CBRE Group (CBRE) risk factors, FY2024 10-K

Risks Related to our Business Environment

1. 01Adverse developments in the credit markets may materially harm our business, results of operations and financial condition

Risks Related to Our Operations

1. 02Currency fluctuations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results
2. 03Our operations are subject to international social, political and economic risks in foreign countries
3. 04We have numerous local, regional and global competitors across all of our business lines and the geographies that we serve, and further industry consolidation, fragmentation or innovation could lead to significant future competition
4. 05Our growth and financial performance have benefited significantly from acquisitions, which may not perform as expected and similar opportunities may not be available in the future
5. 06Our brand and reputation are key assets of our company, and our business may be affected by how we are perceived in the marketplace
6. 07Our REI businesses, including our real estate investment programs and co-investment activities, subject us to performance and real estate investment risks which could cause fluctuations in our earnings and cash flow and impact our ability to raise capital for future investments
7. 08The success of our GWS business depends on our ability to enter into mutually beneficial contracts, deliver high quality levels of service, manage our contractual obligations and accurately assess working capital requirements
8. 09We have concentrations of business with large clients, which may cause increased credit risk and greater impact from the loss of certain clients and increased risks from higher limitations of liability in contracts
9. 10A significant portion of our loan origination and servicing business depends upon our relationships with U.S. Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs)
10. 11A failure by third parties to comply with service level agreements or regulatory or legal requirements could result in economic and reputational harm to us
11. 12Our success depends upon the retention of our senior management, as well as our ability to attract and retain qualified and experienced employees
12. 13If we are unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with our global operations, we might be unable to achieve our business objectives
13. 14Our policies, procedures and programs to safeguard the health, safety and security of our employees and others may not be adequate
14. 15We may be subject to actual or perceived conflicts of interest
15. 16Infrastructure disruptions, risks related to climate change, including physical and transition risks, social activism, geopolitical tensions, and other similar events may disrupt our ability to manage real estate for clients or may adversely affect the value of real estate investments we make on behalf of clients
16. 17Our joint venture activities and affiliate program involve risks that are often outside of our control and that, if realized, could materially harm our business

Risks Related to Our Indebtedness

1. 18Our debt instruments impose operating and financial restrictions on us, and in the event of a default, all of our borrowings would become immediately due and payable
2. 19Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly and potentially limit our ability to effectively refinance our indebtedness as it matures

Risks Related to our Information Technology, Cybersecurity and Data Protection

1. 20Failure to maintain and execute information technology strategies and ensure that our employees adapt to changes in technology could materially and adversely affect our ability to remain competitive in the market
2. 21Interruption or failure of our information technology, communications systems or data services could impair our ability to provide our services effectively, which could damage our reputation and materially harm our operating results
3. 22Failure to maintain the security of our information and technology networks, including personal information and other client information, intellectual property and proprietary business information could materially adversely affect us

Legal and Regulatory Related Risks

1. 23We are subject to various litigation and regulatory risks and may face financial liabilities and/or damage to our reputation as a result of litigation or regulatory investigations or proceedings
2. 24Evolving corporate governance and public disclosure regulations and expectations, including with respect to sustainability matters, could expose us to risks
3. 25Exposure to additional tax liabilities and changes in tax laws and regulations could adversely affect our financial results

Risks Related to our Internal Controls and Accounting Policies

1. 26If we are unable to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and our results of operations and stock price could be materially adversely affected
2. 27Our goodwill and other intangible assets could become impaired, which may require us to take material non-cash charges against earnings

Risks Related to our Investments

1. 28We have equity investments in certain companies or projects that we do not control, which subject us to risks related to their respective businesses