prospects, the market for similar securities, and overall conditions in the securities markets, and may be adversely affected by unfavorable changes in any of these factors. It is possible that the market for the notes will be subject to disruptions that may have a negative effect on noteholders, regardless of our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations or prospects.
Future funding requirements may affect our business.
New sources of capital may be needed to meet the funding requirements of future investments in operating assets or other acquisitions, fund our ongoing business activities and pay dividends. Our ability to raise and service significant new sources of capital will be a function of macroeconomic conditions, future prices as well as our operational performance, cash flow and debt position, among other factors. We may determine that it may be necessary or preferable to issue additional debt or other securities, defer projects or sell assets. Additional financing may not be available when needed or, if available, the terms of such financing may not be favorable to us. In the event of lower prices, unanticipated operating or financial challenges, or new funding limitations, our ability to pursue new business opportunities, invest in existing and new projects, fund our ongoing business activities, and retire or service our outstanding debt could be significantly constrained.
Our credit ratings may not reflect all risks of your investment in the notes.
Our credit ratings are an assessment by rating agencies of our ability to pay our debts when due. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings will generally affect the market value of the notes. These credit ratings may not reflect the potential risks related to the market or other factors that influence the market value of the notes. Credit ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security, and may be revised or withdrawn at any time by the issuing organization. Each agency’s rating should be evaluated independently of any other agency’s rating.
Any downgrade in our credit ratings could limit our ability to obtain future financing, increase our borrowing costs and adversely affect the market price of our existing securities, including the notes, or otherwise impair our business, financial condition and results of operations.
There can be no assurance that any rating assigned to us or any of our securities, including the notes, will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered, suspended or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency, if, in that rating agency’s judgment, circumstances so warrant. A downgrade of our credit ratings could adversely affect the market price of our securities, including the notes, adversely affect our existing financing, limit our access to the capital or credit markets or otherwise adversely affect the availability of other new financing on favorable terms, result in more restrictive covenants in agreements governing the terms of any future indebtedness that we incur, increase our cost of borrowing, or impair our business, financial condition and results of operations.
An increase in market interest rates could result in a decrease in the market value of the notes.
In general, as market interest rates rise, debt securities bearing interest at fixed rates of interest decline in value. Consequently, if you purchase notes and market interest rates increase, the market value of those notes may decline. We cannot predict the future level of market interest rates.
Current global financial conditions could adversely affect the availability of new financing and our operations.
Current global financial conditions have been characterized by increased market volatility. Continued volatility in the capital and credit markets, which impacts interest rates, currency exchange rates, and the availability of credit, could adversely affect our ability to obtain equity or debt financing in the future on terms favorable to us or have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be unable to repay or repurchase the notes at maturity.
At maturity, the entire principal amount of the notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, will become due and payable. We may not be able to repay or refinance these obligations, and the guarantors may not be able to satisfy their obligations under the guarantees. If the maturity date occurs at a time when other arrangements prohibit us from repaying the notes and the guarantors from satisfying their obligations under the applicable guarantees, we could try to obtain waivers of such prohibitions from the lenders and holders under those arrangements, or we could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain the restrictions. If we are unable to obtain the waivers or refinance these borrowings, we will be unable to satisfy our payment obligations with respect to the notes.