, Tennessee, three of which are leased. NIKE Brand apparel and equipment products are also shipped from our Foothill Ranch, California distribution center. Converse and Hurley products are shipped primarily from Ontario, California. International Markets In fiscal 2014, non-U.S. NIKE Brand and Converse sales accounted for 54% of total revenues, compared to 55% in fiscal 2013 and 58% in fiscal 2012. We sell our products to retail accounts, through our own Direct to Consumer operations, and through a mix of independent distributors, licensees, and sales representatives around the world. We sell to thousands of retail accounts and operate 16 distribution centers outside of the United States. In many countries and regions, including Canada, Asia, some Latin American countries, and Europe, we have a futures ordering program for retailers similar to the United States futures ordering program described above. During fiscal 2014, NIKE's three largest customers outside of the United States accounted for approximately 6% of total non-U.S. sales. Our Direct to Consumer business operates the following number of retail stores outside the United States: Non-U.S. Retail Stores Number NIKE Brand factory stores NIKE Brand in-line stores, including NIKETOWNs and employee-only stores Converse stores (including factory stores) 459 71 6 TOTAL 536 International branch offices and subsidiaries of NIKE are located in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Panama, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Vietnam. Significant Customer No customer accounted for 10% or more of our worldwide net sales during fiscal 2014. 2 Table of Contents Orders Worldwide futures orders for NIKE Brand (excluding NIKE Golf and Hurley) athletic footwear and apparel, scheduled for delivery from June through November 2014, were $13.3 billion compared to $12.1 billion for the same period last year. This futures orders amount is calculated based upon our forecast of the actual exchange rates under which our revenues will be translated during this period. Reported futures orders are not necessarily indicative of our expectation of revenues for this period. This is because the mix of orders can shift between futures and at-once orders and the fulfillment of certain of these futures orders may fall outside of the scheduled time period noted above. In addition, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations as well as differing levels of discounts, order cancellations, and returns can cause differences in the comparisons between futures orders and actual revenues. Moreover, a portion of our revenue is not derived from futures orders, including at-once and closeout sales of NIKE Brand footwear and apparel, sales of NIKE Brand equipment, sales from our Direct to Consumer operations, and sales from our Converse, Hurley, and NIKE Golf businesses. Product Research, Design and Development We believe our research, design, and development efforts are key factors in our success. Technical innovation in the design and manufacturing process of footwear, apparel, and athletic equipment receive continued emphasis as NIKE strives to produce products that help to enhance athletic performance, reduce injury, and maximize comfort. In addition to NIKE's own staff of specialists in the areas of biomechanics, chemistry, exercise physiology, engineering, industrial design, sustainability, and related fields, we also utilize research committees and advisory boards made up of athletes, coaches, trainers, equipment managers, orthopedists, podiatrists, and other experts who consult with us and review designs, materials, concepts for product and manufacturing process improvements, and compliance with product safety regulations around the world. Employee athletes, athletes engaged under sports marketing contracts, and other athletes wear-test and evaluate products during the design and development process. As we continue to develop new technologies, NIKE is simultaneously focused on the design of innovative products incorporating such technologies throughout our product categories. Using market intelligence and research, the various NIKE design teams identify opportunities to leverage new technologies in existing categories responding to consumer preferences. The proliferation of NIKE AIR, Lunar, Shox, Free, Flywire, Dri-Fit, FlyKnit, NIKE+, and NIKE Fuel technologies through Running, Basketball, Men's Training, Women's Training, and Sportswear, among others, typifies the Company's dedication to designing innovative products. Manufacturing We are supplied by approximately 150 footwear factories located in 14 countries. The largest single footwear factory accounted for approximately 5% of total fiscal 2014 NIKE Brand footwear production. Virtually all of our footwear is manufactured outside of the United States by independent contract manufacturers who often operate multiple factories. In fiscal 2014, contract factories in Vietnam, China, and Indonesia manufactured approximately 43%, 28%, and 25% of total NIKE Brand footwear, respectively. We also have manufacturing agreements with independent factories in Argentina, Brazil, India, and Mexico to manufacture footwear for sale primarily within those countries. In fiscal 2014, five footwear contract manufacturers each accounted for greater than 10% of fiscal 2014 footwear production, and in aggregate accounted