10-K 1 j8814_10k.htm 10-K

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

 

 

 

ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

 

OR

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from       to       

 

Commission File Number: 0-13468

 

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Washington

 

91-1069248

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

 

 

1015 Third Avenue, 12th Floor, Seattle, Washington

 

98104

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

 

 

(206) 674-3400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

None

 

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  ý    No  o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ý

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).  Yes  ý    No  o

 

At June 28, 2002, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $2,707,934,005.

 

At March 10, 2003, the number of shares outstanding of registrant’s Common Stock was 104,414,289.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the definitive proxy statement for the Registrant’s 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 7, 2003 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

 



 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

From time to time Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (“the Company”) and its representatives may provide information, whether orally or in writing, which are deemed to be “forward-looking” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“Litigation Reform Act”).  This includes certain statements in this report on Form 10-K under Part I, Item 1 “Business” and Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”  These forward-looking statements and other information relating to the Company are based on the beliefs of management and are necessarily the result of assumptions made using the information currently available to management.  Actual results will vary, and even vary materially, from those predicted in the forward-looking statements.

 

In accordance with the provisions of the Litigation Reform Act, the Company is making readers aware that forward-looking statements, because they relate to future events, are by their very nature subject to many important risk factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.  For additional information about forward-looking statements and for an identification of risk factors and their potential significance, see “Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements Under Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995; Certain Cautionary Statements” immediately preceding Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this report.

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1—BUSINESS

 

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. is engaged in the business of providing global logistics services.  The Company offers its customers a seamless international network supporting the movement and strategic positioning of goods.  The Company’s services include the consolidation or forwarding of air and ocean freight.  In each U.S. office, and in many overseas offices, the Company acts as a customs broker.  The Company also provides additional services including distribution management, vendor consolidation, cargo insurance, purchase order management and customized logistics information.  The Company does not compete for domestic freight, overnight courier or small parcel business and does not own aircraft or steamships.

 

The Company, including its majority owned subsidiaries, operates full service offices () in the cities identified below.  Full service offices have also been established in locations where the Company maintains unilateral control over assets and operations and where the existence of the parent-subsidiary relationship is maintained by means other than record ownership of voting stock (#).   In other cities, the Company contracts with independent agents to provide required services and has established over 120 such relationships world-wide.  Locations where Company employees perform sales and customer service functions are identified below as international service centers (*).  In each case, the opening date for the full service office or international service center is set forth in parenthesis.

 

NORTH AMERICA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

 

Houston (4/92)

 

El Paso (1/97)

 

MEXICO

Seattle (5/79)

 

Baltimore (4/92)

 

Laredo (2/97)

 

Mexico City (6/95)

Chicago (7/81)

 

Dallas (5/92)

 

Nogales (2/97)

 

Nuevo Laredo (4/97)

San Francisco (7/81)

 

Columbus (6/92)

 

San Diego (7/97)

 

Guadalajara (9/97)

New York (11/81)

 

Charlotte (7/92)

 

* Rochester (10/97)

 

Nogales (1/99)

Los Angeles (5/82)

 

Newark (9/94)

 

McAllen (4/98)

 

Ciudad Juarez (5/00)

Atlanta (8/83)

 

Philadelphia (3/95)

 

Pittsburgh (6/99)

 

 

Boston (11/85)

 

Charleston (6/95)

 

Savannah (3/00)

 

SOUTH AMERICA

Miami (3/86)

 

Memphis (8/95)

 

Washington, D.C. (9/00)

 

 

Minneapolis (7/86)

 

Salt Lake City (11/95)

 

Kansas City (8/00)

 

ARGENTINA

Denver (2/88)

 

* Syracuse (4/96)

 

Nashville (10/01)

 

Buenos Aires (1/98)

Detroit (7/88)

 

Norfolk (9/96)

 

 

 

 

Portland (7/88)

 

Indianapolis (11/96)

 

PUERTO RICO

 

BRAZIL

Cincinnati (8/89)

 

Port Huron-Blue Water Bridge (12/96)

 

San Juan (5/95)

 

Sao Paulo (9/95)

Cleveland (7/90)

 

Detroit-Ambassador Bridge (12/96)

 

 

 

Rio de Janeiro (9/95)

Phoenix (7/91)

 

Lewiston-Queenston (12/96)

 

CANADA

 

Campinas (9/95)

Louisville (10/91)

 

Dearborn-CPC (1/97)

 

Toronto (5/84)

 

Santos (10/97)

St. Louis (4/92)

 

Buffalo-Peace Bridge (1/97)

 

Vancouver (9/95)

 

Manaus (7/00)

 

 

 

 

Montreal (4/99)

 

Belo Horizonte (12/00)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curitiba (3/01)

 

2



 

SOUTH AMERICA

 

MARIANA ISLANDS

 

ITALY

 

INDIA

(continued)

 

Saipan (7/00)

 

Milan (4/93)

 

New Delhi (7/96)

CHILE

 

 

 

Verona (4/93)

 

Mumbai (Bombay) (1/97)

Santiago (2/95)

 

PHILIPPINES

 

Florence (3/98)

 

Bangalore (6/97)

 

 

Manila (8/98)

 

 

 

Chennai (Madras) (6/97)

COLOMBIA

 

 

 

THE NETHERLANDS

 

 

Bogota (12/98)

 

SINGAPORE

 

Amsterdam (6/94)

 

KUWAIT

Cali (12/98)

 

Singapore (9/81)

 

Rotterdam (3/95)

 

# Kuwait City (7/97)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VENEZUELA

 

TAIWAN

 

PORTUGAL

 

LEBANON

Caracas (1/01)

 

# Taipei (9/81)

 

Lisbon (10/91)

 

Beirut (8/99)

 

 

# Kaohsiung (9/81)

 

Oporto (10/91)

 

 

FAR EAST

 

# Taichung (9/81)

 

 

 

PAKISTAN

 

 

# Hsin-Chu (9/89)

 

SPAIN

 

Karachi (9/96)

BANGLADESH

 

 

 

Barcelona (1/94)

 

Lahore (9/96)

Dhaka (6/89)

 

THAILAND

 

Madrid (1/94)

 

 

Chittagong (8/93)

 

Bangkok (9/94)

 

Alicante (4/96)

 

SAUDI ARABIA

 

 

 

 

 

 

# Riyadh (7/92)

CAMBODIA

 

VIETNAM

 

SWEDEN

 

# Jeddah (7/92)

Phnom Penh (4/00)

 

Ho Chi Minh City (5/00)

 

Stockholm (1/94)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goteborg (1/94)

 

SRI LANKA

CHINA

 

EUROPE

 

 

 

# Colombo (3/95)

Beijing (7/94)

 

 

 

SWITZERLAND

 

 

Guangzhou (4/94)

 

AUSTRIA

 

Chiasso (2/01)

 

TURKEY

Dalian (7/94)

 

Vienna (11/95)

 

 

 

Ankara (1/99)

Shanghai (7/94)

 

 

 

UNITED KINGDOM

 

Istanbul (1/99)

Shenzhen (7/94)

 

BELGIUM

 

London (4/86)

 

Izmir (1/99)

Qingdao (7/94)

 

Brussels (7/90)

 

Manchester (11/88)

 

Mersin (1/99)

Tianjin (7/94)

 

Antwerp (4/91)

 

Birmingham (3/90)

 

 

Xi’an (7/94)

 

 

 

Glasgow (4/92)

 

U.A.E.

Xiamen (7/94)

 

THE CZECH REPUBLIC

 

Bedford (6/94)

 

* Abu Dhabi (1/94)

Nanjing (8/95)

 

Prague (6/98)

 

Swindon (3/97)

 

Dubai (10/98)

 

 

 

 

East Midlands (1/99)

 

 

HONG KONG

 

FINLAND

 

Belfast (09/01)

 

CYPRUS

Kowloon (9/81)

 

Helsinki (4/94)

 

Bristol (11/01)

 

* Nicosia (6/96)

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Larnaca (1/98)

INDONESIA

 

FRANCE

 

AUSTRALASIA

 

 

# Jakarta (12/90)

 

Paris (1/97)

 

 

 

AFRICA

# Surabaya (2/92)

 

Epinal (1/97)

 

AUSTRALIA

 

 

 

 

Lyon (1/97)

 

Sydney (8/88)

 

SOUTH AFRICA

JAPAN

 

Lille (3/97)

 

Melbourne (8/88)

 

Johannesburg (3/94)

Tokyo (1/01)

 

Bordeaux (7/00)

 

Brisbane (10/93)

 

Durban (3/94)

Osaka (1/01)

 

 

 

Perth (12/94)

 

Capetown (1/97)

 

 

GERMANY

 

Adelaide (10/97)

 

 

KOREA

 

Frankfurt (4/92)

 

 

 

MADAGASCAR

Pusan (10/94)

 

Munich (4/92)

 

FIJI

 

Antananarivo (11/01)

Seoul (10/94)

 

Dusseldorf (4/92)

 

* Nadi (7/96)

 

 

Bupyung (6/96)

 

Stuttgart (4/92)

 

* Suva (5/97)

 

MAURITIUS

Chonan (6/96)

 

Hamburg (1/93)

 

 

 

Port Louis (7/99)

Kwangju (6/96)

 

Nuremberg (1/01)

 

NEW ZEALAND

 

 

Kumi (6/96)

 

 

 

Auckland (8/88)

 

 

Masan (6/96)

 

HUNGARY

 

 

 

 

Taegu (6/96)

 

Budapest (4/00)

 

NEAR/MIDDLE EAST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MALAYSIA

 

IRELAND

 

EGYPT

 

 

Penang (11/87)

 

Dublin (3/97)

 

Cairo (2/95)

 

 

Kuala Lumpur (6/90)

 

Cork (3/97)

 

Alexandria (2/95)

 

 

 

 

Shannon (3/97)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GREECE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Athens (2/99)

 

 

 

3



 

The Company was incorporated in the State of Washington in May 1979.  Its executive offices are located at 1015 Third Avenue, 12th Floor, Seattle, Washington, and its telephone number is (206) 674-3400.

 

The Company’s Internet address is http://www.expeditors.com.  The Company makes available free of charge on or through its Internet website its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

For information concerning the amount of revenues, net revenues, operating income, identifiable assets, capital expenditures and depreciation and amortization attributable to the geographic areas in which the Company conducts its business, see Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Beginning in 1981, the Company’s primary business focus was on airfreight shipments from the Far East to the United States and related customs brokerage and import services.  In the mid-1980’s, the Company began to expand its service capabilities in export airfreight, ocean freight and distribution services.  Today the Company offers a complete range of global logistics services to a diversified group of customers, both in terms of industry specialization and geographic location.  As opportunities for profitable growth arise, the Company plans to create new offices.  While the Company has historically expanded through organic growth, the Company has also been open to growth through acquisition of, or establishing joint ventures with, existing agents or others within the industry.

 

Airfreight Services

 

Airfreight services accounted for approximately 42, 42, and 41 percent of the Company’s 2002, 2001, and 2000 consolidated revenues net of freight consolidation expenses (“net revenues”), respectively.  When performing airfreight services, the Company typically acts either as a freight consolidator or as an agent for the airline which carries the shipment.  When acting as a freight consolidator, the Company purchases cargo space from airlines on a volume basis and resells that space to its customers at lower rates than the customers could obtain directly from airlines.  When moving shipments between points where the volume of business does not facilitate consolidation, the Company receives and forwards individual shipments as the agent of the airline which carries the shipment. Whether acting as an agent or consolidator, the Company offers its customers knowledge of optimum routing, familiarity with local business practices, knowledge of export and import documentation and procedures, the ability to arrange for ancillary services, and assistance with space availability in periods of peak demand.

 

In its airfreight forwarding operations, the Company procures shipments from its customers, determines the routing, consolidates shipments bound for a particular airport distribution point, and selects the airline for transportation to the distribution point.  At the distribution point, the Company or its agent arranges for the consolidated lot to be broken down into its component shipments and for the transportation of the individual shipments to their final destinations.

 

The Company estimates its average airfreight consolidation weighs approximately 3,500 to 4,500 pounds and includes merchandise from several shippers.  Because shipment by air is relatively expensive compared with ocean transportation, air shipments are generally characterized by a high value-to-weight ratio, the need for rapid delivery, or both.

 

The Company typically delivers shipments from a Company warehouse at the origin to the airline after consolidating the freight into containers or onto pallets.  Shipments normally arrive at the destination distribution point within forty-eight hours after such delivery.  During peak shipment periods, cargo space available from the scheduled air carriers can be limited and backlogs of freight shipments may occur.  When these conditions exist, the Company may charter aircraft to meet customer demand.

 

The Company consolidates individual shipments based on weight and volume characteristics in cost-effective combinations. Typically, as the weight or volume of a shipment increases, the cost per pound/kilo or cubic inch/centimeter charged by the Company decreases.  The rates charged by airlines to forwarders and others also generally decrease as the weight or volume of the shipment increases.  As a result, by aggregating shipments and presenting them to an airline as a single shipment, the Company is able to obtain a lower rate per pound/kilo or cubic inch/centimeter than that which it charges to its customers for the individual shipment, while generally offering the customer a lower rate than could be obtained from the airline for an unconsolidated shipment.

 

The Company’s net airfreight forwarding revenues from a consolidated shipment includes the differential between the rate charged to the Company by an airline and the rate which the Company charges to its customers, commissions paid to the Company by the airline carrying the freight and fees for ancillary services.  Such ancillary services provided by the Company include preparation of shipping and customs documentation, packing, crating and insurance services, negotiation of letters of credit, and preparation of documentation to comply with local export laws.  When the Company acts as an agent for an airline handling an unconsolidated

 

4



 

shipment, its net revenues are primarily derived from commissions paid by the airline and fees for ancillary services paid by the customer.

 

The Company does not own aircraft and does not plan to do so.  Management believes that the ownership of aircraft would subject the Company to undue business risks, including large capital outlays, increased fixed operating expenses, problems of fully utilizing aircraft and competition with airlines.  Because the Company relies on commercial airlines to transport its shipments, changes in carrier policies and practices such as pricing, payment terms, scheduling, and frequency of service may affect its business.

 

The Company also performs breakbulk services which involve receiving and breaking down consolidated airfreight lots and arranging for distribution of the individual shipments.  Breakbulk service revenues also include commissions from non-exclusive agents for airfreight shipments.

 

Customs Brokerage and Import Services

 

Customs brokerage and import services accounted for approximately 34, 35, and 38 percent of the Company’s 2002, 2001, and 2000 consolidated net revenues, respectively.  As a customs broker, the Company assists importers to clear shipments through customs by preparing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties on behalf of the importer, arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery.  The Company also provides other services at destination including temporary warehousing, inland transportation, inventory management, cargo insurance and product distribution.

 

The Company provides customs clearance services in connection with many of the shipments it handles as a freight forwarder.  However, substantial customs brokerage revenues are derived from customers that elect to use a competing forwarder.   Conversely, shipments handled by the Company as a forwarder may be processed by another customs broker selected by the customer.

 

The Company also provides custom clearances for goods moving by rail and truck between the United States, Canada and/or Mexico.  The commodities being cleared and the time sensitive nature of the border brokerage business required the Company to make significant modifications to its systems and traditional office structure in order to provide competitive service.

 

During 1996 the Company established a subsidiary, Expeditors Tradewin, L.L.C., to respond to customer driven requests for high-end customs consulting services.  The demand for these services was stimulated by the changes made by the U.S. Customs Service in response to the 1993 Customs Modernization Act.  Fees for these non-transactional services are based upon hourly billing rates and bids for mutually agreed procedures.

 

There is currently a noticeable trend, prompted by customer demand, to quote rates on a door-to-door basis.  Management foresees the potential, in the medium- to long-term, for fees normally associated with customs clearance to be de-emphasized and included as a component of other services offered by the Company.

