Certain statements that appear in this Annual Report which do not relate to historical financial information may constitute forward-looking statements. Statements containing words such as: believes, anticipates, plans, expects, projects, forecasts, estimates, may or could, are forward-looking. Any forward-looking statement is subject to various risk factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The various risk factors that could affect the Company's future results are set forth in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings such as its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 which is available from the Company upon request and on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov.