Cerence Inc.

Previous wording

Our business depends on, and is directly affected by, the global automotive industry. Automotive production and sales are highly cyclical and depend on general economic conditions and other factors, including consumer spending and preferences, changes in interest rate levels and credit availability, consumer confidence, fuel costs, fuel availability, environmental impact, governmental incentives and regulatory requirements, trade restrictions, customs regulations, tariffs and price or exchange controls, preferences by nations for domestically manufactured products and political volatility, especially in energy-producing countries and large or high growth markets. Such factors have in the past and may in the future also negatively impact consumer demand for automobiles that include features such as our products. In addition, automotive production and sales can be affected by our customers’ ability to continue operating in response to challenging economic conditions, and in response to labor relations issues, regulatory requirements, trade agreements and other factors. The volume of global automotive production has fluctuated, sometimes significantly, from year to year, and such fluctuations give rise to fluctuations in the demand for our products. For example, the U.S. government and governments of other countries recently adopted tariffs that apply to the automotive industry and may affect the business of our customers, which in turn could impact our own business. Any significant adverse change in any of these factors, including, but not limited to, general economic conditions and the resulting bankruptcy of a customer, the closure of a customer manufacturing facility or the ability of a customer manufacturing facility to obtain supplies to manufacture automobiles and to ship or receive shipments of parts, supplies or finished product on prices that are acceptable to them, or imposition of tariffs that affect the prices at which end consumers purchase automobiles, may result in a reduction in automotive sales and production by our customers, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Current wording

Our business depends on, and is directly affected by, the global automotive industry. Automotive production and sales are highly cyclical and depend on general economic conditions and other factors, including consumer spending and preferences, changes in interest rate levels and credit availability, consumer confidence, fuel costs, fuel availability, environmental impact, governmental incentives and regulatory requirements, trade restrictions, customs regulations, tariffs and price or exchange controls, preferences by nations for domestically manufactured products and political volatility, especially in energy-producing countries and large or high growth markets. Such factors have in the past and may in the future also negatively impact consumer demand for automobiles that include features such as our products. In addition, automotive production and sales can be affected by our customers’ ability to continue operating in response to challenging economic conditions, and in response to labor relations issues, regulatory requirements, trade agreements and other factors. For example, the U.S. government and governments of other countries recently adopted tariffs that apply to the automotive industry and may affect the business of our customers, which in turn could impact our own business. In addition, U.S. trade legislation continues to evolve related to barriers on the use of various products and technology from around the world including but not limited to the Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain: Connected Vehicles regulation promulgated by the U.S. Department of Commerce in December 2024. The Company can provide no assurance that any strategies we implement to mitigate the impact of any trade actions will be successful. The volume of global automotive production has fluctuated, sometimes significantly, from year to year, and such fluctuations give rise to fluctuations in the demand for our products. Any significant adverse change in any of these factors, including, but not limited to, general economic conditions and the resulting bankruptcy of a customer, the closure of a customer manufacturing facility or the ability of a customer manufacturing facility to obtain supplies to manufacture automobiles and to ship or receive shipments of parts, supplies or finished product on prices that are acceptable to them, or imposition of tariffs that affect the prices at which end consumers purchase automobiles, may result in a reduction in automotive sales and production by our customers, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Previous wording

These developments, along with continued uncertainty about tariffs and trade policies,economic stability related to the global outbreak of COVID-19, and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, have resulted in supply chain disruption, inflation, higher interest rates, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, and uncertainty about business continuity, which may adversely affect our business and our results of operations. As our customers react to global political, trade and economic conditions and the potential for a global recession, we may see them increase pricing pressure on us, reduce spending on our products and take additional precautionary measures to limit or delay expenditures and preserve capital and liquidity. Reductions in spending on our solutions, delays in automobile production or purchasing decisions, lack of renewals or the inability to attract new customers, as well as pressure for extended billing terms or pricing discounts, would limit our ability to grow our business and negatively affect our operating results and financial condition.

Current wording

These developments, along with continued uncertainty about tariffs and trade policies, and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, have resulted in supply chain disruption, inflation, higher interest rates, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, and uncertainty about business continuity, which may adversely affect our business and our results of operations. As our customers react to global political, trade and economic conditions and the potential for a global recession, we may see them increase pricing pressure on us, reduce spending on our products and take additional precautionary measures to limit or delay expenditures and preserve capital and liquidity. Reductions in spending on our solutions, delays in automobile production or purchasing decisions, lack of renewals or the inability to attract new customers, as well as pressure for extended billing terms or pricing discounts, would limit our ability to grow our business and negatively affect our operating results and financial condition.