 

Ocean Freight and Ocean Services

 

Ocean freight services accounted for approximately 24, 23, and 21 percent of the Company’s 2002, 2001, and 2000 consolidated net revenues, respectively.  The Company’s revenues as an ocean freight forwarder are derived from commissions paid by the carrier and revenues from fees charged to customers for ancillary services which the Company may provide, such as preparing documentation, procuring insurance, arranging for packing and crating services, and providing consultation.  The Company operates Expeditors International Ocean (“EIO”), a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (“NVOCC”) specializing in ocean freight consolidation from the Far East to the United States.   EIO also provides service, on a smaller scale, to and from any location where the Company has an office or agent.  As an NVOCC, EIO contracts with ocean shipping lines to obtain transportation for a fixed number of containers between various points during a specified time period at an agreed rate.  EIO solicits less than container load (“LCL”) freight to fill the containers and charges lower rates than those available directly from shipping lines.  EIO also handles full container loads for customers that do not have annual shipping volumes sufficient to negotiate comparable contracts directly with the ocean carriers.  The Company does not own vessels and generally does not physically handle the cargo.

 

Expeditors Cargo Management Systems (“ECMS”) supplies a sophisticated ocean consolidation service.  The Company owns and maintains software that allows it to sell ECMS to large volume customers that have signed their own service contracts with the ocean carriers.  As an ocean consolidator, ECMS may obtain LCL freight from several vendors and consolidate this cargo into full containers.  The Company’s revenues as an ocean consolidator are derived from handling LCL cargo at origin and from the fees paid by customers for access to data captured during the consolidation process.

 

5



 

Marketing and Customers

 

The Company provides flexible service and seeks to understand the needs of the customers from points of origin to ultimate destinations.  Although the domestic importer usually designates the logistics company and the services that will be required, the foreign shipper may also participate in this selection process.  Therefore, the Company coordinates its marketing program to reach both domestic importers and their overseas suppliers.

 

The Company’s marketing efforts are focused primarily on the traffic, shipping and purchasing departments of existing and potential customers.  The district manager of each office is responsible for marketing, sales coordination, and implementation in the area in which he or she is located.  All employees are responsible for customer service and relations.

 

The Company staffs its offices largely with managers and other key personnel who are citizens of the nations in which they operate and who have extensive experience in global logistics.  Marketing and customer service staffs are responsible for marketing the Company’s services directly to local shippers and traffic managers who may select or influence the selection of the logistics vendor and for ensuring that customers receive timely and efficient service.  The Company believes that its expertise in supplying solutions customized to the needs of its customers, its emphasis on coordinating its origin and destination customer service and marketing activities, and the incentives it gives to its managers have been important elements of its success.

 

The goods handled by the Company are generally a function of the products which dominate international trade between any particular origin and destination.  Shipments of computer components, other electronic equipment, housewares, sporting goods, machine parts, and toys, comprise a significant percentage of the Company’s business.  Typical import customers include computer retailers and distributors of consumer electronics, department store chains, clothing and shoe wholesalers, manufacturers and catalogue stores.  Historically, no single customer has accounted for five percent or more of the Company’s revenues.

 

Competition

 

The global logistics services industry is intensely competitive and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future.  There are a large number of companies competing in one or more segments of the industry, but the number of firms with a global network that offer a full complement of logistics services is more limited.  Depending on the location of the shipper and the importer, the Company must compete against both the niche players and larger entities.  While there is currently a marked trend within the industry toward consolidation into larger firms striving for immediate multinational and multi-service networks, the regional and local competitors maintain a strong market presence.

 

Historically, the primary competitive factors in the global logistics services industry have been price and quality of service, including reliability, responsiveness, expertise, convenience, and scope of operations.  The Company emphasizes quality service and believes that its prices are competitive with the prices of others in the industry.  Recently, larger customers have exhibited a trend toward more sophisticated and efficient procedures for the management of the logistics supply chain by embracing strategies such as just-in-time inventory management.  This trend has made computerized customer service capabilities a significant factor in attracting and retaining customers.  These computerized customer service capabilities include customized Electronic Data Interchange, (“EDI”), and on-line freight tracing and tracking applications.  The customized EDI applications allow the transfer of key information between the customers’ systems and the Company’s systems.  Freight tracing and tracking applications allow customers to know the location, transit time and estimated delivery time of inventory in transit.

 

Management believes that the ability to develop and deliver innovative solutions to meet customers’ increasingly sophisticated information requirements is a critical factor in the ongoing success of the Company.  Accordingly, the Company has devoted a significant amount of resources towards the maintenance and enhancement of systems that will meet these customer demands.  Management believes that the Company’s existing systems are competitive with the systems currently in use by other logistics services companies with which it competes.

 

Developing these systems has added a considerable indirect cost to the services provided to customers.  Small and middle-tier competitors, in general, do not have the resources available to develop these customized systems.  As a result, there is a significant amount of consolidation currently taking place in the industry.  Management expects that this trend toward consolidation will continue for the short- to medium-term.  Historically, growth through aggressive acquisition has proven to be a challenge for many of the Company’s competitors and typically involves the purchase of significant “goodwill”.  As a result, the Company has pursued a strategy emphasizing organic growth supplemented by certain strategic acquisitions.

 

6



 

The Company’s ability to attract, retain, and motivate highly qualified personnel with experience in global logistics services is an essential, if not the most important, element of its ability to compete in the industry.  To this end, the Company has adopted incentive compensation programs which make percentages of branch revenues or profits available to managers for distribution among key personnel.  The Company believes that these incentive compensation programs, combined with its experienced personnel and its ability to coordinate global marketing efforts, provide it with a distinct competitive advantage and account for historical growth that competitors have matched only through acquisition.

 

Currency and Other Risk Factors

 

The nature of the Company’s worldwide operations necessitate the Company dealing with a multitude of currencies other than the U.S. Dollar.  This results in the Company being exposed to the inherent risks of the international currency markets and governmental interference.  Many of the countries where the Company maintains offices and/or agency relationships have strict  currency  control  regulations  which  influence  the  Company’s  ability  to  hedge  foreign  currency  exposure.  The Company tries to compensate for these exposures by accelerating international currency settlements among these offices or agents.

 

In addition, the Company’s ability to provide service to its customers is highly dependent on good working relationships with a variety of entities including airlines, steamship lines and governmental agencies.  The Company considers its current working relationships with these entities to be good.  However, changes in space allotments available from carriers, governmental deregulation efforts, “modernization” of the regulations governing customs clearance, and/or changes in governmental quota restrictions could affect the Company’s business in unpredictable ways.

 

Seasonality

 

Historically, the Company’s operating results have been subject to seasonal trends when measured on a quarterly basis.  The first quarter has traditionally been the weakest and the third and fourth quarters have traditionally been the strongest.  This pattern has been the result of, or influenced by, numerous factors including climate, national holidays, consumer demand, economic conditions and a myriad of other similar and subtle forces.  In addition, this historical quarterly trend has been influenced by the growth and diversification of the Company’s international network and service offerings.  The Company cannot accurately forecast many of these factors, nor can the Company estimate accurately the relative influence of any particular factor and, as a result, there can be no assurance that historical patterns will continue in future periods.

 

A significant portion of the Company’s revenues are derived from customers in industries whose shipping patterns are tied closely to consumer demand and from customers in industries whose shipping patterns are dependent upon just-in-time production schedules.  Therefore, the timing of the Company’s revenues are, to a large degree, impacted by factors out of the Company’s control, such as shifting consumer demand for retail goods and manufacturing production delays.  Additionally, many customers ship a significant portion of their goods at or near the end of a quarter, and therefore, the Company may not learn of a shortfall in revenues until late in a quarter.  To the extent that a shortfall in revenues or earnings was not expected by securities analysts, any such shortfall from levels predicted by securities analysts could have an immediate and adverse effect on the trading price of the Company’s stock.

 

Environmental

 

In the United States, the Company is subject to Federal, state and local provisions regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise for the protection of the environment.  Similar laws apply in many foreign jurisdictions in which the Company operates.  Although current operations have not been significantly affected by compliance with these environmental laws, governments are becoming increasingly sensitive to environmental issues, and the Company cannot predict what impact future environmental regulations may have on its business.  The Company does not anticipate making any material capital expenditures for environmental control purposes during the remainder of the current or succeeding fiscal years.

 

Employees

 

At January 31, 2003, the Company employed approximately 8,000 people, 2,800 in the United States and 500 in the balance of North America, 300 in South America, 1,300 in Europe, 2,200 in the Far East & Australasia, 700 in the Near/Middle East and 200 in Africa.  Approximately 1,000 of the Company’s employees are engaged principally in sales and marketing and customer service, 5,000 in operations and 2,000 in finance and administration.  The Company is not a party to any collective bargaining agreement and considers its relations with its employees to be satisfactory.

 

In order to retain the services of highly qualified, experienced, and motivated employees, the Company places considerable emphasis on its incentive compensation programs and stock option plans.

 

7



 

Executive Officers of the Registrant

 

The following table sets forth the names, ages, and positions of current executive officers of the Company.

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position

Peter J. Rose

 

60

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and director

James L.K. Wang

 

54

 

President-Asia and director

Glenn M. Alger

 

46

 

President and Chief Operating Officer

Sandy K.Y. Liu

 

55

 

Chief Operating Officer-Asia

R. Jordan Gates

 

47

 

Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and director

Timothy C. Barber

 

43

 

Executive Vice President-Global Sales

Rommel C. Saber

 

45

 

Executive Vice President-Europe, Africa and Near/Middle East

Robert L. Villanueva

 

50

 

Executive Vice President-The Americas

Eugene K. Alger

 

42

 

Senior Vice President-North America

L. Manfred Amberger

 

54

 

Senior Vice President-Continental Europe

Jean Claude Carcaillet

 

57

 

Senior Vice President-Australasia

William J. Coogan

 

48

 

Senior Vice President-Ocean Cargo

Philip M. Coughlin

 

42

 

Senior Vice President-North America

Rosanne Esposito

 

51

 

Senior Vice President-Global Customs

Roger A. Idiart

 

49

 

Senior Vice President-Air Cargo

Jeffrey J. King

 

48

 

Senior Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary

David M. Lincoln

 

44

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer

Charles J. Lynch

 

42

 

Senior Vice President-Corporate Controller

 

Peter J. Rose has served as a director and Vice President of the Company since July 1981.  Mr. Rose was elected a Senior Vice President of the Company in May 1986, Executive Vice President in May 1987, President and Chief Executive Officer in October 1988, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in May 1991.

 

James L.K. Wang has served as a director and the Managing Director of Expeditors International Taiwan Ltd., the Company’s former exclusive Taiwan agent, since September 1981.  Mr. Wang’s employment agreement with the Company has been assigned to the Company’s current exclusive Taiwan agent, E.I. Freight (Taiwan), Ltd.   In October 1988, Mr. Wang became a director of the Company and its Director-Far East, and Executive Vice President in January 1996.  In May 2000, Mr. Wang was elected President-Asia.

 

Glenn M. Alger joined the Company in July 1981 as a District Manager.  Mr. Alger was elected Vice President and Regional Manager in October 1988, Senior Vice President-U.S. Operations in January 1992, Senior Vice President and Director-North America in January 1993, and Executive Vice President and Director-North America in March 1997.  In September 1999, Mr. Alger was elected President and Chief Operating Officer.

 

Sandy K.Y. Liu became Chief Operating Officer-Asia of the Company in January 2001.  From 1969 through 2000, Mr. Liu was employed in various positions by China Airlines.  In November 1998, Mr. Liu was appointed President of China Airlines.

 

R. Jordan Gates joined the Company as its Controller-Europe in February 1991.  Mr. Gates was elected Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company in August 1994 and Senior Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in January 1998.  In May 2000, Mr. Gates was elected Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.  Mr. Gates was also elected as a director in May 2000.

 

Timothy C. Barber joined the Company in May 1986.  Mr. Barber was promoted to District Manager of the Seattle office in January 1987 and Regional Vice President in January 1993.  Mr. Barber was elected Vice President-Sales and Marketing in September 1993 and Senior Vice President-Sales and Marketing in January 1998.  In September 1999, Mr. Barber was elected Executive Vice President-Global Sales.

 

Rommel C. Saber joined the Company as Director-Near/Middle East in February 1990 and was elected Senior Vice President-Sales and Marketing in January 1993.  Mr. Saber was elected Senior Vice President-Air Export in September 1993.  In July 1997 he was elected Senior Vice President Near/Middle East and Indian Subcontinent.  In August 2000, Mr. Saber was elected Executive Vice President-Europe, Africa and Near/Middle East.

 

8



 

Robert L. Villanueva joined the Company as Regional Vice President Northwest U.S. Region in April 1994.  In September 1999, he was elected Executive Vice President-The Americas.

 

Eugene K. Alger joined the Company in October 1982.  Mr. Alger was promoted to District Manager and Regional Vice President of the Los Angeles office in May 1983.  He was elected Regional Vice President-Southwestern U.S. and Mexico Region in January 1992, and Senior Vice President of North America in September 1999.

 

L. Manfred Amberger joined the Company as Managing Director of Germany in April 1992.  Mr. Amberger was promoted to Regional Director-Europe in May 1996 and Vice President in January 1998.  Mr. Amberger was elected Senior Vice President-Continental Europe in May 2000.

 

Jean Claude Carcaillet joined the Company as Managing Director-Australasia in August 1988.  He was elected Senior Vice President-Australasia in September 1997.

 

William J. Coogan has worked for the Company since May 1985.  Mr. Coogan was promoted to District Manager of the Company’s New York office in July 1988 and Senior Vice President of EIO in April 1989.  Mr. Coogan was elected Senior Vice President-Ocean in February 1993 and Senior Vice President-Ocean Cargo in May 1996.

 

Philip M. Coughlin joined the Company in October 1985.  Mr. Coughlin was promoted to District Manager in August 1986.  He was elected Regional Manager for New England and Canada in January 1991, Regional Vice President-Northeastern U.S. and Northern Border in January 1992, and Senior Vice President of North America in September 1999.

 

Rosanne Esposito joined the Company as its Director-U.S. Import Services in January 1996.  Ms. Esposito was promoted to Vice President in May 1997 and Senior Vice President-Global Customs in May 2001.

 

Roger A. Idiart joined the Company as its Manager of Gateway Operations in December 1995.  Mr. Idiart was elected Vice President-Global Air Cargo in January 1998, and Senior Vice President-Air Cargo in May 2001.

 

Jeffrey J. King joined the Company in October 1990 as Director-Taxation and Legal Services and was elected Vice President-General Counsel in May 1992.  In August 1994, Mr. King was elected Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary and Senior Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary in January 1998.

 

David M. Lincoln joined the Company as its Controller-U.S. Operations in March 1984.  Mr. Lincoln served as Corporate Controller of the Company from May 1986 to January 1991, and was elected Vice President-Systems Management in December 1989.  Mr. Lincoln was elected Vice President-Information Systems in May 1996 and Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer in October 1997.

 

Charles J. Lynch joined the Company in September 1984.  Mr. Lynch was promoted to Assistant Controller in July 1985 and Controller-Domestic Operations in January 1989.  Mr. Lynch was elected Corporate Controller in January 1991 and Vice President-Corporate Controller in January 1998.  In May 2002, Mr. Lynch was elected Senior Vice President-Corporate Controller.

 

Regulation

 

With respect to the Company’s activities in the air transportation industry in the United States, it is subject to regulation by the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) as an indirect air carrier.  The Company’s overseas offices and agents are licensed as airfreight forwarders in their respective countries of operation.  The Company is licensed in each of its offices or in the case of its newer offices, has made application for a license, as an airfreight forwarder by the International Air Transport Association (“IATA”). IATA is a voluntary association of airlines which prescribes certain operating procedures for airfreight forwarders acting as agents for its members.  The majority of the Company’s airfreight forwarding business is conducted with airlines which are IATA members.

 

The Company is licensed as a customs broker by the Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury in each U.S. customs district in which it does business.  All U.S. customs brokers are required to maintain prescribed records and are subject to periodic audits by the Customs Service.  In other jurisdictions in which the Company performs clearance services, the Company is licensed by the appropriate governmental authority.

