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EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON INC - Quarter Report: 2014 March (Form 10-Q)



 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________________________________
FORM 10-Q
______________________________________
 (Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014
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)
  
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)
 
 
 
1015 Third Avenue, 12thFloor, Seattle, Washington
  
98104
(Address of principal executive offices)
  
(Zip Code)
(206) 674-3400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
______________________________________________________

 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 x  No  o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer
x
 
  
Accelerated filer
 o
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
 o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  
Smaller reporting company
 o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). 
Yes o No x
At May 5, 2014, the number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s Common Stock was 197,374,388.
 




PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31, 2013
Current Assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,131,046

 
$
1,247,652

Short-term investments
86,491

 
26,337

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,208 at March 31, 2014 and $8,695 at December 31, 2013
1,062,924

 
1,073,500

Deferred Federal and state income taxes
18,248

 
18,396

Other
36,284

 
49,384

Total current assets
2,334,993

 
2,415,269

Property and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $356,919 at March 31, 2014 and $348,282 at December 31, 2013
556,071

 
563,064

Goodwill
7,927

 
7,927

Other assets, net
26,513

 
28,552

Total assets
$
2,925,504

 
$
3,014,812

Current Liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
677,582

 
648,156

Accrued expenses, primarily salaries and related costs
196,157

 
200,301

Federal, state and foreign income taxes
27,754

 
21,743

Total current liabilities
901,493

 
870,200

Deferred Federal and state income taxes
63,997

 
58,281

 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies

 

 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ Equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock, none issued

 

Common stock, par value $.01 per share. Issued and outstanding 197,166,665 shares at March 31, 2014 and 202,553,220 shares at December 31, 2013
1,972

 
2,025

Additional paid-in capital
728

 
1,647

Retained earnings
1,964,122

 
2,087,376

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(8,691
)
 
(6,265
)
Total shareholders’ equity
1,958,131

 
2,084,783

Noncontrolling interest
1,883

 
1,548

Total equity
1,960,014

 
2,086,331

Total liabilities and equity
$
2,925,504

 
$
3,014,812

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


2



EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Revenues:
 
 
 
Airfreight services
$
647,138

 
$
620,374

Ocean freight and ocean services
469,224

 
445,479

Customs brokerage and other services
375,283

 
347,355

Total revenues
1,491,645

 
1,413,208

Operating Expenses:
 
 
 
Airfreight services
482,882

 
464,919

Ocean freight and ocean services
367,375

 
344,923

Customs brokerage and other services
176,802

 
155,359

Salaries and related costs
255,942

 
248,417

Rent and occupancy costs
25,162

 
24,193

Depreciation and amortization
12,382

 
11,278

Selling and promotion
8,173

 
7,257

Other
27,724

 
28,344

Total operating expenses
1,356,442

 
1,284,690

Operating income
135,203

 
128,518

Other Income (Expense):
 
 
 
Interest income
2,697

 
3,243

Other, net
(281
)
 
1,531

Other income, net
2,416

 
4,774

Earnings before income taxes
137,619

 
133,292

Income tax expense
53,424

 
52,682

Net earnings
84,195

 
80,610

Less net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest
371

 
295

Net earnings attributable to shareholders
$
83,824

 
$
80,315

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share
$
.42

 
$
.39

Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share
$
.42

 
$
.39

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding
201,843,858

 
207,613,863

Weighted average basic shares outstanding
201,118,390

 
206,475,095

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.



3



EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

 
Three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Net earnings
$
84,195

 
$
80,610

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $1,329 and $5,478 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013
(2,377
)
 
(10,013
)
Other comprehensive loss
(2,377
)
 
(10,013
)
Comprehensive income
81,818

 
70,597

Less comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest
420

 
281

Comprehensive income attributable to shareholders
$
81,398

 
$
70,316

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


4



EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
Three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Operating Activities:
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
84,195

 
$
80,610

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:
 
 
 
(Recoveries) provision for losses on accounts receivable
(1,115
)
 
941

Deferred income tax expense
7,194

 
7,122

Excess tax benefits from stock plans
(489
)
 
(1,099
)
Stock compensation expense
10,294

 
11,005

Depreciation and amortization
12,382

 
11,278

Other
138

 
208

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Decrease in accounts receivable
12,228

 
38,856

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses
29,546

 
(1,390
)
Increase in income taxes payable, net
18,205

 
18,218

Decrease (increase) in other current assets
1,279

 
(485
)
Net cash from operating activities
173,857

 
165,264

Investing Activities:
 
 
 
Purchase of short-term investments
(81,130
)
 

Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments
20,976

 
38

Purchase of property and equipment
(8,760
)
 
(10,068
)
Other, net
1,670

 
(444
)
Net cash from investing activities
(67,244
)
 
(10,474
)
Financing Activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
7,892

 
10,929

Repurchases of common stock
(226,725
)
 
(17,681
)
Excess tax benefits from stock plans
489

 
1,099

Purchase of noncontrolling interest

 
(7,730
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest
(85
)
 

Net cash from financing activities
(218,429
)
 
(13,383
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(4,790
)
 
(7,562
)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(116,606
)
 
133,845

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
1,247,652

 
1,260,842

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
1,131,046

 
$
1,394,687

Taxes Paid:
 
 
 
