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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

 
FORM 6-K
 
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the month of November, 2006

Commission File Number 1-15250
 

 

BANCO BRADESCO S.A.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 

BANK BRADESCO
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
 

Cidade de Deus, s/n, Vila Yara
06029-900 - Osasco - SP
Federative Republic of Brazil
(Address of principal executive office)
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. 

Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F _______

 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  

Yes _______ No ___X____

.


PRESS RELEASE 
Bovespa: BBDC3, BBDC4                             Latibex: XBBDC                             NYSE: BBD 

This Press Release may include information on future events. These considerations may reflect not only historical facts, but also the desires and expectations of Bradesco’s management. Words such as “anticipates”, “desires”, “expects”, “foresees”, “plans”, “predicts”, “projects”, “wishes” and similar expressions are intended to identify statements, which necessarily involve known and unknown risks. Known risks include uncertainties, which are not restricted to the impact of the competitive nature of prices and services, the acceptance of services by the market, service transactions of Bradesco and of its competitors, regulatory approvals, currency fluctuations, changes in the range of services offered and other risks described in Bradesco’s reports. This Press Release is valid as at this date and Banco Bradesco assumes no obligation whatsoever to update this release, either as a result of new information and/or future events.


Monday, 11/06/2006  3rd quarter 2006 Earnings Release 


     Banco Bradesco posted, in the first nine months of 2006, excluding extraordinary goodwill amortizations which took place in the period, Net Income of R$5.029 billion.

     The reported Net Income, adjusted by goodwill amortization effects, is:

R$ million
Effects in Net Income  3rd Quarter/06  9 months/06 
Reported Net Income  219  3,351 
(+) Full Goodwill Amortization – 3Q06  2,109  2,109 
(-) Tax Effect of Full Goodwill Amortization  (717) (717)
Adjusted Net Income   1,611  4,743 
(+) Goodwill Amortization – 1H06  433 
(-) Tax Effect of Goodwill Amortization  (147)
Net Income without effects of Goodwill Amortization  1,611  5,029 

     For comparison and analysis purposes in this press release, as well as in our Report on Economic and Financial Analysis (available on our website), we are considering the Adjusted Net Income of R$1.611 billion in the quarter and R$4.743 billion in the 9-month period.



Milton Vargas
Investor Relations Officer
 
Jean Philippe Leroy
Executive General Manager
Telephone: (55 11) 2178-6201
 
Ivani Benazzi de Andrade
Investor Relations Manager – Institutional 
Telephone: (55 11) 2178-6218
4823.ivani@bradesco.com.br
 
Édina Rosaria dos Santos
Investor Relations Manager – Individuals 
Telephone: (55 11) 2178-6203
4823.edina@bradesco.com.br
 
Fábio Romanin
Analyst
Telephone: (55 11) 2178-6204
4823.fabio@bradesco.com.br
 
Andressa Vallilo Ramalho
Analyst
Telephone: (55 11) 2178-6217
4823.andressa@bradesco.com.br 
 
 
www.bradesco.com.br/ir


2


Loan Portfolio

The Loan Portfolio, including Sureties and Guarantees and amounts receivable from Credit Cards, reached R$ 110.296 billion, up by 27.8% in the year and by 3.6% in the quarter.

Excluding Sureties and Guarantees and amounts receivable from Credit Cards, the Loan Portfolio amounted to R$ 92.013 billion, increasing by R$ 16.769 billion or 22.3% in the year and by R$ 3.370 billion or 3.8% in the quarter.

Loans to Individuals recorded an R$ 8.245 billion growth or 27.0% in the year and a R$1.275 billion growth or 3.4% in the quarter, mostly originated by the higher demand for Personal Loans and Auto Finance, due to the improvement in the Brazilian economy.

Loans to Corporates grew by R$ 8.524 billion or 19.1% in the year, mostly in Trade Finance Operations and BNDES Onlendings, in line with the expected increase in sales, considering the overall economic recovery. In the quarter, the loan book growth was R$ 2.095 billion or 4.1%, with the main increases also recorded in Trade Finance and BNDES Onlendings Operations.

