News Details

Operating-Basis Earnings Per Share of $3.40 Increased 2% from $3.32in 2009

Operating-Basis Revenue Increased 7% from 2009 Driven Primarily by Increase in Servicing Fee Revenue

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- State Street Corporation today announced full-year and fourth-quarter 2010 earnings per common share of $3.09 and $0.16, compared to $3.46 and $1.00 for the full year and the fourth quarter of 2009, respectively. Fourth-quarter earnings per share include the impact of certain actions taken to accelerate growth and to provide greater capital flexibility. These actions resulted in a loss of $0.67 per share resulting from a repositioning of the investment portfolio and a restructuring charge associated with a reduction in force and real estate consolidation of $0.21 per share. The full-year 2009 results are presented, and comparisons are made, before an extraordinary after-tax loss of $7.77 per share associated with the consolidation of the Company’s asset-backed commercial paper conduits onto its balance sheet. Revenue in 2010 was $8.953 billion, an increase of 4% from $8.640 billion in 2009 and was $2.043 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010, down 10% from $2.280 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009. Expenses of $6.842 billion in 2010 increased 15% from $5.966 billion in 2009, primarily due to a $414 million pre-tax securities finance charge recorded in the second quarter of 2010 and the fourth-quarter restructuring charge of $156 million, as well as merger and integrationcosts of $89 million, primarily associated with the acquisitions of Intesa Sanpaolo’s Securities Servicing business (“Intesa”) and Mourant International Finance Administration (“Mourant”). In the fourth quarter of 2010, expenses were $1.792 billion, including the above restructuring charge and merger and integration costs of $12 million primarily associated with the acquisitions, compared to $1.565 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009. Return on shareholders’ equity was 9.5% in 2010, down from 13.2% in 2009 and was 1.8% in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to 14.0% in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Compared to the third quarter of 2010, fourth quarter 2010 earnings per share decreased 85% from $1.08 per share, primarily due to the loss associated with the investment portfolio repositioning and the restructuring charge, and revenue declined 12% from $2.310 billion, also primarily due to the loss associated with the investment portfolio repositioning. Expenses in the third quarter of 2010 were $1.527 billion. For the third quarter of 2010, return on shareholders’ equity was 12.9%.

In addition to presenting State Street’s financial results in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), management also presents results on an “operating basis” in order to highlight comparable financial trends and other characteristics with respect to State Street’s ongoing business operations from period to period. Reconciliations of GAAP-basis results to operating-basis results are provided in the addendum at the end of this news release. Also see “Additional Information.” Operating-basis net interest revenue for all periods is presented on a fully taxable-equivalent basis and excludes discount accretion related to former conduit assets.

Operating-basis earnings per share in 2010 were $3.40 compared to $3.32 in 2009. Operating-basis revenue in 2010 was $8.714 billion, up 7.1% from $8.138 billion in 2009. Operating-basis expenses increased to $6.176 billion, up 9.0% from 2009. On an operating basis, return on shareholders’ equity was 10.4% in 2010 compared to 12.6% in 2009. Comparing 2010 with 2009, negative operating leverage of 190 basis points was primarily due to lower incentive compensation expense in 2009, reflecting the implementation of the Tangible Common Equity (TCE) improvement plan.

Operating-basis earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2010 were $0.87 compared to $0.71 in the fourth quarter of 2009 and $0.86 in the third quarter of 2010. Operating-basis revenue in the fourth quarter of 2010 was $2.281 billion, an increase of 9.6% from the fourth quarter of 2009 and an increase of 5.9% from $2.154 billion in the third quarter of 2010. Operating-basis expenses in the fourth quarter of 2010 were $1.624 billion, an increase of 4.4% from the fourth quarter of 2009 and an increase of 7.0% from $1.518 billion in the third quarter of 2010. On an operating basis, comparing the fourth quarter of 2010 with the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company achieved 520 basis points of positive operating leverage. On an operating basis, return on shareholders’ equity was 9.8% in the fourth quarter, compared to 9.9% in the fourth quarter of 2009 and 10.2% in the third quarter of 2010.

