ROBERT HALF INC. - Annual Report: 2003 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003

OR

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

Commission file number 1-10427

ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (650) 234-6000

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

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

None

        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                                 

        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.  / /

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

        As of June 30, 2003, the aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $2,977,800,000 based on the closing sale price on that date. This amount excludes the market value of 13,188,488 shares of Common Stock directly or indirectly held by registrant's directors and officers and their affiliates.

        As of February 29, 2004, there were outstanding 171,871,239 shares of the registrant's Common Stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

        Portions of the registrant's Proxy Statement to be mailed to stockholders in connection with the registrant's annual meeting of stockholders, scheduled to be held in May 2004, are incorporated by reference in Part III of this report. Except as expressly incorporated by reference, the registrant's Proxy Statement shall not be deemed to be part of this report.

PART I

Item 1.    Business

        Robert Half International Inc. (the "Company") provides specialized staffing and risk consulting services through such divisions as Accountemps®, Robert Half® Finance & Accounting, OfficeTeam®, Robert Half® Technology, Robert Half® Management Resources, Robert Half® Legal, The Creative Group®, and Protiviti®. The Company, through its Accountemps, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Robert Half Management Resources divisions, is the world's largest specialized provider of temporary, full-time, and project professionals in the fields of accounting and finance. OfficeTeam specializes in highly skilled temporary administrative support personnel. Robert Half Technology provides information technology professionals. Robert Half Legal (formerly The Affiliates®) provides temporary, project, and full-time staffing of attorneys and specialized support personnel within law firms and corporate legal departments. The Creative Group provides project staffing in the advertising, marketing, and web design fields. Protiviti began operations on May 2002 and provides business and technology risk consulting and internal audit services. Protiviti, which primarily employs risk consulting and internal audit professionals formerly associated with major accounting firms, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

        The Company's business was originally founded in 1948. Prior to 1986, the Company was primarily a franchisor, under the names Accountemps and Robert Half (now called Robert Half Finance & Accounting), of offices providing temporary and full-time professionals in the fields of accounting and finance. Beginning in 1986, the Company and its current management embarked on a strategy of acquiring franchised locations. All of the franchises have been acquired. The Company believes that direct ownership of offices allows it to better monitor and protect the image of its tradenames, promotes a more consistent and higher level of quality and service throughout its network of offices and improves profitability by centralizing many of its administrative functions. Since 1986, the Company has significantly expanded operations at many of the acquired locations, opened many new locations and acquired other local or regional providers of specialized temporary service personnel. The Company has also expanded the scope of its services by launching the new product lines OfficeTeam, Robert Half Technology, Robert Half Management Resources, Robert Half Legal and The Creative Group.

        In 2002, the Company hired more than 700 professionals who had been affiliated with the internal audit and business and technology risk consulting practice of Arthur Andersen LLP, including more than 50 individuals who had been partners of Andersen. These professionals formed the base of the Company's new Protiviti Inc. subsidiary. Protiviti® has enabled the Company to enter the market for independent internal audit and business and technology risk consulting services, which market the Company believes offers synergies with its traditional lines of business.

Accountemps

        The Accountemps temporary services division offers customers a reliable and economical means of dealing with uneven or peak work loads for accounting, tax and finance personnel caused by such predictable events as vacations, taking inventories, tax work, month-end activities and special projects and such unpredictable events as illness and emergencies. Businesses increasingly view the use of temporary employees as a means of controlling personnel costs and converting such costs from fixed to variable. The cost and inconvenience to clients of hiring and firing permanent employees are eliminated by the use of Accountemps temporaries. The temporary workers are employees of Accountemps and are paid by Accountemps only when working on customer assignments. The customer pays a fixed rate only for hours worked.

        Accountemps clients may fill their permanent employment needs by using an Accountemps employee on a trial basis and, if so desired, "converting" the temporary position to a permanent position. The client typically pays a one-time fee for such conversions.

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OfficeTeam

        The Company's OfficeTeam division, which commenced operations in 1991, places temporary and permanent office and administrative personnel, ranging from word processors to office managers. OfficeTeam operates in much the same fashion as the Accountemps and Robert Half divisions.

Robert Half Finance & Accounting

        The Company's Robert Half Finance & Accounting division specializes in the permanent placement of accounting, financial, tax and banking personnel. Fees for successful permanent placements are paid only by the employer and are generally a percentage of the new employee's annual compensation. No fee for permanent placement services is charged to employment candidates.

Robert Half Technology

        The Company's Robert Half Technology division, which commenced operations in 1994, specializes in providing information technology contract consultants and placing regular employees in areas ranging from multiple platform systems integration to end-user support, including specialists in programming, networking, systems integration, database design and help desk support.

Robert Half Legal

        Since 1992, the Company has been placing temporary and permanent employees in attorney, paralegal, legal administrative and legal secretarial positions through its Robert Half Legal division (formerly called The Affiliates). The legal profession's requirements (the need for confidentiality, accuracy and reliability, a strong drive toward cost-effectiveness, and frequent peak workload periods) are similar to the demands of the clients of the Accountemps division.