SMEs expanded their demand for loans, recording a 25.6% y-o-y increase in the Loan Portfolio and a 4.0% q-o-q increase. Referring to Large Corporates, increases of 13.1% y-o-y and of 4.2% q-o-q were recorded in the Loan Portfolio. In addition, it is worth mentioning that 91.67% of Sureties and Guarantees operations derive from Large Corporates.

Loan Portfolio by type of customer:

Asset Quality

In September 2006, AA-C rated operations accounted for 92.3% of our Loan Portfolio (92.4% in June 2006 and 93.1% in September 2005), evidencing the good quality of our assets. In this same period, the Financial System recorded an 89.6% ratio (89.5% in 2Q06 and 89.7% in 9M05), while private banks presented ratios of 91.3%, 91.5% and 92.2%, respectively.

The balance of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (PDD) amounted to R$ 6.215 billion, corresponding to 6.8% of the Loan Portfolio, R$ 5.123 billion of which are required provisions and R$ 1.092 billion are additional provisions.

The coverage ratio, which compares the total balance of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts to the Loan Portfolio balance overdue by more than 59 days, which does not accrue interest, stood at 159.8%, a percentage regarded as very comfortable, pointing out that Bradesco did not proceed to year to date in any securitization of overdue operations, which could eventually improve these ratios.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (PDD) Expenses

In the year, the R$ 1.486 million increase is in line with the 22.3% growth of the Loan Portfolio, highlighting the strong loan demand by individuals, of 27.0% .

In the quarter, the R$ 53 million increase also reflects the loan portfolio growth.

3


R$ million
  9M06  9M05  Variation  3Q06  2Q06  Variation 
Regular PDD Expenses  3,144  1,710  1,434  1,157  1,089  68 
Additional Provision  79  27  52  12  27  (15)
Reported PDD Expenses  3,223  1,737  1,486  1,169  1,116  53 

Coverage Ratios

  Sep/06  Jun/06  Sep/05 
AA – C Loan Portfolio  92.3%  92.4%  93.1% 
D – H Loan Portfolio  7.7%  7.6%  6.9% 
PDD / Loan Portfolio  6.8%  6.6%  6.2% 
PDD / D – H Overdue Loan Portfolio  131.1%  129.1%  159.6% 
PDD / E – H Overdue Loan Portfolio  156.0%  157.3%  191.5% 
PDD / Overdue Loan Portfolio for more than 59 days  159.8%  156.6%  198.5% 

Deposits, Debentures, Subordinated Debts and Technical Provisions

In the chart below, we highlight the evolution of deposits, debentures and subordinated debts on both the y-o-y and q-o-q basis:

  R$ billion  Variation % 
  Sep/06  Jun/06   Sep/05 quarter  year 
Demand deposits  17.6  16.7  14.8  5.7  19.1 
Savings deposits  25.4  24.8  24.8  2.3  2.5 
Time deposits  35.4  36.4  31.2  (2.9) 13.2 
Debentures  19.7  15.3  9.7  29.4  104.0 
Subordinated Debt  11.8  10.9  6.5  7.9  81.1 
Total  109.9  104.1  87.0  5.6  26.3 
Note: Variation calculated in R$ million.

It is also worth to highlight below the volume of Technical Provisions for Insurance, Private Pension Plans and Savings Bonds, reflecting Grupo Bradesco de Seguros e Previdência’s leadership in premiums, as well as its conservative provisioning criteria:

  R$ billion         Variation % 
  Sep/06  Jun/06  Sep/05  quarter  year 
Private Pension Plans  39.1  37.6  32.6  4.3  20.3 
Insurance  4.3  4.1  3.5  3.3  20.0 
Certificated Savings Plans  2.3  2.2  2.1  2.4  8.2 
Total  45.7  43.9  38.2  4.1  19.6 
Note: Variation calculated in R$ million.