 

9



 

The Company is registered as an Ocean Transportation Intermediary by the Federal Maritime Commission (“FMC”).  The FMC has established certain qualifications for shipping agents, including certain surety bonding requirements.  The FMC also is responsible for the economic regulation of NVOCC activity originating or terminating in the United States.  To comply with these economic regulations, vessel operators and NVOCCs, such as EIO, are required to file tariffs electronically which establish the rates to be charged for the movement of specified commodities into and out of the U.S.  The FMC has the power to enforce these regulations by assessing penalties.

 

The Company does not believe that current U.S. and foreign governmental regulations impose significant economic restraint upon its business operations.  In general, the Company conducts its business activities in each country through a majority-owned subsidiary corporation that is organized and existing under the laws of that country.  However, the regulations of foreign governments can impose barriers to the Company’s ability to provide the full range of its business activities in a wholly or majority U.S.-owned subsidiary.  For example, foreign ownership of a customs brokerage business is prohibited in some jurisdictions and less frequently the ownership of the licenses required for freight forwarding and/or freight consolidation is restricted to local entities.  When the Company encounters this sort of governmental restriction, it works to establish a legal structure that meets the requirements of the local regulations while also giving the Company the substantive operating and economic advantages that would be available in the absence of such regulation. This can be accomplished by creating a joint venture or exclusive agency relationship with a qualified local entity that holds the required license.  In cases where the Company has unilateral control over the assets and operations of the local entity, notwithstanding the lack of technical majority ownership of common stock, the Company consolidates the accounts of the local entity.  In such cases, consolidation is necessary to fairly present the financial position and results of operations of the Company because of the existence of the parent-subsidiary relationship by means other than record ownership of voting common stock.

 

Cargo Liability

 

When acting as an airfreight consolidator, the Company assumes a carrier’s liability for lost or damaged shipments. This legal liability is typically limited by contract to the lower of the transaction value or the released value ($9.07 per pound unless the customer declares a higher value and pays a surcharge), except if the loss or damage is caused by willful misconduct or in the absence of an appropriate airway bill.  The airline which the Company utilizes to make the actual shipment is generally liable to the Company in the same manner and to the same extent.  When acting solely as the agent of the airline or shipper, the Company does not assume any contractual liability for loss or damage to shipments tendered to the airline.

 

When acting as an ocean freight consolidator, the Company assumes a carrier’s liability for lost or damaged shipments.  This liability is typically limited by contract to the lower of the transaction value or the released  value  ($500 per package  or customary  freight  unit  unless the  customer  declares a  higher value and pays a surcharge).  The steamship line which the Company utilizes to make the actual shipment is generally liable to the Company in the same manner and to the same extent.  In its ocean freight forwarding and customs clearance operations, the Company does not assume cargo liability.

 

When providing warehouse and distribution services, the Company limits its legal liability by contract and tariff to an amount generally equal to the lower of fair value or fifty cents per pound with a maximum of fifty dollars per “lot” — which is defined as the smallest unit that the warehouse is required to track.  Upon payment of a surcharge for warehouse and distribution services, the Company will assume additional liability.

 

The Company maintains marine cargo insurance covering claims for losses attributable to missing or damaged shipments for which it is legally liable.  The Company also maintains insurance coverage for the property of others which is stored in Company warehouse facilities.

 

ITEM 2 — PROPERTIES

 

The Company owns a 214,000 square foot office building in downtown Seattle; a 150,000 square foot warehouse/industrial office facility in Nassau County, New York; a 27,200 square foot office facility near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport; an 80,000 square foot office and warehouse facility on a ten-acre parcel near O’Hare International Airport in Chicago; a 5,500 square foot office facility in the Tsim Sha Tsui East district of Kowloon, Hong Kong; and a 10,900 square foot office facility in Taipei, Taiwan.  The Company also owns a 23,400 square foot office and warehouse facility on a long-term renewable land lease at the Brussels Cargo facility in Brussels, Belgium, and an 85,000 square foot office and warehouse facility in Dublin, Ireland.

 

During 2002, the Company acquired a 224,000 square foot office and warehouse facility on a 10.5 acre parcel in Middlesex County, New Jersey and a 15 acre parcel near Heathrow Airport in London.  In January 2003, the Company completed the purchase of a 320,000 square foot office and warehouse facility on 13.22 acres near the San Francisco, California International Airport.

 

10



 

The Company leases and maintains 60 additional offices and satellite locations in the United States and 124 offices throughout the world, each located close to an airport, ocean port, or on an important border crossing.  The majority of these facilities contain warehouse facilities.  Lease terms are either on a month-to-month basis or terminate at various times through 2013.  As an office matures, the Company will investigate the possibility of building or buying suitable facilities.  Lease payments currently aggregate to approximately $2,648,000 per month.  See Note 7 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.  The Company believes that current leases can be extended and that suitable alternative facilities are available in the vicinity of each present facility should extensions be unavailable at the conclusion of current leases.

 

ITEM 3 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Company is ordinarily involved in claims and lawsuits which arise in the normal course of business, none of which currently, in management’s opinion, will have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position.

 

ITEM 4 — SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

Inapplicable.

 

11



 

PART II

 

ITEM 5 — MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices in the over-the-counter market for the Company’s Common Stock as reported by The NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol EXPD.

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Quarter

 

High

 

Low

 

Quarter

 

High

 

Low

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

First

 

31.17

 

25.50

 

First

 

30.375

 

21.75

 

Second

 

31.78

 

27.50

 

Second

 

32.96

 

22.30

 

Third

 

33.98

 

24.94

 

Third

 

31.13

 

20.975

 

Fourth

 

34.44

 

26.98

 

Fourth

 

29.50

 

21.735

 

 

There were 3,182 shareholders of record as of December 31, 2002.  Management estimates that there were approximately 18,000 beneficial shareholders at that date.

 

The Board of Directors declared semi-annual dividends during the two most recent fiscal years as follows:

 

June 17, 2002

 

$

.06

 

December 16, 2002

 

$

.06

 

 

 

 

 

June 15, 2001

 

$

.05

 

December 17, 2001

 

$

.05

 

 

ITEM 6 — SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

Financial Highlights

In thousands except per share data

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

1998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

2,296,903

 

1,883,070

 

1,906,726

 

1,616,383

 

1,189,044

 

Net earnings

 

112,529

 

97,243

 

83,035

 

59,175

 

47,274

 

Basic earnings per share

 

1.08

 

.93

 

.81

 

.59

 

.48

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

1.03

 

.89

 

.76

 

.55

 

.45

 

Cash dividends paid per share

 

.12

 

.10

 

.07

 

.05

 

.04

 

Working capital

 

249,350

 

237,443

 

222,829

 

149,633

 

94,601

 

Total assets

 

879,948

 

688,437

 

661,740

 

535,461

 

419,493

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

523,812

 

414,623

 

361,784

 

282,385

 

217,198

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

103,893

 

104,160

 

102,305

 

100,274

 

98,468

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

 

108,881

 

109,741

 

109,358

 

107,656

 

106,116

 

 

All share and per share information have been adjusted to reflect two 2-for-1 stock splits effected in June, 2002 and May, 1999.

 

12



 

SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS UNDER SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995; CERTAIN CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

 

From time to time, the Company or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing.  Such forward-looking statements may be included in, but not limited to, press releases, oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer or in various filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The words or phrases “will likely result”, “are expected to”, “will continue”, “is anticipated”, “estimate”, “project” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act.  Such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to and are accompanied by the following discussion of certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements.

 

The risks included here are not exhaustive.  Furthermore, reference is also made to other sections of this report which include additional factors which could adversely impact the Company’s business and financial performance.  Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment.  New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all of such risk factors, nor can it assess the impact of all of such risk factors on the Company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.  Accordingly, forward-looking statements cannot be relied upon as a guarantee of actual results.

 

Shareholders should be aware that while the Company does, from time to time, communicate with securities analysts, it is against the Company’s policy to disclose to such analysts any material non-public information or other confidential commercial information.  Accordingly, shareholders should not assume that the Company agrees with any statement or report issued by any analyst irrespective of the content of such statement or report. Furthermore, the Company has a policy against issuing financial forecasts or projections or confirming the accuracy of forecasts or projections issued by others.  Accordingly, to the extent that reports issued by securities analysts contain any projections, forecasts or opinions, such reports are not the responsibility of the Company.

 

13



 

RISK FACTORS

 

DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANCE

International Trade

 

The Company primarily provides services to customers engaged in international commerce. Everything that affects international trade has the potential to expand or contract the Company’s primary market.  For example, international trade is influenced by:

 

 

currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations;

 

 

changes in governmental policies;

 

 

changes in international and domestic customs regulations;

 

 

wars, acts of terrorism, and other conflicts;

 

 

natural disasters;

 

 

changes in consumer attitudes regarding goods made in countries other than their own; and

 

 

changes in the price and readily available quantities of oil and other petroleum-related products.

 

 

 

Third Party Vendors

 

The Company is a non-asset based supplier of global logistics services.  As a result, the Company depends on a variety of asset based third party vendors.  The quality and profitability of the Company’s services depend upon effective selection, management and discipline of third party vendors.

 

 

 

Predictability of Results

 

The Company is not aware of any accurate means of forecasting short-term customer requirements.  However, long-term customer satisfaction depends upon the Company’s ability to meet these unpredictable short-term customer requirements.  Personnel costs, the Company’s single largest variable expense, are always less flexible in the very near term as the Company must staff to meet uncertain demand.  As a result, short-term operating results could be disproportionately affected.

 

 

 

Foreign Operations

 

The majority of the Company’s revenues and operating income come from operations conducted outside the United States.  To maintain a global service network, the Company may be required to operate in hostile locations and in dangerous situations.

 

 

 

Key Personnel

 

The Company is a service business.  The quality of this service is directly related to the quality of the Company’s employees.  Identifying, training and retaining key employees is essential to continued growth and future profitability.  Continued loyalty to the Company will not be assured by contract.

 

 

 

Technology

 

Increasingly, the Company must compete based upon the flexibility and sophistication of the technologies utilized in performing its core businesses.  Future results depend upon the Company’s success in the cost effective development and integration of communication and information systems technologies.

 

 

 

Growth

 

To date, the Company has relied primarily upon organic growth and has tended to avoid growth through acquisition.  Future results will depend upon the Company’s ability to continue to grow internally or to demonstrate the ability to successfully identify and integrate non-dilutive acquisitions.

 

14



 

ITEM 7 — MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

General

 

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. is engaged in the business of global logistics management, including international freight forwarding and consolidation, for both air and ocean freight.  The Company acts as a customs broker in all domestic offices, and in many of its international offices.  The Company also provides additional services for its customers including value added distribution, purchase order management, vendor consolidation and other logistics solutions.  The Company offers domestic forwarding services only in conjunction with international shipments.  The Company does not compete for overnight courier or small parcel business.  The Company does not own or operate aircraft or steamships.

 

International trade is influenced by many factors, including economic and political conditions in the United States and abroad, currency exchange rates, and United States and foreign laws and policies relating to tariffs, trade restrictions, foreign investments and taxation.  Periodically, governments consider a variety of changes to current tariffs and trade restrictions.  The Company cannot predict which, if any, of these proposals may be adopted, nor can the Company predict the effects adoption of any such proposal will have on the Company’s business.  Doing business in foreign locations also subjects the Company to a variety of risks and considerations not normally encountered by domestic enterprises.  In addition to being affected by governmental policies concerning international trade, the Company’s business may also be affected by political developments and changes in government personnel or policies in the nations in which it does business.

 

The Company’s ability to provide services to its customers is highly dependent on good working relationships with a variety of entities including airlines, ocean steamship lines, and governmental agencies.  The Company considers its current working relationships with these entities to be satisfactory.  However, changes in space allotments available from carriers, governmental deregulation efforts, “modernization” of the regulations governing customs brokerage, and/or changes in governmental quota restrictions could affect the Company’s business in unpredictable ways.

 

Historically, the Company’s operating results have been subject to a seasonal trend when measured on a quarterly basis.  The first quarter has traditionally been the weakest and the third and fourth quarters have traditionally been the strongest.  This pattern is the result of, or is influenced by, numerous factors including climate, national holidays, consumer demand, economic conditions and a myriad of other similar and subtle forces.  In addition, this historical quarterly trend has been influenced by the growth and diversification of the Company’s international network and service offerings.  The Company cannot accurately forecast many of these factors nor can the Company estimate accurately the relative influence of any particular factor and, as a result, there can be no assurance that historical patterns, if any, will continue in future periods.

 

A significant portion of the Company’s revenues are derived from customers in retail industries whose shipping patterns are tied closely to consumer demand, and from customers in industries whose shipping patterns are dependent upon just-in-time production schedules.  Therefore, the timing of the Company’s revenues are, to a large degree, impacted by factors out of the Company’s control, such as a sudden change in consumer demand for retail goods and/or manufacturing production delays.  Additionally, many customers ship a significant portion of their goods at or near the end of a quarter, and therefore, the Company may not learn of a shortfall in revenues until late in a quarter.  To the extent that a shortfall in revenues or earnings was not expected by securities analysts, any such shortfall from levels predicted by securities analysts could have an immediate and adverse effect on the trading price of the Company’s stock.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies can be found in Note 1 in the consolidated financial statements in this 10K.

 

Management believes that the nature of the Company’s business is such that there are few, if any, complex challenges in accounting for operations.  Revenue recognition is considered the critical accounting policy due to the complexity of arranging and managing global logistics and supply-chain management transactions.

15



 

Revenue Recognition          The Company derives its revenues from three principal sources: airfreight, ocean freight and customs brokerage and import services and these are the revenue categories presented in the financial statements.

 

As a non-asset based carrier, the Company does not own transportation assets.  Rather, the Company generates the major portion of its air and ocean freight revenues by purchasing transportation services from direct (asset-based) carriers and reselling those services to its customers.   The difference between the rate billed to customers (the sell rate), and the rate paid to the carrier (the buy rate) is termed “Net Revenue” or “yield”.  By consolidating shipments from multiple customers and concentrating its buying power, the Company is able to negotiate favorable buy rates from the direct carriers, while at the same time offering lower sell rates than customers would otherwise be able to negotiate themselves.

 

Airfreight revenues include the charges to the Company for carrying the shipments when the Company acts as a freight consolidator.  Ocean freight revenues include the charges to the Company for carrying the shipments when the Company acts as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC).  In each case the Company is acting as an indirect carrier.  When acting as an indirect carrier, the Company will issue a House Airway Bill (HAWB) or a House Ocean Bill of Lading (HOBL) to customers as the contract of carriage.  In turn, when the freight is physically tendered to a direct carrier, the Company receives a contract of carriage known as a Master Airway Bill for airfreight shipments and a Master Ocean Bill of Lading for ocean shipments.  At this point, the risk of loss passes to the carrier, however, in order to claim for any such loss, the customer is first obligated to pay the freight charges.

 

Based upon the terms in the contract of carriage, revenues related to shipments where the Company issues an HAWB or an HOBL are recognized at the time the freight is tendered to the direct carrier at origin.  Costs related to the shipments are also recognized at this same time.

 

Revenues realized in other capacities, for instance, when the Company acts as an agent for the shipper, and does not issue an HAWB or an HOBL, include only the commissions and fees earned for the services performed.  These revenues are recognized upon completion of the services.

 

Customs brokerage and import services involves providing services at destination, such as helping customers clear shipments through customs by preparing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties and other taxes on behalf of the customers as well as arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery.   This is a complicated function requiring technical knowledge of customs rules and regulations in the multitude of countries in which the Company has offices.  Revenues related to customs brokerage and import services are recognized upon completion of the services.

 

Arranging international shipments is a complex task.  Each actual movement can require multiple services.  In some instances, the Company is asked to perform only one of these services.  However, in most instances, the Company may perform multiple services.  These services include destination breakbulk services and value added ancillary services such as local transportation, export customs formalities, distribution services and logistics management.  Each of these services has an associated fee, which is recognized as revenue upon completion of the service.

