Hewlett Packard Enterprise HPE

Changes make it difficult to accurately forecast revenues and operating results, effectively plan business actions and allocate resources, and manage our contract manufacturer relationships and other expenses and to make decisions about future investments. In addition, economic and/or geopolitical instability or uncertainty resulting from inflationary pressures, recessionary risks, tariffs and other trade restrictions in macroeconomic conditions the U.S. and internationally, trade conflicts, the effects of global health emergencies, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the continuous geopolitical instability in the Middle East, and efforts of governments to stimulate or stabilize the economy have, at times, affected and may in the future affect consumer and enterprise spending, and as a result, our customers have postponed or cancelled, and may also in the future postpone or cancel, spending in response to numerous reasons, continue to, put pressure on economic conditions, including but not limited to volatility in credit global and equity regional financial markets, negative financial news and/or declines in which has led and could lead to reduced income or asset values, all reduced demand for our offerings, delays or reductions in spending on and implementation of IT investments, and/or higher costs of production which may could have an adverse effect on the demand for our products and/or result in changes in our product prices. Other factors that have had, and could again in the future have, an adverse effect on demand for our products, business, financial condition condition, and results of operations include inflation, slower economic growth or economic recession, conditions in the labor market, healthcare costs, access to credit, consumer confidence, operations. Such geopolitical and other macroeconomic factors affecting consumer and business spending behavior. These changes could can happen rapidly rapidly, and we may not be able to react quickly to prevent or limit our losses or exposures. Additionally, other macroeconomic developments, such as efforts any of governments to stimulate or stabilize the economy, international conflicts, trade disputes, sanctions, increased tariffs internationally, including between the United States and China and on imports into the United States from various countries, above dynamics could result in price concessions in certain markets, with certain customer groups, and/or for certain offerings. These events have at times impacted, and may in the future impact our business in an adverse manner, whether directly or indirectly, such as through their impacts on the financial positions and operations of our customers, suppliers, and other third parties with whom we do business or on whom we rely, and as a consequence, their ability to perform their obligations under their agreements with us. Persistent inflation has negatively affected In addition, we may not be able to react quickly enough to prevent or limit our losses or exposures from such geopolitical or macroeconomic events or changes, and any mitigation plans or response we do employ may not mitigate the adverse impacts on our business in recent quarters completely, or at all. Any such failure could have an adverse effect on our reputation, demand for our products, and could do so again in the future, as well. A general weakening of, and related declining corporate confidence in, the global economy or the curtailment in government or corporate spending have at times caused current or potential customers to reduce their IT budgets or be unable to fund data storage products, which have led them to delay, decrease or cancel purchases of consequently, our products or to not pay us or to delay paying us for previously purchased products and services, all of which may occur again in the future. financial condition.

Recent Tax Developments: The Proposals to reform U.S. and foreign tax laws could significantly impact how U.S. multinational corporations are taxed on foreign earnings and could increase the U.S. corporate tax rate. Several of the proposals currently being considered, if enacted into law, could have an adverse impact on our effective tax rate, income tax expense, and cash flows. Our future effective tax rate may also be impacted by judicial decisions, changes in interpretation of regulations, as well as additional legislation and guidance. Further, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”), an international association of 38 countries including the United States, has proposed changes to numerous long-standing tax principles, namely, its Pillar Two framework, which imposes a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15%. To date, 43 60 countries have enacted portions, or all, of the OECD proposal and a further 22 countries have drafted, or have announced an intent to draft, legislation enacting the proposed rules. proposal. Where enacted, the rules begin to be are effective for us in fiscal 2025. Under US GAAP, the OECD Pillar Two rules are considered an alternative minimum tax and therefore deferred taxes would not be recognized or adjusted for the estimated effects of the future minimum tax. As a result, there was no impact to our fiscal 2024 results. The adoption and effective dates of these rules may vary by country and could increase tax complexity and uncertainty and may adversely affect our provision for income taxes. We currently do There was not expect a material impact to our fiscal 2025 results. results from Pillar Two legislation. While we do not anticipate a material adverse impact to our financial position in fiscal 2026, additional changes to global tax laws are likely to occur. For instance, some countries have enacted, and others have proposed, taxes based on gross receipts applicable to digital services, regardless of profitability. Such changes may adversely affect our tax liability.

The Company includes the results of operations of acquired businesses in the Company's consolidated results prospectively from the date of acquisition. The Company allocates the fair value of purchase consideration to the assets acquired including in-process research and development (“IPR&D”), liabilities assumed, and non-controlling interests in the acquired entity based on their fair values at Upon the acquisition date. IPR&D is initially capitalized at fair value as an intangible asset with an indefinite life and assessed for impairment thereafter. The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over a business, the fair value of the assets acquired, acquired and liabilities assumed are estimated, which may require judgment regarding the identification of acquired assets and non-controlling interests in liabilities assumed. Once the acquired entity is recorded as goodwill. The primary items that generate goodwill include assets and assumed liabilities are identified, the fair value of the synergies between the acquired company assets and the Company liabilities are estimated using a variety of approaches, including relief from royalty and the value of the acquired assembled workforce, neither of which qualifies for recognition as an multi-period excess earnings method that require significant judgments. For intangible asset. Acquisition-related expenses assets, significant judgments include, but are not limited to, future revenue and post-acquisition restructuring costs are recognized separately from the business combination and are expensed as incurred. operating margins, customer

ECT Proceedings. In January 2011, the postal service of Brazil, Empresa Brasileira de Correios e Telégrafos (“ECT”), notified a former subsidiary of HP Inc. in Brazil (“HP Brazil”) that it had initiated administrative proceedings to consider whether to suspend HP Brazil's right to bid and contract with ECT related to alleged improprieties in the bidding and contracting processes whereby employees of HP Brazil and employees of several other companies allegedly coordinated their bids and fixed results for three ECT contracts in 2007 and 2008. In late July 2011, ECT notified HP Brazil it had decided to apply the penalties against HP Brazil and suspend HP Brazil's right to bid and contract with ECT for five years, based upon the evidence before it. In August 2011, HP Brazil appealed ECT's decision. In April 2013, ECT rejected HP Brazil's appeal, and the administrative proceedings were closed with the penalties against HP Brazil remaining in place. In parallel, in September 2011, HP Brazil filed a civil action against ECT seeking to have ECT’s decision revoked. HP Brazil also requested an injunction suspending the application of the penalties until a final ruling on the merits of the case, which was denied. HP Brazil appealed the denial of its request for injunctive relief to the intermediate appellate court, which issued a preliminary ruling denying the request for injunctive relief but reducing the length of the sanctions from five to two years. HP Brazil appealed that decision and, in December 2011, obtained a ruling staying enforcement of ECT's sanctions until a final ruling on the merits of the case. HP In September 2025, the Court of Appeals ruled in favor of HPE’s Civil Appeal, annulling the previously-stayed sanctions that, if enforced, would have barred HPE Brazil expects from participating in public tenders for five years. HPE has filed a resolution of motion to recover legal costs incurred during the decision on appeal. ECT has filed a motion requesting the merits Court to take several years. clarify the merits.