Joseph L. Hooley, State Street's chairman and chief executive officer, said, “In the fourth quarter, we continued to experience favorable growth in servicing and management fees, and in addition, we saw some improvement in trading services revenue compared to the third quarter. We also maintained control over expenses, and on an operating basis in the fourth quarter we achieved 520 basis points of positive operating leverage compared to the fourth quarter of 2009.”

Commenting on the fourth-quarter actions the Company undertook, he said, “During the quarter, we took significant actions that we expect to positively impact State Street’s results in the coming years. First, we announced a multi-year plan to transform our operating model, including a comprehensive technology program, designed to increase efficiencies and position the Company for accelerated growth. Second, we repositioned our investment portfolio to provide greater flexibility for capital deployment in the future. Our capital levels are strong, significantly in excess of the current regulatory well capitalized requirements; and we are well positioned for the implementation of Basel III capital requirements as we understand them, far ahead of their required implementation dates.

He continued, “In 2010 we won mandates for $1.4 trillion in assets to be serviced, $390 billion of which are scheduled for installation in 2011. State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) continues to benefit from growth in passive and ETF assets. In 2010 SSgA added about $160 billion in gross new assets, $40 billion of which are to be installed in 2011. In January 2011, we closed the acquisition of Bank of Ireland Asset Management (BIAM), which expands SSgA’s offerings, particularly in active fundamental management. The acquisitions of the Intesa and Mourant businesses were modestly accretive in 2010, and the integrations continue to progress well and are on track to meet the outlook we previously provided. We achieved a full-year operating-basis net interest margin of 168 basis points, which excludes discount accretion.”

Hooley concluded, “While near-term we expect increased regulatory costs, as well as lower net interest revenue in 2011 due to pressure from the low interest-rate environment and the impact of the repositioning of the investment portfolio, we are well positioned to take advantage of global growth opportunities and, as the economy normalizes, we remain committed to our long-term financial goals.”

The table below provides a summary of selected financial information and key ratios for the indicated periods, presented on an operating basis where noted. Unless otherwise specified, all capital ratios referenced in this news release refer to State Street Corporation and not State Street Bank and Trust Company. See “Additional Information” for a further description of these ratios and the addendum at the end of this news release for reconciliations applicable to the tier 1 common and TCE ratios.

Total assets were $161 billion at December 31, 2010, including $16.6 billion in excess deposits held primarily at the Federal Reserve and at other central banks. The average balance sheet for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $160 billion, compared to $154 billion for the third quarter of 2010 and $146 billion for the fourth quarter of 2009. State Street’s regulatory capital ratios continue to be strong as of December 31, 2010, with the Company’s total capital ratio at 22.0%, its tier 1 capital ratio at 20.5% and its leverage ratio at 8.2%. In addition, at that date, the Company’s tier 1 common ratio was 18.1%, its TCE to risk-weighted assets ratio was 17.2%, and its TCE ratio was 7.6%. Ratios adjusted for the effects of the applicable methodologies provided for in the Basel III capital requirements are: total capital ratio of 11.6%, tier 1 capital ratio of 10.6%, tier 1 leverage ratio of 5.9%, and tier 1 common ratio of 9.4%. These ratios reflect State Street’s estimates of the impact of the requirements under Basel III affecting capital, based upon published statements of the Basel Committee and the Federal Reserve. See “Additional Information” below for information concerning the specified capital ratios and the addendum at the end of this news release for reconciliations of these ratios to ratios calculated under presently applicable requirements.

At December 31, 2010, the after-tax, unrealized mark-to-market losses in the investment portfolio were $504 million, up from $281 million at September 30, 2010 primarily due to the steepening of the yield curve in the second half of the fourth quarter, and down from $2.29 billion as of December 31, 2009, primarily due to significant spread compression.

In the fourth quarter of 2010, GAAP results included discount accretion of $139 million, or $0.17 per share, related to the former conduit assets. As of December 31, 2010, the Company expects a pre-tax aggregate of about $1.3 billion to accrete into interest revenue over the remaining lives of the former conduit assets, of which it expects approximately $200 million to accrete in 2011. These expectations are based on many assumptions, including holding the securities to maturity, anticipated pre-payment speeds, credit quality, and sales.

