Notice for Annual Meeting of Stockholders
May 2021
Notice for Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Our presentation and the related webcast contain non-GAAP financial measures, which differ from our reported results prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures of operating results, such as gross profit margin and earnings per share growth, exclude items that, either by their nature or amount, management would not expect to occur as part of the Company’s normal business on a regular basis, such as restructuring charges, charges for certain litigation and tax matters, gains and losses from certain acquisitions and divestitures and certain unusual, non-recurring items. We may also refer to organic sales growth, which is Net sales growth excluding the impact of foreign exchange, acquisitions and divestments, and to free cash flow before dividends, which we define as Net cash provided by operations less Capital expenditures. A complete, quantitative reconciliation between our reported results and these non-GAAP financial measures, including a description of the excluded items, as well as a schedule of sales growth as reported and organic sales growth, is available in the “Investor Center” section of our website at www.colgatepalmolive.com.
Our presentation and the related webcast may also contain forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in its rules, regulations and releases) that set forth anticipated results based on management’s current plans and assumptions. Such statements may relate, for example, to sales or volume growth, net selling price increases, organic sales growth, profit or profit margin growth, earnings per share levels, financial goals, the impact of foreign exchange volatility, the impact of COVID-19, cost-reduction plans, tax rates, new product introductions, commercial investment levels, acquisitions, divestitures, share repurchases, or legal or tax proceedings, among other matters. These statements are made on the basis of our views and assumptions as of this time and we undertake no obligation to update these statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law or by the rules and regulations of the SEC. Moreover, we do not, nor does any other person, assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of those statements. We caution investors that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual events or results may differ materially from those statements. For information on factors that could impact the Company’s business and cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, refer to the Company’s filings with the SEC (including, but not limited to, the information set forth under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q). Copies of these filings are available in the “Investor Center” section of the Company’s website at www.colgatepalmolive.com, or may be obtained upon request from the Company’s Investor Relations Department.
