2012 1Q 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, 2012
OR
¨
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 ¨
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
¨
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
 o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  
Smaller reporting company
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No x
At May 2, 2012, the number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s Common Stock was 212,405,452.
 




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,
2012
 
December 31, 2011
Current Assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,412,915

 
$
1,294,356

Short-term investments
16,277

 
472

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $9,805 at March 31, 2012 and $10,381 at December 31, 2011
934,866

 
934,752

Deferred Federal and state income taxes
9,754

 
10,415

Other
36,386

 
46,888

Total current assets
2,410,198

 
2,286,883

Property and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $306,524 at March 31, 2012 and $296,481 at December 31, 2011
550,323

 
538,806

Goodwill and other intangibles, net
10,215

 
10,557

Other assets, net
30,487

 
30,581

Total assets
$
3,001,223

 
$
2,866,827

Current Liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
629,503

 
606,628

Accrued expenses, primarily salaries and related costs
170,535

 
169,445

Federal, state and foreign income taxes
28,219

 
20,072

Total current liabilities
828,257

 
796,145

Deferred Federal and state income taxes
70,932

 
60,613

 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies

 

 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ Equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock, none issued

 

Common stock, par value $.01 per share. Issued and outstanding 212,275,083 shares at March 31, 2012 and 212,003,662 shares at December 31, 2011
2,123

 
2,120

Additional paid-in capital
18,338

 
13,260

Retained earnings
2,067,929

 
1,991,222

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
7,064

 
(2,964
)
Total shareholders’ equity
2,095,454

 
2,003,638

Noncontrolling interest
6,580

 
6,431

Total equity
2,102,034

 
2,010,069

Total liabilities and equity
$
3,001,223

 
$
2,866,827

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,
 
2012
 
2011
Revenues:
 
 
 
Airfreight services
$
638,912

 
$
700,923

Ocean freight and ocean services
434,336

 
440,141

Customs brokerage and other services
338,122

 
319,784

Total revenues
1,411,370

 
1,460,848

Operating Expenses:
 
 
 
Airfreight consolidation
481,043

 
524,636

Ocean freight consolidation
331,954

 
339,549

Customs brokerage and other services
151,802

 
142,748

Salaries and related costs
246,132

 
237,815

Rent and occupancy costs
21,176

 
21,381

Depreciation and amortization
9,545

 
9,174

Selling and promotion
8,663

 
9,163

Other
35,784

 
29,152

Total operating expenses
1,286,099

 
1,313,618

Operating income
125,271

 
147,230

Other Income (Expense):
 
 
 
Interest income
3,360

 
2,320

Interest expense
(620
)
 
(214
)
Other, net
1,097

 
1,117

Other income, net
3,837

 
3,223

Earnings before income taxes
129,108

 
150,453

Income tax expense
52,386

 
59,246

Net earnings
76,722

 
91,207

Less net earnings (losses) attributable to the noncontrolling interest
15

 
(25
)
Net earnings attributable to shareholders
$
76,707

 
$
91,232

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share
$
.36

 
$
.42

Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share
$
.36

 
$
.43

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding
214,199,510

 
215,863,386

Weighted average basic shares outstanding
212,097,662

 
212,088,860

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.



3



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



 
Three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2012
 
2011
Net earnings
$
76,722

 
$
91,207

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $5,499 and $4,841 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
10,162

 
8,821

Other comprehensive income
10,162

 
8,821

Comprehensive income
86,884

 
100,028

Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest
149

 
(37
)
Comprehensive income attributable to shareholders
$
86,735

 
$
100,065



4



EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
Three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2012
 
2011
Operating Activities:
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
76,722

 
$
91,207

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Provision for losses on accounts receivable
(467
)
 
1,853

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
5,481

 
(1,936
)
Excess tax benefits from stock plans
(3,426
)
 
(2,246
)
Stock compensation expense
10,600

 
10,472

Depreciation and amortization
9,545

 
9,174

Gain on sale of assets
(65
)
 
(30
)
Other
282

 
307

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Decrease in accounts receivable
12,968

 
6,683

Decrease (increase) in other current assets
1,924

 
(1,415
)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses
13,559

 
30,187

Increase in income taxes payable, net
20,274

 
33,577

Net cash provided by operating activities
147,397

 
177,833

Investing Activities:
 
 
 
Increase in short-term investments, net
(15,780
)
 