The following tables provide the components of operating-basis revenue and operating-basis expenses for the noted periods:

FOURTH-QUARTER 2010 RESULTS VS. THE FOURTH QUARTER of 2009

Servicing fees were up 19% to $1.064 billion from $895 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. The increase was attributable primarily to the impact of the acquisition of Intesa and Mourant, new business, and increases in daily average equity valuations. Total assets under custody and administration were $21.527 trillion at December 31, 2010, up 15% compared with $18.795 trillion at December 31, 2009. Daily average values for the S & P 500 Index were up 11% and the MSCI^® EAFE Index^ES increased approximately 3% from the fourth quarter of 2009.

Investment management fees, generated by State Street Global Advisors, were $221 million, up 1% from $218 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. The increase in management fees was attributable primarily to increases in the average of month-end valuations in worldwide equity markets and new business. Average month-end equity valuations increased about 12% and 3% compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 as measured by the S & P 500 and the MSCI^® EAFE index^ES,respectively. Total assets under management at December 31, 2010, were $2.010 trillion, up 3% compared to $1.951 trillion at December 31, 2009.

Trading services revenue, which includes foreign exchange trading revenue and brokerage and other fees, was $310 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, an increase of 15% from $270 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. Foreign exchange revenue increased 19% primarily due to changes in product mix offset slightly by lower volatility and volumes. Brokerage and other fees were up about 10% due primarily to an increase in electronic trading.

Securities finance revenue was $69 million in the quarter, down 17% from $83 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 due primarily to both compressed spreads and lower volumes. Processing fees and other revenue was $71 million, up from $60 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Net interest revenue on a fully-taxable equivalent basis, which includes discount accretion, was $689 million. On an operating basis, which excludes discount accretion, net interest revenue was $550 million, an increase of 10% from $499 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 due to a modest improvement in funding costs and the impact of deposits added in connection with the Intesa acquisition. Fully taxable-equivalent net interest margin, including the discount accretion, was 207 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to 235 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2009. Operating-basis net interest margin was 165 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to 161 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2009.

In the fourth quarter of 2010, on an operating basis, we recorded $3 million of net gains from sales of available-for-sale securities. Separately, we recorded $(7)million of other-than-temporary impairment, resulting in $4 million of net losses related to investment securities. As previously announced, during the fourth quarter, State Street sold investment securities of approximately $11 billion in order to increase its balance sheet flexibility in deploying capital, to enhance its capital ratios under evolving regulatory capital standards, and to reduce its exposure to certain asset classes.

Operating-basis expenses of $1.624 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010 increased 4% compared to $1.556 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009 primarily due to increases in salaries and benefits expenses and information systems and communications, offset partially by a lower level of other expenses. Salaries and benefits expenses increased 18% to $935 million, primarily due to an increase in incentive compensation and the impact of the acquisitions. Information systems and communications expenses were $191 million, an increase of 17% from $163 million due primarily to the impact of the two acquisitions. Transaction processing services expenses were up 8% to $171 million due to higher volumes in the investment servicing business, including the impact of the two acquisitions. Occupancy expenses increased to $117 million from $115 million. Other expenses decreased 36% to $210 million due to lower securities processing costs, the impact of an adverse judgment of $60 million rendered by a Netherlands court in the fourth quarter of 2009, and the impact of a $40 million insurance recovery in the fourth quarter of 2010, offset partially by increased expenses associated with the two acquisitions.

The effective tax rate on fourth-quarter 2010 GAAP-basis earnings was 67.2%, compared to 26.7% in the fourth quarter of 2009 due primarily to the partial write-off of a deferred tax asset associated with certain of the investment securities sold in the investment portfolio repositioning transaction. The effective tax rate on operating-basis earnings for the fourth quarter of 2010 and for the full year 2010 was 29.5% and 28.3% respectively, in line with our previously disclosed outlook. The effective tax rate on operating-basis earnings for the full year 2011 is expected to be between 28% and 29%.