for approximately 67% of NIKE Brand footwear production in fiscal 2014. We are supplied by approximately 430 apparel factories located in 41 countries. The largest single apparel factory accounted for approximately 7% of total fiscal 2014 NIKE Brand apparel production. Virtually all of our apparel is manufactured outside of the United States by independent contract manufacturers who often operate multiple factories. In fiscal 2014, most of this apparel production occurred in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Malaysia. In fiscal 2014, one apparel contract manufacturer accounted for greater than 10% of fiscal 2014 apparel production, and the top five contract manufacturers in aggregate accounted for approximately 34% of NIKE Brand apparel production in fiscal 2014. The principal materials used in our footwear products are natural and synthetic rubber, plastic compounds, foam cushioning materials, nylon, leather, canvas, and polyurethane films used to make NIKE Air-Sole cushioning components. During fiscal 2014, NIKE IHM, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of NIKE, Inc., with facilities near Beaverton, Oregon and in St. Louis, Missouri, as well as independent contractors in China and Vietnam, were our largest suppliers of the Air-Sole cushioning components used in footwear. The principal materials used in our apparel products are natural and synthetic fabrics and threads (both virgin and recycled), specialized performance fabrics designed to efficiently wick moisture away from the body, retain heat, repel rain and/or snow, as well as plastic and metal hardware. NIKE's independent contractors and suppliers buy raw materials in bulk for the manufacturing of our footwear, apparel, and equipment products. Most raw materials are available and purchased by those independent contractors and suppliers in the countries where manufacturing takes place. NIKE's independent contract manufacturers and suppliers have thus far experienced little difficulty in satisfying raw material requirements for the production of our products. Since 1972, Sojitz Corporation of America (\"Sojitz America\"), a large Japanese trading company and the sole owner of our redeemable preferred stock, has performed significant import-export financing services for us. During fiscal 2014, Sojitz America provided financing and purchasing services for NIKE Brand products sold in certain NIKE markets including Argentina, Uruguay, Canada, Brazil, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Africa, and Thailand, excluding products produced and sold in the same country. Approximately 8% of NIKE Brand sales occurred in those countries. Any failure of Sojitz America to provide these services or any failure of Sojitz America's banks could disrupt our ability to acquire products from our suppliers and to deliver products to our customers in those markets. Such a disruption could result in canceled orders that would adversely affect sales and profitability. However, we believe that any such disruption would be short-term in duration due to the ready availability of alternative sources of financing at competitive rates. Our current agreements with Sojitz America expire on May 31, 2015. 3 Table of Contents International Operations and Trade Our international operations and sources of supply are subject to the usual risks of doing business abroad, such as possible revaluation of currencies, export and import duties, anti-dumping measures, quotas, safeguard measures, trade restrictions, restrictions on the transfer of funds, and, in certain parts of the world, political instability and terrorism. We have not, to date, been materially affected by any such risk, but cannot predict the likelihood of such material effects occurring in the future. In recent years, uncertain global and regional economic conditions have affected international trade and caused a rise in protectionist actions around the world. These trends are affecting many global manufacturing and service sectors, and the footwear and apparel industries, as a whole, are not immune. Companies in our industry are facing trade protectionism in many different regions, and in nearly all cases we are working together with industry groups to address trade issues and reduce the impact to the industry, while observing applicable competition laws. Notwithstanding our efforts, such protectionist measures, if implemented, could result in increases in the cost of our products, which may in turn adversely affect our sales or profitability as well as the imported footwear and apparel industry as a whole. We monitor protectionist trends and developments throughout the world that may materially impact our industry, and we engage in administrative and judicial processes to mitigate trade restrictions. In Brazil, we are actively monitoring for dumping investigations against products from China and other countries that may result in additional anti-dumping measures and could affect our industry. We are also monitoring for and advocating against other impediments that may increase customs clearance times for imports of footwear, apparel, and equipment. Moreover, with respect to trade restrictions targeting China, which represents an important sourcing and consumer marketing country for us, we are working with a broad coalition of global businesses and trade associations representing a wide