ENNIS, INC.

Previous wording

Our results and financial condition are affected by global and local market conditions, and competitors’ pricing strategies, which can adversely affect our sales, margins, and net income.

Current wording

Our results and financial condition are affected by global and local market conditions, competitors’ pricing strategies, and risks due to new or increased tariffs, which can adversely affect our sales, margins, and net income.

Previous wording

Our results of operations can be affected by local, national and worldwide market conditions. The consequences of domestic and international economic uncertainty or instability, volatility in commodity markets, and domestic or international policy uncertainty, all of which we have seen in the past, can all impact economic activity. Unfavorable conditions can depress the demand for our products and thus sales in a given market and may prompt competitor’s pricing strategies that adversely affect our margins or constrain our operating flexibility. Certain macroeconomic events, such as crises in the financial markets, inflation, high interest rates and recessionary concerns, cost and labor pressures, distribution challenges and the availability of paper could have a more wide-ranging and prolonged impact on the general business environment, which could also adversely affect us. Whether we can manage these risks effectively depends on several factors, including (i) our ability to manage movements in commodity prices and the impact of government actions to manage national economic conditions such as consumer spending, inflation rates and unemployment levels, particularly given the past volatility in the global financial markets, (ii) the impact on our margins of labor costs given our labor-intensive business model, the trend toward higher wages in both mature and developing markets and the potential impact of union organizing efforts on day-to-day operations of our manufacturing facilities and (iii) other factors, which may be beyond our control.

Current wording

Our results of operations can be affected by local, national and worldwide market conditions. The consequences of domestic and international economic uncertainty or instability, volatility in commodity markets, and domestic or international policy uncertainty, all of which we have seen in the past, can all impact economic activity. Unfavorable conditions can depress the demand for our products and thus sales in a given market and may prompt competitor’s pricing strategies that adversely affect our margins or constrain our operating flexibility. Certain macroeconomic events, such as crises in the financial markets, inflation, high interest rates, tariffs, recessionary concerns, cost and labor pressures, distribution challenges and the availability of paper could have a more wide-ranging and prolonged impact on the general business environment, which could also adversely affect us. Whether we can manage these risks effectively depends on several factors, including (i) our ability to manage movements in commodity prices and the impact of government actions to manage national economic conditions such as consumer spending, inflation rates and unemployment levels, particularly given the past volatility in the global financial markets, (ii) the impact on our margins of labor costs given our labor-intensive business model, the trend toward higher wages in both mature and developing markets and the potential impact of union organizing efforts on day-to-day operations of our manufacturing facilities and (iii) other factors, which may be beyond our control.

Previous wording

The increasing sophistication of software, internet technologies, and digital equipment combined with our customers’ general preference and digital substitutions, as well as governmental influences for paperless business environments will continue to reduce the number of traditional printed documents sold. Moreover, the documents that will continue to coexist with software applications will likely contain less value-added print content.

Current wording

The printing industry continues to experience weakening demand for printed products. The increasing sophistication of software, internet technologies, and digital equipment combined with our customers’ general preference and digital substitutions, as well as governmental influences for paperless business environments will continue to reduce the number of traditional printed documents sold. Moreover, the documents that will continue to coexist with software applications will likely contain less value-added print content.

Previous wording

Many of our custom-printed documents help companies control their internal business processes and facilitate the flow of information. These applications will increasingly be conducted over the internet or through other electronic payment systems. The predominant method of our customers’ communication to their customers is by printed information. As their customers become more accepting of internet communications, our clients may increasingly opt for what is perceived to be a less costly electronic option, which would reduce our revenue. The pace of these trends is difficult to predict. These factors will tend to reduce the industry-wide demand for printed documents and require us to gain market share to maintain or increase our current level of print-based revenue which could place pressure on our operating margins.

Current wording

Increasing postal rates make direct mail campaigns more expensive, potentially leading our customers to reduce their demand for our products and shift to alternative marketing channels. Many of our custom-printed documents help companies control their internal business processes and facilitate the flow of information. These applications will increasingly be conducted over the internet or through other electronic payment systems. The predominant method of our customers’ communication with their customers is by printed information. As their customers become more accepting of internet communications, our customers may increasingly opt for what is perceived to be a less costly electronic option, which would reduce our revenue. The pace of these trends is difficult to predict. These factors will tend to reduce the industry-wide demand for printed documents and require us to gain market share to maintain or increase our current level of print-based revenue which could place pressure on our operating margins.