FOURTH-QUARTER 2010 RESULTS VS. THIRD QUARTER 2010

Servicing fees were $1.064 billion, up 6% from $1.006 billion in the third quarter due primarily to new business installed and higher average equity valuations. Daily average values as measured by the S & P 500 and the MSCI^® EAFE index^ES increased 10%. Management fees were $221 million, up 13% from $196 million, due primarily to the higher average month-end equity market valuations as well as new business. Average month-end equity valuations were up 10% as measured by the S & P 500 and increased 8% as measured by the MSCI^® EAFE index^ES. Trading services revenue was $310 million, up 36% compared to $228 million due to higher volatility and higher volumes in foreign exchange as well as higher fees primarily from transition management in brokerage and other fees. Securities finance revenue was $69 million, up slightly from $68 million in the third quarter. Processing fees and other revenue was flat at $71 million. Fully taxable-equivalent net interest revenue in the fourth quarter of 2010 totaled $689 million, including discount accretion. On an operating basis, fully taxable-equivalent net interest revenue in the fourth quarter of 2010 was $550 million, down from $568 million due to the impact of the repositioning of the investment portfolio.

Compared to the third quarter of 2010, salaries and benefits expense increased 7% to $935 million from $871 million, primarily due to an increase in incentive compensation and fees for contract services. Information systems and communications expense was $191 million, up 6% due primarily to higher global infrastructure costs. Other expenses were $210 million, up 11%, due to miscellaneous expenses, including donations, travel expenses, professional fees and sale and promotion costs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All per share amounts represent fully diluted earnings per common share. Return on common shareholders’ equity is determined by dividing full-year or annualized net income available to common equity by average common shareholders’ equity for the period. Operating-basis return on common equity utilizes full-year or annualized operating-basis net income in the calculation. Positive operating leverage is defined as the excess rate of growth of total revenue over the rate of growth of total expenses, each determined on an operating basis.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release includes financial information presented on a GAAP basis as well as on an operating basis. Operating-basis financial information is a non-GAAP presentation. Management measures and compares certain financial information on an operating basis, as it believes that this presentation supports meaningful comparisons from period to period and the analysis of comparable financial trends with respect to State Street’s normal ongoing business operations. Management believes that operating-basis financial information, which reports revenue from non-taxable sources on a fully taxable-equivalent basis and excludes the impact of revenue and expenses outside of the normal course of business, facilitates an investor’s understanding and analysis of State Street’s underlying financial performance and trends in addition to financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

This news release also includes capital ratios in addition to, or adjusted from, those calculated in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. These include capital ratios based on tier 1 common capital and capital ratios adjusted to reflect our estimate of the application of the Basel III capital requirements. These non-regulatory and adjusted capital measures are non-GAAP financial measures. Management presently evaluates the non-GAAP capital ratios presented in this news release to aid in its understanding of State Street’s capital position under a variety of standards, including presently applicable and evolving regulatory requirements. Management believes that the use of the non-GAAP capital ratios described in this news release similarly aids in an investor's understanding of State Street's capital position and therefore is of interest to investors.

In addition to the reconciliations described in the descriptions below of the capital ratios referenced in this news release, the addendum to this news release also includes reconciliations of the following other non-GAAP financial measures referenced in this news release: operating-basis results to GAAP-basis results and Basel III-adjusted capital ratios to capital ratios calculated under presently applicable requirements.

Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP and capital ratios determined in accordance with presently applicable regulatory requirements.

Capital Ratios

The total capital, the tier 1 capital, and the tier 1 leverage ratios are capital ratios used regularly by bank regulatory authorities to evaluate the Company’s capital adequacy. The tier 1 common ratio is sometimes used by the Federal Reserve in connection with its supervisory capital assessment programs. The TCE and TCE/risk-weighted assets ratios are other capital ratios management believes provide additional context for understanding and assessing the Company’s capital adequacy.