variety of sectors to help ensure that any legislation enacted and implemented (i) addresses legitimate and core concerns, (ii) is consistent with international trade rules, and (iii) reflects and considers China's domestic economy and the important role it has in the global economic community. Where trade protection measures are implemented, we believe that we have the ability to develop, over a period of time, adequate alternative sources of supply for the products obtained from our present suppliers. If events prevented us from acquiring products from our suppliers in a particular country, our operations could be temporarily disrupted and we could experience an adverse financial impact. However, we believe we could abate any such disruption, and that much of the adverse impact on supply would, therefore, be of a short-term nature, although alternate sources of supply might not be as cost-effective and could have an ongoing adverse impact on profitability. Competition The athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment industry is highly competitive on a worldwide basis. We compete internationally with a significant number of athletic and leisure footwear companies, athletic and leisure apparel companies, sports equipment companies, and large companies having diversified lines of athletic and leisure footwear, apparel, and equipment, including adidas, V.F. Corp., Puma, Li Ning, and Under Armour, among others. We also compete with a number of vertical retailers such as lululemon athletica and Uniqlo. The intense competition and the rapid changes in technology and consumer preferences in the markets for athletic and leisure footwear and apparel, and athletic equipment, constitute significant risk factors in our operations. NIKE is the largest seller of athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment in the world. Important aspects of competition in this industry are: product quality; performance and reliability; new product innovation and development; and consumer price/value; consumer connection and affinity for brands and products, developed through marketing and promotion; customer support and service; identification with prominent and influential athletes, coaches, teams, colleges, and sports leagues who endorse our brands and use our products; and active engagement through sponsored sporting events and clinics; and effective distribution of products, with attractive merchandising and presentation at retail, both in store and online. We believe that we are competitive in all of these areas. Trademarks and Patents We utilize trademarks on nearly all of our products and believe having distinctive marks that are readily identifiable is an important factor in creating a market for our goods, in identifying our brands and the Company, and in distinguishing our goods from the goods of others. We consider our NIKE and Swoosh Design trademarks to be among our most valuable assets and we have registered these trademarks in almost 170 jurisdictions. In addition, we own many other trademarks that we utilize in marketing our products. We own common law rights in the trade dress of several significant shoe designs and elements. For certain trade dress, we have sought and obtained federal trademark registrations. NIKE has copyright protection in its design, graphics and other original works. When appropriate, we have sought registrations for this content. NIKE owns patents, and has a patent license, facilitating its use of \"Air\" technologies. The "Air" process utilizes pressurized gas encapsulated in polyurethane. Some of the early NIKE AIR patents have expired, which may enable competitors to use certain types of similar technology. Subsequent NIKE AIR patents will not expire for several years. We also file and maintain many U.S. and foreign utility patents, as well as many U.S. and foreign design patents protecting components, manufacturing techniques, features, and industrial design used in various athletic and leisure footwear, apparel, athletic equipment, digital devices, and golf products. These patents expire at various times; and patents issued for applications filed this calendar year in the United States will last until 2028 for design patents and until 2034 for utility patents. We believe our success depends primarily upon our capabilities in design, research and development, production, and marketing rather than exclusively upon our patent position. However, we have followed a policy of filing patent applications for the United States and select foreign countries on inventions, designs, and improvements that we deem valuable. We continue to vigorously protect our trademarks and patents against infringement. 