(89
)
Purchase of property and equipment
(17,088
)
 
(21,125
)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
112

 
43

Other
358

 
(1,442
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(32,398
)
 
(22,613
)
Financing Activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
12,920

 
7,804

Repurchases of common stock
(21,865
)
 
(19,584
)
Excess tax benefits from stock plans
3,426

 
2,246

Net cash used in financing activities
(5,519
)
 
(9,534
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
9,079

 
8,320

Increase in cash and cash equivalents
118,559

 
154,006

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
1,294,356

 
1,084,465

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
1,412,915

 
$
1,238,471

Interest and Taxes Paid:
 
 
 
Interest
$
187

 
$
4

Income taxes
26,512

 
26,276

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, 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 footnote 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 28, 2012. Certain 2011 amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2012 presentation. All dollar amounts in the notes are presented in thousands except for share data. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
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 $9,805 as of March 31, 2012 and $10,381 as of December 31, 2011. 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 freight 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.
D.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-No. 05 “Presentation of Comprehensive Income”, which amends Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 220 -“Comprehensive Income”. This update is intended to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by giving the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2011-No. 05, as amended by ASU 2011-No. 12, beginning in the first quarter of 2012. Accordingly, condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income were included consecutive to the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. The adoption only had a presentation impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
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 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

6



historical pre-vesting employee forfeiture patterns.
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, 2012 and 2011. 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 quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.
 
 
 
 
Total stock compensation expense and the total related tax benefit recognized are as follows:
 
Three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2012
 
2011
Stock compensation expense
$
10,600

 
$
10,472

Recognized tax benefit
$
39

 
$
38


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 per share:
 
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
2012
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders
$
76,707

 
212,097,662

 
$
.36

Effect of dilutive potential common shares

 
2,101,848

 

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders
$
76,707

 
214,199,510

 
$
.36

2011
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders
$
91,232

 
212,088,860

 
$
.43

Effect of dilutive potential common shares

 
3,774,526

 

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders
$
91,232

 
215,863,386

 
$
.42

 
 
 
 
 
 
The following shares have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive:
 
Three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2012
 
2011
Shares
7,359,424

 
4,564,830



7



Note 4. Components of Equity
The components of equity for the three months ended 2012 and 2011 are as follows:
 
Shareholders’
equity
 
Noncontrolling
interest
 
Total
equity
Balance at December 31, 2011
$
2,003,638

 
6,431

 
2,010,069

Exercise of stock options
12,920

 

 
12,920

Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans
(21,865
)
 

 
(21,865
)
Stock compensation expense
10,600

 

 
10,600

Tax benefits from stock plans
3,426

 

 
3,426

Net earnings
76,707

 
15

 
76,722

Other comprehensive income
10,028

 
134

 
10,162

Balance at March 31, 2012
$
2,095,454

 
6,580

 
2,102,034

 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2010
$
1,740,906

 
7,248

 
1,748,154

Exercise of stock options
7,804

 

 
7,804

Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans
(19,584
)
 

 
(19,584
)
Stock compensation expense
10,472

 

 
10,472

Tax benefits from stock plans
2,246

 

 
2,246

Net earnings
91,232

 
(25
)
 
91,207

Other comprehensive income (loss)
8,833

 
(12
)
 
8,821

Balance at March 31, 2011
$
1,841,909

 
7,211

 
1,849,120

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, on May 2, 2012, the Board of Directors declared a semi-annual cash dividend of $0.28 per share payable on June 15, 2012 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2012.
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, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Cost
 
Fair Value
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and overnight deposits
$
444,914

 
$
444,914

 
$
445,586

 
$
445,586

Corporate commercial paper
853,302

 
853,734

 
791,729

 
791,902

Time deposits
114,699

 
114,699

 
57,041

 
57,041

Total cash and cash equivalents
1,412,915

 
1,413,347

 
1,294,356

 
1,294,529

Short-Term Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Time deposits
16,277

 
16,277

 
472

 
472

Total
$
1,429,192

 
$
1,429,624

 
$
1,294,828

 
$
1,295,001

The fair value of corporate commercial paper is based on the use of market interest rates for identical or similar assets.
Note 6. Contingencies
On October 10, 2007, the U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a subpoena ordering the Company to produce certain information and records relating to an investigation of alleged anti-competitive behavior amongst air cargo freight forwarders. As part of this process, the Company has met with and continues to co-operate with the DOJ. The Company may incur additional costs during the course of this ongoing investigation, which could include fines and/or penalties if the DOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines and/or penalties could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year.
On April 19, 2012, the Company received a federal grand jury subpoena from the DOJ requiring the production of