• The total capital, the tier 1 risk-based capital, or tier 1 capital, and tier 1 leverage ratios, as applicable, are each calculated in accordance with applicable bank regulatory requirements.
• The tier 1 risk-based common, or tier 1 common, ratio is calculated by dividing (a) tier 1 capital less non-common elements including qualifying perpetual preferred stock, qualifying minority interest in subsidiaries and qualifying trust preferred securities, by (b) total risk-weighted assets, which assets are calculated in accordance with applicable bank regulatory requirements. The tier 1 common ratio is not required by GAAP or on a recurring basis by bank regulations. Management is currently monitoring this ratio, along with the other capital ratios described in this news release, in evaluating State Street’s capital levels and believes that, at this time, the ratio may be of interest to investors. Reconciliations with respect to tier 1 common capital as of December 31, 2010, September 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009 are provided in the addendum at the end of this news release.
• The ratio of tangible common equity to adjusted tangible assets, or TCE ratio, is calculated by dividing consolidated total common shareholders’ equity by consolidated total assets, after reducing both amounts by goodwill and other intangible assets net of related deferred taxes. Total assets reflected in the TCE ratio also exclude cash balances on deposit at the Federal Reserve Bank and other central banks in excess of required reserves. The TCE ratio is not required by GAAP or by bank regulations, but is a metric used by management to evaluate the adequacy of State Street’s capital levels. Since there is no authoritative requirement to calculate the TCE ratio, our TCE ratio is not necessarily comparable to similar capital measures disclosed or used by other companies in the financial services industry. Tangible common equity and adjusted tangible assets are non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations with respect to the calculation of the TCE ratio as of December 31, 2010, September 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009 are provided in the addendum at the end of this news release.
• The ratio of tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets, or TCE/RWA ratio, is calculated by dividing consolidated total common shareholders’ equity (reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets net of related deferred taxes) by total risk-weighted assets (determined in accordance with applicable bank regulatory requirements). The TCE/RWA ratio is not required by GAAP or by bank regulations, but is a metric used by management to evaluate the adequacy of State Street’s capital levels. Since there is no authoritative requirement to calculate the TCE/RWA ratio, our TCE/RWA ratio is not necessarily comparable to similar capital measures disclosed or used by other companies in the financial services industry. Tangible common equity is a non-GAAP financial measure and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations with respect to the calculation of the TCE/RWA ratio as of December 31, 2010, September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, are included in the addendum at the end of this news release.

INVESTOR CONFERENCE CALL

State Street will webcast an investor conference call today, Wednesday, January 19, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. EST, available at www.statestreet.com/stockholder. The conference call will also be available via telephone, at +1 706/679-5594 or +1 888/391-4233 (Conference ID #62663636). Recorded replays of the conference call will be available on the web site, and by telephone at +1 706/645-9291 or +1 800/642-1687 (Conference ID#62663636), beginning approximately two hours after the call’s completion. The telephone replay will be available for approximately two weeks following the conference call. This news release, presentation materials referred to on the conference call, and additional financial information are available on State Street’s website, at www.statestreet.com/stockholder under “Investor Information--Latest News, Annual Reports and Financial Trends—Financial Trends,” and “Investor Events and Presentations.”

State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is the world's leading provider of financial services to institutional investors including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $21.527 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $2.01 trillion in assets under management at December 31, 2010, State Street operates in 26 countries and more than 100 geographic markets and employs 28,670 worldwide. For more information, visit State Street’s web site at www.statestreet.com or call +1 877/639-7788 [NEWS STT] toll-free in the United States and Canada, or +1 678/999-4577 outside those countries.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined by United States securities laws, including statements relating to our goals and expectations regarding our business, financial condition, results of operations, investment portfolio performance and strategies, the financial and market outlook, governmental and regulatory initiatives and developments, and the business environment. Forward-looking statements are often identified by such forward-looking terminology as "plan," "expect," "look," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "seek," "may," "will," "trend," "target,” and "goal," or similar statements or variations of such terms. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, are inherently uncertain, are based on current assumptions that are difficult to predict and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in those statements, and those statements should not be relied upon as representing our expectations or beliefs as of any date subsequent to January 19, 2011.