Income taxes
$
27,496

 
$
26,951

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

5



EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

Note 1.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
A.
Basis of Presentation
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (“the Company”) is a non-asset based provider of global logistics services operating through a worldwide network of offices and exclusive or non-exclusive agents. The Company’s customers include retailing and wholesaling, electronics, industrial and manufacturing companies around the world.
The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) have been condensed or omitted. The Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company's Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2014.
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. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation. The reclassifications include presenting rental income of $2,723 for the period ended March 31, 2013 in customs brokerage and other services revenues while it was historically recorded in rent and occupancy costs and other operating expenses.
B.
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 and advances. Additional allowances may be necessary in the future if the ability of its customers to pay deteriorates. The Company has recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts in the amounts of $7,208 as of March 31, 2014 and $8,695 as of December 31, 2013. Additions and write-offs have not been significant in the periods presented.
C.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP 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. The Company uses estimates primarily in the following areas: accounts receivable valuation, accrual of costs related to ancillary services the Company provides, accrual of insurance liabilities for the portion of the related exposure which the Company has self-insured, accrual of various tax liabilities, accrual of loss contingencies and calculation of share-based compensation expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

6



Note 2. Share-Based Compensation
The Company provides compensation benefits by granting stock options and employee stock purchase rights to its employees and restricted shares to its directors. The Company's annual grant of option awards generally takes place during the second quarter of each fiscal year, and no grants were made in the quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. The grant of employee stock purchase rights and the issuance of shares under the employee stock purchase plan are made in the third quarter of each fiscal year and none were issued in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.
The Company recognizes stock compensation expense based on an estimate of the fair value of awards granted to employees and directors under the Company’s stock option, director restricted stock and employee stock purchase rights plans. The expense, adjusted for expected forfeitures, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the stock awards' vesting period. The forfeiture assumption used to calculate compensation expense is primarily based on historical pre-vesting employee forfeiture patterns.
 
 
 
 
Total stock compensation expense and the total related tax benefit recognized are as follows:
 
Three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Stock compensation expense
$
10,294

 
$
11,005

Recognized tax benefit
$
944

 
$
649


Note 3. 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 attributable to shareholders:
 
Three months ended 
 
March 31,
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Net earnings
attributable to
shareholders
 
Weighted average
shares
 
Earnings per share
2014
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders
$
83,824

 
201,118,390

 
$
.42

Effect of dilutive potential common shares

 
725,468

 

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders
$
83,824

 
201,843,858

 
$
.42

2013
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders
$
80,315

 
206,475,095

 
$
.39

Effect of dilutive potential common shares

 
1,138,768

 

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders
$
80,315

 
207,613,863

 
$
.39

 
 
 
 
 
 
The following potential common shares have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive:
 
Three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Shares
14,995,490

 
13,054,133



7



Note 4. Components of Equity
The components of equity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:
 
Shareholders’
equity
 
Noncontrolling
interest
 
Total
equity
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
2,084,783

 
1,548

 
2,086,331

Exercise of stock options
7,892

 

 
7,892

Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans
(226,725
)
 

 
(226,725
)
Stock compensation expense
10,294

 

 
10,294

Tax benefits from stock plans, net
489

 

 
489

Net earnings
83,824

 
371

 
84,195

Other comprehensive (loss) income
(2,426
)
 
49

 
(2,377
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest

 
(85
)
 
(85
)
Balance at March 31, 2014
$
1,958,131

 
1,883

 
1,960,014

 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2012
$
2,027,699

 
4,871

 
2,032,570

Exercise of stock options
10,929

 

 
10,929

Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans
(17,681
)
 

 
(17,681
)
Stock compensation expense
11,005

 

 
11,005

Tax benefits from stock plans, net
934

 

 
934

Net earnings
80,315

 
295

 
80,610

Other comprehensive loss
(9,999
)
 
(14
)
 
(10,013
)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest
(507
)
 
(3,226
)
 
(3,733
)
Balance at March 31, 2013
$
2,102,695

 
1,926

 
2,104,621

The Company has a Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan to repurchase shares from the proceeds of stock option exercises. During the quarter ended March 31, 2014, 93,798 shares were repurchased at an average price of $39.02 per share. The Company also has a Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan that was amended by the Board of Directors on February 24, 2014 to authorize management to reduce issued and outstanding stock to 190 million shares of common stock. During the quarter ended March 31, 2014, 5,631,704 shares were repurchased at an average price of $39.61 per share.
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income consisted entirely of foreign currency translation adjustments, net of related income tax effects, for all the periods presented.
Subsequent to the end of the quarter, on May 7, 2014, the Board of Directors declared a semi-annual cash dividend of $.32 per share payable on June 16, 2014 to shareholders of record as of June 2, 2014.