Robert Half Management Resources

        The Company's Robert Half Management Resources division, which commenced operations in 1997, specializes in providing senior level project professionals in the accounting and finance fields, including chief financial officers, controllers, and senior financial analysts, for such tasks as financial systems conversions, expansion into new markets, business process reengineering and post-merger financial consolidation.

The Creative Group

        The Creative Group division commenced operations in 1999 and serves clients in the areas of advertising, marketing and web design and places project consultants in a variety of positions such as creative directors, graphics designers, web content developers, web designers, media buyers, and public relations specialists.

Protiviti

        Protiviti provides independent internal audit and business and technology risk consulting services. Protiviti helps clients identify, measure, and manage operational and technology-related risks they face within their industries and throughout their systems and processes. Protiviti offers a full spectrum of professional consulting services, technologies, and skills for business and technology risk management and the continual transformation of internal audit functions.

Marketing and Recruiting

        The Company markets its temporary and permanent staffing services to clients as well as employment candidates. Local marketing and recruiting are generally conducted by each office or related group of

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offices. Local advertising directed to clients and employment candidates consists primarily of yellow pages advertisements, classified advertisements, websites, trade shows and advertising on the Internet. Direct marketing through e-mail, regular mail and telephone solicitation also constitutes a significant portion of the Company's total advertising. National advertising conducted by the Company consists primarily of radio, print advertisements in national newspapers, magazines and certain trade journals. The Company has initiated programs to take advantage of the Internet as a resource for recruiting candidates and filling client orders. Recent Internet initiatives include forging traffic building alliances with leading Internet career search sites. The Company plans to expand its use of the Internet in all aspects of sales and recruitment. Joint marketing arrangements have been entered into with major software manufacturers and typically provide for development of proprietary skills tests, cooperative advertising, joint mailings and similar promotional activities. The Company also actively seeks endorsements and affiliations with professional organizations in the business management, office administration and professional secretarial fields. The Company also conducts public relations activities designed to enhance public recognition of the Company and its services. Local employees are encouraged to be active in civic organizations and industry trade groups.

        Protiviti markets its risk consulting and internal audit services to a variety of clients in a range of industries. Industry and competency teams conduct targeted marketing efforts, both locally and nationally, including print advertising and branded speaking events, with support from Protiviti management. National advertising conducted by Protiviti consists primarily of print advertisements in national newspapers, magazines and selected trade journals. Protiviti has initiated a national direct mail program to share information with clients on current corporate governance issues. It conducts public relations activities, such as press releases and newsletters, designed to enhance recognition for the Protiviti brand, establish its expertise in key issues surrounding its business and promote its services. Protiviti plans to expand both the services and value added content on the Protiviti.com website and increase traffic through targeted Internet advertising. Local employees are encouraged to be active in civic organizations and industry trade groups.

        The Company and its subsidiaries own many trademarks, service marks and tradenames, including the Robert Half® Finance & Accounting, Accountemps®, OfficeTeam ®, Robert Half® Technology, Robert Half® Management Resources, Robert Half® Legal, The Creative Group® and Protiviti ® marks, which are registered in the United States and in a number of foreign countries.

Organization

        Management of the Company's temporary and permanent staffing operations is coordinated from its headquarters facilities in Menlo Park and Pleasanton, California. The Company's headquarters provides support and centralized services to its offices in the administrative, marketing, public relations, accounting, training and legal areas, particularly as it relates to the standardization of the operating procedures of its offices. The Company conducts its temporary and permanent staffing services operations through more than 325 offices in 43 states, the District of Columbia and ten foreign countries. Office managers are responsible for most activities of their offices, including sales, local advertising and marketing and recruitment.

        The day-to-day operations of Protiviti are managed by a committee consisting of key operating personnel, with operational and administrative support provided by individuals located in Pleasanton and Menlo Park, California. Protiviti has more than 30 offices in 20 states and six foreign countries.

Competition

        The Company's temporary and permanent staffing services face competition in attracting clients as well as high-quality specialized employment candidates. The temporary and permanent placement businesses are highly competitive, with a number of firms offering services similar to those provided by the Company on a national, regional or local basis. In many areas the local companies are the strongest

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competitors. The most significant competitive factors in the temporary and permanent placement businesses are price and the reliability of service, both of which are often a function of the availability and quality of personnel. The Company believes it derives a competitive advantage from its long experience with and commitment to the specialized employment market, its national presence, and its various marketing activities.

        Protiviti faces competition in its efforts to attract clients and win proposal presentations. The risk consulting and internal audit businesses are highly competitive due to many new firms entering the market and the evolution of established firms in the business space. In addition, the changing regulatory environment is increasing opportunities for non-attestation audit and risk consulting services. The principal competitors of Protiviti remain the "big four" accounting firms. Significant competitive factors include reputation, technology, tools, project methodologies, price of services and depth of skills of personnel. Protiviti believes its competitive strengths lie in its unique ability to couple the deep skills and proven methodologies of its "big four" heritage with the customer focus and attention of a smaller organization.