 

Typically, the fees for each of these services are quoted as separate components, however, customers on occasion will request an all-inclusive rate for a set of services known in the industry as “door-to-door service.”  This means that the customer is billed a single rate for all services from pickup at origin to delivery at destination.  In these instances, the revenue for origin and destination services, as well as revenue that will be characterized as freight charges, is allocated to branches as set by preexisting Company policy perhaps supplemented by customer specific negotiations between the offices involved.  Each of the Company’s branches are independent profit centers and the primary compensation for the branch management group comes in the form of incentive-based compensation calculated directly from the operating income of that branch.  This compensation structure ensures that the allocation of revenue and expense among components of services, when provided under an all-inclusive rate, are done in an objective manner on a fair value basis, in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables.”

 

 

While judgments and estimates are a necessary component of any system of accounting, the Company’s use of estimates is limited primarily to the following areas that in the aggregate are not a major component of the Company’s statement of earnings:

 

      accounts receivable valuation,

      the useful lives of long-term assets,

      the accrual of costs related to ancillary services the Company provides, and

      establishment of adequate insurance liabilities for the portion of the freight related exposure which the Company has self insured.

 

In addition, certain undistributed earnings of the Company’s subsidiaries accumulated through December 31, 1992 would, under most circumstances, be subject to some additional United States income tax if distributed to the Company.  The Company has not provided

 

16



 

for this additional income tax because the Company intends to reinvest such earnings to fund the expansion of its foreign activities, or to distribute them in a manner in which no significant additional taxes would be incurred.  Management believes that the methods utilized in all of these areas are non-aggressive in approach and consistent in application.  Management believes that there are limited, if any, alternative accounting principles or methods which could be applied to the Company’s transactions.  While the use of estimates means that actual future results may be different from those contemplated by the estimates, the Company believes that alternative principles and methods used for making such estimates would not produce materially different results than those reported.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. Under the new rules, purchased goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives will no longer be amortized but will be subject to annual impairment tests in accordance with the provisions of the statements. Intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized over their respective useful lives, and reviewed for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”.  The Company applied the new rules on accounting for goodwill and intangible assets beginning in the first quarter of 2002. Application of the non-amortization provisions of SFAS No. 142 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements. The Company performed the required initial impairment test of goodwill as of January 1, 2002 and determined there was no impact on the consolidated earnings and financial position of the Company at that time.  For the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company performed the required annual impairment test during the fourth quarter and determined that no impairment had occurred.

 

In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and for the associated asset retirement costs. The standard applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction or development and/or normal use of the asset. The Company is required and plans to adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 143 beginning in the first quarter of 2003.  Management does not anticipate that adoption of SFAS No. 143 will result in a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

 

In August 2001, SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” was issued which addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. While this standard supersedes SFAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of,” it retains many of the fundamental provisions of that standard. SFAS No. 144 also supersedes the accounting and reporting provisions of APB Opinion No. 30, “Reporting the Results of Operations – Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions,” for the disposal of a segment of a business. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 144 beginning in the first quarter of 2002.  Adoption of SFAS No. 144 had no impact on the consolidated earnings and financial position of the Company.

 

In November 2001, the FASB staff issued Topic D-103 (subsequently recharacterized as EITF 01-14), “Income Statement Characterization of Reimbursements Received for ‘Out of Pocket’ Expenses Incurred.”  This staff announcement clarified certain provisions of EITF 99-19 “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent,” and among other things established when reimbursements are required to be shown gross as opposed to net.  EITF 01-14 also directed that the new rules should be applied in financial reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2001.  The clarifying rules now require the Company to henceforth report certain reimbursed incidental activities on a gross rather than net basis.  The Company has reclassified amounts in the 2001 and 2000 presentations to conform with the current presentation.

 

17



 

The following schedule shows the financial statement impact of the adoption by comparing the net amounts in the report on Form 10K filed on or about March 29, 2002, with the gross amounts reported in this current 10K.  There is no impact on net revenue, nor is there any impact on operating income or net earnings as a result of this change.

 

 

 

For the years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 

Net

 

Gross

 

Net

 

Gross

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Airfreight

 

$

930,998

 

971,980

 

1,014,375

 

1,053,461

 

Ocean freight and ocean services

 

508,482

 

590,684

 

472,853

 

542,411

 

Customs brokerage and import services

 

213,153

 

320,406

 

207,953

 

310,854

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Revenues

 

1,652,633

 

1,883,070

 

1,695,181

 

1,906,726

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Airfreight

 

676,496

 

717,478

 

788,947

 

828,033

 

Ocean freight and ocean services

 

369,601

 

451,803

 

357,879

 

427,437

 

Customs brokerage and import services

 

 

107,253

 

 

102,901

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Costs

 

1,046,097

 

1,276,534

 

1,146,826

 

1,358,371

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Revenues

 

$

606,536

 

606,536

 

548,355

 

548,355

 

 

In June 2002, SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” was issued which addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies EITF 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).”  The Company is required and plans to adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 146 beginning in the first quarter of 2003.  Management does not anticipate that adoption of SFAS No. 146 will result in a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

 

In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45 (FIN 45), “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others,” which clarifies disclosure and recognition/measurement requirements related to certain guarantees. The disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements issued after December 15, 2002 and the recognition/measurement requirements are effective on a prospective basis for guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002.   The provisions of FIN 45 require the Company to value and record the liability for any indirect or direct guarantees of the indebtedness of others entered into after December 31, 2002.  The Company does not expect compliance with FIN 45 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure” which amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation.  SFAS No. 148 also amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosure in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results.  The transition guidance and annual disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148 are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002.  The interim disclosure provisions are effective for financial reports containing financial statements for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2002.  As the Company did not make a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation in 2002, the adoption of SFAS No. 148 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.  The Company has adopted the annual disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148 in its financial reports for the year ended December 31, 2002 and will adopt the interim disclosure provisions for its financial reports beginning with the quarter ending March 31, 2003.

 

18



 

Results of Operations

 

The following table shows the consolidated net revenues (revenues less transportation expenses) attributable to the Company’s principal services and the Company’s expenses for 2002, 2001, and 2000, expressed as percentages of net revenues.  Management believes that net revenues are a better measure than total revenues of the relative importance of the Company’s principal services since total revenues earned by the Company as a freight consolidator include the carriers’ charges to the Company for carrying the shipment whereas revenues earned by the Company in its other capacities include only the commissions and fees actually earned by the Company.

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

In thousands

 

Amount

 

Percent of net
revenues

 

Amount

 

Percent of net
revenues

 

Amount

 

Percent of net
revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Airfreight

 

$

284,954

 

42

%

$

254,502

 

42

%

$

225,428

 

41

%

Ocean freight and ocean services

 

164,114

 

24

 

138,881

 

23

 

114,974

 

21

 

Customs brokerage and import services

 

233,145

 

34

 

213,153

 

35

 

207,953

 

38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

682,213

 

100

 

606,536

 

100

 

548,355

 

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and related costs

 

359,769

 

53

 

325,545

 

54

 

290,581

 

53

 

Other

 

151,435

 

22

 

134,974

 

22

 

130,250

 

24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

511,204

 

75

 

460,519

 

76

 

420,831

 

77

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

171,009

 

25

 

146,017

 

24

 

127,524

 

23

 

Other income, net

 

6,981

 

1

 

8,277

 

1

 

5,824

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

177,990

 

26

 

154,294

 

25

 

133,348

 

24

 

Income tax expense

 

65,461

 

10

 

57,051

 

9

 

50,313

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

112,529

 

16

%

$

97,243

 

16

%

$

83,035

 

15

%

 

2002 compared with 2001

 

Airfreight net revenues in 2002 increased 12% compared with 2001 primarily due to increased airfreight tonnages handled in 2002 as compared with 2001.  Airfreight margins decreased approximately 2% during 2002 as compared with 2001 as a result of rate increases initiated by air carriers during the third and fourth quarters in response to excess air cargo demands associated with the west coast port disruptions.  Efficient consolidations of dense and fluffy (volumetric) freight allowed the Company to optimize purchased transportation costs while still offering competitive rates to customers.  The Company’s North American export airfreight net revenues decreased 2% in 2002 compared to 2001.  Airfreight net revenues from the Far East and from Europe increased 22% and 12%, respectively, for 2002 compared with 2001.  Airfreight rates on Far East to North American trade lanes, the Company’s most dominant lane, remained strong throughout 2002, and were particularly strong during the fourth quarter.

 

Ocean freight and ocean services net revenues increased 18% in 2002 compared to 2001.  Ocean freight demand remained strong throughout 2002.  Ocean freight rates from the Far East, the Company’s largest trade lane fell throughout the year.   Ocean freight volumes increased during the last half of 2002, despite a 10-day disruption in service at the ports located on the west coast of the United States.  The aftermath of this disruption continued throughout the fourth quarter.  Management believes that the Company’s continued strong performance through this work disruption is a significant indication of both the strength of the Company’s relationships with its vendors and the expertise of its staff.  During 2002, management continued to expand market share, increase ocean tonnage, and increase net ocean freight revenues while offering competitive market rates to customers.  Changes in the regulatory environment in the United States continued to create new opportunities for the Company’s NVOCC operations to provide services to customers who had previously dealt directly with the ocean carriers.

 

19



 

Margins decreased 1% in 2002 as compared with 2001 because the Company reduced rates to increase volumes in response to an environment of falling prices which were a result of the overcapacity situation that existed in the ocean markets.  The Company continued its focus of offering competitive rates to customers at the retail level, while leveraging freight volumes to obtain favorable rates from carriers at the wholesale level.  Expeditors Cargo Management Systems (ECMS), a PC-based ocean freight consolidation management and purchase order tracking service, continued to be instrumental in attracting new business.  The Company’s North American export ocean freight net revenues increased 18% in 2002 compared to 2001.  This increase was a result of the Company handling more ocean shipments moving from North America to the Far East and, to a lesser extent, from North America to Europe.  Ocean freight net revenues from the Far East and from Europe increased 21% and 14%, respectively, for 2002 compared with 2001.

 

Customs brokerage and import services net revenues increased 9% in 2002 as compared with 2001 as a result of the Company’s growing reputation for providing high quality service and consolidation within the customs brokerage market as customers seek out customs brokers with more sophisticated computerized capabilities critical to an overall logistics management program.

 

Salaries and related costs increased in 2002 compared to 2001 as a result of (1) the Company’s increased hiring of sales, operations, and administrative personnel in existing offices to accommodate increases in business activity and (2) increased compensation levels.  Salaries and related costs decreased 1% as a percentage of net revenues.  The relatively consistent relationship between salaries and net revenues is the result of a compensation philosophy that has been maintained since the inception of the Company: offer a modest base salary and the opportunity to share in a fixed and determinable percentage of the operating profit of the business unit controlled by each key employee.  Using this compensation model, changes in individual compensation will occur in proportion to changes in Company profits.  Management believes that the growth in revenues, net revenues and net earnings for 2002 are a result of the incentives inherent in the Company’s compensation program.

 

Other operating expenses increased in 2002 as compared with 2001 as rent expense, communications expense, quality and training expenses, and other costs expanded to accommodate the Company’s growing operations.  Other operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues remained constant in 2002 as compared with 2001.  Management believes that this was significant as it reflects the successful achievement of cost containment objectives initiated at the branch level.  The ability to sustain these savings into future periods is contingent upon branch level management’s ability to adhere to these objectives.  During the fourth quarter of 2002, the Company evaluated the recoverability of certain other assets and determined that an impairment had occurred.  Accordingly, a $3.5 million loss was recorded as an operating expense.

 

Other income, net, decreased in 2002 as compared with 2001. Due to much lower interest rates on higher average cash balances and short-term investments during 2002, interest income decreased by $2.9 million.  The decrease in interest income during the year ended December 31, 2002, was offset by a $1.5 million gain on the sale of the Company’s former Dublin, Ireland facility.

 

The Company pays income taxes in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as other taxes which are typically included in costs of operations.  The Company’s consolidated effective income tax rate in 2002 was 36.8%, down marginally from the 37% rate experienced in the prior year.  The .2% decrease was caused primarily by a reduction in state tax expense required to be paid by the Company.

 

2001 compared with 2000

 

Airfreight net revenues in 2001 increased 13% compared with 2000 primarily due to the Company’s ability to expand airfreight margins despite the lower airfreight tonnages, experienced in 2001 compared with 2000.  Airfreight margins expanded approximately 5% during 2001 as compared with 2000 despite a 9% drop in worldwide airfreight tonnage in 2001.  Efficient consolidations of dense and fluffy (volumetric) freight allowed the Company to optimize purchased transportation costs while still offering competitive rates to customers.  The Company’s North American export airfreight net revenues increased 4% in 2001 compared to 2000.  Airfreight net revenues from the Far East and from Europe increased 24% and 5%, respectively, for 2001 compared with 2000.  Airfreight rates on Far East to North American trade lanes, the Company’s most dominant lane, remained strong throughout 2001.

 

Ocean freight and ocean services net revenues increased 21% in 2001 compared to 2000.  Ocean freight demand remained strong throughout 2001 and ocean freight rates from the Far East, the Company’s largest trade lane, increased in the last half of the year.  During 2001, management continued to expand market share, increase ocean tonnage, and increase net ocean freight revenues while offering competitive market rates to customers.  Changes in the regulatory environment in the United States created new opportunities for the Company’s NVOCC operations to provide services to customers who had previously dealt directly with the ocean carriers.

 

Margins increased 3% in 2001 as compared with 2000 reflecting the Company’s ability to offer competitive rates to customers at the retail level, while leveraging freight volumes to obtain favorable rates from carriers at the wholesale level.  ECMS continued to be instrumental in attracting new business.  The Company’s North American export ocean freight net revenues increased 10% in 2001 compared to 2000.  This increase was a result of the Company handling more ocean shipments moving from North America to the Far East and, to a lesser extent, from North America to Europe.  Ocean freight net revenues from the Far East and from Europe increased

 

20



 

23% and 30%, respectively, for 2001 compared with 2000.

 

Customs brokerage and import services revenues increased 3% in 2001 as compared with 2000 as a result of (1) the Company’s growing reputation for providing high quality service, (2) consolidation within the customs brokerage market as customers seek out customs brokers with more sophisticated computerized capabilities critical to an overall logistics management program, and (3) the growing importance of distribution services as a separate and distinct service offered to existing and potential customers.  Distribution services accounted for nearly 36% of the increase in customs brokerage and import services revenues for 2001 compared with 2000.

 

Salaries and related costs increased in 2001 compared to 2000 as a result of (1) the Company’s increased hiring of sales, operations, and administrative personnel in existing and new offices to accommodate increases in business activity and (2) increased compensation levels.  Salaries and related costs increased 1% as a percentage of net revenues.  The relatively consistent relationship between salaries and net revenues is the result of a compensation philosophy that has been maintained since the inception of the Company: offer a modest base salary and the opportunity to share in a fixed and determinable percentage of the operating profit of the business unit controlled by each key employee.  Using this compensation model, changes in individual compensation will occur in proportion to changes in Company profits.  Management believes that the growth in revenues, net revenues and net earnings for 2001 are a result of the incentives inherent in the Company’s compensation program.

 

Other operating expenses increased in 2001 as compared with 2000 as rent expense, communications expense, quality and training expenses, and other costs expanded to accommodate the Company’s growing operations.  Other operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased 2% in 2001 as compared with 2000.  Management believes that this decrease was significant as it reflects the successful achievement of cost containment objectives initiated at the branch level.  The ability to sustain these savings into future periods is contingent upon branch level management’s ability to adhere to these objectives.

 

Other income, net, increased in 2001 as compared to 2000 primarily due to interest income earned on higher cash balances and short-term investments in 2001.  Management attributes higher cash balances, in large part, to the success of cash management and billing improvement initiatives.

 

The Company pays income taxes in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as other taxes which are typically included in costs of operations.  The Company’s consolidated effective income tax rate in 2001 was 37%, down marginally from the 37.7% rate experienced in the prior year.  The .7% decrease was caused primarily by a reduction in state tax expense required to be paid by the Company.