8



Note 5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments, other than cash, consist primarily of cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses. The carrying value of these financial instruments approximates their fair value. Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at date of purchase. Short-term investments have a maturity of greater than three months at date of purchase. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments consist of the following:
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Cost
 
Fair Value
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and overnight deposits
$
584,552

 
584,552

 
590,317

 
590,317

Corporate commercial paper
506,872

 
506,958

 
629,923

 
629,990

Time deposits
39,622

 
39,622

 
27,412

 
27,412

Total cash and cash equivalents
1,131,046

 
1,131,132

 
1,247,652

 
1,247,719

Short-Term Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate commercial paper
86,449

 
86,521

 
26,296

 
26,321

Time deposits
42

 
42

 
41

 
41

Total short-term investments
86,491

 
86,563

 
26,337

 
26,362

Total
$
1,217,537

 
1,217,695

 
1,273,989

 
1,274,081

The fair value of corporate commercial paper is based on the use of market interest rates for identical or similar assets (Level 2 fair value measurement).
Note 6. Contingencies
The Company is involved in claims, lawsuits, government investigations and other legal matters that arise in the ordinary course of business and are subject to inherent uncertainties. Currently, in management's opinion and based upon advice from legal advisors, none of these matters are expected to have a significant effect on the Company's operations or financial position. As of March 31, 2014, the amounts accrued for these claims, lawsuits, government investigations and other legal matters are not significant to the Company's operations or financial position. At this time the Company is unable to estimate any additional loss or range of reasonably possible losses, if any, beyond the amounts recorded, that might result from the resolution of these matters.

9



Note 7. Business Segment Information
The Company is organized functionally in geographic operating segments. Accordingly, management focuses its attention on revenues, net revenues1, operating income, identifiable assets, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization and equity generated in each of these geographical areas when evaluating the 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.
Financial information regarding the Company’s operations by geographic area is as follows:
(in thousands)
UNITED
STATES
 
OTHER
NORTH
AMERICA
 
LATIN
AMERICA
 
ASIA
PACIFIC
 
EUROPE  and
AFRICA
 
MIDDLE
EAST and
INDIA
 
ELIMI-
NATIONS
 
CONSOLI-
DATED
Three months ended March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from unaffiliated customers
$
400,739

 
51,584

 
20,629

 
714,384

 
227,508

 
76,801

 

 
1,491,645

Transfers between geographic areas
20,011

 
2,375

 
5,204

 
12,009

 
8,957

 
4,862

 
(53,418
)
 

Total revenues
$
420,750

 
53,959

 
25,833

 
726,393

 
236,465

 
81,663

 
(53,418
)
 
1,491,645

Net revenues1
$
192,082

 
26,161

 
15,357

 
133,274

 
73,057

 
24,655

 

 
464,586

Operating income
$
51,898

 
8,375

 
4,859

 
52,841

 
11,066

 
6,164

 

 
135,203

Identifiable assets at period end
$
1,437,768

 
105,070

 
61,503

 
697,614

 
457,614

 
162,249

 
3,686

 
2,925,504

Capital expenditures
$
3,928

 
264

 
301

 
3,126

 
852

 
289

 

 
8,760

Depreciation and amortization
$
7,852

 
280

 
212

 
2,108

 
1,492

 
438

 

 
12,382

Equity
$
1,151,455

 
69,702

 
32,017

 
448,196

 
205,060

 
89,068

 
(35,484
)
 
1,960,014

Three months ended March 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from unaffiliated customers
$
374,374

 
51,729

 
19,864

 
694,137

 
202,513

 
70,591

 

 
1,413,208

Transfers between geographic areas
20,026

 
2,544

 
4,876

 
10,630

 
8,880

 
4,327

 
(51,283
)
 

Total revenues
$
394,400

 
54,273

 
24,740

 
704,767

 
211,393

 
74,918

 
(51,283
)
 
1,413,208

Net revenues1
$
180,343

 
23,781

 
14,411

 
135,550

 
70,614

 
23,308

 

 
448,007

Operating income
$
47,353

 
6,612

 
4,089

 
52,884

 
11,926

 
5,654

 

 
128,518

Identifiable assets at period end
$
1,502,795

 
96,555

 
53,935

 
795,946

 
406,801

 
158,569

 
3,198

 
3,017,799

Capital expenditures
$
5,379

 
187

 
259

 
2,552

 
1,198

 
493

 

 
10,068

Depreciation and amortization
$
6,757

 
207

 
241

 
1,988

 
1,629

 
456

 

 
11,278

Equity
$
1,231,424

 
62,267

 
32,638

 
568,609

 
165,014

 
79,434

 
(34,765
)
 
2,104,621

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
_______________________
1Net revenues are a non-GAAP measure calculated as revenues less directly related operations expenses attributable to the Company's principal services. The Company's management believes that net revenues are a better measure than total revenues when evaluating the Company's operating segment performance since total revenues earned as a freight consolidator include the carriers' charges for carrying the shipment, whereas revenues earned in other capacities include primarily the commissions and fees earned by the Company. Net revenue is one of the Company's primary operational and financial measures and demonstrates the Company's ability to concentrate and leverage purchasing power through effective consolidation of shipments from customers utilizing a variety of transportation carriers and optimal routings.
 