Previous wording

In response to the gradual obsolescence of our standardized forms business, we continue to develop our capability to provide custom and full-color products. If new printing capabilities and new product introductions do not continue to offset the obsolescence of our standardized business forms products, and we are unable to increase our market share, our sales and profits will be affected. Decreases in sales of our standardized business forms and products due to obsolescence could also reduce our gross margins or impact the value of our recorded goodwill and intangible assets. This reduction could in turn adversely impact our profits, unless we are able to offset the reduction through the introduction of new high margin products and services or realize cost savings in other areas.

Current wording

In response to the gradual obsolescence of our standardized business forms, we continue to develop our capability to provide custom and full-color products. If new printing capabilities and new product introductions do not continue to offset the obsolescence of our standardized business forms products and we are unable to increase our market share, our sales and profits will be affected. Decreases in sales of our standardized business forms and products due to obsolescence could also reduce our gross margins or impact the value of our recorded goodwill and intangible assets. This reduction could in turn adversely impact our profits, unless we are able to offset the reduction through the introduction of new high margin products and services or realize cost savings in other areas.

Previous wording

We currently purchase a large majority of our paper products from one major supplier at favorable costs based on the volume of business, and traditionally we have purchased our paper products from a limited number of suppliers, all of which must meet stringent quality and on-time delivery standards under long-term contracts. Fluctuations in the quality of our paper, unexpected price changes, decline in overall distribution channels or other factors that relate to our suppliers could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

Current wording

We currently purchase a large majority of our paper products (a significant input to our print products) from one major supplier at favorable costs based on our high volume of business with this supplier relative to our competitors. Traditionally we have purchased our paper products from a limited number of suppliers, all of which must meet stringent quality and on-time delivery standards under long-term contracts. The closing of paper mills as recently announced would reduce capacity, potentially increasing prices and require us to seek alternative suppliers. We predominantly purchase our other raw materials from domestic suppliers but may be required to source from international suppliers if our domestic suppliers are unable to meet our supply requirements. Fluctuations in the quality of our paper commodity, unexpected price changes, decline in overall distribution channels or other factors that relate to our suppliers could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

Previous wording

We maintain a noncontributory defined benefit retirement plan (the “Pension Plan”) covering approximately 12% of our employees. As of February 29, 2024, the Pension Plan was 100% funded on a projected benefit obligation ("PBO") basis and 107% on an accumulated benefit obligation ("ABO") basis. Included in our financial results are Pension Plan costs that are measured using actuarial valuations. The actuarial assumptions used may differ from actual results. In addition, as our Pension Plan assets are invested in marketable securities, fluctuations in market values can negatively impact our funded status, recorded pension liability, and future required minimum contribution levels. A decline in long-term interest rates puts downward pressure on the discount rate used by plan sponsors to determine their pension liabilities. Each 10 basis point change in the discount rate impacts our computed pension liability by approximately $505,000. Similar to fluctuations in market values, a drop in the discount rate can negatively impact our funded status, recorded pension liability and future contribution levels. Also, continued changes in the mortality assumptions can impact our funded status. Additionally, as we experienced in recent years, the number of participants taking lump sum distributions at retirement could be sufficiently high as to cause a settlement charge, which would impact current earnings of the Pension Plan.

Current wording

We maintain a noncontributory defined benefit retirement plan (the “Pension Plan”) covering approximately 12% of our employees. As of February 28, 2025, the Pension Plan was 103% funded on a projected benefit obligation ("PBO") basis and 109% on an accumulated benefit obligation ("ABO") basis. Included in our financial results are Pension Plan costs that are measured using actuarial valuations. The actuarial assumptions used may differ from actual results. In addition, as our Pension Plan assets are invested in marketable securities, fluctuations in market values can negatively impact our funded status, recorded pension liability and future required minimum contribution levels. A decline in long-term interest rates puts downward pressure on the discount rate used by plan sponsors to determine their pension liabilities. Each 10-basis point change in the discount rate impacts our computed pension liability by approximately $0.5 million. Similar to fluctuations in market values, a drop in the discount rate can negatively impact our funded status, recorded pension liability and future contribution levels. Also, continued changes in the mortality assumptions can impact our funded status. Additionally, as we experienced in recent years, the number of participants taking lump sum distributions at retirement could be sufficiently high as to cause a settlement charge, which would impact current earnings of the Pension Plan.