8



documents related to the export or re-export by unaffiliated third-parties to end users in a US-embargoed country of products and/or services produced by a U.S. manufacturer. In a related matter, the Company is also responding to an administrative subpoena from the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) requiring the production of documents pertaining to the export or re-export of US-origin goods to the same embargoed country. The Company is co-operating with the DOJ and BIS. If it is determined that the Company or one of its subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, facilitated the export or re-export of these specified products and/or services, the Company may incur fines and/or penalties which could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and cash flows for any particular quarter or year.
On February 10, 2010, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary, Expeditors Hong Kong Limited, received a Statement of Objections (SO) from the European Commission (EC). The SO initiated a proceeding against the Company alleging anti-competitive behavior contrary to European Union rules on competition. Specific to the Company, the allegations in the SO are limited to Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for the period from August 2005 to June 2006 and only concern airfreight trade lanes between South China/Hong Kong and the European Economic Area. On March 28, 2012, the EC concluded that the Company engaged in anti-competitive behavior and fined the Company €4.14 million ($5.5 million). This fine was recorded in March 2012 and is included in other operating expenses.
Government investigations are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. An unfavorable ruling could include substantial monetary damages and, in matters in which injunctive relief or other conduct remedies are sought, an injunction or other order relating to business conduct. Were unfavorable final outcomes to occur, the Company's results of operations and cash flows for the particular quarter or year could be materially harmed.
The Company is involved in other claims and lawsuits which arise in the ordinary course of business, none of which currently, in management's opinion, are expected to have a significant effect on the Company's operations or financial position. As of March 31, 2012, the amounts accrued for these claims and lawsuits, and the other legal matters described above, 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 loss, if any, beyond the amounts recorded, that might result from the resolution of these matters.
Note 7. Business Segment Information
The Company is organized functionally in geographic operating segments. Accordingly, management focuses its attention on revenues, net revenues, operating income, identifiable assets, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization and equity generated in each of these geographical areas when evaluating 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.

9



Financial information regarding the Company’s operations by geographic area are 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, 2012:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from unaffiliated customers
$
377,302

 
49,954

 
19,269

 
688,070

 
206,271

 
70,504

 

 
1,411,370

Transfers between geographic areas
22,208

 
2,465

 
5,079

 
10,972

 
9,467

 
4,651

 
(54,842
)
 

Total revenues
$
399,510

 
52,419

 
24,348

 
699,042

 
215,738

 
75,155

 
(54,842
)
 
1,411,370

Net revenues
$
181,475

 
22,242

 
14,835

 
131,814

 
71,533

 
24,672

 

 
446,571

Operating income
$
45,525

 
6,369

 
4,762

 
47,238

 
14,247

 
7,130

 

 
125,271

Identifiable assets at quarter end
$
1,590,900

 
96,312

 
52,214

 
708,528

 
404,839

 
149,416

 
(986
)
 
3,001,223

Capital expenditures
$
9,759

 
176

 
255

 
5,287

 
942

 
669

 

 
17,088

Depreciation and amortization
$
5,622

 
187

 
217

 
1,624

 
1,404

 
491

 

 
9,545

Equity
$
1,315,321

 
56,341

 
31,060

 
471,498

 
164,165

 
93,282

 
(29,633
)
 
2,102,034

Three months ended March 31, 2011:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from unaffiliated customers
$
377,106

 
43,846

 
20,332

 
728,130

 
213,612

 
77,822

 

 
1,460,848

Transfers between geographic areas
23,965

 
2,682

 
5,621

 
9,183

 
10,707

 
4,209

 
(56,367
)
 

Total revenues
$
401,071

 
46,528

 
25,953

 
737,313

 
224,319

 
82,031

 
(56,367
)
 
1,460,848

Net revenues
$
177,934

 
20,701

 
15,103

 
141,487

 
73,926

 
24,764

 

 
453,915

Operating income
$
53,734

 
5,789

 
4,763

 
59,438

 
17,707

 
5,799

 

 
147,230

Identifiable assets at quarter end
$
1,427,414

 
86,371

 
57,960

 
659,352

 
452,675

 
153,236

 
(276
)
 