10



The following table presents the calculation of consolidated net revenues:
 
Three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Total revenues
$
1,491,645

 
$
1,413,208

Expenses:
 
 
 
Airfreight services
482,882

 
464,919

Ocean freight and ocean services
367,375

 
344,923

Customs brokerage and other services
176,802

 
155,359

Net revenues
$
464,586

 
$
448,007



11



Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS UNDER PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995; CERTAIN CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
Certain portions of this report on Form 10-Q including the sections entitled “Overview,” "Strategy and Culture," "International Trade and Competition," "Seasonality," “Critical Accounting Estimates,” “Results of Operations,” “Currency and Other Risk Factors” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” contain forward-looking statements. Words such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "will continue", "is anticipated", "estimate", "project", "plan", "believe", "probable", "reasonably possible", "may", "could", "should", "intends", "foreseeable future" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of future financial performance, our anticipated growth and trends in the Company's businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These statements must be considered in connection with the discussion of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Attention should be given to the factors identified and discussed in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2014.
Overview
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. is a global logistics company. The Company's services include air and ocean freight consolidation and forwarding, customs brokerage, warehousing and distribution, purchase order management, vendor consolidation, time-definite transportation services, cargo insurance and other logistics solutions. The Company does not compete for overnight courier or small parcel business. As a non-asset based carrier, the Company does not own or operate transportation assets.
The Company derives its revenues from three principal sources: 1) airfreight services, 2) ocean freight and ocean services, and 3) customs brokerage and other services. These are the revenue categories presented in the financial statements.
The Company generates the major portion of its air and ocean freight revenues by purchasing transportation services on a wholesale basis from direct (asset-based) carriers and reselling those services to its customers on a retail basis. 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” (a non-GAAP measure), “yield” or “margin.” 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. The most significant drivers of changes in gross revenues and related transportation expenses are volume, sell rates and buy rates. Volume has a similar effect on the change in both gross revenues and related transportation expenses in each of the Company's three primary sources of revenue.
In most cases the Company acts 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. In these transactions, the Company is the primary obligor and is required to compensate direct carriers for services performed regardless of whether customers accept the service, has latitude in establishing price, has discretion in selecting the direct carrier and has credit risk. Therefore, the Company is the principal in these transactions and reports revenue and the related expenses on a gross basis.
For revenues earned in other capacities, for instance, when the Company does not issue a HAWB or a HOBL or otherwise acts solely as an agent for the shipper, only the commissions and fees earned for such services are included in revenues. In these transactions, the Company is not a principal and reports only commissions and fees earned in revenue.
Customs brokerage and other services involves providing services at destination, such as helping customers clear shipments through customs by preparing and filing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties and other taxes on behalf of customers as well as arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery. These are complicated functions requiring technical knowledge of customs rules and regulations in the multitude of countries in which the Company has offices.
The Company is managed along three geographic areas of responsibility: Americas; Asia Pacific; and Europe, Africa, Near/Middle East and Indian Subcontinent (EMAIR). Each area is divided into sub-regions which are composed of operating units with individual profit and loss responsibility. The Company’s business involves shipments between operating units and typically touches more than one geographic area. The nature of the international logistics business necessitates a high degree of communication and cooperation among operating units. Because of this inter-relationship between operating units, it is very difficult to examine any one geographic area and draw meaningful conclusions as to its contribution to the Company’s overall success on a stand-alone basis.

12



The Company’s operating units share revenue using the same arms-length pricing methodologies the Company uses when its offices transact business with independent agents. The Company charges its subsidiaries and affiliates for services rendered in the United States on a cost recovery basis. The Company’s strategy closely links compensation with operating unit profitability. Individual success is closely linked to cooperation with other operating units within the network.
The mix of services varies by segment based primarily on the import or export orientation of local operations in each region. In accordance with the Company's revenue recognition policy (see Note 1. E. to the consolidated financial statements in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2014), almost all freight revenues and related expenses are recorded at origin and shipment profits are split between origin and destination offices by recording a commission fee or profit share revenue at destination and a corresponding commission or profit share expense as a component of origin consolidation costs. The Asia Pacific segment is the Company's largest export oriented region and accounted for 48% of revenues and 39% of operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Asia Pacific's operating income as a percentage of revenue is lower than other segments due to the largely export nature of operations in that region.
Strategy and Culture
The Company has pursued a strategy emphasizing organic growth supplemented by certain strategic acquisitions. From the inception of the Company, management has believed that the elements required for a successful global service organization can only be assured through recruiting, training, and ultimately retaining superior personnel. The Company’s greatest challenge is now and always has been perpetuating a consistent global corporate culture which demands:
Total dedication, first and foremost, to providing superior customer service;
Compliance with Company policies and government regulations;
Aggressive marketing of all of the Company’s service offerings;
Ongoing development of key employees and management personnel via formal and informal means;
Creation of unlimited advancement opportunities for employees dedicated to hard work, personal growth and continuous improvement;
Individual commitment to the identification and mentoring of successors for every key position so that when inevitable change occurs, a qualified and well-trained internal candidate is ready to step forward; and
Continuous identification, design and implementation of system solutions, both technological and otherwise, to meet and exceed the needs of our customers while simultaneously delivering tools to make the Company's employees more efficient and more effective.
The Company reinforces these values with a compensation system that rewards employees for profitably managing the things they can control. This compensation system has been in place since the Company became a publicly traded entity. There is no limit to how much a key manager can be compensated for success. The Company believes in a “real world” environment in every operating unit where individuals are not sheltered from the profit implications of their decisions. If these decisions result in operating losses, current management must make up these losses with future operating profits, in the aggregate, before any cash incentive compensation can be earned. At the same time, the Company insists on continued focus on such things as accounts receivable collection, cash flow management and credit soundness in an attempt to insulate managers from the sort of catastrophic errors that might end a career.
Any failure to perpetuate this unique culture on a self-sustained basis throughout the Company provides a greater threat to the Company’s continued success than any external force, which would be largely beyond its control. The Company strongly believes that it is nearly impossible to predict events that, in the aggregate, could have a positive or a negative impact on future operations. As a result, management's focus is on building and maintaining a global corporate culture and an environment where well-trained employees and managers are prepared to identify and react to subtle changes as they develop and thereby help the Company adapt and thrive as major trends emerge.
The Company’s ability to provide services to its customers is highly dependent on good working relationships with a variety of entities including airlines, steamship lines, ground transportation providers and governmental agencies. The significance of maintaining acceptable working relationships with these entities has gained increased importance as a result of ongoing concern over terrorism and increased governmental regulation and oversight of international trade. A good reputation helps to develop practical working understandings that will assist in meeting security requirements while minimizing potential international trade obstacles, especially as governments promulgate new regulations and increase oversight and enforcement of new and existing laws. The Company considers its current working relationships with these entities to be satisfactory. The airline and ocean steamship line industries have incurred significant losses in recent years and many carriers are highly leveraged with debt. This situation has required the Company to be increasingly selective in determining which carriers to utilize. Further changes in the financial stability, operating capabilities and capacity of asset-based carriers, space allotments

