DFIN 2017 Annual Report

We have in the past acquired and intend in the future to acquire other businesses, and we may be unable to successfully integrate the operations of these businesses and may not achieve the cost savings and increased net sales anticipated as a result of these acquisitions. Achieving the anticipated benefits of acquisitions will depend in part upon our ability to integrate these businesses in an efficient and effective manner. The integration of companies that have previously operated independently may result in significant challenges, and we may be unable to accomplish the integration smoothly or successfully. In particular, the coordination of geographically dispersed organizations with differences in corporate cultures and management philosophies may increase the difficulties of integration. The integration of acquired businesses may also require the dedication of significant management resources, which may temporarily distract management’s attention from the day-to-day operations of the Company. In addition, the process of integrating operations may cause an interruption of, or loss of momentum in, the activities of one or more of the Company’s businesses and the loss of key personnel from the Company or the acquired businesses. Further, employee uncertainty and lack of focus during the integration process may disrupt the businesses of the Company or the acquired businesses. The Company’s strategy is, in part, predicated on the Company’s ability to realize cost savings and to increase net sales through the acquisition of businesses that add to the breadth and depth of the Company’s products and services. Achieving these cost savings and net sales increases is dependent upon a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. In particular, the Company may not be able to realize the benefits of more comprehensive product and service offerings, anticipated integration of sales forces, asset rationalization and systems integration. Our business is dependent upon brand recognition and reputation, and the failure to maintain or enhance our brand or reputation would likely have an adverse effect on our business. Our brand recognition and reputation are important aspects of our business. Maintaining and further enhancing our brands and reputation will be important to retaining and attracting clients for our products. We also believe that the importance of our brand recognition and reputation for products will continue to increase as competition in the market for our products and industry continues to increase. Our success in this area will be dependent on a wide range of factors, some of which are out of our control, including the efficacy of our marketing efforts, our ability to retain existing and obtain new clients and strategic partners, human error, the quality and perceived value of our products and services, actions of our competitors and positive or negative publicity. Damage to our reputation and loss of brand equity may reduce demand for our products and services and negatively impact our results of operations, financial position and cash flow. We may be unable to hire and retain talented employees, including management. Our success depends, in part, on our general ability to attract, develop, motivate and retain highly skilled employees. The loss of a significant number of our employees or the inability to attract, hire, develop, train and retain additional skilled personnel could have a serious negative effect on our business. We believe our ability to retain our client base and to attract new clients is directly related to our sales force and client service personnel, and if we cannot retain these key employees, our business could suffer. In addition, many members of our management have significant industry experience that is valuable to our competitors. We expect that our executive officers will have non-solicitation agreements contractually prohibiting them from soliciting our clients and employees within a specified period of time after they leave Donnelley Financial. If one or more members of our senior management team leave and cannot be replaced with a suitable candidate quickly, we could experience difficulty in managing our business properly, which could negatively impact our results of operations, financial position and cash flow. The trend of increasing costs to provide health care and other benefits to our employees and retirees may continue. We provide health care and other benefits to both employees and retirees. For many years, costs for health care have increased more rapidly than general inflation in the U.S. economy. If this trend in health care costs continues, our cost to provide such benefits could increase, adversely impacting our profitability. Changes to health care regulations in the U.S. and internationally may also increase our cost of providing such benefits. 18