 

Currency and Other Risk Factors

 

International air/ocean freight forwarding and customs brokerage are intensively competitive and are expected to remain so for the foreseeable future.  There are a large number of entities competing in the international logistics industry; however, the Company’s primary competition is confined to a relatively small number of companies within this group.  While there is currently a marked trend within the industry toward consolidation into large firms with multinational offices and agency networks, regional and local broker/forwarders remain a competitive force.

 

Historically, the primary competitive factors in the international logistics industry have been price and quality of service, including reliability, responsiveness, expertise, convenience, and scope of operations.  The Company emphasizes quality service and believes that its prices are competitive with those of others in the industry.  Customers have exhibited a trend towards more sophisticated and efficient procedures for the management of the logistics supply chain by embracing strategies such as just-in-time inventory management.  Accordingly, sophisticated computerized customer service capabilities and a stable worldwide network have become significant factors in attracting and retaining customers.

 

Developing these systems and a worldwide network has added a considerable indirect cost to the services provided to customers.  Smaller and middle-tier competitors, in general, do not have the resources available to develop customized systems and a worldwide network.  As a result, there is a significant amount of consolidation currently taking place in the industry.  Management expects that this trend toward consolidation will continue for the short- to medium-term.

 

The nature of the Company’s worldwide operations necessitates the Company dealing with a multitude of currencies other than the U.S. Dollar.  This results in the Company being exposed to the inherent risks of the international currency markets and governmental interference.  Some of the countries where the Company maintains offices and/or agency relationships have strict currency control regulations which influence the Company’s ability to hedge foreign currency exposure.  The Company tries to compensate for these exposures by accelerating international currency settlements among its offices or agents.  The Company enters into foreign currency hedging transactions only in limited locations where there are regulatory or commercial limitations on the Company’s ability to move

 

21



 

money freely around the world or the short-term financial outlook in any country is such that hedging is the most time-sensitive way to avoid short-term exchange losses.  Any such hedging activity during 2002, 2001 and 2000 was insignificant.  Net foreign currency gains realized in 2002 were $70,000.  Net foreign currency losses realized during 2001 were $366,000.  Net foreign currency gains realized during 2000 were $309,000.

 

The Company has traditionally generated revenues from airfreight, ocean freight and customs brokerage and import services.  In light of the customer-driven trend to provide customer rates on a door-to-door basis, management foresees the potential, in the medium- to long-term, for fees normally associated with customs house brokerage to be de-emphasized and included as a component of other services offered by the Company.

 

On January 1, 1999, eleven of fifteen member countries of the European Union, later joined by Greece in January 2001, established fixed conversion rates between their existing currencies (“legacy currencies”) and a new common currency - the Euro.  The Euro trades on currency exchanges and may be used in business transactions.  The conversion to the Euro eliminates currency exchange rate risk between the member countries.  Beginning in January 2002, new Euro-denominated bills and coins were issued and legacy currencies began to be withdrawn from circulation. The Company has worked diligently to address the issues raised by the Euro currency conversion including the need to adapt computer systems and business processes to accommodate Euro-denominated transactions.  The conversion costs were not material. The Company is unable to predict the resulting impact, if any, on the Company’s consolidated financial statements of the change to one common currency within the European Union.   The Company has not experienced any significant disruption as a result of this phased conversion.

 

Sources of Growth

 

Historically, growth through aggressive acquisition has proven to be a challenge for many of the Company’s competitors and typically involves the purchase of significant “goodwill,” the value of which can be realized in large measure only by retaining the customers and profit margins of the acquired business.  As a result, the Company has pursued a strategy emphasizing organic growth supplemented by certain strategic acquisitions, where future economic benefit significantly exceeds the “goodwill” recorded in the transaction.

 

Office Additions

 

The Company did not open any offices during 2002.

 

Internal Growth

 

Management believes that a comparison of  “same store” growth is critical in the evaluation of the quality and extent of the Company’s internally generated growth.  This “same store” analysis isolates the financial contributions from offices that have been included in the Company’s operating results for at least one full year.  The table below presents “same store” comparisons on a year-over-year basis for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000.

 

Same store comparisons for the years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Net revenues

 

12

%

7

%

23

%

Operating income

 

16

%

13

%

36

%

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company’s principal source of liquidity is cash generated from operating activities.  Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2002 was approximately $116 million, as compared with $168 million for 2001.  This $52 million decrease is principally due increased accounts receivable, offset by increased net earnings and increased accounts payable, accrued expenses and taxes payable.

 

The Company’s business is subject to seasonal fluctuations.  Cash flow fluctuates as a result of this seasonality.  Historically, the first quarter shows an excess of customer collections over customer billings.  This results in positive cash flow.  The increased activity associated with peak season (typically commencing late second or early third quarter) causes an excess of customer billings over customer collections.  This cyclical growth in customer receivables consumes available cash.  In the past, the Company has utilized short-term borrowings to satisfy normal operating expenditures when temporary cash outflows exceed cash inflows.  These short-term

 

22



 

borrowings have been repaid when the trend reverses and customer collections exceed customer billings.  During 2002, short-term borrowings were not required in the United States; the market where cash flow pressures are most intense due to funds advanced in association with customs brokerage activity.

 

As a customs broker, the Company makes significant 5-10 business day cash advances for its customers’ obligations such as the payment of duties to U.S. Customs.  These advances are made as an accommodation for a select group of credit-worthy customers.  Cash advances are a “pass through” and are not recorded as a component of revenue and expense.  The billings of such advances to customers are accounted for as a direct increase in accounts receivable to the customer and a corresponding increase in accounts payable to governmental customs authorities.  As a result of these “pass through” billings, the conventional Days Sales Outstanding or DSO calculation does not directly measure collection efficiency.

 

Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2002 was $113 million, as compared with $53 million during the same period of 2001.  The largest use of cash in investing activities is cash paid for capital expenditures.  For the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company made capital expenditures of $81 million as compared with $37 million for the same period in 2001.  Capital expenditures in 2002 included $59 million for acquisitions of real estate and office/warehouse facilities in New Jersey and the United Kingdom.  Capital expenditures in 2001 related primarily to investments in technology and office furniture and equipment. Cash of $31.3 million was paid into escrow during 2002 to acquire an office and warehouse facility near the San Francisco, California International Airport; the transaction closed on January 7, 2003.

 

Cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2002 was $13 million as compared with cash used in financing activities of $58 million for the same period in 2001.  In 2002, the Company paid down $0.4 million on short-term debt, as compared with $3 million for the same period of 2001.  The Company uses the proceeds from stock option exercises to repurchase the Company’s stock on the open market.  The differences between proceeds from the issuance of common stock and the amounts paid to repurchase common stock for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2000 represent a timing difference in the receipt of proceeds and the subsequent repurchase of outstanding shares.  During the third quarter of 2001, the Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock.  The difference between proceeds from the issuance of common stock and the amounts paid to repurchase common stock for the year ended December 31, 2001 is primarily due to the repurchase of stock under the discretionary plan authorized by the Board of Directors in September 2001.  The repurchase of all 2,000,000 shares was completed on October 11, 2001 at an average price of $22.56 per share.  In November 2001, the Board of Directors expanded the Company’s Discretionary Stock Repurchase Program to allow for the repurchase of such shares as may be necessary to reduce the issued and outstanding stock to 100,000,000 shares of common stock.  As of December 31, 2002, no further shares had been repurchased under the amended discretionary plan.

 

At December 31, 2002, working capital was $249 million, including cash and short-term investments of $212 million. The Company had no long-term debt at December 31, 2002.  While the nature of its business does not require an extensive investment in property and equipment, the Company cannot eliminate the possibility that it could acquire an equity interest in property in certain geographic locations.  Excluding the acquisition of the office and warehouse facility near the San Francisco, California International Airport, described earlier, the Company currently expects to spend approximately $35 million for normal capital expenditures.  In addition to property and equipment, normal capital expenditures include leasehold improvements, warehouse equipment, computer hardware and furniture and fixtures.  The Company expects to finance capital expenditures in 2003, with cash.

 

The Company borrows internationally and domestically under unsecured bank lines of credit.  During the third quarter of 2002, the Company entered into an unsecured line of credit agreement with a U.S. financial institution.  At December 31, 2002, the U.S. facility totaled $50 million and the international bank lines of credit totaled $10.3 million.  In addition, the Company maintains a bank facility with its U.K. bank for $8.1 million.  At December 31, 2002, the Company was directly liable for $1.3 million drawn on these lines of credit and was contingently liable for an additional $39.1 million from standby letters of credit and guarantees related to these lines of credit and other obligations.

 

23



 

At December 31, 2002, the Company’s contractual obligations and other commitments are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Payments Due by Period

 

In thousands

 

Total

 

Less than
1 year

 

1 - 3
years

 

4 - 5
years

 

After
5 years

 

Contractual Obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating leases

 

$

83,884

 

29,769

 

38,518

 

8,508

 

7,089

 

Unconditional purchase obligations

 

205,840

 

185,040

 

20,800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total contractual cash obligations

 

$

289,724

 

214,809

 

59,318

 

8,508

 

7,089

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount of Commitment Expiration
Per Period

 

In thousands

 

Total
amounts
committed

 

Less than
1 year

 

1 - 3
years

 

4 - 5
years

 

After
5 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Commitments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lines of credit

 

$

60,284

 

60,113

 

171

 

 

 

Credit facility

 

8,052

 

8,000

 

 

 

52

 

Standby letters of credit

 

39,137

 

35,988

 

521

 

 

2,628

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total commitments

 

$

107,473

 

104,101

 

692

 

 

2,680

 

 

The Company has a Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan to repurchase shares from the proceeds of stock option exercises.  As of December 31, 2002, the Company had repurchased and retired 5,257,703 shares of common stock at an average price of $12.34 per share over the period from 1994 through 2002.

 

The Company also has a Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan under which it retired 2,000,000 shares of common stock as of October 11, 2001, at an average price of $22.56 per share.  In November 2001, this plan was expanded to allow for the repurchase of such shares as may be necessary to reduce the issued and outstanding stock to 100,000,000 shares of common stock.  As of December 31, 2002, no further shares had been repurchased under the amended discretionary plan.

 

Management believes that the Company’s current cash position, bank financing arrangements, and operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet its capital and liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future.

 

In some cases, the Company’s ability to repatriate funds from foreign operations may be subject to foreign exchange controls.  At December 31, 2002, cash and cash equivalent balances of $121.4 million were held by the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries, of which $47.1 million was held in banks in the United States.  In addition, certain undistributed earnings of the Company’s subsidiaries accumulated through December 31, 1992 would, under most circumstances, be subject to some additional United States income tax if distributed to the Company.  Such undistributed earnings are approximately $41.9 million and the additional Federal and state taxes payable in a hypothetical distribution of such accumulated earnings would approximate $10.1 million.  The Company has not provided for this additional tax because the Company intends to reinvest such earnings to fund the expansion of its foreign activities, or to distribute them in a manner in which no significant additional taxes would be incurred.

 

Impact of Inflation

 

To date, the Company’s business has not been adversely affected by inflation, nor has the Company experienced significant difficulty in passing carrier rate increases on to its customers by means of price increases.  Direct carrier rate increases could occur over the short- to medium-term period.  Due to the high degree of competition in the market place, these rate increases might lead to an erosion in the Company’s margins.  However, as the Company is not required to purchase or maintain extensive property and equipment and has not otherwise incurred substantial interest rate-sensitive indebtedness, the Company currently has limited direct exposure to increased costs resulting from increases in interest rates.

 

24



 

The forward-looking statements contained in this document involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements include, but are not limited to: risks associated with foreign operations, elimination of intercompany transactions, matching of expenses with the associated revenue, seasonality, shifts in consumer demand, the effect that the implementation of the Euro as the primary currency of 12 member states of the European Union might have on the global economy and the Company’s international and domestic customers, other accounting estimates and other risk factors disclosed from time to time in the Company’s public reports.

 

ITEM 7A — QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The Company is exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of its business.  These risks are primarily related to foreign exchange risk and changes in short-term interest rates.   The potential impact of the Company’s exposure to these risks is presented below:

 

Foreign Exchange Risk

 

The Company conducts business in many different countries and currencies.  The Company’s business often results in revenue billings issued in a country and currency which differs from that where the expenses related to the service are incurred.  In the ordinary course of business, the Company creates numerous intercompany transactions.  This brings a market risk to the Company’s earnings.

 

Foreign exchange rate sensitivity analysis can be quantified by estimating the impact on the Company’s earnings as a result of hypothetical changes in the value of the U.S. Dollar, the Company’s functional currency, relative to the other currencies in which the Company transacts business.  All other things being equal, an average 10% weakening of the U.S. Dollar, throughout the year ended December 31, 2002, would have had the effect of raising operating income approximately $12.7 million.  An average 10% strengthening of the U.S. Dollar, for the same period, would have the effect of reducing operating income approximately $10.4 million.

 

The Company has approximately $9 million of intercompany transactions unsettled at any one point in time.  The Company currently does not use derivative financial instruments to manage foreign currency risk and only enters into foreign currency hedging transactions in limited locations where regulatory or commercial limitations restrict the Company’s ability to move money freely around the world.  Any such hedging activity throughout the year ended December 31, 2002, was insignificant.  The Company instead follows a policy of accelerating international currency settlements to manage foreign exchange risk relative to intercompany billings.  The majority of intercompany billings are resolved within 30 days and intercompany billings arising in the normal course of business are fully settled within 90 days.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

At December 31, 2002, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of  $211.9 million and short-term borrowings of $1.3 million, all subject to variable short-term interest rates.  A hypothetical change in the interest rate of 10% would have an insignificant impact on the Company’s earnings.

 

In management’s opinion, there has been no material change in the Company’s market risk exposure between 2001 and 2002.

 

25



 

ITEM 8 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

The following documents are filed on the pages listed below, as part of Part II, Item 8 of this report.

 

Document

 

Page

 

 

 

1.

Financial Statements and Independent Auditors’ Report:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Auditors’ Report

 

F-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Financial Statements:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and 2001

 

F-2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statements of Earnings for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

 

F-3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

 

F-4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

 

F-5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

F-6 through F-17

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

Financial Statement Schedules:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

 

S-1

 

 

ITEM 9 — CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

Inapplicable.

 

26



 

PART III

 

ITEM 10 — DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to information under the caption “Proposal 1 - Election of Directors” and to the information under the caption “Section 16(a) Reporting Delinquencies” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 7, 2003.  See also Part I - Item 1 - Executive Officers of the Registrant.

 

ITEM 11 — EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to information under the caption “Executive Compensation” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 7, 2003.

 

ITEM 12 — SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to information under the captions “Principal Holders of Voting Securities” and “Proposal 1 - Election of Directors” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 7, 2003.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

 

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2002, regarding compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

as of December 31, 2002

 

Plan Category

 

Number of Securities to be
Issued Upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights

 

Weighted-Average Exercise
Price of Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights

 

Number of Securities Available
for Future Issuance, Other Than
Securities to be Issued Upon
Exercise of All Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders

 

11,900,116

 

17.80

 

3,222,406

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

11,900,116

 

17.80

 

3,222,406

 

 

ITEM 13 — CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to information under the caption “Executive Compensation” and “Certain Transactions” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 7, 2003.

 

ITEM 14 — CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Controls and Procedures

 

Within 90 days prior to the filing of this report, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures was performed.  Based on this evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that material information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported by management of the Company on a timely basis in order to comply with the Company’s disclosure obligations under

 

27



 

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the SEC rules thereunder.

 

Changes in Internal Controls

 

There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of the evaluation.

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15 — EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a)

1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Auditors’ Report

F-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and 2001

F-2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

F-3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

F-4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

F-5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F-6 through F-17

 

 

 

 

 

2.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in Part IV of this report:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedules:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

II

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

 

 

Other schedules are omitted because of the absence of conditions under which they are required or because the required information is given in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

 

28



 

 

3.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PLANS AND ARRANGEMENTS

 

The following list is a subset of the list of exhibits described below and contains all compensatory plans, contracts or arrangements in which any director or executive officer of the Company is a participant, unless the method of allocation of benefits thereunder is the same for management and non-management participants:

 

(1)

 

Form of Employment Agreement executed by the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  See Exhibit 10.23.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Form of Employment Agreement executed by the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer and certain of the Company’s executive officers.  See Exhibit 10.24.