13



available from carriers, governmental regulations, and/or trade accords could adversely affect the Company’s business in unpredictable ways.
International Trade and Competition
The Company operates in 62 countries in the competitive global logistics industry and Company activities are closely tied to the global economy. International trade is influenced by many factors, including economic and political conditions in the United States and abroad, currency exchange rates, and 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 and accords. The Company cannot predict which, if any, of these proposals may be adopted, or the effects the 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 influenced by governmental policies concerning international trade, the Company’s business may also be affected by political developments and changes in government personnel or policies, as well as economic turbulence, political unrest and security concerns in the nations in which it does business and the future impact that these events may have on international trade and oil prices.
The global logistics services industry is intensely competitive and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. Consistent with continuing uncertainty in global economic conditions, concerns over volatile fuel costs, rising costs in general, political unrest and fluctuating currency exchange rates, the Company’s pricing and terms continue to be pressured by customers, carriers and service providers which has resulted in a compression of the Company's unitary margins. We expect these competitive conditions to continue.
The Company cannot predict what impact ongoing uncertainties in the global economy may have on its operating results, freight volumes, pricing, changes in consumer demand, carrier stability and capacity, customers’ abilities to pay or on changes in competitors' behavior.
Seasonality
Historically, the Company’s operating results have been subject to seasonal trends with the first quarter being the weakest and the third and fourth quarters being the strongest. This pattern has been the result of, or influenced by, numerous factors including weather patterns, national holidays, consumer demand, new product launches, 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.
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, product launches 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. The Company cannot accurately forecast many of these factors or 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.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires that the Company make estimates and judgments. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on assumptions that it believes are reasonable. The Company's critical accounting estimates are discussed in Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed on February 27, 2014. There have been no material changes to the critical accounting estimates previously disclosed in that report.

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Results of Operations
The following table shows the total net revenues (a non-GAAP measure calculated as revenues less directly related operations expenses attributable to the Company's principal services) and the Company’s expenses for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, expressed as percentages of net revenues. Management believes that net revenues are a better measure than total revenues when analyzing and discussing management's effectiveness in managing 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 primarily the commissions and fees actually earned by the Company. Net revenue is one of the Company's primary operational and financial measures that demonstrates the ability of the Company to manage sell rates to customers with its ability to concentrate and leverage its purchasing power through effective consolidation of shipments from multiple customers utilizing a variety of transportation carriers and optimal routings. Using net revenue also provides a commonality for comparison among various services.
The table and the accompanying discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto which appear elsewhere in this quarterly report.
 
Three months ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
Amount
 
Percent
of net
revenues
 
Amount
 
Percent
of net
revenues
(in thousands)
 
Airfreight services:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
$
647,138

 
 
 
$
620,374

 
 
Expenses
482,882

 
 
 
464,919

 
 
Net revenues
164,256

 
35
%
 
155,455

 
35
%
Ocean freight services and ocean services:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
469,224

 
 
 
445,479

 
 
Expenses
367,375

 
 
 
344,923

 
 
Net revenues
101,849

 
22

 
100,556

 
22

Customs brokerage and other services:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
375,283

 
 
 
347,355

 
 
Expenses
176,802

 
 
 
155,359

 
 
Net revenues
198,481

 
43

 
191,996

 
43

Total net revenues
464,586

 
100

 
448,007

 
100

Overhead expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and related costs
255,942

 
55

 
248,417

 
55

Other
73,441

 
16

 
71,072

 
16

Total overhead expenses
329,383

 
71

 
319,489

 
71

Operating income
135,203

 
29

 
128,518

 
29

Other income, net
2,416

 
1

 
4,774

 
1

Earnings before income taxes
137,619

 
30

 
133,292

 
30

Income tax expense
53,424

 
12

 
52,682

 
12

Net earnings
84,195

 
18

 
80,610

 
18

Less net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest
371

 

 
295

 