Important factors that may affect future results and outcomes include, but are not limited to:

• the manner in which the Federal Reserve implements the Dodd-Frank Act and Basel III, and whether State Street is designated as systemically important for purposes of the Dodd-Frank Act;
• material differences between the actual required capital ratios under Basel III, as applicable to State Street, when fully implemented by the Federal Reserve Board, and the estimates of such ratios provided in this news release, resulting in the need for substantial additional capital in the future;
• changes in law or regulation that may adversely affect our, our clients’ or our counterparties’ business activities and the products or services that we sell, including additional or increased taxes or assessments thereon, capital adequacy requirements and changes that expose us to risks related to compliance;
• financial market disruptions and the economic recession, whether in the U.S. or internationally, and monetary and other governmental actions, including regulation, taxes and fees, designed to address or otherwise be responsive to such disruptions and recession, including actions taken in the U.S. and internationally to address the financial and economic disruptions that began in 2007;
• increases in the volatility of, or declines in the levels of, our net interest revenue, changes in the composition of the assets on our consolidated balance sheet and the possibility that we may be required to change the manner in which we fund those assets;
• the financial strength and continuing viability of the counterparties with which we or our clients do business and to which we have investment, credit or financial exposure;
• the liquidity of the U.S. and international securities markets, particularly the markets for fixed-income securities, and the liquidity requirements of our clients;
• the credit quality, credit agency ratings, and fair values of the securities in our investment securities portfolio, a deterioration or downgrade of which could lead to other-than-temporary impairment of the respective securities and the recognition of an impairment loss in our consolidated statement of income;
• the finalization and execution of our previously announced planned global multi-year program designed to enhance service excellence and innovation, deliver increased efficiencies in our operating model and position us for accelerated growth, including our ability to implement programs to transform and improve technology and business processes and create efficiencies, to develop constructive vendor, outsourcing and other third-party relationships and to promote other business model enhancement and cost savings initiatives; and increases in the volatility of our GAAP-basis and operating-basis earnings resulting from a change in our estimate of the charges or expenses necessary to execute the planned global multi-year program and the resulting savings from such program;
• the maintenance of credit agency ratings for our debt and depository obligations as well as the level of credibility of credit agency ratings;
• the risks that acquired businesses will not be integrated successfully, or that the integration will take longer than anticipated, that expected synergies will not be achieved or unexpected disynergies will be experienced, that client and deposit retention goals will not be met, that other regulatory or operational challenges will be experienced and that disruptions from the transaction will harm relationships with clients, employees or regulators;
• the ability to complete acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures, including the ability to obtain regulatory approvals, the ability to arrange financing as required, and the ability to satisfy other closing conditions;
• the performance and demand for the products and services we offer, including the level and timing of redemptions and withdrawals from our collateral pools and other collective investment products;
• the possibility of our clients incurring substantial losses in investment pools where we act as agent, and the possibility of further general reductions in the valuation of assets;
• our ability to attract deposits and other low-cost, short-term funding;
• potential changes to the competitive environment, including changes due to the effects of consolidation and perceptions of State Street as a suitable service provider or counterparty;
• the level and volatility of interest rates and the performance and volatility of securities, credit, currency and other markets in the U.S. and internationally;
• our ability to measure the fair value of the investment securities on our consolidated balance sheet;
• the results of litigation, government investigations and similar disputes or proceedings;
• our ability to control operating risks, information technology systems risks and outsourcing risks, and our ability to protect our intellectual property rights, the possibility of errors in the quantitative models we use to manage our business and the possibility that our controls will fail or be circumvented;
• adverse publicity or other reputational harm;
• our ability to grow revenue, attract, retain and compensate highly skilled people, control expenses and attract the capital necessary to achieve our business goals and comply with regulatory requirements;
• the potential for new products and services to impose additional costs on us and expose us to increased operational risk;
• changes in accounting standards and practices; and
• changes in the interpretation of existing tax laws by U.S. and non-U.S. tax authorities that affect the amount of taxes due.

Other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by any forward-looking statements are set forth in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequent SEC filings. We encourage investors to read these filings, particularly the sections on risk factors, for additional information with respect to any forward-looking statements and prior to making any investment decision. The forward-looking statements contained in this presentation speak only as of the date hereof, January 19, 2011, and we do not undertake efforts to revise those forward-looking statements to reflect events after that date.