Contingent Liabilities

In compliance with CVM Resolution #489, Bradesco records as labor and civil contingent liabilities all losses deemed as probable, which includes the supplementary provision for labor proceedings, recorded in this quarter, in the amount of R$ 309 million. When fiscal contingencies are taken into account, Bradesco does not have any proceeding deemed as probable losses. Proceedings classified as possible losses, in the amount of R$ 100 million, which do not require recording in the books, are disclosed in note 18. In addition, Bradesco is party in legal proceedings related to tax liabilities, named Legal Liabilities, the legality or constitutionality of which are being contested. Regardless of the evaluation of the probability of success, the total amounts related to these liabilities are fully recognized in the financial statements.

4


In the next chart we highlight the balance of such provisions:

  R$ billion 
  Sep/06  Jun/06  Sep/05 
Labor Proceedings  1,326  1,010  753 
Civil Proceedings  885  872  467 
Fiscal and Social Security Provisions  4,781  4,626  3,264 
Total  6,992  6,508  4,484 

Capital

Bradesco’s Accounting Stockholders’ Equity in September 2006 totaled R$ 21.773 billion and the Reference Stockholders’ Equity reached R$ 31.945 billion. Thus, the Capital Adequacy Ratio (BIS) stood at 16.2% in consolidated figures. Considering that the minimum ratio established in Brazil is 11%. Bradesco’s potential to expand its Loan Portfolio reached R$ 92.7 billion, i.e. more than the double of the current loan portfolio.

Asset Management

Total Assets under Management reached R$140.2 billion, comprising Investment Funds, Managed Portfolios and Third-Party Funds, up by 22.3% y-o-y and by 1.9% q-o-q, as follows:

Total Assets under Management – R$ million         
    Sep/06    Jun/06    Sep/05 
       
Investment Funds    127,572    121,640    101,697 
Managed Portfolios    7,337    10,400    7,782 
Third-Party Funds    5,313    5,608    5,177 
       
Total    140,222    137,648    114,656 
       

   Assets Distribution – R$ million             
    Sep/06    Jun/06    Sep/05 
       
Total Fixed Income    128,891    126,168    104,383 
Total Equities    6,018    5,872    5,096 
Total Third-Party Funds    5,313    5,608    5,177 
       
Overall Total    140,222    137,648    114,656 
       

Multimarket Funds

The Multimarket category (which searches for long-term profitability through investments in different asset classes, such as fixed income, equities and derivatives) reached net funding of around R$ 23 billion until September 2006, representing a 19.1% share of the total Investment Funds in Brazil. Both the reduction of interest rates and investors’ higher disposition to take risks contributed to this result. Aware of the growth of this market segment, BRAM created a specific Department, comprised of a team fully focused on the management of this Fund category.

5


Adjusted Net Interest Income

For a better analysis, the Net Interest Income is presented adjusted by the effects of the sale of investments and hedge of equity abroad, as follows:

R$ million
  9M06  9M05  Variation  3Q06  2Q06  Variation 
Reported NII  15,073  12,852  2,221  4,852  4,961  (109)
( - ) Sale of Belgo Mineira  (327) 327 
( - ) Hedge/Exchange Variation  (280) (580) 300  15  (10) 25 
Adjusted NII  14,793  11,945  2,848  4,867  4,951  (84)
- NII – Interest  13,164  10,898  2,266  4,549  4,340  209 
- NII - Non-Interest  1,629  1,047  582  318  611  (293)

% Adjusted over Average Assets
 
8.9%  8.3%  -  8.5%  9.1%  - 

In the year, the R$2.848 billion Adjusted Net Interest Income growth was due to:

In the quarter, the R$84 million reduction was originated by:

Fee Income

The increase of this income was due to:

In the year, the R$1.135 billion growth is mainly due to the following fees:

6


In the quarter, the R$252 million increase was mainly originated by the following fees:

Personnel Expenses

In the year, the R$ 522 million variation was due to:

In the quarter, the R$ 115 million variation was a result of:

Note: It does not include the constitution of supplementary provision for labor proceedings previously mentioned, in the amount of R$309 million.