Net earnings attributable to shareholders
$
83,824

 
18
%
 
$
80,315

 
18
%
Airfreight services:
Airfreight services revenues and expenses both increased 4% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, as compared with the same period for 2013, due to a 6% increase in tonnage that was partially offset by the Company lowering sell rates in response to competitive market conditions and negotiating lower buy rates with carriers, primarily in North America.
Airfreight services net revenues increased 6% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, as compared with the same period for 2013. The increase in airfreight services net revenues was primarily due to a 6% increase in airfreight tonnage, slightly offset by a 1% decrease in net revenue per kilo. North America and Europe airfreight services net revenues increased 10% and 9%, respectively, as air export tonnage increased 12% and 9%, respectively. Asia Pacific net revenues and export tonnage were both comparable to the same period for 2013.
The global airfreight market continues to be affected by the decrease in size and weight of high technology consumer products and the timing of new product launches. Customers remain focused on improving supply-chain efficiency by utilizing deferred airfreight or ocean freight whenever possible. The Company expects these trends to continue in conjunction with carriers' efforts to manage available capacity, however, this could be affected by new product launches during periods that have historically experienced higher demands. These factors result in a higher degree of volatility in buy and sell rates and volumes.
Ocean freight services and ocean services:
Ocean freight and ocean services revenues and expenses increased 5% and 6%, respectively, for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, as compared with the same period for 2013. Container volume increased 12% as the Company lowered sell rates to maintain its existing customer base and grow market share. However the Company was only partially successful in negotiating commensurately lower buy rates from carriers. Container volume is measured in terms of forty-foot container equivalent units (FEUs).
Ocean freight and ocean services net revenues increased 1% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, as compared with the same period for 2013. Ocean freight and ocean services net revenues are comprised of three basic services: ocean freight consolidation, direct ocean forwarding and order management. The largest component is ocean freight consolidation, which represented 43% and 45% of ocean freight net revenue for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Ocean freight consolidation net revenues decreased 4% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, as compared with the same period in 2013, as the 12% increase in volume was more than offset by the effect of reducing sell rates, which resulted in a 14% decrease in net revenue per container, primarily in North America and Asia Pacific. Order management and direct ocean freight forwarding net revenues increased 6% and 5%, respectively, mostly due to volumes with new and existing customers.
North America ocean freight and ocean services net revenues increased 3% in the first quarter of 2014 as compared with 2013, primarily due to increases in order management and direct ocean forwarding that were partially offset by a decline in ocean freight consolidation. Europe ocean freight and ocean services net revenues increased 4% primarily due to direct ocean forwarding. Asia Pacific decreased 2% primarily due to the Company implementing sell rate reductions to customers, which on average outpaced buy rate reductions negotiated with carriers, and was partially offset by a 15% increase in ocean freight consolidation container volumes.
Customs brokerage and other services:
Customs brokerage and other services revenues and expenses increased 8% and 14%, respectively, for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, as compared with the same periods for 2013, as a result of increased volumes from existing and new customers and higher costs associated with import and delivery services.
Customs brokerage and other services net revenues increased 3% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, as compared with the same period in 2013, primarily due to higher volumes from existing and new customers in North America. The margin percentage declined primarily as a result of lower yields in domestic time-definite transportation services and import services. Customers continue to seek out customs brokers with sophisticated computerized capabilities critical to an overall logistics management program, including rapid responses to changes in the regulatory and security environment.
North America customs brokerage and other services net revenues increased 7% in the first quarter of 2014, as compared with the same period in 2013, primarily as a result of higher volumes from existing and new customers. This increase was partially offset by declines in Asia Pacific and Europe of 5% and 2%, respectively, primarily due to lower volumes and higher relative costs in these regions.
Overhead expenses:
Salaries and related costs increased 3% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, as compared with the same periods in 2013, primarily as a result of a higher average number of employees, increases in base salaries and larger bonuses earned as a result of increases in operating income.
Historically, 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 incentive compensation will occur in proportion to changes in Company operating income, creating a direct alignment between corporate performance and shareholder interests. Bonuses to management for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 were up 2% as compared with the same period for 2013, primarily as a result of a 5% increase in operating income. The Company’s management incentive compensation programs have always been incentive-based and performance driven and there is no built-in bias that favors or enriches management in a manner inconsistent with overall corporate performance. Salaries and related costs remained constant as a percentage of net revenues for the period ended March 31, 2014 as compared with the same period for 2013.
Because the Company’s management incentive compensation programs are also cumulative, no management bonuses can be paid unless the relevant business unit is, from inception, cumulatively profitable. Any operating losses must have been offset in their entirety by operating profits before current management is eligible for a bonus. Since the most significant portion of management compensation comes from the incentive bonus programs, the Company believes that this cumulative feature is a disincentive to excessive risk taking by its managers. Due to the nature of the Company’s services, it has a short operating cycle. The outcome of any higher risk transactions, such as overriding established credit limits, would be known in a relatively short time frame. Management believes that when the potential and certain impact on the bonus is fully considered in light of this short operating cycle, the potential for short term gains that could be generated by engaging in risky business practices is sufficiently mitigated to discourage excessive and inappropriate risk taking. Management believes that both the stability and the long term growth in revenues, net revenues and net earnings are a result of the incentives inherent in the Company’s compensation program.
Other overhead expenses increased 3% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, as compared with the same period in 2013. The increase in expenses is primarily due to a $1 million increase in depreciation and amortization expenses, higher buildings and maintenance costs and increased travel-related expenses, partially offset by a $2 million reduction in bad debt expense. Other overhead expenses as a percentage of net revenues remained constant for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, as compared with the same period in 2013.
Income tax expense:
The Company pays income taxes in the United States and other jurisdictions. The Company’s consolidated effective income tax rate decreased to approximately 38.8% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 from 39.5% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2013. The decrease in the effective tax rate is due principally to less of a negative impact in the current year period associated with the Company's stock-based compensation arrangements resulting from an increasing proportion of non-qualified stock options to total stock compensation expense when compared to the prior year periods. The tax benefit related to stock-based compensation expense is recorded for non-qualified stock options at the time the related compensation expense is recognized while the tax benefit received for disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options and employee stock purchase plan shares cannot be anticipated and is recorded at the time of the disqualifying event.