2,836,732

Capital expenditures
$
4,030

 
160

 
156

 
4,712

 
11,706

 
361

 

 
21,125

Depreciation and amortization
$
4,985

 
303

 
269

 
1,969

 
1,110

 
538

 

 
9,174

Equity
$
1,124,913

 
47,793

 
30,981

 
407,053

 
181,245

 
89,422

 
(32,287
)
 
1,849,120

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



10



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 “Executive Summary,” “Critical Accounting Estimates,” “Results of Operations,” “Currency and Other Risk Factors” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” contain forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “goals,” “plans,” “believes,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” 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. In addition to risk factors identified elsewhere in this report, attention should be given to the factors identified and discussed in the report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2012.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. is engaged in the business of global logistics management, including international freight forwarding and consolidation, for both air and ocean freight. The Company acts as a customs broker in all domestic offices, and in many of its international offices. The Company also provides additional services for its customers including value-added distribution, purchase order management, vendor consolidation and other logistics solutions. The Company does not compete for overnight courier or small parcel business. The Company does not own or operate aircraft or steamships.
International trade is influenced by many factors, including economic and political conditions in the United States and abroad, currency exchange rates, and 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, nor can the Company predict 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 or 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 slowing global economic conditions and concerns over higher fuel costs, rising costs in general, political unrest and volatile currency exchange rates, the Company’s pricing and terms continue to be pressured by customers and service providers. The Company experienced a decline in airfreight net revenue and tonnage in the first quarter of 2012, as compared to the same quarter in 2011. Ocean freight consolidation net revenue declined as well due to lower net revenue per container, as compared to the same quarter in 2011. Absent of any meaningful change in economic conditions, the Company expects similar trends to continue in the near term.
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.
As a non-asset based carrier, the Company does not own transportation assets. Rather, the Company generates the major portion of its air and ocean freight revenues by purchasing transportation services from direct (asset-based) carriers and reselling those services to its customers. The difference between the rate billed to customers (the sell rate) and the rate paid to the carrier (the buy rate) is termed “net revenue” or “yield.” By consolidating shipments from multiple customers and concentrating its buying power, the Company is able to negotiate favorable buy rates from the direct carriers, while at the same time offering lower sell rates than customers would otherwise be able to negotiate themselves.
Customs brokerage and other services involves providing services at destination, such as helping customers clear shipments through customs by preparing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties and other taxes on behalf of the customers as well as arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery. This is a complicated function requiring technical knowledge of customs rules and regulations in the multitude of countries in which the Company has offices.
The Company’s ability to provide services to its customers is highly dependent on good working relationships with a variety of entities including airlines, ocean steamship lines, and governmental agencies. The significance of maintaining acceptable working relationships with governmental agencies and asset-based carriers involved in global trade has gained increased importance as a result of ongoing concern over terrorism. As each carrier labors to comply with additional

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governmental regulations implementing security policies and procedures, inherent conflicts emerge which can and do affect global trade. A good reputation helps to develop practical working understandings that will assist in meeting security requirements while minimizing potential international trade obstacles. The Company considers its current working relationships with these entities to be satisfactory. However, the airline and ocean steamship line industries have incurred significant losses in recent years as a result of the global economic downturn and many carriers are highly leveraged with debt. This situation has required the Company to be increasingly selective in which carriers to utilize. Further changes in the financial stability, operating capabilities and capacity of asset-based carriers, space allotments available from carriers, governmental regulation or deregulation efforts, “modernization” of the regulations governing customs brokerage, and/or changes in governmental quota restrictions or trade accords could affect the Company’s business in unpredictable ways.
Historically, the Company’s operating results have been subject to a seasonal trend when measured on a quarterly basis. The first quarter has traditionally been the weakest and the third and fourth quarters have traditionally been the strongest. This pattern is the result of, or is influenced by, numerous factors including weather patterns, national holidays, consumer demand, economic conditions and a myriad of other similar and subtle forces. In addition, this historical quarterly trend has been influenced by the growth and diversification of the Company’s international network and service offerings. The Company cannot accurately forecast many of these factors nor can the Company estimate accurately the relative influence of any particular factor and, as a result, there can be no assurance that historical patterns, if any, will continue in future periods.
A significant portion of the Company’s revenues are derived from customers in retail industries whose shipping patterns are tied closely to consumer demand, and from customers in industries whose shipping patterns are dependent upon just-in-time production schedules. Therefore, the timing of the Company’s revenues are, to a large degree, impacted by factors out of the Company’s control, such as a sudden change in consumer demand for retail goods and/or manufacturing production delays. Additionally, many customers ship a significant portion of their goods at or near the end of a quarter, and therefore, the Company may not learn of a shortfall in revenues until late in a quarter. To the extent that a shortfall in revenues or earnings was not expected by securities analysts, any such shortfall from levels predicted by securities analysts could have an immediate and adverse effect on the trading price of the Company’s stock.
The Company operates in 60 countries throughout the world in the competitive global logistics industry and Company activities are tied directly to the global economy. 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;
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 is required, 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 our 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, these losses must be made up from 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 our control. Consequently, management spends the majority of its time focused on creating an environment where employees can learn and develop while also improving systems and taking preventative action to reduce exposure to negative events and risks. 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 our focus is on building and maintaining a global corporate culture of well-trained employees and managers that are prepared to identify and react to subtle changes as they develop and thereby help the Company adapt and

