• we are exposed to geopolitical risk, where unexpected changes in global, regional, or local political or social conditions could adversely affect our foreign operations.

Our success as a global business will depend, in part, upon our ability to succeed in differing legal, regulatory, economic, social and political conditions by developing, implementing and maintaining policies and strategies that are effective in each location where we do business.

# We are exposed to currency exchange rate changes that impact our profitability.

We are exposed to currency exchange rate risk through our U.S. and non­U.S. operations. Changes in currency exchange rates may materially affect our operating results. For example, changes in currency exchange rates may affect the relative prices at which we and our competitors sell products in the same region and the cost of materials used in our operations. A substantial portion of our net sales and assets are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, particularly the euro. When the U.S. dollar strengthens against other currencies, at a constant level of business, our reported sales, earnings, assets and liabilities are reduced because the non­U.S. currencies translate into fewer U.S. dollars.

We incur a currency transaction risk whenever one of our operating subsidiaries enters into either a purchase or a sales transaction using a currency different from the operating subsidiary's functional currency. Given the volatility of exchange rates, we may not be able to manage our currency transaction risks effectively, or volatility in currency exchange rates may expose our financial condition or results of operations to a significant additional risk.

Prices for certain raw materials and energy are volatile and can have a significant effect on our manufacturing and supply chain strategies as we seek to maximize our profitability. If we are unable to successfully adjust our strategies in response to volatile raw materials and energy prices, such volatility could have a negative effect on our earnings in future periods.

We use petroleum­based materials, metals, natural gas and other materials in the manufacture of our products. We consume substantial amounts of energy in our manufacturing processes. Prices for these materials and energy are volatile and can have a significant effect on our pricing, sales, manufacturing and supply chain strategies as we seek to maximize our profitability. Our ability to successfully adjust strategies in response to volatile raw material and energy prices is a significant factor in maintaining or improving our profitability. If we are unable to successfully adjust our strategies in response to volatile prices, such volatility could have a negative effect on our sales and earnings in future periods.

# A substantial portion of our raw materials are commodities whose prices fluctuate as market supply and demand fundamentals change.

We attempt to manage exposure to price volatility of major commodities through:

• long­term supply contracts;

• contracts with customers that permit adjustments for changes in prices of commodity­based materials and energy;

• forward buying programs that layer in our expected requirements systematically over time; and

• limited use of financial instruments.

Although we regularly assess our exposure to raw material price volatility, we cannot always predict the prospects of volatility and we cannot always cover the risk in a cost effective manner.

We have a policy of maintaining, when available, multiple sources of supply for raw materials. However, certain of our raw materials may be provided by single sources of supply. We may not be able to obtain sufficient raw materials due to unforeseen developments that would cause an interruption in supply. Even if we have multiple sources of supply for raw materials, these sources may not make up for the loss of a major supplier.

# If we are not able to continue our technological innovation and successful introduction of new products, our customers may turn to other suppliers to meet their requirements.

The specialty chemicals industry and the end­use markets into which we sell our products experience ongoing technological change and product improvements. A key element of our business strategy is to invest in research and development activities with the goal of introducing new high­performance, technically differentiated

products. We may not be successful in developing new technology and products that effectively compete with products introduced by our competitors, and our customers may not accept, or may have lower demand for, our new products. If we fail to keep pace with evolving technological innovations or fail to improve our products in response to our customers’ needs, then our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected as a result of reduced sales of our products.

# We spend large amounts of money for environmental compliance in connection with our current and former operations.

As a manufacturer of specialty chemicals and specialty materials, we are subject to stringent regulations under numerous U.S. federal, state, local and foreign environmental, health and safety laws and regulations relating to the generation, storage, handling, discharge, disposition and stewardship of chemicals and other materials. We have expended substantial funds to comply with such laws and regulations and have established a policy to minimize our emissions to the environment. Nevertheless, legislative, regulatory and economic uncertainties (including existing and potential laws and regulations pertaining to climate change) make it difficult for us to project future spending for these purposes, and if there is an acceleration in new regulatory requirements, we may be required to expend substantial additional funds to remain in compliance.

# We are subject to environmental clean­up costs, fines, penalties and damage claims that have been and continue to be costly.

In the U.S., we are subject to lawsuits and regulatory actions, in connection with current and former operations (including some divested businesses and off­site disposal facilities), that seek clean­up or other remedies. We are also subject to similar risks outside of the U.S.

We operated a vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana, until 1990. Some of the vermiculite ore that was mined at the Libby mine contained naturally occurring asbestos. We are cooperating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal, state and local governmental agencies in a remedial investigation and feasibility study ("RI/FS") of the Libby mine and the surrounding area to determine the location, scope and extent of required remediation. The EPA is also investigating or remediating formerly owned or operated sites that processed Libby vermiculite into finished products. We are cooperating with the EPA on these investigation and remediation activities, and have recorded a liability to the extent that our review has indicated that a probable liability has been incurred and the cost is estimable.

We have recorded liabilities for all environmental matters for which a loss is considered to be probable and sufficient information is available to reasonably estimate the loss. These liabilities do not include the cost to remediate the Libby vermiculite mine and surrounding area or costs related to any additional EPA claims, whether resulting from the EPA's investigation of vermiculite facilities or otherwise, which may be material but are not currently estimable. Due to these vermiculite­related matters, it is probable that our ultimate liability for environmental matters will exceed our current estimates by material amounts.

# Our indebtedness may materially affect our business, including our ability to fulfill our obligations, react to changes in our business and incur additional debt to fund future needs.

We have a substantial amount of debt. As of December 31, 2017, we had \$1,033.1 million of unsecured indebtedness outstanding and \$510.8 million of secured indebtedness outstanding. Our indebtedness may have material effects on our business, including to:

• require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow to debt payments, thereby reducing funds available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, research and development, distributions to stockholders, stock repurchase programs and other purposes;

• restrict us from making strategic acquisitions or taking advantage of favorable business opportunities;

• limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industries in which we operate;

• increase our vulnerability to adverse economic, credit and industry conditions, including recessions;

• make it more difficult for us to satisfy our debt service and other obligations;

• place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have relatively less debt; and

• limit our ability to borrow additional funds, or to dispose of assets to raise funds, if needed, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, research and development and other purposes.