15




Currency and Other Risk Factors
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 volatile 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 may enter into foreign currency hedging transactions where there are regulatory or commercial limitations on the Company's ability to move 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 mitigate short-term exchange losses. Any such hedging activity during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was insignificant. The Company had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Net foreign currency losses were approximately $2 million and $1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
International air and 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, many of which have significantly more resources than the Company; however, the Company’s primary competition is confined to a relatively small number of companies within this group. The industry continues to experience consolidations into larger firms striving for stronger and more complete multinational and multi-service networks. However, regional and local brokers and forwarders remain a competitive force.
The primary competitive factors in the international logistics industry continue to be price and quality of service, including reliability, responsiveness, expertise, convenience, and scope of operations. The Company emphasizes quality customer service and believes that its prices are competitive with those of others in the industry. Customers regularly solicit bids from competitors in order to improve service, pricing and contractual terms such as seeking longer payment terms, higher liability limits and performance penalties. Increased competition could result in reduced revenues, reduced margins or loss of market share, any of which would damage the Company's results of operations and financial condition.
Larger customers utilize more sophisticated and efficient procedures for the management of their logistics supply chains by embracing strategies such as just-in-time inventory management. The Company believes that this trend has resulted in customers using fewer service providers with greater technological capacity and more consistent global coverage. Accordingly, sophisticated computerized customer service capabilities and a stable worldwide network have become significant factors in attracting and retaining customers. Developing and maintaining 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.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s principal source of liquidity is cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and cash generated from operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2014, was approximately $174 million as compared with $165 million for the same period in 2013. The increase of $9 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 is primarily due to changes in working capital accounts and an increase in earnings. At March 31, 2014, working capital was $1,434 million, including cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1,218 million. The Company had no long-term debt at March 31, 2014. Management believes that the Company’s current cash position and operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet its capital and liquidity requirements for at least the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future, including meeting any contingent liabilities related to standby letters of credit and other obligations.
As a customs broker, the Company makes significant cash advances for a select group of its credit-worthy customers. These cash advances are for customer obligations such as the payment of duties and taxes to governmental authorities in various countries throughout the world. 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 from 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. For customers that meet certain criteria, the Company has agreed to extend payment terms beyond its customary terms. Management believes that the Company has effective credit control procedures, and historically has experienced relatively insignificant collection problems.
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 and continuing well into the fourth quarter) causes an excess of customer billings over customer collections. This cyclical growth in customer receivables consumes available cash.
Cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $67 million as compared with $10 million for the same period in 2013. The Company made a net investment in short-term investments of $60 million and had capital expenditures of $9 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 as compared with $10 million in capital expenditures for the same period in 2013. Capital expenditures in the three months ended March 31, 2014 related primarily to investments in technology, office furniture and equipment and building and leasehold improvements. The Company does have need, on occasion, to purchase buildings to house staff and to facilitate the staging of customers’ freight. Total capital expenditures in 2014 are estimated to be approximately $75 million. This includes routine capital expenditures plus additional real estate development.
Cash used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2014, was $218 million as compared with $13 million for the same period in 2013. The Company uses the proceeds from stock option exercises and available cash to repurchase the Company’s common stock on the open market to limit the growth in issued and outstanding shares. Also, during the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company used cash to repurchase additional common stock of 5.6 million shares to reduce the number of total outstanding shares.
The Company follows established guidelines relating to credit quality, diversification and maturities of its investments to preserve principal and maintain liquidity. The Company’s investment portfolio has not been adversely impacted by the disruption in the credit markets. However, there can be no assurance that the Company’s investment portfolio will not be adversely affected in the future.
At March 31, 2014, the Company was contingently liable for $78 million from standby letters of credit and guarantees. The standby letters of credit and guarantees relate primarily to obligations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries for credit extended in the ordinary course of business by direct carriers, primarily airlines, and for duty and tax deferrals available from governmental entities responsible for customs and value-added-tax (VAT) taxation. The total underlying amounts due and payable for transportation and governmental excises are properly recorded as obligations in the books of the respective foreign subsidiaries, and there would be no need to record additional expense in the unlikely event the parent company is required to perform.
The Company's foreign subsidiaries regularly remit dividends to the U.S. parent company after evaluating their working capital requirements and needs to finance local capital expenditures. In some cases, the Company’s ability to repatriate funds from foreign operations may be subject to foreign exchange controls. At March 31, 2014, cash and cash equivalent balances of $619 million were held by the Company’s non-United States subsidiaries, of which $53 million was held in banks in the United States. Earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are not considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside of the United States and, accordingly, a deferred tax liability has been accrued for all undistributed earnings, net of foreign related tax credits that are available to be repatriated.
Item 3. 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 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 and may have receivables, payables and currencies that are not denominated in the local functional currency. This brings foreign exchange risk to the Company’s earnings. The principal foreign exchange risks to which the Company is exposed are in Chinese Yuan, Euro, Mexican Peso and Canadian Dollar.
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 three months ended March 31, 2014, would have had the effect of raising operating income approximately $9 million. An average 10% strengthening of the U.S. dollar, for the same period, would have the effect of reducing operating income approximately $7 million. This analysis does not take into account changes in shipping patterns based upon this hypothetical currency fluctuation. For example, a weakening in the U.S. dollar would be expected to increase exports from the United States and decrease imports into the United States over some relevant period of time, but the exact effect of this change cannot be quantified without making speculative assumptions.
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. Any such hedging activity during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was insignificant. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, net foreign currency losses were approximately $2 million and $1 million, respectively. The Company had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The Company instead follows a policy of accelerating international currency settlements to manage foreign exchange risk relative to intercompany billings. As of March 31, 2014, the Company had approximately $54 million of net unsettled intercompany transactions. The majority of intercompany billings are resolved within 30 days.
Interest Rate Risk
At March 31, 2014, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and short term investments of $1,218 million, of which $633 million was invested at various short-term market interest rates. The Company had no long-term debt at March 31, 2014. A hypothetical change in the interest rate of 10 basis points at March 31, 2014 would not have a significant impact on the Company’s earnings.
In management’s opinion, there has been no material change in the Company’s interest rate risk exposure in the first quarter of 2014.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Controls and Procedures
The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Controls
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
The Company's management has confidence in the Company’s internal controls and procedures. Nevertheless, the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures or the Company’s internal controls will prevent all errors or intentional fraud. An internal control system, no matter how well-conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of such internal controls are met. Further, the design of an internal control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all internal control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all the Company’s control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected.
The Company is developing a new accounting system which it plans to implement on a worldwide basis over the next several years. This system is expected to improve the efficiency of certain financial and transactional processes and reporting. This transition will affect the processes that constitute the Company's internal control over financial reporting and will require testing for operating effectiveness.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in claims, lawsuits, government investigations and other legal matters that arise in the ordinary course of business and are subject to inherent uncertainties. Currently, in management's opinion and based upon advice from legal advisors, none of these matters are expected to have a significant effect on the Company's operations or financial position. As of March 31, 2014, the amounts accrued for these claims, lawsuits, government investigations and other legal matters are not significant to the Company's operations or financial position. At this time the Company is unable to estimate any additional loss or range of reasonably possible losses, if any, beyond the amounts recorded, that might result from the resolution of these matters.

