Operational risks

Failure to achieve improvements in Philips’ solution and product creation process and/or increased speed in innovation-to-market could hamper Philips’ profitable growth ambitions.

Further improvements in Philips’ solution and product creation process, ensuring timely delivery of new solutions and products at lower cost and upgrading of customer service levels to create sustainable competitive advantages, are important in realizing Philips’ profitable growth ambitions. The emergence of new low-cost competitors, particularly in Asia, further underlines the importance of improvements in the product creation process. The success of new solution and product creation, however, depends on a number of factors, including timely and successful completion of development efforts, market acceptance, Philips’s ability to manage the risks associated with new products and production ramp-up issues, the availability of products in the right quantities and at appropriate costs to meet anticipated demand, and the risk that new products and services may have quality or other defects in the early stages of introduction. Accordingly, Philips cannot determine in advance the ultimate effect that new solutions and product creations will have on its financial condition and operating results. If Philips fails to accelerate its innovation-to-market processes and fails to ensure that end-user insights are fully captured and translated into solution and product creations that improve product mix and consequently contribution, it may face an erosion of its market share and competitiveness, which could have a material adverse affect on its results.

If Philips is unable to ensure effective supply chain management, it may be unable to sustain its competitiveness in its markets.

Philips is continuing the process of creating a leaner supply base with fewer suppliers, while maintaining dual sourcing strategies where possible. This strategy very much requires close cooperation with suppliers to enhance, amongst other things, time to market and quality. In addition, Philips is continuing its initiatives to reduce assets through outsourcing. These processes may result in increased dependency. Although Philips works closely with its suppliers to avoid supply-related problems, there can be no assurance that it will not encounter supply problems in the future or that it will be able to replace a supplier that is not able to meet its demand. Shortages or delays could materially harm its business. Philips maintains a regular review of its strategic and critical suppliers to assess financial stability.

Philips’ supply chain is also exposed to fluctuations in energy and raw material prices. In recent times, commodities such as oil have been subject to volatile markets and significant price increases from time to time. If Philips is not able to compensate for or pass on its increased costs to customers, such price increases could have a material adverse impact on its financial results.

Most of Philips’ activities are conducted outside of the Netherlands, and international operations bring challenges. For example, production and procurement of products and parts in Asian countries are increasing, and this creates a risk that production and shipping of products and parts could be interrupted by a natural disaster in that region.

Due to the fact that Philips is dependent on its personnel for leadership and specialized skills, the loss of its ability to attract and retain such personnel would have an adverse effect on its business.

The retention of talented employees in sales and marketing, research and development, finance and general management, as well as of highly specialized technical personnel, especially in transferring technologies to low-cost countries, is critical to Philips’ success. The loss of specialized skills could also result in business interruptions.

Diversity in information technology (IT) could result in ineffective or inefficient business management. IT outsourcing and off-shoring strategies could result in complexities in service delivery and contract management. Furthermore, we observe a global increase in IT security threats and higher levels of professionalism in computer crime, posing a risk to the confidentiality, availability and integrity of data and information.

Philips is engaged in a continuous drive to create a more open, standardized and, consequently, more cost-effective IT landscape. This is leading to an approach involving further outsourcing, off-shoring, commoditization and ongoing reduction in the number of IT systems. The global increase in security threats and higher levels of professionalism in computer crime have raised the company’s awareness of the importance of effective IT security measures, including proper identity management processes to protect against unauthorized systems access. The integration of new companies and successful outsourcing of business processes are highly dependent on secure and well-controlled IT systems.

Warranty and product liability claims against Philips could cause Philips to incur significant costs and affect Philips’ results as well as its reputation and relationships with key customers.

Philips is from time to time subject to warranty and product liability claims with regard to product performance and effects. Philips could incur product liability losses as a result of repair and replacement costs in response to customer complaints or in connection with the resolution of contemplated or actual legal proceedings relating to such claims. In addition to potential losses arising from claims and related legal proceedings, product liability claims could affect Philips’ reputation and its relationships with key customers, both customers for end products and customers that use Philips’ products in their production process. As a result, product liability claims could materially impact Philips’ financial position and results.

Any damage to Philips’ reputation could have an adverse effect on its businesses.

Philips is exposed to developments which could affect its reputation. Such developments could be of an environmental or social nature, or connected to the behavior of individual employees or suppliers and could relate to adherence with regulations related to labor, health and safety, environmental and chemical management. Reputational damage could materially impact Philips’ financial position and results.