C H ROBINSON WORLDWIDE INC, 10-Q filed on 5/10/2010
Quarterly Report
Document and Entity Information
May 5, 2010
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2010
Document Type
 
10-Q 
Amendment Flag
 
FALSE 
Document Period End Date
 
03/31/2010 
Document Fiscal Year Focus
 
2010 
Document Fiscal Period Focus
 
Q1 
Trading Symbol
 
CHRW 
Entity Registrant Name
 
C H ROBINSON WORLDWIDE INC 
Entity Central Index Key
 
0001043277 
Current Fiscal Year End Date
 
12/31 
Entity Filer Category
 
Large Accelerated Filer 
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding
165,890,340 
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)
In Thousands
Mar. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
ASSETS
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 229,645 
$ 337,308 
Available-for-sale securities
52,716 
48,310 
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $27,593 and $30,651
1,002,807 
885,543 
Deferred tax asset
4,785 
6,454 
Prepaid expenses and other
33,485 
29,654 
Total current assets
1,323,438 
1,307,269 
Property and equipment, net
115,543 
117,699 
Goodwill
359,266 
361,666 
Intangible and other assets, net
30,178 
33,192 
Deferred tax asset
13,782 
14,422 
Total assets
1,842,207 
1,834,248 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' INVESTMENT
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
Accounts payable and outstanding checks
643,235 
606,514 
Accrued expenses:
 
 
Compensation and profit-sharing contribution
37,254 
90,855 
Other accrued liabilities
75,571 
34,438 
Total current liabilities
756,060 
731,807 
Long term liabilities:
 
 
Noncurrent income taxes payable
11,539 
10,546 
Other long term liabilities
11,513 
11,995 
Total liabilities
779,112 
754,348 
Stockholders' investment:
 
 
Preferred stock, $0.10 par value, 20,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding
Common stock, $0.10 par value, 480,000 shares authorized; 176,668 and 176,686 shares issued; 166,146 and 167,098 shares outstanding
16,615 
16,710 
Retained earnings
1,444,152 
1,402,306 
Additional paid-in capital
162,098 
165,104 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(5,764)
(1,636)
Treasury stock at cost (10,522 and 9,588 shares)
(554,006)
(502,584)
Total stockholders' investment
1,063,095 
1,079,900 
Total liabilities and stockholders' investment
$ 1,842,207 
$ 1,834,248 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Per Share data
Mar. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts
$ 27,593 
$ 30,651 
Preferred stock, par value
0.10 
0.10 
Preferred stock, shares authorized
20,000 
20,000 
Preferred stock, shares issued
Preferred stock, shares outstanding
Common stock, par value
0.10 
0.10 
Common stock, shares authorized
480,000 
480,000 
Common stock, shares issued
176,668 
176,686 
Common stock, shares outstanding
166,146 
167,098 
Treasury stock, shares
10,522 
9,588 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (USD $)
In Thousands, except Per Share data
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31,
2010
2009
REVENUES:
 
 
Transportation
$ 1,639,236 
$ 1,318,526 
Sourcing
422,655 
359,134 
Information Services
12,726 
10,340 
Total revenues
2,074,617 
1,688,000 
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
 
 
Purchased transportation and related services
1,354,299 
1,020,832 
Purchased products sourced for resale
387,717 
328,565 
Personnel expenses
146,755 
153,223 
Other selling, general, and administrative expenses
49,839 
48,012 
Total costs and expenses
1,938,610 
1,550,632 
Income from operations
136,007 
137,368 
Investment and other income
474 
490 
Income before provision for income taxes
136,481 
137,858 
Provision for income taxes
52,469 
52,475 
Net income
84,012 
85,383 
Other comprehensive loss
(4,128)
(7,120)
Comprehensive income
79,884 
78,263 
Basic net income per share
0.51 
0.50 
Diluted net income per share
0.50 
0.50 
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
165,440 
169,140 
Dilutive effect of outstanding stock awards
1,135 
1,685 
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
166,575 
170,825 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)
In Thousands
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31,
2010
2009
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
Net income
$ 84,012 
$ 85,383 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
Stock-based compensation
4,664 
5,627 
Depreciation and amortization
7,559 
7,481 
Provision for doubtful accounts
2,637 
3,858 
Deferred taxes and other
3,111 
(1,258)
Changes in operating elements:
 