4 Table of Contents Employees As of May 31, 2014, we had approximately 56,500 employees worldwide, including retail and part-time employees. Management considers its relationship with employees to be excellent. None of our employees are represented by a union, except for certain employees in the Emerging Markets geography, where local law requires those employees to be represented by a trade union. Also, in some countries outside of the United States, local laws require employee representation by works councils (which may be entitled to information and consultation on certain Company decisions) or by organizations similar to a union. In certain European countries, we are required by local law to enter into and/or comply with industry-wide or national collective bargaining agreements. NIKE has never experienced a material interruption of operations due to labor disagreements. Executive Officers of the Registrant The executive officers of NIKE, Inc. as of July 18, 2014 are as follows: Philip H. Knight, Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr. Knight, 76, a director since 1968, is a co-founder of NIKE and, except for the period from June 1983 through September 1984, served as its President from 1968 to 1990 and from June 2000 to December 2004. Prior to 1968, Mr. Knight was a certified public accountant with Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand and was an Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Portland State University. Mark G. Parker, President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Parker, 58, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2006. He has been employed by NIKE since 1979 with primary responsibilities in product research, design and development, marketing, and brand management. Mr. Parker was appointed divisional Vice President in charge of product development in 1987, corporate Vice President in 1989, General Manager in 1993, Vice President of Global Footwear in 1998, and President of the NIKE Brand in 2001. David J. Ayre, Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources Mr. Ayre, 54, joined NIKE as Vice President, Global Human Resources in 2007. Prior to joining NIKE, he held a number of senior human resource positions with PepsiCo, Inc. since 1990, most recently as head of Talent and Performance Rewards. Donald W. Blair, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mr. Blair, 56, joined NIKE in November 1999. Prior to joining NIKE, he held a number of financial management positions with PepsiCo, Inc., including Vice President, Finance of Pepsi-Cola Asia, Vice President, Planning of PepsiCo's Pizza Hut Division, and Senior Vice President, Finance of The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. Prior to joining PepsiCo, Mr. Blair was a certified public accountant with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells. Trevor A. Edwards, President, NIKE Brand Mr. Edwards, 51, joined NIKE in 1992. He was appointed Marketing Manager, Strategic Accounts for Foot Locker in 1993, Director of Marketing for the Americas Region in 1995, Director of Marketing for Europe in 1997, Vice President, Marketing for the Europe, Middle East and Africa Region in 1999, and Vice President, U.S. Brand Marketing in 2000. Mr. Edwards was appointed corporate Vice President, Global Brand Management in 2002, Vice President, Global Brand and Category Management in 2006 and President, NIKE Brand in 2013. Prior to NIKE, Mr. Edwards was with the Colgate-Palmolive Company. Jeanne P. Jackson, President, Product and Merchandising Ms. Jackson, 62, joined NIKE in 2009. She was appointed President, Direct to Consumer in 2009 and President, Product and Merchandising in 2013. Ms. Jackson also served as a member of the NIKE, Inc. Board of Directors from 2001 through 2009. She founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of MSP Capital, a private investment company, from 2002 to 2009. Ms. Jackson was Chief Executive Officer of Walmart.com from March 2000 to January 2002. She was with Gap, Inc., as President and Chief Executive Officer of Banana Republic from 1995 to 2000, also serving as Chief Executive Officer of Gap, Inc. Direct from 1998 to 2000. Since 1978, she has held various retail management positions with Victoria's Secret, The Walt Disney Company, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Federated Department Stores. Hilary K. Krane, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Ms. Krane, 50, joined NIKE as Vice President and General Counsel in April 2010. In 2011, her responsibilities expanded and she became Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Affairs. Ms. Krane was appointed to Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel in 2013. Prior to joining NIKE, Ms. Krane was General Counsel and Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs at Levi Strauss & Co. from 2006 to 2010. From 1996 to 2006, she was a partner and assistant general counsel at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Bernard F. Pliska, Vice President, Corporate Controller Mr. Pliska, 52, joined NIKE as Corporate Controller in 1995. He was appointed Vice President, Corporate Controller in 2003. Prior to NIKE, Mr. Pliska was with Price Waterhouse from 1984 to 1995. Mr. Pliska is a certified public accountant. John F. Slusher, Executive Vice President, Global Sports Marketing Mr. Slusher, 45, has been employed by NIKE since 1998 with primary responsibilities in global sports marketing. Mr. Slusher was appointed Director of Sports Marketing for the Asia Pacific and Americas Regions in 2006, divisional Vice President of Asia Pacific & Americas Sports Marketing in September 2007, and Vice President, Global Sports Marketing in November 2007. Prior to joining NIKE, Mr. Slusher was an attorney at the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers from 1995 to 1998. Eric D. Sprunk, Chief Operating Officer Mr. Sprunk, 50, joined NIKE in 1993. He was appointed Finance Director and General Manager of the Americas Region in 1994, Finance Director for NIKE Europe in 1995, Regional General Manager of NIKE Europe Footwear in 1998, and Vice President & General Manager of the Americas Region in 2000. Mr. Sprunk was appointed Vice President of Global Footwear in 2001, Vice President of Merchandising and Product in 2009, and Chief Operating Officer in 2013. Prior to joining NIKE, Mr. Sprunk was a certified public accountant with Price Waterhouse from 1987 to 1993. 