Louisiana-Pacific (LPX) Risk Factors

We manufacture our products in the United States, Canada, Chile, and Brazil and sell our products primarily in North America and South America. Accordingly, we are subject to risks associated with potential disruption caused by changes in political, monetary, economic, and social environments, including civil and political unrest, terrorism, possible expropriation, local labor conditions (including labor disruptions or shortages), changes in laws, regulations, and policies of foreign governments and trade disputes with the United States (including tariffs), and compliance with U.S. laws affecting activities of U.S. companies abroad, including tax laws, economic sanctions and enforcement of contract and intellectual property rights. Our international operations and sourcing of materials could be harmed by a variety of factors, including: - recessionary trends in international markets;- legal and regulatory changes and the burdens and costs of our compliance with a variety of laws, including but not limited to export controls, import and customs trade restrictions, tariffs, and regulations related to global pandemics;- increases in transportation costs or transportation delays;- work stoppages, unionization efforts and labor strikes;- fluctuations in currency exchange rates, particularly the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies; and - social and political unrest, geopolitical and military conflicts, terrorism and economic instability. If any of these or other factors were to render the conduct of our business in a particular country undesirable or impractical, our business, financial condition, or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Because our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar, our non-U.S. operations face the additional risk of fluctuating currency values and exchange rates. Such operations may also face hard currency shortages and controls on currency exchange. Changes in the value of foreign currencies (principally Canadian dollars, Brazilian reals, Chilean pesos, and Argentine pesos) could have an adverse effect on our results of operations. We have, in the past, entered into foreign exchange contracts associated with certain of our indebtedness and may continue to enter into foreign exchange contracts associated with major equipment purchases to manage a portion of the foreign currency rate risk. We historically have not entered into currency rate hedges with respect to our exposure from operations, although we may do so in the future. There can be no assurance that fluctuation in foreign currencies and other foreign exchange risks will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

We have referred to, and may in the future refer to, in our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents that we file with, or furnish to, the SEC, historical, forecasted, and other forward-looking information published by sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau that we believe to be reliable. However, we have not independently verified this information and, with respect to the forecasted and forward-looking information, have not independently confirmed the assumptions and judgments upon which it is based. Forecasted and other forward-looking information is necessarily based on assumptions regarding future occurrences, events, conditions, and circumstances and subjective judgments relating to various matters and is subject to inherent uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by, or based upon, such forecasted and forward-looking information.

Our business strategy may depend, in part, on our ability to accomplish successful acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, capital investments and other corporate strategic transactions that we may pursue. The benefits we typically expect to achieve from such corporate strategic transactions may include, among other things, synergies, cost savings, growth opportunities and access to new markets, and in the case of divestitures, the disposition of businesses or assets that do not align with our long-term strategy and the realization of proceeds from the sale of businesses and assets to unrelated purchasers. We are subject to the risk that we may not achieve the expected benefits associated with such transactions. Failure to achieve such benefits could have a material adverse impact on our financial position, operating results and cash flows. Additionally, corporate strategic transactions that we may pursue may involve a number of special risks, including, among other things, the diversion of management attention and business resources in connection with the pursuit of such transactions and the integration of acquired assets or businesses into our operations, the demands on our financial, operational and information technology systems resulting from the acquisition of assets or businesses, and the possibility that we may become responsible for unexpected liabilities resulting from an acquisition for which we may not be adequately indemnified. These and other risks associated with corporate strategic transactions we may pursue may be unpredictable and beyond our control and could have a material adverse impact on our financial position, reputation, operating results and cash flows.