Other Administrative Expenses

In the year, the R$ 496 million growth was mostly due to:

In the quarter, the R$ 132 million increase was due to:

Performance Indexes

Operating Efficiency Ratio

We present in the chart on the next page the continuous improvement in this ratio, reflecting the focus on the appropriate management of personnel and administrative expenses, as well as the increase in several income sources:

7


Coverage Ratio:

The Coverage Ratio (Fee Income / Personnel Expenses + Administrative Expenses) has also been constantly improving, as presented below:

Insurance, Private Pension Plans and Certificated Savings Plans

Bradesco Seguros e Previdência posted Net Income of R$1.591 billion (+29.9% in relation to 9M05). In the quarterly comparison, the result of R$ 550 million remained stable when compared to the previous quarter.

Until September 2006 the client base grew by 5.3% compared to September 2005, totaling 17.748 million clients.

Premiums from Private Pension Plans and Savings Bonds amounted to R$13.4 billion in September against R$11.7 billion reached in the same period of 2005, a 14.5% increase, representing a 25% market share (August/2006 market data).

Technical Provisions totaled R$45.7 billion, representing a 37.2% share of all Brazilian market Technical Provisions, according to Susep’s figures (August/06 market data).

8


Combined Ratio:

The improvement in the combined ratio is due to:

1) The reduction in the claims of the Auto/RCF segment - resulting from the profile implementation, which completed one and a half year – as well as in the Basic Line, due to the expressive growth of the residential insurance (with low claims ratios). Referring to the Health segment, the drop in claims resulted from the improved efficiency of operating controls/measures.

2) The reduction of administrative costs in the insurance group as a whole, which in nominal terms, are currently in the same levels presented in 2003.

Ratios  2006   2005 
9 Months  3rd Qtr  2nd Qtr  9 Months  3rd Qtr  2nd Qtr 
Combined       98.2  95.3  101.9  101.4  101.5  101.6 
Expanded Combined       84.2  82.5  85.4  89.2  86.9  88.8 
International       92.1  88.9  95.8  96.2  93.4  96.1 

Combined Ratios by Activity (%)

Lines  2006  2005 
9 Months  3rd Qtr  2nd Qtr  9 Months  3rd Qtr  2nd Qtr 
Health  95.0  90.9  98.7  106.0  105.3  107.3 
Life/AP/VGBL  87.2  81.4  98.6  83.8  85.3  87.6 
Auto/RCF and Basic Lines  105.7  105.9  106.8  108.0  107.5  108.1 

Highlights of the Market Relations Department

Social-Environmental Responsibility Area

In September the Social-Environmental Responsibility Website was launched, a key additional tool for the disclosure of material information and the construction of an increasingly positive relationship with stakeholders.

The new website, which is a result of months of work and of the effective interaction with several areas, departments and suppliers, shows in detail the organization’s broad operation in all the social-environmental responsibility areas.

To access the new website, type www.bradesco.com.br/rsa

Other Highlights of the Quarter

9


NOTE:
The complete version of the Financial Statements, as well as the Report on Economic and Financial Analysis as of September 30, 2006, are available on our Website   (www.bradesco.com.br/ir) in the Portuguese, English and Spanish versions. 


CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

Date: Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Portuguese  English 
9:30 am (São Paulo time)
6:30 am (US EST time)



Brazil (11) 4688-6301 
International (55 11) 4688-6301 

Code: Bradesco 
11:30 am (São Paulo time)
8:30 am (US EST time)



USA (1-800) 860-2442 
International (1-412) 858-4600 
Brazil (0-xx-11) 4688-6301 

Code: Bradesco 

The conference calls will also be live broadcasted online with audio and slideshow. Please access our website www.bradesco.com.br/ir

On the conference call page, the presentation will be available for download on the morning of the event.

An audio replay of the conference calls will be available from November 7 to 16, 2006, at the phone numbers (55 11) 4688-6225 for Portuguese, conference call code: 548 and (55 11) 4688-6225 for English, conference code: 967. Alternatively, it will be available on Bradesco’s Investors Relations website approximately two hours after the event has ended.