Previous wording

We are subject to extensive and changing federal, state and foreign laws and regulations establishing health and environmental quality standards, concerning, among other things, wastewater discharges, air emissions and solid waste disposal, and may be subject to liability or penalties for violations of those standards. We are also subject to laws and regulations governing remediation of contamination at facilities currently or formerly owned or operated by us or to which we have sent hazardous substances or wastes for treatment, recycling or disposal. We may be subject to future liabilities or obligations as a result of new or more stringent interpretations of existing laws and regulations. In addition, we may have liabilities or obligations in the future if we discover any environmental contamination or liability at any of our facilities, or at facilities we may acquire.

Current wording

We are subject to extensive and changing federal, state and foreign laws and regulations establishing health and environmental quality standards, concerning, among other things, wastewater discharges, air emissions and solid waste disposal, and may be subject to liability or penalties for violations of those standards. We are also subject to laws and regulations governing remediation of contamination at facilities currently or formerly owned or operated by us or to which we have sent hazardous substances or wastes for treatment, recycling or disposal. We may be subject to future liabilities or obligations as a result of new or more stringent interpretations of existing laws and regulations. In addition, we may have liabilities or obligations in the future if we discover any environmental contamination or liability at any of our facilities, or at the facilities we may acquire.

Previous wording

Income, sales or other tax laws are dynamic and subject to change as new laws are passed and new interpretations of the law are applied. Most recently, on August 16, 2022, legislation commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act (the "IRA") was signed into law. Among other things, the IRA includes a 1% excise tax on certain corporate stock repurchases, applicable to repurchases after December 31, 2022, and also a new minimum tax based on book income. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted on December 22, 2017 resulted in changes in our federal corporate tax rate, our deferred income taxes and limitations on the deductibility of interest expense and executive compensation and the transition of U.S. international taxation from a worldwide tax system to a modified territorial tax system. There may be changes in tax legislation, including a repeal or modification of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, changes in tax rates and tax base such as limiting, phasing-out or eliminating deductions, revising tax law interpretations in jurisdictions, and changes in other tax laws. The U.S. government has proposed changes to increase the tax rates on corporations. All of these factors and uncertainties may adversely affect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

Current wording

Income, sales or other tax laws are dynamic and subject to change as new laws are passed and new interpretations of the law are applied. Most recently, on August 16, 2022, legislation commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act (the "IRA") was signed into law. Among other things, the IRA includes a 1% excise tax on certain corporate stock repurchases, applicable to repurchases after December 31, 2022, and also a new minimum tax based on book income. Following the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v Wayfair, states may require an out-of-state seller with no physical presence in the state to collect and remit sales tax on goods the seller ships to consumers in the state. While the company now collects, remits and reports sales tax in states that it does business in, the adoption of new laws by taxing authorities could create significant increases in internal cost necessary to capture data, collect and remit tax. All of these factors and uncertainties may adversely affect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

Previous wording

As previously disclosed, the Company was targeted with an encryption ransomware attack on November 30, 2022. The attack was discovered while it was in process and immediate action was taken to isolate our network to limit the scope of any damage. The attack resulted in a brief disruption to the operation of our systems as we took our servers offline to eradicate the ransomware and restore our data and applications from secure backups. The Company did not communicate with the ransomware threat actor and never considered paying any ransom demand. Instead, the Company eliminated the ransomware and immediately proceeded to restore its critical files and functions. The Company incurred no material expense in connection with the ransomware attack. Based on the information currently known to date, the incident has not had a significant financial impact and the Company does not believe the incident will have a material impact on its business, results of operations or financial condition. Despite us improving our Information Technology General Controls, we cannot give any assurances that the Company will not become the subject of a future more sophisticated, or more harmful attack.

Current wording

As previously disclosed, the Company was targeted with an encryption ransomware attack on November 30, 2022. The Company eliminated the ransomware and restored its systems. Since then, the Company has implemented additional security measures to make it more difficult for an outside agent to gain access to our network, such as a multifactor authentication (MFA) protocol and a robust firewall to strengthen the Company's network. Despite us improving our information technology general controls, we cannot give any assurances that the Company will not become the subject of a future more sophisticated, or more harmful attack.