Employees

        The Company has approximately 7,300 full-time staff employees, including approximately 850 engaged directly in Protiviti operations. The Company placed approximately 175,000 employees on temporary assignments with clients during 2003. Temporary employees placed by the Company are the Company's employees for all purposes while they are working on assignments. The Company pays the related costs of employment, such as workers' compensation insurance, state and federal unemployment taxes, social security and certain fringe benefits. The Company provides access to voluntary health insurance coverage to interested temporary employees.

Other Information

        The Company's current business constitutes three business segments. (See Note M of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statement in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for financial information about the Company's segments.)

        The Company is not dependent upon a single customer or a limited number of customers. The Company's temporary and permanent staffing services operations are generally more active in the first and fourth quarters of a calendar year. Protiviti has been in operation only since May 2002, so there does not exist sufficient information to determine to what extent, if any, its business may be seasonal. Order backlog is not a material aspect of the Company's temporary and permanent staffing services business. While backlog is of greater importance to Protiviti, the Company does not believe, based upon the length of time of the average Protiviti engagement, that backlog is a material aspect of the Protiviti business. No material portion of the Company's business is subject to government contracts.

        Information about foreign operations is contained in Note M of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8. The Company does not have export sales.

Available Information

        The Company's Internet address is www.rhi.com. The Company makes available, free of charge, through its website, its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and its Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports, as soon as is reasonably practicable after such reports are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Also available on the Company's website are its Corporate Governance Guidelines, its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and the charters for its Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee, each of which is available in print to any stockholder who makes a request to Robert Half International Inc., 2884 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, Attn: Corporate Secretary. The

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Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is the Code of Ethics required by Item 406 of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K. The Company intends to satisfy any disclosure obligations under Item 10 of Form 8-K regarding any amendment or waiver relating to its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by posting such information on its website.

Risk Factors

        The Company's business prospects are subject to various risks and uncertainties that impact its business. The most important of these risks and uncertainties are as follows:

        Business Highly Dependent Upon the State of the Economy.    The demand for the Company's services, in particular its temporary and permanent staffing services, is highly dependent upon the state of the economy and upon the staffing needs of the Company's clients. Any variation in the economic condition or unemployment levels of the U.S. or of any of the foreign countries in which the Company does business, or in the economic condition of any region of any of the foregoing, or in any specific industry may severely reduce the demand for the Company's services and thereby significantly decrease the Company's revenues and profits.

        Availability of Candidates.    The Company's temporary and permanent staffing services business consists of the placement of individuals seeking employment. There can be no assurance that qualified candidates for employment will continue to seek employment through the Company. Qualified candidates generally seek temporary or permanent positions through multiple sources, including the Company and its competitors. Any shortage of qualified candidates could materially adversely affect the Company.

        Highly Competitive Business.    The temporary and permanent staffing services business is highly competitive and, because it is a service business, the barriers to entry are quite low. There are many competitors, some of which have greater resources than the Company, and new competitors are entering the market all the time. In addition, long-term contracts form a negligible portion of the Company's revenue. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to retain clients or market share in the future. Nor can there be any assurance that the Company will, in light of competitive pressures, be able to remain profitable or, if profitable, maintain its current profit margins.

        Potential Liability to Employees and Clients.    The Company's temporary services business entails employing individuals on a temporary basis and placing such individuals in clients' workplaces. The Company's ability to control the workplace environment is limited. As the employer of record of its temporary employees, the Company incurs a risk of liability to its temporary employees for various workplace events, including claims of physical injury, discrimination or harassment. While such claims have not historically had a material adverse effect upon the Company, there can be no assurance that such claims in the future will not result in adverse publicity or have a material adverse effect upon the Company. The Company also incurs a risk of liability to its clients resulting from allegations of errors, omissions or theft by its temporary employees. The Company maintains insurance with respect to many of such claims. While such claims have not historically had a material adverse effect upon the Company, there can be no assurance that the Company will continue to be able to obtain insurance at a cost that does not have a material adverse effect upon the Company or that such claims (whether by reason of the Company not having insurance or by reason of such claims being outside the scope of the Company's insurance) will not have a material adverse effect upon the Company.

        Dependence Upon Personnel.    The Company is engaged in the services business. As such, its success or failure is highly dependent upon the performance of its management personnel and employees, rather than upon technology or upon tangible assets (of which the Company has few). There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to attract and retain the personnel that are essential to its success.

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        Government Regulation.    The Company's business is subject to regulation or licensing in many states and in certain foreign countries. While the Company has had no material difficulty complying with regulations in the past, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to obtain all necessary licenses or approvals or that the cost of compliance will not prove to be material. Any inability of the Company to comply with government regulation or licensing requirements could materially adversely affect the Company.

        Government Regulation of the Workplace.    The Company's temporary services business entails employing individuals on a temporary basis and placing such individuals in clients' workplaces. Increased government regulation of the workplace or of the employer-employee relationship could materially adversely affect the Company.