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thrive as major trends emerge.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Management believes that the nature of the Company’s business is such that there are few complex challenges in accounting for operations.
While judgments and estimates are a necessary component of any system of accounting, the Company’s use of estimates is limited primarily to the following areas:
accounts receivable valuation;
accrual of costs related to ancillary services the Company provides;
accrual of insurance liabilities for the portion of the freight related exposure which the Company has self-insured;
accrual of various tax liabilities;
accrual of loss contingencies; and
calculation of share-based compensation expense.
These estimates, other than the accrual of loss contingencies and calculation of share-based compensation expense, are not highly uncertain and have not historically been subject to significant change. Management believes that the methods utilized in all of these areas are non-aggressive in approach and consistent in application. Management believes that there are limited, if any, alternative accounting principles or methods which could be applied to the Company’s transactions. While the use of estimates means that actual future results may be different from those contemplated by the estimates, the Company believes that alternative principles and methods used for making such estimates would not produce materially different results than those reported.
The outcomes of government investigations, legal proceedings and claims brought against the Company are subject to significant uncertainty. An estimated loss from a contingency such as a government investigation, legal proceeding or claim is accrued by a charge to income if it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Disclosure of a loss contingency is required if there is at least a reasonable possibility that a significant loss has been incurred. In determining whether a loss should be accrued, management evaluates several factors, including advice from outside counsel, in order to estimate the degree of probability of an unfavorable outcome and make a reasonable estimate of the amount of loss or range of reasonably possible loss. Changes in these factors could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year.
As described in Note 2 in the condensed consolidated financial statements in this quarterly report, the Company accounts for share-based compensation based on an estimate of the fair value of options granted to employees under the Company’s stock option and stock purchase rights plans. This expense, as adjusted for expected forfeitures, is recorded on a straight-line basis over the option vesting period.
Determining the appropriate option pricing model to use to estimate stock compensation expense requires judgment. Any option pricing model requires assumptions that are subjective and these assumptions also require judgment. Examples include assumptions about long-term stock price volatility, employee exercise patterns, pre-vesting option forfeitures, post-vesting option terminations, and future interest rates and dividend yields. The Company uses the Black-Scholes model for estimating the fair value of stock options.
Management believes that the assumptions used are appropriate based upon the Company’s historical and currently expected future experience. Looking to future events, management has been strongly influenced by historical patterns which may not be valid predictors of future developments and any future deviation may be material. The fair value of an option is more significantly impacted by changes in the expected volatility and expected life assumptions. The pre-vesting forfeitures assumption is ultimately adjusted to the actual forfeiture rate. Therefore, changes in the forfeitures assumption would not impact the total amount of expense ultimately recognized over the vesting period. Different forfeitures assumptions would only impact the timing of expense recognition over the vesting period. Estimated forfeitures will be reassessed in subsequent periods and may change based on new facts and circumstances.
For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, no options were granted by the Company.
Results of Operations
The following table shows the consolidated net revenues (revenues less transportation expenses) attributable to the Company’s principal services and the Company’s expenses for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, expressed as percentages of net revenues. Management believes that net revenues are a better measure than total revenues of the relative importance of the Company’s principal services since total revenues earned by the Company as a freight consolidator include the carriers’ charges to the Company for carrying the shipment whereas revenues earned by the Company in its other capacities include only the commissions and fees actually earned by the Company.