Market Indicators

In %   9M06   3Q06   2Q06     9M05 
USD Commercial Rate  (7.11) 0.46  (0.37) (16.28)
CPI  2.00  0.45  0.10  3.95 
CDI  11.54  3.51  3.58  14.08 
IGP-M  2.27  0.84  0.71  0.21 
Selic (year end) 14.25  14.25  15.25  19.50 
USD Commercial Rate (year end) – R$  2.1742  2.1742  2.1643  2.2222 

10


Macroeconomic Scenario

In %   2006   2007   2008 
USD Commercial Rate (year end) – R$     2.10     2.20     2.30 
CPI   2.86%   3.90%   4.30% 
IGP-M   3.16%   3.73%   4.19% 
Selic (year end) 13.25%  12.00%  11.25% 
GDP   3.39%   3.60%   3.98% 

MAIN FIGURES AND INDEXES

R$ Million   9M06   9M05  %   3Q06   2Q06  % 
Adjusted Net Income  4,743  4,051  17.1  1,611  1,602  0.6 
Earnings per Share (R$) (*) 4.84  4.13  17.2  1.65  1.64  0.6 
Book Value per Stock (R$) (*) 22.24  18.63  19.4  22.24  21.92  1.5 
 
ROAE (Annualized) 31.5  33.6  -  32.7  35.0  - 
ROAA (Annualized) 2.8  2.8  -  2.7  2.9  - 
 
Net Interest Income - Adjusted  14,793  11,945  23.8  4,867  4,951  (1.7)
Fee Income  6,474  5,339  21.3  2,343  2,091  12.1 
Personnel and Administrative  (8,671) (7,653) 13.3  (3,091) (2,844) 8.7 
Expenses             
 
Total Assets  243,192  201,913  20.4  243,192  232,935  4.4 
Loan Portfolio  92,013  75,244  22.3  92,013  88,643  3.8 
Sureties and Guarantees  13,820  8,673  59.3  13,820  13,369  3.4 
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts  (6,215) (4,647) 33.7  (6,215) (5,833) 6.5 
Deposits  78,853  71,095  10.9  78,853  78,356  0.6 
Subordinated Debts  11,767  6,499  81.1  11,767  10,903  7.9 
Technical Provisions  45,719  38,235  19.6  45,719  43,947  4.0 
Stockholders’ Equity  21,773  18,262  19.2  21,773  21,461  1.5 
 
In %             
Efficiency Ratio  41.7  46.0  -  42.1  41.9  - 
Efficiency Ratio (**) 42.4  47.0  -  42.4  43.2  - 
Expanded Combined Ratio  84.2  89.2  -  82.5  85.4  - 
BIS Ratio (Economic-Financial  18.4  17.7  -  18.4  18.7  - 
Consolidated)            
(Total Consolidated) 16.2  15.5  -  16.2  16.5  - 
Fixed Asset Ratio (Economic-  46.0  42.8  -  46.0  48.0  - 
Financial Consolidated)            
(Total Consolidated) 11,9  18,4  -  11,9  16,4  - 

R$ Million  9M06  9M05  %  3T06  2T06  % 
Interest on Own Capital/Dividends (up to 10/05/06) 2,120  1,537  37.9  972  609  59.6 
Total Stock (in Thousands) (*) 979,199  980,456  (0.1) 979,199  979,225  - 

(*) Note: For comparison purposes, the amounts were adjusted by the 100% stock bonus held on 11.22.2005.

(**) YTD

11


ADJUSTED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

R$ Million  9M06  9M05   %  3Q06  2Q06   % 
 
REVENUES FROM FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION (1 and 2) 28,099  22,854  23.0  9,623  9,680  (0.6)
 
EXPENSES FROM FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION  13,306  10,909  22.0  4,756  4,729  0.6 
 
NET INTEREST INCOME  14,793  11,945  23.8  4,867  4,951  (1.7)
 
Allowance For Doubtful Accounts  (3,223) (1,737) 85.5  (1,169) (1,116) 4.7 
 
GROSS INCOME FROM FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION  11,570  10,208  13.3  3,698  3,835  (3.6)
 