We, and many of our customers, are subject to various national, state and local laws, rules, and regulations. Changes in any of these laws, rules, or regulations could result in additional compliance costs, seizures, confiscations, recalls or monetary fines, any of which could prevent or inhibit the manufacture, distribution and sale of our products. We are also subject to periodic examination of our income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. There can be no assurance that the outcomes from these examinations will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations, or that our provision for income taxes will be sufficient. We are also exposed to changes in tax law, as well as any future regulations issued and changes in interpretations of tax laws, which can impact our current and future years' tax provisions. For example, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Canada and various other countries have committed to enacting substantial changes to numerous long-standing tax principles impacting how large multinational enterprises are taxed in an effort to limit perceived base erosion and profit shifting incentives. In particular, the OECD's Pillar Two initiative provides for a 15% global minimum tax applied on a country-by-country basis, with a recommended effective date for most provisions of January 1, 2024. Many countries (including countries in which we operate) have enacted or begun the process of enacting laws based on the Pillar Two initiative. To the extent that these proposals are implemented in any jurisdictions in which we operate, these developments could negatively impact our effective tax rate as well as increase the tax compliance and reporting costs related to such requirements. The effect of any other tax law changes or regulations and interpretations, as well as any additional tax legislation in the U.S. or other jurisdictions in which we operate, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, our products and markets are subject to extensive and complex local, state, federal, and foreign statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations. These mandates, including building design and safety and construction standards and zoning requirements, affect the cost, selection, and quality requirements of building components, such as the structural panel and siding products that we manufacture and sell, and often provide broad discretion to governmental authorities as to the types and quality specifications of products used in new home construction and repair and remodeling projects. Compliance with these standards and changes in such statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations may increase the costs of manufacturing our products or may reduce the demand for certain of our products in the affected geographical areas or product markets. Conversely, a decrease in product safety standards could reduce demand for our more modern products if less expensive alternatives that do not meet higher standards were to become available for use in the affected geographical areas or product markets. All or any of these changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our business is subject to many environmental laws and regulations, particularly with respect to discharges of pollutants and other emissions on or into the land, water, and air, the disposal and remediation of hazardous substances or other contaminants, and the restoration and reforestation of timberlands. Compliance with these laws and regulations is a significant factor in our business. We have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant expenditures to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations. Moreover, changes to the environmental laws and regulations to which we are subject and the enactment of new environmental laws, regulations, or other requirements, including with respect to greenhouse gas emissions or climate change, may cause us to incur increased and unexpected compliance costs or impose restrictions on our ability to manufacture our products or operate our business. In addition, there has historically been a lack of consistent climate legislation, which has created and continues to create economic and regulatory uncertainty. Our failure to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations and permit requirements could result in civil or criminal fines or penalties or enforcement actions, including regulatory or judicial orders enjoining or curtailing operations or requiring corrective measures, installation of pollution control equipment, or remedial actions, as well as reputational harm. Some environmental laws and regulations impose liability and responsibility on present and former owners, operators, or users of facilities and sites for contamination at such facilities and sites, without regard to causation or knowledge of contamination. In addition, we occasionally evaluate various alternatives with respect to our facilities, including possible dispositions or closures. Investigations undertaken in connection with these activities may lead to discoveries of contamination that must be remediated, and closures of facilities may trigger compliance requirements that are not applicable to operating facilities. Consequently, we cannot guarantee that existing or future circumstances or developments with respect to contamination will not require significant expenditures by us.

Our continued success depends in part on our ability to develop new products that will meet the demands of our customers. We may not be successful in developing new products on an effective and financially profitable basis. Additionally, as we ramp up manufacturing processes for newly introduced products, we may experience difficulties, including manufacturing disruptions, delays, or other complications, which could adversely impact our ability to serve our customers, our reputation, our costs of production, and, ultimately, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Our success depends, in part, on the proprietary nature of our technology, including non-patentable intellectual property, such as our process technology. To the extent that a competitor can reproduce or otherwise capitalize on our technology, it may be difficult, expensive, or impossible for us to obtain adequate legal remedies or other recourse. Also, the laws of some foreign countries may not protect our intellectual property to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. In addition to patent protection of intellectual property rights, we consider elements of our product designs and processes to be proprietary and confidential, and/or trade secrets. To safeguard our confidential information, we rely on employee, consultant, and vendor nondisclosure agreements and contractual provisions and a system of internal and technical safeguards. However, any of our registered or unregistered intellectual property rights may be subject to challenge or possibly exploited by our competitors or other third parties, which could materially adversely affect our financial position, results of operations, cash flows, and competitive position.