5 Table of Contents ITEM 1A. Risk Factors Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Analyst Reports Certain written and oral statements, other than purely historic information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to NIKE's business plans, objectives, and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, made or incorporated by reference from time to time by NIKE or its representatives in this report, other reports, filings with the SEC, press releases, conferences, or otherwise, are \"forward-looking statements\" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance, or achievements, and may contain the words \"believe,\" \"anticipate,\" \"expect,\" \"estimate,\" \"project,\" \"will be,\" \"will continue,\" \"will likely result,\" or words or phrases of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in reports filed by NIKE with the SEC, including Forms 8-K, 10-Q, and 10-K, and include, among others, the following: international, national, and local general economic and market conditions; the size and growth of the overall athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment markets; intense competition among designers, marketers, distributors, and sellers of athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment for consumers and endorsers; demographic changes; changes in consumer preferences; popularity of particular designs, categories of products, and sports; seasonal and geographic demand for NIKE products; difficulties in anticipating or forecasting changes in consumer preferences, consumer demand for NIKE products, and the various market factors described above; difficulties in implementing, operating, and maintaining NIKE's increasingly complex information systems and controls, including, without limitation, the systems related to demand and supply planning and inventory control; interruptions in data and information technology systems; consumer data security; fluctuations and difficulty in forecasting operating results, including, without limitation, the fact that advance futures orders may not be indicative of future revenues due to changes in shipment timing, the changing mix of futures and at-once orders, and discounts, order cancellations, and returns; the ability of NIKE to sustain, manage, or forecast its growth and inventories; the size, timing, and mix of purchases of NIKE's products; increases in the cost of materials, labor, and energy used to manufacture products, new product development, and introduction; the ability to secure and protect trademarks, patents, and other intellectual property; product performance and quality; customer service; adverse publicity; the loss of significant customers or suppliers; dependence on distributors and licensees; business disruptions; increased costs of freight and transportation to meet delivery deadlines; increases in borrowing costs due to any decline in NIKE's debt ratings; changes in business strategy or development plans; general risks associated with doing business outside the United States, including, without limitation, exchange rate fluctuations, import duties, tariffs, quotas, political and economic instability, and terrorism; changes in government regulations; the impact of, including business and legal developments relating to, climate change; natural disasters; liability and other claims asserted against NIKE; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; the effects of NIKE's decision to invest in or divest of businesses; and other factors referenced or incorporated by reference in this report and other reports. The risks included here are not exhaustive. Other sections of this report may include additional factors which could adversely affect NIKE's business and financial performance. Moreover, NIKE operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors, nor can it assess the impact of all such risk factors on NIKE's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Investors should also be aware that while NIKE does, from time to time, communicate with securities analysts, it is against NIKE's policy to disclose to them any material non-public information or other confidential commercial information. Accordingly, shareholders should not assume that NIKE agrees with any statement or report issued by any analyst irrespective of the content of the statement or report. Furthermore, NIKE has a policy against issuing or confirming financial forecasts or projections issued by others. Thus, to the extent that reports issued by securities analysts contain any projections, forecasts, or opinions, such reports are not the responsibility of NIKE. Our products face intense competition. NIKE is a consumer products company and the relative popularity of various sports and fitness activities and changing design trends affect the demand for our products. The athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment industry is highly competitive in the United States and on a worldwide basis. We compete internationa