 

 

 

(3)

 

The Company’s Amended 1985 Stock Option Plan.  See Exhibit 10.4.

 

 

 

(4)

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s Amended 1985 Stock Option Plan.  See Exhibit 10.5.

 

 

 

(5)

 

The Company’s Restated and Amended 1988 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  See Exhibit 10.20.

 

 

 

(6)

 

Form of Stock Purchase Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s Restated and Amended 1988 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  See Exhibit 10.7.

 

 

 

(7)

 

The Company’s Amended 1993 Directors’ Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan.  See Exhibit 10.39.

 

 

 

(8)

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s 1993 Directors’ Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan.  See Exhibit 10.9.

 

 

 

(9)

 

The Company’s Amended 1997 Non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan.  See Exhibit 10.40.

 

 

 

(10)

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Non-Qualified options granted under the Company’s 1997 Non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.30.

 

 

 

(11)

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Incentive options granted under the Company’s 1997 Non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan.  See Exhibit 10.31.

 

 

 

(12)

 

The Company’s 1997 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.  See Exhibit 10.32.

 

 

 

(13)

 

Form of Executive Incentive Compensation Plan Award Certification used in connection with the awards granted under the Company’s 1997 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.  See Exhibit 10.33.

 

 

 

(14)

 

Form of Executive Incentive Compensation Plan Award Agreement used in connection with establishing the terms and conditions of an award under the Company’s 1997 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.  See Exhibit 10.34.

 

 

 

(15)

 

The Company’s 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  See Exhibit 10.42.

 

(b) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

29



 

(c) EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Exhibit

 

 

 

3.1

 

The Company’s Restated Articles of Incorporation and the Articles of Amendment thereto dated December 9, 1993.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 31, 1995.)

 

 

 

3.1.1

 

Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation dated November 12, 1996. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.1 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 31, 1997.)

 

 

 

3.1.2

 

Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation dated May 20, 1999.

 

 

 

3.1.3

 

Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation dated June 12, 2002.

 

 

 

3.2

 

The Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 28, 1994.)

 

 

 

10.4

 

The Company’s Amended 1985 Stock Option Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 28, 1991.)

 

 

 

10.5

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s Amended 1985 Stock Option Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 28, 1991.)

 

 

 

10.7

 

Form of Stock Purchase Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s Restated and Amended 1988 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 28, 1989.)

 

 

 

10.9

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s 1993 Directors’ Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 28, 1994.)

 

 

 

10.17

 

Exclusive Agency Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1991, between E.I. Freight (Taiwan) Ltd. and EI Freight (H.K.) Limited. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 28, 1994.)

 

 

 

10.18

 

Plan and Agreement of Reorganization, dated as of January 1, 1984, between the Company and the individual shareholders of Fons Pte. Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.5 to Registration Statement No. 2-91224, filed on May 21, 1984.)

 

 

 

10.19

 

Plan and Agreement of Reorganization, dated as of January 1, 1984, among the Company, EIO  Investment Ltd., Wong Hoy Leung, Chiu Chi Shing, and James Li Kou Wang.  (Incorporated by  reference to Exhibit 2.6 to Registration Statement No. 2-91224, filed on May 21, 1984.)

 

 

 

10.20

 

The Company’s Restated and Amended 1988 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. (Incorporated by  reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement No. 33-81460, filed on July 12, 1994.)

 

 

 

10.23

 

Form of Employment Agreement executed by the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer dated November 2, 1994.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to Form 10-K,  filed on or about March 31, 1995.)

 

 

 

10.24

 

Form of Employment Agreement executed by the Company’s President and Chief Operating  Officer and certain of the Company’s executive officers dated November 2, 1994. (Incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 31, 1995.)

 

 

 

10.30

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Non-Qualified options granted under  the Company’s 1997 Non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan.  (Incorporated by  reference to Exhibit 10.30 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 31, 1998.)

 

30



 

 

 

 

10.31

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Incentive options granted under the Company’s 1997 Non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 31, 1998.)

 

 

 

10.32

 

The Company’s 1997 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Appendix B of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 24, 1997.)

 

 

 

10.33

 

Form of Executive Incentive Compensation Plan Award Certification used in connection with the awards granted under the Company’s 1997 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 31, 1998.)

 

 

 

10.34

 

Form of Executive Incentive Compensation Plan Award Agreement used in connection with establishing the terms and conditions of an award under the Company’s 1997 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 31, 1998.)

 

 

 

10.39

 

The Company’s Amended 1993 Directors’ Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Appendix B of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 28, 2001.)

 

 

 

10.40

 

The Company’s Amended 1997 Non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Appendix C of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 28, 2001.)

 

 

 

10.41

 

Credit Agreement between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association dated July 1, 2002 with respect to the Company’s $50,000,000 unsecured line of credit together with a Revolving Line of Credit Note due July 1, 2003.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to Form 10-Q, filed on or about November 14, 2002.)

 

 

 

10.42

 

The Company’s 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about April 1, 2002.)

 

 

 

21.1

 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Certificate of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

 

31



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date:  March 27, 2003

 

 

 

 

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF
WASHINGTON, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. JORDAN GATES

 

 

 

R. Jordan Gates

 

 

Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer

 

32



 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on March 27, 2003.

 

Signature

 

Title

 

 

 

/s/ Peter J. Rose

 

 

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

(Peter J. Rose)

 

(Principal Executive Officer) and Director

 

 

 

/s/ R. Jordan Gates

 

 

Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(R. Jordan Gates)

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) and Director

 

 

 

/s/ James Li Kou Wang

 

 

President-Asia and Director

(James Li Kou Wang)

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ James J. Casey

 

 

Director

(James J. Casey)

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Dan P. Kourkoumelis

 

 

Director

(Dan P. Kourkoumelis)

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ John W. Meisenbach

 

 

Director

(John W. Meisenbach)

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Michael J. Malone

 

 

Director

(Michael J. Malone)

 

 

 

33



 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Peter J. Rose, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc., certify that:

 

1.     I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

a)      designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

b)      evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

c)      presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a)      all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)      any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date: March 27, 2003

 

 

/s/  PETER J. ROSE

 

 

 

Peter J. Rose
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

34



 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, R. Jordan Gates, Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc., certify that:

 

1.     I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

a)      designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

b)      evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

c)      presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a)      all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)      any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date: March 27, 2003

 

 

/s/  R. JORDAN GATES

 

 

 

R. Jordan Gates
Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer

 

 

35



 

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

 

AND SUBSIDIARIES

 


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

COMPRISING ITEM 8

 

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

 

TO SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FOR THE

 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002, 2001, AND 2000

 



 

Independent Auditors’ Report

 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.:

 

We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. and subsidiaries as listed in the accompanying index.  In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we have also audited the financial statement schedule as listed in the accompanying index.  These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP

 

 

Seattle, Washington

February 21, 2003

 

F-1



 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

In thousands except share data

December 31,

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

211,859

 

218,677

 

Short-term investments

 

87

 

57

 

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $12,135 in 2002 and $10,410 in 2001

 

385,864

 

283,414

 

Other

 

7,676

 

9,109

 

Total current assets

 

605,486

 

511,257

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and Equipment:

 

 

 

 

 

Buildings and leasehold improvements

 

112,512

 

89,179

 

Furniture, fixtures, equipment and purchased software

 

120,487

 

111,585

 

Vehicles

 

3,514

 

3,685

 

 

 

236,513

 

204,449

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

113,683

 

100,611

 

 

 

122,830

 

103,838

 

Land

 

82,136

 

20,007

 

Net property and equipment

 

204,966

 

123,845

 

Goodwill, net

 

5,299

 

5,299

 

Deferred Federal and state income taxes

 

11,008

 

12,156

 

Other assets, net

 

53,189

 

35,880

 

 

 

$

879,948

 

688,437

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term debt

 

$

1,319

 

1,706

 

Accounts payable

 

248,302

 

195,826

 

Accrued expenses, primarily salaries and related costs

 

79,847

 

59,843

 

Deferred Federal and state income taxes

 

9,678

 

7,651

 

Federal, state, and foreign income taxes

 

16,990

 

8,788

 

Total current liabilities

 

356,136

 

273,814

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock,
par value $.01 per share
Authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued

 

 

 

Common stock,
par value $.01 per share
Authorized 320,000,000 shares;
issued and outstanding 104,220,940 shares
at December 31, 2002 and 103,223,708 shares
at December 31, 2001

 

1,042

 

1,032

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

21,701

 

15,588

 

Retained earnings

 

512,036

 

411,992

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(10,967

)

(13,989

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

523,812

 

414,623

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

879,948

 

688,437

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

Note:  All share and per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect a 2-for-1 stock split effected in June 2002.

 

F-2



 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

In thousands except share data

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Airfreight

 

$

1,206,057

 

971,980

 

1,053,461

 

Ocean freight and ocean services

 

728,174

 

590,684

 

542,411

 

Customs brokerage and import services

 

362,672

 

320,406

 

310,854

 

Total revenues

 

2,296,903

 

1,883,070

 

1,906,726

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Airfreight consolidation

 

921,103

 

717,478

 

828,033

 

Ocean freight consolidation

 

564,060

 

451,803

 

427,437

 

Customs brokerage and import services

 

129,527

 

107,253

 

102,901

 

Salaries and related costs

 

359,769

 

325,545

 

290,581

 

Rent and occupancy costs

 

40,816

 

36,294

 

29,253

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

22,725

 

23,544

 

22,481

 

Selling and promotion

 

19,796

 

20,163

 

20,231

 

Other

 

68,098

 

54,973

 

58,285

 

Total operating expenses

 

2,125,894

 

1,737,053

 

1,779,202

 

Operating income

 

171,009

 

146,017

 

127,524

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

6,299

 

9,201

 

6,327

 

Interest expense

 

(178

)

(521

)

(432

)

Other, net

 

860

 

(403

)

(71

)

Other income, net

 

6,981

 

8,277

 

5,824

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

177,990

 

154,294

 

133,348

 

Income tax expense

 

65,461

 

57,051

 

50,313

 

Net earnings

 

$

112,529

 

97,243

 

83,035

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

1.08

 

.93

 

.81

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

1.03

 

.89

 

.76

 

Weighted average basic shares outstanding

 

103,892,827

 

104,159,504

 

102,305,240

 

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

 

108,881,369

 

109,741,340

 

109,358,036

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

Note:  All share and per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect a 2-for-1 stock split effected in June 2002.

 

F-3



 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

and Comprehensive Income

In thousands except share data

Years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

 

 

 

Common stock

 

Additional
paid-in
capital

 

Retained
earnings

 

Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)

 

Total

 

Shares

 

Par value

 

Balance at December 31, 1999

 

101,288,814

 

$

1,013

 

29,223

 

257,198

 

(5,049

)

282,385

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise of stock options

 

1,711,610

 

17

 

4,825

 

 

 

4,842

 

Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan

 

408,036

 

4

 

5,395

 

 

 

5,399

 

Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plan

 

(506,134

)

(5

)

(11,497

)

 

 

(11,502

)

Tax benefits from employee stock plans

 

 

 

8,926

 

 

 

8,926

 

Comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

 

 

 

83,035

 

 

83,035

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of deferred tax credit of $2,217

 

 

 

 

 

(4,117

)

(4,117

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

78,918

 

Dividends paid ($.07 per share)

 

 

 

 

(7,184

)

 

(7,184

)

Balance at December 31, 2000

 

102,902,326

 

$

1,029

 

36,872

 

333,049

 

(9,166

)

361,784

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise of stock options

 

2,548,826

 

25

 

8,062

 

 

 

8,087

 

Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan

 

341,828

 

4

 

7,188

 

 

 

7,192

 

Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans

 

(2,569,272

)

(26

)

(52,397

)

(7,891

)

 

(60,314

)

Tax benefits from employee stock plans

 

 

 

15,863

 

 

 

15,863

 

Comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

 

 

 

97,243

 

 

97,243

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of deferred tax credit of $2,597

 

 

 

 

 

(4,823

)

(4,823

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

92,420

 

Dividends paid ($.10 per share)

 

 

 

 

(10,409

)

 

(10,409

)

Balance at December 31, 2001

 

103,223,708

 

$

1,032

 

15,588

 

411,992

 

(13,989

)

414,623

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise of stock options

 

1,222,608

 

12

 

8,187

 

 

 

8,199

 

Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan

 

358,940

 

4

 

8,557

 

 

 

8,561

 

Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans

 

(584,316

)

(6

)

(16,589

)

 

 

(16,595

)

Tax benefits from employee stock plans

 

 

 

5,958

 

 

 

5,958

 

Comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

 

 

 

112,529

 

 

112,529

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of deferred tax debit of $1,627

 

 

 

 

 

3,022

 

3,022

 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

115,551

 

Dividends paid ($.12 per share)

 

 

 

 

(12,485

)

 

(12,485

)

Balance at December 31, 2002

 

104,220,940

 

$

1,042

 

21,701

 

512,036

 

(10,967

)

523,812

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

Note:  All share and per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect a 2-for-1 stock split effected in June 2002.

 

F-4



 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

In thousands

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

112,529

 

97,243

 

83,035

 

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for losses on accounts receivable

 

2,382

 

297

 

4,043

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

22,725

 

23,544

 

22,481

 

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)

 

(687

)

2,377

 

1,203

 

Tax benefits from employee stock plans

 

5,958

 

15,863

 

8,926

 

Gain on sale of property and equipment

 

(1,696

)

(169

)

(35

)

Amortization of cost in excess of net assets of acquired businesses and other intangible assets

 

950

 

1,074

 

920

 

Impairment write down of other assets

 

3,502

 

 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable

 

(99,152

)

64,772

 

(34,399

)

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and taxes payable

 

71,089

 

(32,774

)

57,805

 

Other

 

(1,107

)

(4,613

)

10,479

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

116,493

 

167,614

 

154,458

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease (increase) in short-term investments

 

(31

)

1,698

 

(818

)

Purchase of property and equipment

 

(81,427

)

(37,382

)

(25,582

)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

 

4,151

 

789

 

702

 

Cash paid for note receivable secured by real estate

 

(4,262

)

(10,208

)

 

Cash held in escrow for real estate acquisition

 

(31,250

)

 

 

Other

 

(333

)

(7,754

)

(3,783

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(113,152

)

(52,857

)

(29,481

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repayments of short-term debt, net

 

(395

)

(2,632

)

(14,501

)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

16,760

 

15,279

 

10,241

 

Repurchases of common stock

 

(16,595

)

(60,314

)

(11,502

)

Dividends paid

 

(12,485

)

(10,409

)

(7,184

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(12,715

)

(58,076

)

(22,946

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

2,556

 

(7,009

)

(4,209

)

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(6,818

)

49,672

 

97,822

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

218,677

 

169,005

 

71,183

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

211,859

 

218,677

 

169,005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and Taxes Paid:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

$

176

 

524

 

208

 

Income taxes

 

37,111

 

41,825

 

19,442

 

 

Non-Cash Investing Activities – A note receivable of $14,470 was applied toward the purchase of land and a building in 2002.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5



 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

A.            Basis of Presentation

 

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (“the Company”) is a global logistics company operating through a worldwide network of offices, international service centers and exclusive or non-exclusive agents. The Company’s customers include retailing and wholesaling, electronics, and manufacturing companies around the world.  The Company grants credit upon approval to customers.

 

International trade is influenced by many factors, including economic and political conditions in the United States and abroad, currency exchange rates, and United States and foreign laws and policies relating to tariffs, trade restrictions, foreign investments and taxation.  Periodically, governments consider a variety of changes to current tariffs and trade restrictions.  The Company cannot predict which, if any, of these proposals may be adopted, nor can the Company predict the effects adoption of any such proposal will have on the Company’s business.  Doing business in foreign locations also subjects the Company to a variety of risks and considerations not normally encountered by domestic enterprises.  In addition to being affected by governmental policies concerning international trade, the Company’s business may also be affected by political developments and changes in government personnel or policies in the nations in which it does business.