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,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
Amount
 
Percent
of net
revenues
 
Amount
 
Percent
of net
revenues
 
 
(Amounts in thousands)
Net Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Airfreight services
$
157,869

 
35

%
$
176,287

 
39

%
Ocean freight and ocean services
102,382

 
23

 
100,592

 
22

 
Customs brokerage and other services
186,320

 
42

 
177,036

 
39

 
Net revenues
446,571

 
100

 
453,915

 
100

 
Overhead Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and related costs
246,132

 
55

 
237,815

 
52

 
Other
75,168

 
17

 
68,870

 
15

 
Total overhead expenses
321,300

 
72

 
306,685

 
67

 
Operating income
125,271

 
28

 
147,230

 
33

 
Other income, net
3,837

 
1

 
3,223

 

 
Earnings before income taxes
129,108

 
29

 
150,453

 
33

 
Income tax expense
52,386

 
12

 
59,246

 
13

 
Net earnings
76,722

 
17

 
91,207

 
20

 
Less: net earnings (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interest
15

 

 
(25
)
 

 
Net earnings attributable to shareholders
$
76,707

 
17

%
$
91,232

 
20

%
Airfreight services net revenues decreased 10% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, as compared with the same period for 2011. The decrease in global airfreight services net revenues was primarily due to a 9% decrease in airfreight tonnage. North America, Asia Pacific and Europe airfreight services net revenues decreased 11%, 12% and 9%, respectively, in the first quarter of 2012 as compared with the same period in 2011, while airfreight export tonnage for North America, Asia Pacific and Europe decreased 16%, 3% and 4%, respectively. The decline in airfreight tonnage can be attributed to two major factors: (1) an overall decrease in the global airfreight market; and (2) a lower level of project related tonnage than experienced during the first quarter of 2011. Absent of any meaningful change in economic conditions, the Company expects similar trends to continue in the near term.
Ocean freight and ocean services net revenues increased 2% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, as compared with the same period for 2011. North America ocean freight net revenues increased 4% while Asia Pacific decreased 2% and Europe remained constant for the first quarter of 2012, as compared with the same period in 2011.
Ocean freight net revenues are comprised of three basic services: ocean freight consolidation, direct ocean forwarding and order management. The largest component of the Company’s ocean freight net revenue is derived from ocean freight consolidation which represented 48% and 51% of ocean freight net revenue for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Ocean freight consolidation net revenue decreased 6% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, as compared with the same period for 2011, due to a 7% decrease in net revenue per container offset by a 1% increase in container volume as measured in terms of forty-foot container equivalent units (FEUs). The decrease in net revenue per container was primarily due to an increase in the overall buy rate during the latter part of the quarter. Similar trends are expected to continue in the near term as carriers implement price increases and manage overall available capacity.
Direct ocean freight forwarding and order management, which are primarily fee-based, increased 12% and 6%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2012, as compared with the same period in 2011, primarily due to an increase in market share and volume.
Customs brokerage and other services net revenues increased 5% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, as compared with the same period for 2011, primarily as a result of an increase in market share and volume related to domestic time definite 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.
Salaries and related costs increased 4% during the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, as compared with the same period in 2011, primarily as a result of a 5% increase in the number of employees and higher payroll related taxes and medical benefits.
The effects of including stock-based compensation expense in salaries and related costs are as follows:
 