16



Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes in the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2014.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
Period
 
Total number of
shares purchased
 
Average price
paid per share
 
Total number of shares
purchased as part of
publicly announced
plans or programs
 
Maximum number
of shares that may yet be
purchased under  the
plans or programs
January 1-31, 2014
 

 
$

 

 
16,694,185

February 1-28, 2014
 
1,203,039

 
39.27

 
1,203,039

 
26,630,175

March 1-31, 2014
 
4,522,463

 
39.69

 
4,522,463

 
21,164,717

Total
 
5,725,502

 
$
39.60

 
5,725,502

 
21,164,717

In November 1993, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan for the purpose of repurchasing the Company’s common stock in the open market with the proceeds received from the exercise of stock options. On February 9, 2009, the Plan was amended to increase the authorization to repurchase up to 40 million shares of the Company’s common stock. This authorization has no expiration date. This plan was disclosed in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1995. In the first quarter of 2014, 93,798 shares of common stock were repurchased under the Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan.
On November 13, 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors announced a Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan,which authorized the repurchase of the Company's common stock in the open market to reduce the issued and outstanding common stock to 200 million shares. On February 24, 2014, the Plan was amended to authorize management to reduce issued and outstanding stock to 190 million shares. The maximum number of shares available for repurchase under this plan will increase as the total number of outstanding shares increases. This authorization has no expiration date. In the first quarter of 2014, 5,631,704 shares of common stock were repurchased under the Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan. These discretionary repurchases included 42,704 shares that were made to limit the growth in the number of issued and outstanding shares resulting from stock option exercises and 5,589,000 shares to reduce the number of total shares outstanding.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
(a)
Not applicable.
(b)
Not applicable.


17



Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.
Exhibit Number
  
Description
31.1
  
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
31.2
  
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
32
  
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
101.INS
  
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
101.SCH
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
101.CAL
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.DEF
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.LAB
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.PRE
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

18



SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
 
 
 
EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
 
 
 
May 8, 2014
 
/s/ JEFFREY S. MUSSER
 
 
Jeffrey S. Musser, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
 
 
May 8, 2014
 
/s/ BRADLEY S. POWELL
 
 
Bradley S. Powell, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

19



EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Form 10-Q Index and Exhibits
March 31, 2014
 
Exhibit Number
  
Description
31.1
  
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
31.2
  
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
32
  
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
101.INS
  
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
101.SCH
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
101.CAL
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.DEF
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.LAB
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.PRE
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

20