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries.  In addition, the accounts of exclusive agents have been consolidated in those circumstances where the Company maintains unilateral control over the agents’ assets and operations, notwithstanding a lack of technical majority ownership of the agents’ common stock.

 

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

All dollar amounts in the notes are presented in thousands except for share data.

 

B.            Cash Equivalents

 

All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents.

 

C.            Short-term Investments

 

Short-term investments are designated as available-for-sale and cost approximates market at December 31, 2002 and 2001.

 

D.            Accounts Receivable

 

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is reviewed at least monthly for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments for services.  Additional allowances may be necessary in the future if the ability of its customers to pay deteriorates.

 

E.             Long-Lived Assets, Depreciation and Amortization

 

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated or amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the assets’ estimated useful lives or lease terms. Useful lives for major categories of property and equipment are as follows:

 

Buildings

 

28 to 40 years

Furniture, fixtures, equipment and purchased software

 

3 to 5 years

Vehicles

 

3 to 5 years

 

Expenditures for maintenance, repairs, and renewals of minor items are charged to earnings as incurred.  Major renewals and improvements are capitalized.  Upon disposition, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is included in income for the period.

 

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. Under the new rules, purchased goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives will no longer be amortized but will be subject to annual impairment tests in accordance with the provisions of the statements.  The Company applied the new rules on accounting for goodwill and intangible assets beginning in the first quarter of 2002. Application of the non-amortization provisions of SFAS No. 142 did not

 

F-6



 

have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Goodwill amortization expense was $161 during each of the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000.  The Company performed the required initial impairment test of goodwill as of January 1, 2002 and determined there was no impact on the consolidated earnings and financial position of the Company at that time.

 

Effective January 1, 2002, the Company ceased to amortize goodwill.  Goodwill is recorded net of accumulated amortization of $765 at December 31, 2002 and 2001.  For the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company performed the required annual impairment test during the fourth quarter and determined that no impairment had occurred.

 

In August 2001, SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” was issued which addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. While this standard supersedes SFAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of,” it retains many of the fundamental provisions of that standard. SFAS No. 144 also supersedes the accounting and reporting provisions of APB Opinion No. 30, “Reporting the Results of Operations – Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions,” for the disposal of a segment of a business.

 

Intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized over their respective useful lives, and reviewed for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 144.  The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 144 beginning in the first quarter of 2002.  Adoption of SFAS No. 144 had no impact on the consolidated earnings and financial position of the Company.

 

Other intangible assets consist principally of payments made to purchase customer lists of former agents in countries where the Company established its own presence by opening its own offices.  Other intangible assets are included in Other Assets, net and are amortized over their estimated useful lives for periods up to 15 years.

 

Balances as of December 31 are as follows:

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identifiable intangible assets

 

$

15,764

 

15,714

 

Less accumulated amortization

 

(6,044

)

(5,094

)

 

 

$

9,720

 

10,620

 

Aggregate amortization expense for the year ended December 31

 

$

950

 

913

 

 

Estimated annual amortization expense will approximate $967 during each of the next five years.

 

F.             Revenues and Revenue Recognition

 

The Company derives its revenues from three principal sources: airfreight, ocean freight and customs brokerage and import services and these are the revenue categories presented in the financial statements.

 

As a non-asset based carrier, the Company does not own transportation assets.  Rather, the Company generates the major portion of its air and ocean freight revenues by purchasing transportation services from direct (asset-based) carriers and reselling those services to its customers.   The difference between the rate billed to customers (the sell rate), and the rate paid to the carrier (the buy rate) is termed “Net Revenue” or “yield”.  By consolidating shipments from multiple customers and concentrating its buying power, the Company is able to negotiate favorable buy rates from the direct carriers, while at the same time offering lower sell rates than customers would otherwise be able to negotiate themselves.

 

Airfreight revenues include the charges to the Company for carrying the shipments when the Company acts as a freight consolidator.  Ocean freight revenues include the charges to the Company for carrying the shipments when the Company acts as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC).  In each case the Company is acting as an indirect carrier.  When acting as an indirect carrier, the Company will issue a House Airway Bill (HAWB) or a House Ocean Bill of Lading (HOBL) to customers as the contract of carriage.  In turn, when the freight is physically tendered to a direct carrier, the Company receives a contract of carriage known as a Master Airway Bill for airfreight shipments and a Master Ocean Bill of Lading for ocean shipments.  At this point, the risk of loss passes to the carrier, however, in order to claim for any such loss, the customer is first obligated to pay the freight charges.

 

Based upon the terms in the contract of carriage, revenues related to shipments where the Company issues an HAWB or an HOBL are recognized at the time the freight is tendered to the direct carrier at origin.  Costs related to the shipments are also recognized at this same time.

 

F-7



 

Revenues realized in other capacities, for instance, when the Company acts as an agent for the shipper, and does not issue an HAWB or an HOBL, include only the commissions and fees earned for the services performed.  These revenues are recognized upon completion of the services.

 

Customs brokerage and import services involves providing services at destination, such as helping customers clear shipments through customs by preparing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties and other taxes on behalf of the customers as well as arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery.   This is a complicated function requiring technical knowledge of customs rules and regulations in the multitude of countries in which the Company has offices.  Revenues related to customs brokerage and import services are recognized upon completion of the services.

 

Arranging international shipments is a complex task.  Each actual movement can require multiple services.  In some instances, the Company is asked to perform only one of these services.  However, in most instances, the Company may perform multiple services.  These services include destination breakbulk services and value added ancillary services such as local transportation, export customs formalities, distribution services and logistics management.  Each of these services has an associated fee, which is recognized as revenue upon completion of the service.

 

Typically, the fees for each of these services are quoted as separate components, however, customers on occasion will request an all-inclusive rate for a set of services known in the industry as “door-to-door service.”  This means that the customer is billed a single rate for all services from pickup at origin to delivery at destination.  In these instances, the revenue for origin and destination services, as well as revenue that will be characterized as freight charges, is allocated to branches as set by preexisting Company policy perhaps supplemented by customer specific negotiations between the offices involved.  Each of the Company’s branches are independent profit centers and the primary compensation for the branch management group comes in the form of incentive-based compensation calculated directly from the operating income of that branch.  This compensation structure ensures that the allocation of revenue and expense among components of services, when provided under an all-inclusive rate, are done in an objective manner on a fair value basis, in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables.”

 

In November 2001, the FASB staff issued Topic D-103 (subsequently re-characterized as EITF 01-14), “Income Statement Characterization of Reimbursements Received for ‘Out of Pocket’ Expenses Incurred.”  This staff announcement clarified certain provisions of EITF 99-19 “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent,” and among other things established when reimbursements are required to be shown gross as opposed to net.  EITF 01-14 also directed that the new rules should be applied in financial reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2001.  Beginning in the first quarter of 2002, the Company has complied with the guidance in EITF 01-14.  Prior to the adoption of EITF 01-14, the Company recorded such reimbursements on a net basis.  The Company has reclassified amounts in the 2001 and 2000 presentations to conform with the current presentation.  The amounts reclassified resulted in an increase to Total Revenues and Transportation Costs of $230,437 in 2001 and $211,545 in 2000.  There was no impact on net revenue nor was there any impact on operating income and net earnings as a result of this change.

 

G.            Income Taxes

 

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method of accounting.  Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributed to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, the tax effect of loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

H.            Net Earnings per Common Share

 

Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding.  Dilutive potential common shares represent outstanding stock options.  Basic earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average of common shares outstanding without taking into consideration dilutive potential common shares outstanding.

 

I.              Stock Option Plans

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure” which amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation.  SFAS No. 148 also amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosure in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results.  The transition guidance and annual disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148 are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002.  The interim

 

F-8



 

disclosure provisions are effective for financial reports containing financial statements for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2002.  As the Company did not make a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation in 2002, the adoption of SFAS No. 148 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.  The Company has adopted the annual disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148 in its financial reports for the year ended December 31, 2002 and will adopt the interim disclosure provisions for its financial reports beginning with the quarter ending March 31, 2003.

 

The Company applies APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations in accounting for its stock option and its employee stock purchase rights plans.  Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for its fixed stock option or employee stock purchase rights plans.  Had compensation cost for the Company’s three stock based compensation and employee stock purchase rights plans been determined consistent with SFAS No. 123, the Company’s net earnings, basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Net earnings - as reported

 

$

112,529

 

97,243

 

83,035

 

Deduct:  Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

 

(18,873

)

(14,309

)

(9,945

)

Net earnings - pro forma

 

$

93,656

 

82,934

 

73,090

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share — as reported

 

$

1.08

 

.93

 

.81

 

Basic earnings per share — pro forma

 

$

.90

 

.80

 

.71

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share — as reported

 

$

1.03

 

.89

 

.76

 

Diluted earnings per share — pro forma

 

$

.89

 

.78

 

.69

 

 

See Note 5C. for information on the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of option grants.

 

J.             Foreign Currency

 

Foreign currency amounts attributable to foreign operations have been translated into U.S. Dollars using year-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities, historical rates for equity, and average annual rates for revenues and expenses.  Unrealized gains or losses arising from fluctuations in the year-end exchange rates are generally recorded as components of other comprehensive income as adjustments from foreign currency translation.  Currency fluctuations are a normal operating factor in the conduct of the Company’s business and exchange transaction gains and losses are generally included in freight consolidation expenses.

 

The Company follows a policy of accelerating international currency settlements to manage its foreign exchange exposure.  Accordingly, the Company enters into foreign currency hedging transactions only in limited locations where there are regulatory or commercial limitations on the Company’s ability to move money freely around the world.  Such hedging activity during 2002, 2001 and 2000 was insignificant.  Net foreign currency gains realized during 2002 were $70.  Net foreign currency losses realized during 2001 were $366.  Net foreign currency gains realized during 2000 were $309.

 

K.            Comprehensive Income

 

Comprehensive income consists of net income and other gains and losses affecting shareholders’ equity that, under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, are excluded from net income.  For the Company, these consist of foreign currency translation gains and losses, net of related income tax effects.

 

L.             Segment Reporting

 

The Company is organized functionally in geographic operating segments.  Accordingly, management focuses its attention on revenues, net revenues, operating income, identifiable assets, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization and equity generated in each of these geographical areas when evaluating effectiveness of geographic management.  The Company charges its subsidiaries and affiliates for services rendered in the United States on a cost recovery basis.  Transactions among the Company’s various offices are conducted using the same arms-length pricing methodologies the Company uses when its offices transact business with independent agents.

 

F-9



 

M.           Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

N.            Reclassification

 

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2002 presentation.

 

O.            New Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and for the associated asset retirement costs. The standard applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction or development and/or normal use of the asset. The Company is required and plans to adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 143 beginning in the first quarter of 2003.  Management does not anticipate that adoption of SFAS No. 143 will result in a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

 

In June 2002, SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” was issued which addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies EITF 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).”  The Company is required and plans to adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 146 beginning in the first quarter of 2003.  Management does not anticipate that adoption of SFAS No. 146 will result in a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

 

In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45 (FIN 45), “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others,” which clarifies disclosure and recognition/measurement requirements related to certain guarantees. The disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements issued after December 15, 2002 and the recognition/measurement requirements are effective on a prospective basis for guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002.  The provisions of FIN 45 require the Company to value and record the liability for any indirect or direct guarantees of the indebtedness of others entered into after December 31, 2002.  The Company does not expect compliance with FIN 45 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

NOTE 2.  OTHER ASSETS

 

Other assets at December 31, 2002 included $31,250 paid into escrow in anticipation of purchasing an office and warehouse facility near the San Francisco, California International Airport.  This transaction closed on January 7, 2003.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2002, the Company evaluated the recoverability of certain other assets and determined that an impairment had occurred.  Accordingly, a $3,502 loss was recorded as an operating expense.

 

F-10



 

NOTE 3.  CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

 

The Company has a $50,000 United States bank line of credit extending through July 1, 2003.  Borrowings under the line bear interest at LIBOR + .75% (2.25% at December 31, 2002) and are unsecured.  As of December 31, 2002, the Company had no borrowings under this line.

 

The majority of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries maintain bank lines of credit for short-term working capital purposes.  These credit lines are supported by standby letters of credit issued by a United States bank, or guarantees issued by the Company to the foreign banks issuing the credit line.  Lines of credit totaling $10,284 and $9,396 at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, bear interest at rates up to 3% over the foreign banks’ equivalent prime rates.  At December 31, 2002 and 2001, the Company was liable for $1,319 and $1,706, respectively, of borrowings under these lines, and at December 31, 2002 was contingently liable for approximately $39,138 under outstanding standby letters of credit and guarantees related to these lines of credit and other obligations.

 

In addition, at December 31, 2002 the Company had an $8,052 credit facility with a United Kingdom bank (U.K. facility), secured by a corporate guarantee.  The Company was contingently liable under the U.K. facility at December 31, 2002 for $8,052 used to secure customs bonds issued to foreign governments.

 

At December 31, 2002, the Company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants of these credit lines and the associated credit facilities, including maintenance of certain minimum asset, working capital and equity balances and ratios.

 

NOTE 4.  INCOME TAXES

 

Income tax expense for 2002, 2001 and 2000 includes the following components:

 

 

 

Federal

 

State

 

Foreign

 

Total

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

$

18,937

 

3,120

 

38,133

 

60,190

 

Deferred

 

4,067

 

1,204

 

 

5,271

 

 

 

$

23,004

 

4,324

 

38,133

 

65,461

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

$

9,921

 

2,806

 

26,084

 

38,811

 

Deferred

 

16,511

 

1,729

 

 

18,240

 

 

 

$

26,432

 

4,535

 

26,084

 

57,051

 

2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

$

9,717

 

2,802

 

27,665

 

40,184

 

Deferred

 

7,975

 

2,154

 

 

10,129

 

 

 

$

17,692

 

4,956

 

27,665

 

50,313

 

 

Income tax expense differs from amounts computed by applying the U.S. Federal income tax rate of 35% to earnings before income taxes as a result of the following:

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Computed “expected” tax expense

 

$

62,297

 

54,003

 

46,672

 

Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit

 

2,810

 

2,948

 

3,221

 

Decrease in valuation allowance for deferred tax assets

 

(1

)

(7

)

(68

)

Other, net

 

355

 

107

 

488

 

 

 

$

65,461

 

57,051

 

50,313

 

 

F-11



 

The components of earnings before income taxes are as follows:

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

United States

 

$

46,054

 

46,684

 

34,176

 

Foreign

 

131,936

 

107,610

 

99,172

 

 

 

$

177,990

 

154,294

 

133,348

 

 

The tax effects of temporary differences, tax credits and operating loss carryforwards that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 2002 and 2001 are as follows:

 

Years ended December 31,

 

2002

 

2001

 

Deferred Tax Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign tax credits related to unremitted foreign earnings

 

$

64,718

 

49,957

 

Accrued intercompany and third party charges, deductible for taxes upon economic performance (i.e. actual payment)

 

3,149

 

2,867

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

6,139

 

7,766

 

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable

 

2,262

 

2,115

 

Excess of financial statement over tax depreciation

 

4,266

 

3,826

 

Other

 

1,151

 

1,112

 

Total gross deferred tax assets

 

81,685

 

67,643

 

Less valuation allowance

 

 

(1

)

 

 

81,685

 

67,642

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Tax Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Unremitted foreign earnings

 

(71,800

)

(55,887

)

Other

 

(8,555

)

(7,250

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total gross deferred tax liabilities

 

$

(80,355

)

(63,137

)

Net deferred tax assets

 

$

1,330

 

4,505

 

Plus current deferred tax liabilities

 

$

9,678

 

7,651

 

Noncurrent deferred tax assets

 

$

11,008

 

12,156

 

 

The Company has not provided U.S. Federal income taxes on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries accumulated through December 31, 1992 since the Company intends to reinvest such earnings indefinitely or to distribute them in a manner in which no significant additional taxes would be incurred.  Such undistributed earnings are approximately $41,900 and the additional Federal and state taxes payable in a hypothetical distribution of such accumulated earnings would approximate $10,100.  Since 1993, the Company has been providing for Federal and state income tax expense on foreign earnings without regard to whether such earnings will be permanently reinvested outside the United States.