Three months ended March 31,
 
2012
 
2011
Salaries and related costs
$
246,132

 
$
237,815

As a % of net revenue
55.1
%
 
52.4
%
Stock compensation expense
$
10,600

 
$
10,472

As a % of salaries and related costs
4.3
%
 
4.4
%
As a % of net revenue
2.4
%
 
2.3
%
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 profits, creating a direct alignment between corporate performance and shareholder interests. However, the results in the first quarter of 2012 were not consistent with this historical relationship primarily due to a higher number of employees and lower net revenue. Bonuses to field and executive management were down 10% and 15%, respectively, as compared with the same period for 2011, primarily as a result of a 15% decrease 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.
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 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 9% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, as compared with the same period in 2011, primarily as a result of the accrual of €4.14 million ($5.5 million) European Commission (EC) fine as described in the legal proceedings disclosed in Note 6 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in this report. The Company will continue to incur legal costs related to matters described in Note 6 herein until these legal proceedings are concluded. In addition to the fine rendered by the EC, the Company is subject to formal and informal investigations or litigation from governmental authorities of others, some of which are described in Note 6 herein. If the governmental regulatory agencies conclude that the Company violated certain laws or regulations, fines and/or penalties could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. Further, the Company periodically conducts reviews of the operations and procedures of its offices worldwide relating to compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Excluding the fine discussed above, other overhead expenses as a percentage of net revenues remained constant for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, as compared with the same period in 2011.
Other income, net, increased 19% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, as compared with the same period in 2011. Interest income increased $1 million due to higher average cash and cash equivalents balances during the first quarter of 2012, as compared with the same period in 2011.
The Company pays income taxes in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as other taxes which are typically included in costs of operations. The Company’s consolidated effective income tax rate increased to 40.6% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, as compared to 39.4% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011, due to higher nondeductible expenses relative to lower pre-tax earnings.

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 enters into foreign currency hedging transactions only in limited locations where there are regulatory or commercial limitations on the Company's ability to move money freely around the world 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, 2012 and 2011 was insignificant. The Company had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Net foreign currency losses were approximately $1 million for both three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.
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; however, the Company’s primary competition is confined to a relatively small number of companies within this group. Historically, the industry has experienced 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 service and believes that its prices are competitive with those of others in the industry. 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 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 and cash generated from operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012, was approximately $147 million, as compared with $178 million for the same period in 2011. The decrease of $31 million is primarily due to changes in working capital accounts and lower net earnings. At March 31, 2012, working capital was $1,582 million, including cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1,429 million. The Company had no long-term debt at March 31, 2012. Management believes that the Company’s current cash position and operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet its capital and liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future, including meeting any contingent liabilities related to standby letters of credit and other obligations.
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.
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 to customs 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.
Cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, was $32 million and $23 million, respectively. The largest use of cash in investing activities is cash paid for capital expenditures. The Company does have need, on occasion, to purchase or construct buildings to house staff and to facilitate the staging of customers’ freight. The Company routinely invests in technology, office furniture and equipment and leasehold improvements. In the first quarter of 2012, the Company made capital expenditures of $17 million, as compared with $21 million for the same period in 2011. Capital expenditures in the first quarter of 2012 related primarily to investments in buildings and leasehold improvements, technology, and office furniture and equipment. Total capital expenditures in 2012 are currently estimated to be $100 million. This includes normal capital expenditures as noted above plus additional real estate development.
Cash used in financing activities during the first quarter of 2012, was $6 million, as compared with $10 million during the first quarter of 2011. The Company uses the proceeds from stock option exercises and available cash to repurchase the Company’s common stock on the open market. In the first quarter of 2012, the Company continued its policy of repurchasing stock to limit growth in issued and outstanding shares as a result of stock option exercises. The decrease in cash used as a result of this policy during the first quarter of 2012, as compared with the same period in 2011, is primarily due to a higher number of stock options exercised and timing of share repurchases.
The Company follows established guidelines relating to credit quality, diversification and maturities of its investments to preserve principal and maintain liquidity. In the past, the Company’s investment portfolio has not been adversely impacted by disruptions in the credit markets. However, there can be no assurance that the Company’s investment portfolio will not be adversely affected in the future.
The Company cannot forecast the impact that ongoing uncertainties in the global economy will have on its operating results. Management believes that the Company has effective credit control procedures, and historically has experienced relatively insignificant collection problems. The Company cannot predict what fallout economic uncertainties may have on freight volumes, pricing, changes in consumer demand, supplier stability and capacity or on customers’ abilities to pay.
The Company maintains international unsecured bank lines of credit. At March 31, 2012, the international bank lines of credit totaled $15 million. At March 31, 2012, the Company had no amounts outstanding on these lines of credit, but was contingently liable for $105 million from standby letters of credit and guarantees. The standby letters of credit and guarantees relate 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, 2012, cash and cash equivalent balances of $624 million were held by the Company’s non-United States subsidiaries, of which $75 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 revenue billings issued in a country and currency which differs from that where the expenses related to the service are incurred. In the ordinary course of business, the Company creates numerous intercompany transactions 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, 2012, 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.
As of March 31, 2012, the Company had approximately $1 million of net unsettled intercompany transactions. 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, 2012 and 2011 was insignificant. Net foreign currency losses were approximately $1 million for both three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. The Company had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The Company instead follows a policy of accelerating international currency settlements to manage foreign exchange risk relative to intercompany billings. The majority of intercompany billings are resolved within 30 days.
Interest Rate Risk
At March 31, 2012, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1,429 million of which $984 million was invested at various short-term market interest rates. The Company had no short-term borrowings at March 31, 2012. A hypothetical change in the interest rate of 10 basis points at March 31, 2012 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 2012.
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 the 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 procedures and controls 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.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
On October 10, 2007, the U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a subpoena ordering the Company to produce certain information and records relating to an investigation of alleged anti-competitive behavior amongst air cargo freight forwarders. As part of this process, the Company has met with and continues to co-operate with the DOJ. The Company may incur additional costs during the course of this ongoing investigation, which could include fines and/or penalties if the DOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines and/or penalties could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year.
On April 19, 2012, the Company received a federal grand jury subpoena from the DOJ requiring the production of documents related to the export or re-export by unaffiliated third-parties to end users in a US-embargoed country of products