We rely on various information technology systems to capture, process, store, and report data and interact with customers, consumers, vendors, and employees. Despite careful security and controls design, implementation, updating, and internal and independent third-party assessments, our information technology systems, and those of our third-party providers, could become subject to security breaches, cyber-attacks, ransomware attacks, employee misconduct, computer viruses, unauthorized access attempts, phishing, social engineering, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors or other similar events. Network, system, and data breaches could result in misappropriation of trade secrets or sensitive data or operational disruptions, including interruption to systems availability and denial of access to, and misuse of, applications required by our customers and vendors to conduct business with us. In addition, hardware and operating system software and applications that we procure from third parties may contain defects in design or manufacture, including "bugs" and other problems that could unexpectedly interfere with the operation of the systems. Misuse of internal applications, theft of intellectual property, trade secrets, or other corporate assets, and inappropriate disclosure of confidential information could stem from such incidents. A cybersecurity breach could result in manipulation and destruction of sensitive data, cause critical systems to malfunction, be damaged or shut down, and lead to disruption to our operations and production downtimes, potentially for lengthy periods. Theft of personal or other confidential data and sensitive proprietary information could also occur as a result of a cybersecurity breach, exposing us to costs and liabilities associated with privacy and data security laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate. While we have security measures in place that are designed to protect customer and other sensitive information and the integrity of our information technology systems and prevent data loss and other security breaches, our security measures or those of our third-party service providers may not be sufficiently broad in scope to protect all relevant information, may not function as planned, or may be breached as a result of third-party action, employee or vendor error, malfeasance, or otherwise. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently or may be designed to remain dormant until a predetermined triggering event and often are not recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or implement sufficient control measures to defend against these techniques. Once a security incident is identified, we may be unable to fully remediate or otherwise respond to such an incident in a timely manner, which may cause us to incur remediation or other costs or subject us to demands to pay a ransom fee. Additionally, a breach could expose us and our customers, consumers, vendors, and employees to risks of misuse of such information. Such negative consequences of cyberattacks, cybersecurity failures or other security breaches could impact our ability to operate our businesses effectively, adversely affect our reputation, competitive position, business or financial results, and expose us to potential liability, litigation, governmental inquiries, investigations or regulatory enforcement actions. In addition, the lost profits and increased costs related to cybersecurity or other security threats or disruptions may not be fully insured against or indemnified by other means. As a result, cybersecurity and the continued development and enhancement of our controls, processes, and practices remain a priority for us. We may be required to expend additional resources to continue to enhance our security measures necessary to investigate and remediate any security vulnerabilities. We cannot predict the degree of any impact that increased monitoring, assessing, or reporting of cybersecurity matters would have on operations, financial conditions and results. From time to time, we may implement new technology systems or replace and/or upgrade our current information technology systems. These upgrades or replacements may not improve our productivity to the levels anticipated and may subject us to inherent costs and risks associated with implementing, replacing, and updating these systems, including potential disruption of our internal control structure, substantial capital expenditures, demands on management time and other risks of delays or difficulties in transitioning to new systems or of integrating new systems into other existing systems. Our inability to prevent information technology system disruptions or to mitigate the impact of such disruptions could have an adverse effect on our business.

The markets for our products are highly competitive. Our competitors range from very large, fully integrated forest and building products firms to smaller firms that may manufacture only one or a few types of products. Many of our competitors may have greater financial and other resources, greater product diversity, and better access to raw materials than we do, and certain of the mills operated by our competitors may be lower-cost producers than the mills we operate. Increased competition in any of the markets in which we operate would likely cause heightened pricing pressures in those markets. Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

The housing market is sensitive to changes in economic conditions and other factors, such as the level of employment, access to labor, consumer confidence, consumer income, availability of financing, prevailing interest rates and the cost of home mortgage financing, inflation levels, and growth of the gross domestic products in the countries in which we operate. Adverse changes in any of these conditions generally, or in any of the markets where we operate, could decrease demand for our products and could adversely impact our businesses by: causing consumers to delay or decrease homeownership; making consumers more price-conscious, resulting in a shift in demand to smaller homes; making consumers more reluctant to make investments in their existing homes; or making it more challenging to secure loans for major renovations or new home construction. Unfavorable changes in demographics, credit markets, consumer confidence, household incomes, inflation, housing affordability, or housing inventory levels and occupancy rates, or a weakening of the U.S. economy or of any regional or local economy in which we operate, could adversely affect consumer spending, result in decreased demand for our products, and adversely affect our business. Unfavorable changes in single-family housing starts and increased interest rates on major renovations or new home construction during the year ended December 31, 2023, negatively impacted our results of operations for the same period. If conditions in the overall housing market or in a specific market or submarket worsen in the future beyond our current expectations, such changes could continue to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Additionally, higher interest rates, higher levels of unemployment, restrictive lending practices, heightened regulation, and increased foreclosures could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

We strive to deliver shared value through our business. Our diverse group of stakeholders hold us accountable to ensure we continue to demonstrate progress with respect to industry-specific ESG priorities. From time to time, we announce certain aspirations and goals relevant to our priority ESG matters. We periodically publish information about our ESG priorities, strategies, goals, targets and progress on our corporate website and in public filings and update our ESG reporting from time to time. Achievement of these aspirations, targets, plans and goals is subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and it is possible that we may not reach all our ESG goals or certain of our stakeholders might not be satisfied with our efforts. Certain challenges we face in meeting our ESG objectives are also captured within our ESG reporting contained on our website, which is not incorporated by reference into and does not form any part of this annual report on Form 10-K or our other filings with the SEC. Perceived failures or delays in meeting our ESG goals could adversely affect public perception of our business, employee morale or customer or stakeholder support, and may negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.