        Reliance on Short-Term Contracts.    Because long-term contracts are not a significant part of the Company's temporary and permanent staffing services business, future results cannot be reliably predicted by considering past trends or extrapolating past results.

        Impact of Protiviti on Corporate Management and Costs.    Integrating the recently hired professionals into Protiviti and establishing an infrastructure and procedures for Protiviti has caused the Company to incur significant costs and the diversion of significant amounts of management time. Such costs and expenditures of time can be expected to adversely impact the operations of the Company as a whole. There can be no assurance if, or when, such costs and diversion of time will decrease.

        Protiviti Operating Losses.    Protiviti has only recently begun operations. It has not yet generated an operating profit, and there can be no assurance that the business will become profitable in the future.

        Protiviti Dependence on Personnel.    Protiviti is a services business, and is dependent upon its ability to attract and retain personnel. While Protiviti has retained its key personnel to date, there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so.

        Protiviti Competition.    Protiviti operates in a highly competitive business. As with the Company's temporary and permanent staffing services business, the barriers to entry are quite low. There are many competitors, some of which have greater resources than Protiviti and many of which have been in operation far longer than Protiviti. In particular, Protiviti faces competition from the "big four" accounting firms, which have been in operation for a considerable period of time and have established reputations and client bases. Because the principal factors upon which competition is based are reputation, technology, tools, project methodologies, price of services and depth of skills of personnel, there can be no assurance that Protiviti will be successful in attracting and retaining clients.

        Demand for Services.    In 2002 and 2003, the operations of Protiviti included services related to Sarbanes-Oxley and other regulatory compliance. There can be no assurance that there will be ongoing demand for these services.

        Potential Liability.    The business of Protiviti consists of providing internal audit and business and technology risk consulting services. Liability could be incurred or litigation could be instituted against the Company or Protiviti for claims related to these activities or to prior transactions or activities. There can be no assurance that such liability or litigation will not have a material adverse impact on Protiviti or the Company.

Item 2.    Properties

        The Company's headquarters operations are located in Menlo Park and Pleasanton, California. Placement activities are conducted through more than 325 offices located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Australia

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and New Zealand. Protiviti has more than 30 offices in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Singapore and the United Kingdom. All of the offices are leased.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

        The Company is not a party to any material pending legal proceedings other than routine litigation incidental to its business.

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

        No matter was submitted to a vote of the Company's security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.

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PART II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

        The Company's Common Stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RHI". On December 31, 2003, there were approximately 1,900 holders of record of the Common Stock.

        Following is a list by fiscal quarters of the sales prices of the stock:

        No cash dividends were paid in 2003 or 2002. The Company, as it deems appropriate, may continue to retain all earnings for use in its business or may consider paying a dividend in the future.

        The remainder of the information required by this item is incorporated by reference to Part III, Item 12 of this Form 10-K.

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

        The selected five-year financial data presented below should be read in conjunction with the information contained in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

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Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

        Certain information contained in Management's Discussion and Analysis and in other parts of this report may be deemed forward-looking statements regarding events and financial trends that may affect the Company's future operating results or financial positions. These statements may be identified by words such as "estimate", "forecast", "project", "plan", "intend", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", or variations or negatives thereof or by similar or comparable words or phrases. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: changes in levels of unemployment and other economic conditions in the United States or foreign countries where the Company does business, or in particular regions or industries; reduction in the supply of qualified candidates for temporary employment or the Company's ability to attract qualified candidates; the entry of new competitors into the marketplace or expansion by existing competitors; the ability of the Company to maintain existing client relationships and attract new clients in the context of changing economic or competitive conditions; the impact of competitive pressures, including any change in the demand for the Company's services, on the Company's ability to maintain its profit margins; the possibility of the Company incurring liability for its activities, including the activities of its temporary employees or for events impacting its temporary employees on clients' premises; the success of the Company in attracting, training and retaining qualified management personnel and other staff employees; and whether governments will impose additional regulations or licensing requirements on personnel services businesses in particular or on employer/employee relationships in general. With respect to Protiviti, other risks and uncertainties include the fact that future success will depend on its ability to retain employees and attract clients; significant costs and diversion of management time could be incurred in integrating key personnel into Protiviti; there can be no assurance that there will be ongoing demand for Sarbanes-Oxley or other regulatory compliance services; failure of Protiviti to produce projected revenues could adversely affect financial results; and the Company could become involved in litigation relating to prior or current transactions or activities. Further information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is contained in Item 1. Business under the heading "Risk Factors". Because long-term contracts are not a significant part of the Company's business, future results cannot be reliably predicted by considering past trends or extrapolating past results.

Critical Accounting Policies

        As described below, the Company's most critical accounting policies are those that involve subjective decisions, assessments or estimates.

        Accounts Receivable Allowances.    The Company maintains accounts receivable allowances for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. If the financial condition of the Company's customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. Estimates used in determining the accounts receivable allowances were based on current trends and historical loss statistics. Actual results may differ from these estimates, which may materially affect the Company's future financial results.