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and/or services produced by a U.S. manufacturer. In a related matter, the Company is also responding to an administrative subpoena from the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) requiring the production of documents pertaining to the export or re-export of US-origin goods to the same embargoed country. The Company is co-operating with the DOJ and BIS. If it is determined that the Company or one of its subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, facilitated the export or re-export of these specified products and/or services, the Company may incur fines and/or penalties which could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and cash flows for any particular quarter or year.
On February 10, 2010, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary, Expeditors Hong Kong Limited, received a Statement of Objections (SO) from the European Commission (EC). The SO initiated a proceeding against the Company alleging anti-competitive behavior contrary to European Union rules on competition. Specific to the Company, the allegations in the SO are limited to Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for the period from August 2005 to June 2006 and only concern airfreight trade lanes between South China/Hong Kong and the European Economic Area. On March 28, 2012, the EC concluded that the Company engaged in anti-competitive behavior and fined the Company €4.14 million ($5.5 million). This fine was recorded in March 2012 and is included in other operating expenses.
Government investigations are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. An unfavorable ruling could include substantial monetary damages and, in matters in which injunctive relief or other conduct remedies are sought, an injunction or other order relating to business conduct. Were unfavorable final outcomes to occur, the Company's results of operations and cash flows for the particular quarter or year could be materially harmed.
The Company is involved in other claims and lawsuits which arise in the ordinary course of business, none of which currently, in management's opinion, are expected to have a significant effect on the Company's operations or financial position. As of March 31, 2012, the amounts accrued for these claims and lawsuits, and the other legal matters described above, 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 loss, if any, beyond the amounts recorded, that might result from the resolution of these matters.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes in the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in the report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2012, except for the following:
RISK FACTOR
 
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANCE
Litigation/Investigations
  
As a multinational corporation, the Company is subject to formal or informal investigations or litigation from governmental authorities or others in the countries in which it does business. Included among these investigations, the Company is currently subject to, and is cooperating fully with, investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security. These investigations and other periodic investigations will require further management time and could cause the Company to incur substantial additional legal and related costs, which may include fines and/or penalties that could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and cash flows.
 
The Company may also become subject to other civil litigation arising from such investigations or litigations, including but not limited to shareholder class action lawsuits and derivative claims made on behalf of plaintiffs.


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, 2012
 

 
$

 

 
28,913,091

February 1-29, 2012
 
132,554

 
43.76

 
132,554

 
28,959,984

March 1-31, 2012
 
363,360

 
44.21

 
363,360

 
28,960,925

Total
 
495,914

 
$
44.09

 
495,914

 
28,960,925

In November 1993, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan for the

14



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 report on Form 10-K filed March 31, 1995. In the first quarter of 2012, 193,732 shares of common stock were repurchased under the Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan.
In November 2001, under a Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of such shares as may be necessary to reduce the issued and outstanding stock to 200 million shares of common stock. 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. This plan was announced on November 13, 2001. In the first quarter of 2012, 302,182 shares of common stock were repurchased under the Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan. These discretionary repurchases were made to limit the growth in the number of issued and outstanding shares resulting from stock option exercises and the exercise of employee stock purchase rights.
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.

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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
  
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

16



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 7, 2012
 
/s/ PETER J. ROSE
 
 
Peter J. Rose, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
May 7, 2012
 
/s/ BRADLEY S. POWELL
 
 
Bradley S. Powell, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

17



EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Form 10-Q Index and Exhibits
March 31, 2012
 
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
  
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