 

NOTE 5.  SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

A.            Dividends

 

On May 8, 2002, the Board of Directors declared a 2-for-1 stock split, effected in the form of a stock dividend of one share of common stock for every share outstanding, and increased the authorized common stock to 320,000,000 shares.  The stock dividend was distributed on June 24, 2002 to shareholders of record on June 10, 2002. All share and per share information, except par value per share, has been adjusted for all years to reflect the stock split.

 

B.            Stock Repurchase Plans

 

The Company has a Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan under which management is authorized to repurchase up to 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market with the proceeds received from the exercise of Employee and Director Stock Options.  As of December 31, 2002, the Company had repurchased and retired 5,257,703 shares of common stock at an average price of $12.34 per share over the period from 1994 through 2002.

 

In September 2001, the Board of Directors approved a Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan to repurchase and retire 2,000,000 shares of common stock.  As of October 11, 2001, all 2,000,000 shares had been repurchased and retired under the plan at an average price of $22.56 per share.  In November 2001, the Board of Directors expanded the Company’s Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan to allow

 

F-12



 

for the repurchase of such shares as may be necessary to reduce the issued and outstanding stock to 100,000,000 shares of common stock.  As of December 31, 2002, no further shares had been repurchased under the amended discretionary plan.

 

C.            Stock Option Plans

 

The Company has two stock option plans (the “1985 Plan” and the “1997 Plan”) for employees under which the Board of Directors may grant officers and key employees options to purchase common stock at prices equal to or greater than market value on the date of grant.  The 1985 Plan provides for non-qualified grants at exercise prices equal to or greater than the market value on the date of grant. Outstanding options generally vest and become exercisable over periods up to five years from the date of grant and expire no more than 10 years from the date of grant. The 1997 Plan provides for qualified and non-qualified grants of options to purchase shares, limited to not more than 200,000 per person per year.  Grants less than or equal to 40,000 shares in any fiscal year, are granted at or above common stock prices on the date of grant.  Any 1997 Plan grants in excess of the initial 40,000 shares granted per person per year (“Excess Grants”) require an exercise price of not less than 120% of the common stock price on the date of grant.  Excess Grants under the 1997 Plan vest completely in 3 years,  and expire no later than 5 years, from the date of grant.

 

The Company also has a stock option plan (“Directors’ Plan”) under which non-employee directors elected at each annual meeting are granted non-qualified options to purchase 16,000 shares of common stock on the first business day of the month following the meeting.

 

Upon the exercise of non-qualified stock options, the Company derives a tax deduction measured by the excess of the market value over the option price at the date of exercise.  The related tax benefit is credited to additional paid-in capital.

 

Details regarding the plans are as follows:

 

 

 

Unoptioned Shares

 

Outstanding Options

 

 

 

1985
Plan

 

1997
Plan

 

Directors’
Plan

 

Number of
shares

 

Weighted
average
price per share

 

Balance at December 31, 1999

 

376,456

 

3,267,400

 

112,000

 

11,449,710

 

$

6.74

 

Options granted

 

(190,000

)

(1,562,500

)

(64,000

)

1,816,500

 

$

19.04

 

Options exercised

 

 

 

 

(1,711,610

)

$

2.83

 

Options canceled

 

137,000

 

273,850

 

 

(410,850

)

$

11.87

 

Balance at December 31, 2000

 

323,456

 

1,978,750

 

48,000

 

11,143,750

 

$

9.15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options authorized

 

 

5,000,000

 

400,000

 

 

$

 

Options granted

 

(220,000

)

(2,060,800

)

(64,000

)

2,344,800

 

$

25.05

 

Options exercised

 

 

 

 

(2,548,826

)

$

3.18

 

Options canceled

 

 

271,200

 

 

(271,200

)

$

16.64

 

Balance at December 31, 2001

 

103,456

 

5,189,150

 

384,000

 

10,668,524

 

$

13.89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options granted

 

(100,000

)

(2,515,050

)

(64,000

)

2,679,050

 

$

28.61

 

Options exercised

 

 

 

 

(1,222,608

)

$

6.71

 

Options canceled

 

 

224,850

 

 

(224,850

)

$

21.32

 

Balance at December 31, 2002

 

3,456

 

2,898,950

 

320,000

 

11,900,116

 

$

17.80

 

 

F-13



 

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions used for grants:

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Dividend yield

 

.41

%

.38

%

.48

%

Volatility

 

49

%

51

%

51

%

Risk-free interest rates

 

2.0 – 5.2

%

3.6 – 5.4

%

5.1 – 6.4

%

Expected life (years) — stock option plans

 

4.9 – 8.4

 

5.2 – 8.5

 

5.6

 

Expected life (years) — stock purchase rights plan

 

1

 

1

 

1

 

Weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the year

 

$

13.45

 

 

12.68

 

 

9.81

 

Weighted average fair value of stock purchase rights

 

$

7.88

 

 

8.79

 

 

8.95

 

 

The following table summarizes information about fixed-price stock options outstanding at December 31, 2002:

 

Range of
exercise price

 

Number
outstanding

 

Weighted
average remaining
contractual life

 

Weighted average
exercise
price

 

Number
exercisable

 

Weighted
average
exercise price

 

$

1.60 —   3.88

 

1,834,400

 

2.3 years

 

$

2.80

 

1,834,400

 

$

2.80

 

$

6.27 — 14.63

 

1,972,616

 

5 years

 

$

9.47

 

1,583,116

 

$

9.10

 

$

16.04 — 18.95

 

3,165,950

 

6.8 years

 

$

17.51

 

728,950

 

$

16.04

 

$

20.69 — 26.85

 

2,226,200

 

8.3 years

 

$

24.74

 

64,000

 

$

20.69

 

$

28.58 — 34.30

 

2,700,950

 

9.3 years

 

$

28.69

 

128,000

 

$

30.44

 

$

1.60 — 34.30

 

11,900,116

 

6.7 years

 

$

17.80

 

4,338,466

 

$

8.40

 

 

The number of stock options exercisable at December 31, 2001 and 2000, were respectively, 3,983,924, at a weighted average exercise price of $5.78 per share, and 5,194,000, at a weighted average exercise price of $3.39 per share.

 

D.            Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

 

The following table reconciles the numerator and the denominator of the basic and diluted per share computations for earnings per share in 2002, 2001 and 2000.

 

 

 

Net
earnings

 

Weighted
average
shares

 

Earnings
per share

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

112,529

 

103,892,827

 

$

1.08

 

Effect of dilutive potential common shares

 

 

4,988,542

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

112,529

 

108,881,369

 

$

1.03

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

97,243

 

104,159,504

 

$

.93

 

Effect of dilutive potential common shares

 

 

5,581,836

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

97,243

 

109,741,340

 

$

.89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

83,035

 

102,305,240

 

$

.81

 

Effect of dilutive potential common shares

 

 

7,052,796

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

83,035

 

109,358,036

 

$

.76

 

 

For the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, options to purchase 76,600 shares, 66,400 shares and 5,900 shares, respectively, of common stock with exercise prices greater than the average fair market value of our stock for the period of $29.58, $26.76 and $22.51, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive.

 

F-14



 

E.             Stock Purchase Plan

 

In May 2002, the shareholders approved the Company’s 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“2002 Plan”), which became effective August 1, 2002 upon the expiration of the 1988 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“1988 Plan”) on July 31, 2002.  The Company’s 2002 Plan provides for 2,152,726 shares of the Company’s common stock, including 152,726 remaining shares transferred from the 1988 Plan, to be reserved for issuance upon exercise of purchase rights granted to employees who elect to participate through regular payroll deductions beginning August 1 of each year.  The purchase rights are exercisable on July 31 of the following year at a price equal to the lesser of (1) 85% of the fair market value of the Company’s stock on July 31 or (2) 85% of the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the preceding August 1.  At December 31, 2002, $5,262 had been withheld in connection with the 2002 Plan year ending July 31, 2003.

 

NOTE 6.  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

The Company’s financial instruments, other than cash, consist primarily of cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, short-term debt, accounts payable and accrued expenses.  The fair values of these financial instruments approximate their carrying amounts based upon market interest rates or their short-term nature.

 

NOTE 7.  COMMITMENTS

 

A.            Leases

 

The Company occupies office and warehouse facilities under terms of operating leases expiring up to 2010.  Total rent expense for 2002, 2001 and 2000 was $28,147, $24,323 and $19,390, respectively.  At December 31, 2002, future minimum annual lease payments under all leases are as follows:

 

2003

 

$

29,769

 

2004

 

20,915

 

2005

 

11,390

 

2006

 

6,213

 

2007

 

5,131

 

Thereafter

 

10,466

 

 

 

$

83,884

 

 

B.            Employee Benefits

 

The Company has employee savings plans under which the Company provides a discretionary matching contribution.   In 2002, 2001, and 2000, the Company’s contributions under the plans were $3,292, $2,937, and $2,596, respectively.

 

NOTE 8. CONTINGENCIES

 

The Company is ordinarily involved in claims and lawsuits which arise in the normal course of business, none of which currently, in management’s opinion, will have a significant effect on the Company’s financial condition.

 

F-15



 

NOTE 9.  BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

Financial information regarding the Company’s 2002, 2001, and 2000 operations by geographic area are as follows:

 

 

 

United
States

 

Other
North
America

 

Far
East

 

Europe

 

Australia/
New
Zealand

 

Latin
America

 

Middle
East

 

Elimi-
nations

 

Consoli-
dated

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

unaffiliated customers

 

$

464,519

 

69,395

 

1,294,107

 

314,582

 

23,534

 

26,118

 

104,648

 

 

2,296,903

 

Transfers between geographic areas

 

30,032

 

2,278

 

6,090

 

9,398

 

4,041

 

3,356

 

2,824

 

(58,019

)

 

Total revenues

 

$

494,551

 

71,673

 

1,300,197

 

323,980

 

27,575

 

29,474

 

107,472

 

(58,019

)

2,296,903

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

$

274,230

 

39,234

 

204,299

 

112,136

 

15,103

 

10,732

 

26,479

 

 

682,213

 

Operating income

 

$

40,009

 

9,401

 

90,917

 

18,215

 

3,521

 

1,553

 

7,393

 

 

171,009

 

Identifiable assets at year end

 

$

436,439

 

40,262

 

144,877

 

210,849

 

14,553

 

7,696

 

25,272

 

 

879,948

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

13,997

 

1,086

 

2,917

 

60,701

 

1,057

 

186

 

1,483

 

 

81,427

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

$

12,386

 

1,393

 

2,796

 

4,079

 

571

 

529

 

971

 

 

22,725

 

Equity

 

$

523,812

 

21,816

 

112,199

 

41,604

 

10,049

 

967

 

9,958

 

(196,593

)

523,812

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

unaffiliated customers

 

$

476,134

 

52,126

 

958,698

 

272,460

 

17,688

 

24,708

 

81,256

 

 

1,883,070

 

Transfers between geographic areas

 

22,222

 

1,573

 

5,747

 

9,672

 

3,406

 

3,073

 

2,920

 

(48,613

)

 

Total revenues

 

$

498,356

 

53,699

 

964,445

 

282,132

 

21,094

 

27,781

 

84,176

 

(48,613

)

1,883,070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

$

250,472

 

29,121

 

174,259

 

106,824

 

11,465

 

10,330

 

24,065

 

 

606,536

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

41,466

 

4,506

 

70,546

 

19,793

 

2,555

 

(197

)

7,348

 

 

146,017

 

Identifiable assets at year end

 

$

403,550

 

21,244

 

112,627

 

118,170

 

11,101

 

8,027

 

20,412

 

(6,694

)

688,437

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

12,194

 

1,486

 

2,717

 

17,009

 

654

 

1,087

 

2,235

 

 

37,382

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

$

13,264

 

1,416

 

3,381

 

3,290

 

527

 

663

 

1,003

 

 

23,544

 

Equity

 

$

414,623

 

5,303

 

96,664

 

31,031

 

8,369

 

334

 

7,971

 

(149,672

)

414,623

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

unaffiliated customers

 

$

499,987

 

43,057

 

1,001,797

 

252,951

 

17,765

 

18,358

 

72,811

 

 

1,906,726

 

Transfers between geographic areas

 

22,437

 

1,255

 

3,866

 

9,649

 

3,235

 

2,772

 

3,025

 

(46,239

)

 

Total revenues

 

$

522,424

 

44,312

 

1,005,663

 

262,600

 

21,000

 

21,130

 

75,836

 

(46,239

)

1,906,726

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

$

241,844

 

24,172

 

138,671

 

103,725

 

11,289

 

8,331

 

20,323

 

 

548,355

 

Operating income

 

$

38,569

 

3,210

 

53,595

 

23,682

 

2,321

 

1,422

 

4,725

 

 

127,524

 

Identifiable assets at year end

 

$

352,737

 

21,215

 

119,056

 

115,631

 

11,040

 

9,531

 

19,676

 

12,854

 

661,740

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

13,075

 

1,925

 

3,591

 

3,876

 

550

 

1,037

 

1,528

 

 

25,582

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

$

12,529

 

1,106

 

3,712

 

3,187

 

542

 

342

 

1,063

 

 

22,481

 

Equity

 

$

361,784

 

4,582

 

98,713

 

31,371

 

7,117

 

897

 

5,997

 

(148,677

)

361,784

 

 

The Company charges its subsidiaries and affiliates for services rendered in the United States on a cost recovery basis.

 

No single country outside the United States represented more than 10% of the Company’s total revenue in any period presented with the exception of Hong Kong which represented 16%, 12% and 14% in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, and Taiwan which represented 12% and 13% in 2001 and 2000, respectively.  No single country outside of the United States represented more than 10% of the Company’s total identifiable assets in any period presented with the exception of the United Kingdom which represented 12% in 2002.

 

F-16



 

NOTE 10.  QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

1st

 

2nd

 

3rd

 

4th

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

449,540

 

535,756

 

620,394

 

691,213

 

Net revenues

 

146,706

 

156,144

 

177,761

 

201,602

 

Net earnings

 

22,230

 

23,684

 

30,619

 

35,996

 

Basic earnings per share

 

.22

 

.23

 

.29

 

.35

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

.20

 

.22

 

.28

 

.33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

457,620

 

445,513

 

489,279

 

490,658

 

Net revenues

 

145,686

 

147,767

 

157,819

 

155,264

 

Net earnings

 

21,158

 

21,599

 

27,369

 

27,117

 

Basic earnings per share

 

.21

 

.21

 

.26

 

.26

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

.19

 

.20

 

.25

 

.25

 

 

Net revenues are determined by deducting freight consolidation costs from total revenues.  The sum of quarterly per share data may not equal the per share total reported for the year.

 

F-17



 

SCHEDULE II

 

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

 

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

 

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002, 2001, AND 2000

 

Description

 

Balance at beginning
of year

 

Additions

 

Deductions
write-offs

 

Balance
at end
of year

 

Charged to costs and
expenses

 

Other

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2002

 

$

10,410

 

$

2,382

 

$

 

$

657

 

$

12,135

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2001

 

$

11,825

 

$

297

 

$

 

$

1,712

 

$

10,410

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2000

 

$

10,266

 

$

4,043

 

$

 

$

2,484

 

$

11,825

 

 

S-1



 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.

 


 

ANNUAL REPORT

 

ON

 

FORM 10-K

 

FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED

 

DECEMBER 31, 2002

 


 

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

 

EXHIBITS

 



 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

3.1.2

 

Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation dated May 20, 1999.

 

 

 

3.1.3

 

Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation dated June 12, 2002.

 

 

 

21.1

 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Certificate of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.