        Income Tax Assets and Liabilities.    In establishing its deferred income tax assets and liabilities, the Company makes judgments and interpretations based on the enacted tax laws and published tax guidance that are applicable to its operations. The Company records deferred tax assets and liabilities and evaluates the need for valuation allowances to reduce the deferred tax assets to realizable amounts. The likelihood of a material change in the Company's expected realization of these assets is dependent on future taxable income, its ability to use foreign tax credit carryforwards and carrybacks, final U.S. and foreign tax settlements, and the effectiveness of its tax planning strategies in the various relevant jurisdictions. While management believes that its judgments and interpretations regarding deferred income tax assets and liabilities are appropriate, significant differences in actual experience may materially affect the future financial results of the Company.

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        Employee Retirement Plans.    The determination of the Company's obligations for certain employee retirement plans is dependent upon various assumptions, including, among others, discount rates and service periods. Management believes its assumptions are appropriate, however significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in assumptions may materially affect the Company's future financial results.

        Goodwill Impairment.    In accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets ("SFAS 142"), the Company assesses the impairment of goodwill and identifiable intangible assets annually, or more often if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. This assessment is based upon a discounted cash flow analysis. The estimate of cash flow is based upon, among other things, certain assumptions about expected future operating performance and an appropriate discount rate determined by management. The Company's estimates of discounted cash flow may differ from actual cash flow due to, among other things, economic conditions, changes to its business model or changes in its operating performance. Significant differences between these estimates and actual cash flow could materially affect the future financial results of the Company. The Company completed its annual goodwill impairment test during the year ended December 31, 2003 and determined that no adjustment to the carrying value of goodwill was required.

        Workers' Compensation.    The Company self-insures or retains a portion of the exposure for losses related to workers' compensation. The Company has established reserves for workers' compensation claims based on historical loss statistics and periodic independent actuarial valuations. While management believes that its assumptions and estimates are appropriate, significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in assumptions may materially affect the Company's future financial results.

        Stock Option Plans.    The Company has a long history of issuing stock options to employees and directors as an integral part of its compensation programs. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America allow alternative methods of accounting for these plans. The Company has chosen to account for its stock option plans under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees ("APB 25"). Under APB 25, the intrinsic value of the options is used to record compensation expense and, as a result, no compensation expense related to stock options is included in determining net income and net income per share in the Consolidated Financial Statements. As required by SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosures, calculations of pro forma net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share, computed in accordance with the method prescribed by SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, are set forth in Note A to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2003

        Temporary and consultant staffing services revenues were $1.7 billion, $1.8 billion and $2.3 billion for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, decreasing by 1% and 22% during 2003 and 2002, respectively. Permanent placement revenues were $95 million, $100 million and $189 million for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, decreasing by 5% and 47% in 2003 and 2002, respectively. Staffing services revenue results for the year ended December 31, 2003 were adversely impacted by weak labor markets and soft general economic conditions, particularly in the United States. Risk consulting and internal audit services revenues were $133 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. This compares to $42 million for the period May 24, 2002 (inception) to December 31, 2002. The 2003 increase in risk consulting and internal audit services revenues is primarily due to increased brand acceptance in the marketplace and expanding demand for alternatives to the "big four" accounting firms in providing risk consulting services. We expect total Company revenues to continue to be impacted by general macroeconomic conditions in 2004.

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        The Company's temporary and permanent staffing services business has more than 325 offices in 43 states, the District of Columbia and ten foreign countries, while Protiviti has more than 30 offices in 20 states and six foreign countries. Revenues from domestic operations represented 82%, 83% and 85% of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Revenues from foreign operations represented 18%, 17% and 15% of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

        Gross margin dollars from the Company's temporary and consultant staffing services represent revenues less direct costs of services, which consist of payroll, payroll taxes and insurance costs for temporary employees. Gross margin dollars from permanent placement staffing services are equal to revenues, as there are no direct costs associated with such revenues. Gross margin dollars for risk consulting and internal audit services represent revenues less direct costs of services, which consist primarily of professional staff payroll, payroll taxes, insurance costs and reimbursable expenses. Gross margin dollars for the Company's temporary and consultant staffing services were $610 million, $628 million and $828 million for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, decreasing by 3% and 24% in 2003 and 2002, respectively. Gross margin amounts equaled 35%, 36% and 37% of revenues for temporary and consultant staffing services for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The lower 2003 temporary and consulting gross margin percentage is primarily the result of higher workers' compensation and state unemployment costs. Gross margin dollars for the Company's permanent placement staffing division were $95 million, $100 million and $189 million for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, decreasing by 5% and 47% in 2003 and 2002, respectively. Gross margin dollars for the Company's risk consulting and internal audit division were $22 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. This compares to negative $13 million for the period May 24, 2002 (inception) to December 31, 2002. The 2003 improvement in risk consulting and internal audit services gross margin dollars is primarily the result of higher revenues and improved staff utilization.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses were $707 million in 2003, compared to $710 million in 2002 and $823 million in 2001. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues were 36%, 37% and 34% for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of staff compensation, advertising, depreciation and occupancy costs. The lower 2003 selling, general and administrative expense percentage resulted primarily from leveraging fixed operating costs.