OTHER OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSES) (5,083) (4,735) 7.3  (1,541) (1,754) (12.1)
Fee Income  6,474  5,339  21.3  2,343  2,091  12.1 
Retained Premiums from Insurance, Private Pension Plans and Certificated Savings Plans  10,553  9,343  13.0  3,807  3,288  15.8 
Change in Technical Provisions for Insurance Private Pension Plans and Certificated Savings Plans (2) (1,946) (1,110) 75.3  (901) (466) 93.3 
Claims – Insurance Operations  (4,475) (4,292) 4.3  (1,490) (1,476) 0.9 
Certificated Savings Plans Draws and Redemptions  (878) (897) (2.1) (305) (288) 5.9 
Insurance and Private Pension Plans Selling Expenses  (754) (697) 8.2  (260) (251) 3.6 
Private Pension Plans Benefits and Redemption Expenses  (1,819) (1,989) (8.5) (525) (567) (7.4)
Personnel Expenses  (4,472) (3,950) 13.2  (1,584) (1,469) 7.8 
Other Administrative Expenses  (4,199) (3,703) 13.4  (1,507) (1,375) 9.6 
Tax Expenses  (1,573) (1,304) 20.6  (532) (533) (0.2)
 
Equity in Earnings of Affiliated Companies  42  69  (39.1) 7  30  (76.7)
 
Other Operating Income  990  797  24.2  419  316  32.6 
Other Operating Expenses  (3,026) (2,341) 29.3  (1,013) (1,054) (3.9)
 
OPERATING INCOME  6,487  5,473  18.5  2,157  2,081  3.7 
NON-OPERATING INCOME (3and 5) 20  (37) -  41  12  241.7 
INCOME BEFORE TAXES AND PROFIT SHARING  6,507  5,436  19.7  2,198  2,093  5.0 
TAXES ON INCOME (4 and 5) (1,757) (1,381) 27.2  (585) (491) 19.1 
MINORITY INTEREST IN SUBSIDIARIES  (7) (4) 75.0  (2) -  - 
ADJUSTED NET INCOME  4,743  4,051  17.1  1,611  1,602  0.6 

Adjustments made in the nine-month period:

(1) Partial result from derivatives used for hedge effect of equity abroad - which in terms of Net Income simply annuls the fiscal and tax effect (IR/CS and PIS/COFINS) of this hedge strategy - totaling R$580 million and R$280 million in the periods of 2005 and 2006, respectively;
(2) Extraordinary provision in the amount of R$327 million was recorded in the Individual Health portfolio, to bring to the same level the premiums for insurance holders over 60 years of age whose health insurance plans are prior to Law 9,656/98 and for benefits related to fully settled plans whose holders are still entitled to their benefits (planos remidos), which was offset by a positive result verified in the partial sale of our R$327 million stake in Belgo-Mineira in the period of 2005;
(3) Supplementary constitution of provisions for labor proceedings in the amount of R$309 million, in compliance with CVM Resolution #489, carried out in the 3rd quarter of 2006;
(4) Activation of fiscal credits of previous periods in the amount of R$204 million; and
(5) Remaining goodwill amortization in subsidiaries carried out in the 3rd quarter of 2006 in the amount of R$2.109 million (R$1.392 million, net of tax effects).

Adjustments made in the quarter:

(1) Partial result from derivatives used for hedge effect of equity abroad - which in terms of Net Income simply annuls the fiscal and tax effect (IR/CS and PIS/COFINS) of this hedge strategy - totaling R$10 million and R$(15) million in the 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2006, respectively;
(3) Supplementary constitution of provisions for labor proceedings in the amount of R$309 million, in compliance with CVM Resolution #489, carried out in the 3rd quarter of 2006;
(4) Activation of fiscal credits of previous periods in the amount of R$204 million; and
(5) Remaining goodwill amortization in subsidiaries carried out in the 3rd quarter of 2006.

12


 
SIGNATURES
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: November 06th, 2006

 
BANCO BRADESCO S.A.
By:
 
/S/  Milton Almicar Silva Vargas

   
Milton Almicar Silva Vargas
Executive Vice President and
Investor Relations Officer
 

 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.