Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This transcript contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations as of October 27, 2011 and assumptions which are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. The use of words such as "intends" and "expects," among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. However, these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements and may include statements relating to future revenues, expenses, margins, profitability, net income / (loss), earnings per share and other measures of results of operations and the prospects for future growth of Expedia, Inc.'s business.
Actual results and the timing and outcome of events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including, among others: declines or disruptions in the travel industry; changes in our relationships and contractual agreements with travel suppliers or supplier intermediaries; risks relating to the announced spin-off of our TripAdvisor business; increases in the costs of maintaining and enhancing our brand awareness; changes in search engine algorithms and dynamics, or search engine disintermediation; our inability to adapt to technological developments or to maintain our existing technologies; our ability to expand successfully in international markets; changes in senior management; volatility in our stock price; changing laws, rules and regulations and legal uncertainties relating to our business; unfavorable new, or adverse application of existing, tax laws, rules or regulations; adverse outcomes in legal proceedings to which we are party; provisions in certain credit card processing agreements that could adversely impact our liquidity and financial positions; fluctuations in our effective tax rate; our inability to access the capital markets when necessary; risks related to our long term indebtedness; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; risks related to the failure of counterparties to perform on financial obligations; potential liabilities resulting from our processing, storage, use and disclosure of personal data; the integration of current and acquired businesses; the risk that our intellectual property is not protected from copying or use by others, including competitors; and other risks detailed in our public filings with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements in this transcript, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Additional Information about the TripAdvisor Spin-Off
This document does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
As previously announced, Expedia intends to spin-off its TripAdvisor Media Group businesses into a separate publicly-traded company, TripAdvisor, Inc. In connection with the proposed spin-off, Expedia, Inc. and TripAdvisor, Inc. have filed a registration statement on Form S-4 that included a preliminary proxy statement for Expedia and prospectus for Expedia and TripAdvisor with the SEC. Stockholders of Expedia are urged to read the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, when it becomes available, because it will contain important information about Expedia, the proposed spin-off transaction and related matters. Investors and security holders can obtain free copies of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available by contacting Investor Relations, Expedia, 333 108th Avenue N.E., Bellevue, Washington 98004 (Telephone: (425) 679-3555). Investors and security holders can also obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Expedia and TripAdvisor with the SEC in connection with the proposed spin-off transaction at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.
In addition to the proxy statement/prospectus, Expedia files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC, each of which should be available at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any reports, statements and other information filed by Expedia at the SEC public reference room at 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information.
Expedia and its directors, executive officers and certain members of management and other employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Expedia's stockholders to approve the proposed spin-off transaction. Such individuals may have interests in the transaction as described in Expedia's proxy statement/prospectus, including as a result of current holdings of options, restricted share units or shares of Expedia's stock and future holdings of options, restricted share units or shares of TripAdvisor's stock, which will be impacted in the transaction. Information regarding Expedia and the equity interests of its directors and officers who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies is contained in Expedia's preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, filed with the SEC on July 27, 2011, as amended.