        For acquisitions, the Company allocates the excess of cost over the fair market value of the net tangible assets first to identifiable intangible assets, if any, and then to goodwill. The Company adopted SFAS 142 on January 1, 2002, resulting in the discontinuance of the amortization of goodwill that was being amortized over 40 years. The methods used for evaluating and measuring impairment of certain intangible assets have changed in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 142. The Company completed its annual goodwill impairment test during the year ended December 31, 2003 and determined that no adjustment to the carrying value of goodwill was required. Net intangible assets, consisting primarily of goodwill, represented 17% of total assets and 21% of total stockholders' equity at December 31, 2003.

        Interest income for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 was $3.4 million, $5.5 million and $9.3 million, respectively, while interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 was $0.8 million, $0.9 million and $0.8 million, respectively. Lower average cash balances in 2003 and lower interest rates during the year yielded lower interest income.

        The provision for income taxes was 45% of income before taxes for the year ended December 31, 2003 and 38% of income before taxes for each of the years ended December 31, 2002, and 2001. The increase in 2003 is due primarily to losses in certain states and international locations where corresponding tax benefits are not being recognized.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

        The change in the Company's liquidity during the past three years is the net effect of funds generated by operations and the funds used for capital expenditures, the purchase of intangible assets, repurchases of common stock, and principal payments on outstanding notes payable. As of December 31, 2003, the Company has authorized the repurchase, from time to time, of up to 9.6 million additional shares of the Company's common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, depending on market conditions. During the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company repurchased approximately 1.6 million shares of common stock on the open market for a total cost of $24.6 million. Additional stock repurchases were made in connection with employee stock plans, whereby Company shares were tendered by employees for the payment of applicable withholding taxes. During the year ended December 31, 2003, such repurchases totaled approximately 0.5 million shares at a cost of $7.8 million. Repurchases of securities have been funded with cash generated from operations. For the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company generated $123.9 million from operations, used $56.2 million in investing activities and used $8.1 million in financing activities. This is further enumerated in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

        The Company's working capital at December 31, 2003, included $377 million in cash and cash equivalents. The Company's working capital requirements consist primarily of the financing of accounts receivable. While there can be no assurances in this regard, the Company expects that internally generated cash will be sufficient to support the working capital needs of the Company, the Company's fixed payments, and other obligations on both a short- and long-term basis. In connection with the formation of Protiviti, the Company became the guarantor of certain former Andersen partners' capital notes, which totaled approximately $3.0 million at December 31, 2003.

        The Company's cash flows generated from operations are also the primary source for funding various contractual obligations. The table below summarizes the Company's major commitments as of December 31, 2003 (in thousands):

        Long-term debt obligations consist of promissory notes as well as other forms of indebtedness issued in connection with certain acquisitions and other payment obligations. Operating lease obligations consist of minimum rental commitments for 2004 and thereafter under non-cancelable leases in effect at December 31, 2003. Purchase obligations consist of purchase commitments primarily related to software licenses and subscriptions and computer hardware and software maintenance agreements.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

        The Company is exposed to the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. The Company's exposure to foreign currency exchange rates relates primarily to the Company's foreign subsidiaries. Exchange rates impact the U.S. dollar value of the Company's reported earnings, investments in its foreign subsidiaries, and the intercompany transactions with its foreign subsidiaries.

        For 2003, approximately 18% of the Company's revenues were generated outside of the United States. These operations transact business in their functional currency. As a result, fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar have an impact on the Company's reported results. Revenues and

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expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the monthly average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Consequently, as the value of the U.S. dollar changes relative to the currencies of the Company's non-U.S. markets, the Company's reported results vary.

        Fluctuations in currency exchange rates impact the U.S. dollar amount of the Company's stockholders' equity. The assets and liabilities of the Company's non-U.S. subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at year-end. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded in stockholders' equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(in thousands, except share amounts)

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
are an integral part of these financial statements.

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ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
are an integral part of these financial statements.

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ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(in thousands)

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
are an integral part of these financial statements.

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ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
are an integral part of these financial statements.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note A—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        Nature of Operations.    Robert Half International Inc. (the "Company") provides specialized staffing and risk consulting services through such divisions as Accountemps®, Robert Half® Finance & Accounting, OfficeTeam®, Robert Half® Technology, Robert Half® Management Resources, Robert Half® Legal, The Creative Group®, and Protiviti®. The Company, through its Accountemps, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Robert Half Management Resources divisions, is the world's largest specialized provider of temporary, full-time, and project professionals in the fields of accounting and finance. OfficeTeam specializes in highly skilled temporary administrative support personnel. Robert Half Technology provides information technology professionals. Robert Half Legal (formerly The Affiliates®) provides temporary, project, and full-time staffing of attorneys and specialized support personnel within law firms and corporate legal departments. The Creative Group provides project staffing in the advertising, marketing, and web design fields. Protiviti began operations on May 24, 2002, and provides business and technology risk consulting and internal audit services. Protiviti, which primarily employs risk consulting and internal audit professionals formerly associated with major accounting firms, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Revenues are predominantly derived from specialized staffing services. The Company operates in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The Company is a Delaware corporation.

        Basis of Presentation.    The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented have been included.

        Principles of Consolidation.    The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All intercompany balances have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2002 financial statements to conform to the 2003 presentation.

        Use of Estimates.    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of 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 reporting period. As of December 31, 2003, such estimates included allowances for uncollectible accounts receivable, workers' compensation losses, income and other taxes, and certain employee retirement plans.

        Revenue Recognition.    The Company derives its revenues from three segments: temporary and consultant staffing, permanent placement staffing, and risk consulting and internal audit services. Net service revenues as presented on the Consolidated Statements of Operations represent services rendered to customers less sales adjustments and allowances. The Company records revenue gross as a principal versus net as an agent in the presentation of revenues and expenses. The Company has concluded that gross reporting is appropriate because the Company (i) has the risk of identifying and hiring qualified employees, (ii) has the discretion to select the employees and establish their price and duties and (iii) bears the risk for services that are not fully paid for by customers.

        Temporary and consultant staffing revenues—Temporary and consultant staffing revenues are recognized when the services are rendered by the Company's temporary employees. Temporary employees placed by the Company are the Company's legal employees while they are working on assignments. The Company pays all related costs of employment, including workers' compensation insurance, state and

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federal unemployment taxes, social security and certain fringe benefits. The Company assumes the risk of acceptability of its employees to its customers.

        Permanent placement staffing revenues—Permanent placement staffing revenues are recognized when employment candidates accept offers of permanent employment. The Company has a substantial history of estimating the effect of permanent placement candidates who do not remain with its clients through the 90-day guarantee period. Allowances are established to estimate these losses. Fees to clients are generally calculated as a percentage of the new employee's annual compensation. No fees for permanent placement services are charged to employment candidates.

        Risk consulting and internal audit revenues—Risk consulting and internal audit services are generally provided on a time-and-material basis or fixed-fee basis. Revenues earned under time-and-material arrangements are recognized as services are provided. Revenues on fixed-fee arrangements are recognized using a proportional performance method as hours are incurred relative to total estimated hours for the engagement. The Company periodically evaluates the need to provide for any losses on these projects, and losses are recognized when it is probable that a loss will be incurred. Reimbursements, including those relating to travel and out-of-pocket expenses, are included in risk consulting and internal audit service revenues, and equivalent amounts of reimbursable expenses are included in direct costs of services.

        Costs of Services.    Direct costs of staffing services consist of payroll, payroll taxes and insurance costs for the Company's temporary employees. There are no direct costs associated with permanent placement staffing services. Risk consulting and internal audit costs of services include professional staff payroll, payroll taxes and insurance costs, as well as reimbursable expenses.

        Advertising Costs.    The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred.

        Cash and Cash Equivalents.    The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity at the date of purchase of three months or less as cash equivalents.

        Intangible Assets.    Intangible assets primarily consist of the cost of acquired companies in excess of the fair market value of their net tangible assets at the date of acquisition. The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets ("SFAS 142"), on January 1, 2002. Under SFAS 142, goodwill is no longer subject to amortization over its estimated useful life. The methods used for evaluating and measuring impairment of certain intangible assets have changed in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 142. The Company completed its annual goodwill impairment test during the year ended December 31, 2003 and determined that no adjustment to the carrying value of goodwill was required.

        Income Tax Assets and Liabilities.    In establishing its deferred income tax assets and liabilities, the Company makes judgments and interpretations based on the enacted tax laws and published tax guidance that are applicable to its operations. The Company records deferred tax assets and liabilities and evaluates the need for valuation allowances to reduce the deferred tax assets to realizable amounts. The likelihood of a material change in the Company's expected realization of these assets is dependent on future taxable income, its ability to use foreign tax credit carryforwards and carrybacks, final U.S. and foreign tax settlements, and the effectiveness of its tax planning strategies in the various relevant jurisdictions.

        Foreign Currency Translation.    The results of operations of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are translated at the monthly average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The financial position of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is translated at the current exchange rates at the end of the period, and the

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related translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within Stockholders' Equity. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, and have not been material for all periods presented.

        Stock Option Plans.    The Company accounts for its stock option plans in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees ("APB 25"). Under APB 25, the intrinsic value of the options is used to record compensation expense and, as a result, no compensation expense related to stock options is included in determining net income and net income per share in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Had compensation expense for the stock options granted been based on the estimated fair value at the award dates, as prescribed by SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation ("SFAS 123"), the Company's pro forma net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share would have been as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

        The fair value of each option is estimated, as of the grant date, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions used for grants in 2003, 2002 and 2001: no dividend yield for any year; expected volatility of 48% to 60%; risk-free interest rates of 2.1% to 6.8%; and expected lives of 1.5 to 6.0 years.

        Property and Equipment.    Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation expense is computed using the straight-line method over the following useful lives:

        Internal-use Software.    The Company capitalizes direct costs incurred in the development of internal-use software. Amounts capitalized are reported as a component of computer software within property and equipment. The Company capitalized approximately $10.8 million of internal-use software development costs for the year ended December 31, 2003.

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Note B—New Accounting Pronouncements

        In May 2003, the Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") finalized EITF 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables ("EITF 00-21"). EITF 00-21 addresses the accounting for multiple element revenue arrangements, which involve more than one deliverable or unit of accounting in circumstances where the delivery of those units takes place in different accounting periods. EITF 00-21 requires disclosures of the accounting policy for revenue recognition of multiple element revenue arrangements and the nature and description of such arrangements. The accounting and reporting requirements are effective for revenue arrangements entered into in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2003. The adoption of EITF 00-21 does not have a significant impact on the Company's financial statements.

        In December 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 132 (Revised), Employer's Disclosure about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits ("Revised SFAS 132"). Revised SFAS 132 retains disclosure requirements in original SFAS 132 and requires additional disclosures relating to assets, obligations, cash flows and net periodic benefit cost. Revised SFAS 132 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2003, except that certain disclosures are effective for fiscal years ending after June 15, 2004. Interim period disclosures are effective for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2003. The Company currently does not have any broad-based pension or postretirement benefit plans which require disclosure. Accordingly, the adoption of Revised SFAS 132 does not have a significant impact on the Company's financial statements.

Note C—Deferred Income Taxes and Other Current Assets

        Deferred income taxes and other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

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Note D—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net

        The following table sets forth the activity in goodwill and other intangible assets from December 31, 2001 through December 31, 2003 (in thousands):

        In 2002, the Company completed its arrangement to hire professionals formerly associated with the internal audit and business and technology risk consulting practice of Arthur Andersen LLP. These professionals formed the base of Protiviti. The Company paid $16.1 million, including transaction costs, to secure the release of Protiviti employees from their covenants not to compete or solicit. Subsequently, the Company made additional risk consulting business acquisitions of $3.1 million and recorded intangible assets of $2.6 million as a result. Substantially all of these intangible assets were fully amortized at December 31, 2003.

        In 2003, the Company completed the acquisition of its last two independent Robert Half franchises with offices in New Orleans, Louisiana, Overland Park, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri. The Company paid approximately $17.6 million for the purchase of intangibles and other assets, including goodwill of $16.6 million and amortizable intangible assets of approximately $1.0 million that are being amortized over 2 to 4 years. The estimated remaining amortization expense is $0.3 million for 2004, and $0.4 million thereafter.

        The Company completed its annual goodwill impairment test during the year ended December 31, 2003, and determined that no adjustment to the carrying value of goodwill was required. The Company will perform annual assessments for impairment, applying a discounted cash flow-based test to its reportable units, which are its various lines of business.

        The Company adopted SFAS 142 on January 1, 2002, resulting in the discontinuance of the amortization of goodwill that was being amortized over 40 years. Under SFAS 142, goodwill is no longer subject to amortization over its estimated useful life. Had goodwill not been amortized in the year ended

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December 31, 2001, the Company's pro forma net income and net income per share would have been as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

Note E—Property and Equipment, Net

        Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):

Note F—Accrued Payroll Costs and Retirement Obligations

        Accrued payroll costs and retirement obligations consisted of the following (in thousands):

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        Included in employee benefits and retirement obligations is $36 million at December 31, 2003 and $42 million at December 31, 2002 related to a defined benefit retirement agreement for the Company's key executive. The amount of this obligation has been calculated in accordance with the current provisions of the employee's retirement agreement, which was initially entered into in 1985. The key assumptions used in this calculation include: expected retirement age, mortality, expected post retirement Consumer Price Index increases of 3.1% and 3.4%, and discount rates of 4.7% and 5.3% at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Note G—Notes Payable and Other Indebtedness

        The Company issued promissory notes as well as other forms of indebtedness in connection with certain acquisitions and other payment obligations. These are due in varying installments, carry varying interest rates and, in aggregate, amounted to $2.4 million at December 31, 2003 and $2.5 million at December 31, 2002. At December 31, 2003, $2.2 million of the notes were collateralized by a standby letter of credit. The following table shows the schedule of maturities for notes payable and other indebtedness at December 31, 2003 (in thousands):

        At December 31, 2003, the notes carried fixed rates and the weighted average interest rate for the above was approximately 8.6%, 8.5% and 8.2% for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

        The Company has an uncommitted letter of credit facility ("the facility") of up to $30.0 million, which is available to cover the issuance of debt support standby letters of credit. The Company had used $26.6 million in debt support standby letters of credit as of December 31, 2003 and $20.4 million as of December 31, 2002. There is a service fee of 1.0% on the used portion of the facility. The facility is subject to certain financial covenants and expires on August 31, 2004.

Note H—Income Taxes

        The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 consisted of the following (in thousands):

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        Income (loss) before the provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 consisted of the following (in thousands):