 
Receivables
(119,117)
26,128 
Prepaid expenses and other
(4,401)
(6,809)
Accounts payable and outstanding checks
36,964 
(47,468)
Accrued compensation and profit-sharing contribution
(52,332)
(54,244)
Accrued income taxes and other
40,828 
39,985 
Net cash provided by operating activities
3,925 
58,683 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
(4,368)
(11,613)
Purchases of available-for-sale-securities
(8,541)
Sales/maturities of available-for-sale-securities
6,481 
750 
Other
(25)
Net cash used for by investing activities
(6,453)
(10,863)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
Proceeds from stock issued for employee benefit plans
5,354 
6,099 
Repurchase of common stock
(68,201)
(55,377)
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation plans
2,391 
1,983 
Cash dividends
(42,409)
(39,573)
Net cash used for financing activities
(102,865)
(86,868)
Effect of exchange rates on cash
(2,270)
(5,995)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
(107,663)
(45,043)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period
337,308 
494,743 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period
$ 229,645 
$ 449,700 
General
General

1. General

Basis of Presentation

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and our subsidiaries (“the company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) are a global provider of multimodal transportation services and logistics solutions through a network of 235 branch offices operating in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and the Middle East. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and our majority owned and controlled subsidiaries. Our minority interests in subsidiaries are not significant. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

The condensed consolidated financial statements, which are unaudited, have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In our opinion, these financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

Consistent with SEC rules and regulations, we have condensed or omitted certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. You should read the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill and Intangible Assets

2. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The change in the carrying amount of goodwill is as follows (in thousands):

 

Balance December 31, 2009

     361,666   

Foreign currency translation

     (2,400
        

Balance March 31, 2010

   $ 359,266   
        

A summary of our other intangible assets, with finite lives, which include primarily non-competition agreements and customer relationships, is as follows (in thousands):

 

     March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 

Gross

   $ 25,569      $ 43,519   

Accumulated amortization

     (10,765     (26,947
                

Net

   $ 14,804      $ 16,572   
                

We also have a trademark valued at $1.8 million which has an indefinite life.

Amortization expense for other intangible assets is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     2010    2009

Amortization expense

   $ 1,608    $ 1,658

 

Estimated amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years based on the intangible assets at March 31, 2010 is as follows (in thousands):

 

Remainder of 2010

   $ 3,299

2011

     3,739

2012

     3,120

2013

     2,906

2014

     1,740
      

Total

   $ 14,804
      
Litigation
Litigation

3. Litigation

On March 20, 2009, a jury in Will County, Illinois, entered a verdict of $23.75 million against us, a federally authorized motor carrier with which we contracted, and the motor carrier’s driver. The award was entered in favor of three named plaintiffs following a consolidated trial, stemming from an accident that occurred on April 1, 2004. The motor carrier and the driver both admitted that at the time of the accident the driver was acting as an agent for the motor carrier, and that the load was being transported according to the terms of our contract with the motor carrier. Our contract clearly defined the motor carrier as an independent contractor. The verdict has the effect of holding us vicariously liable for the damages caused by the admitted negligence of the motor carrier and its driver. There were no claims that our selection or retention of the motor carrier was negligent.

Given our prior experience with claims of this nature, we believe the court erred in allowing these claims to be considered by a jury. As a result, we are vigorously pursuing all available legal avenues by which we may obtain relief from the verdict. On September 15, 2009, the trial court entered an order denying substantially all of the relief which we had requested in our post-trial motions. Now that the trial court has concluded its handling of the matter, we are entitled to and will be seeking relief from the verdict from the Illinois Court of Appeals.

Under the terms of the insurance program which we had in place in 2004, we would be responsible for the first $5.0 million of claims of this nature plus post judgment interest. Because there are multiple potential outcomes, many of which are reasonably possible, but none of which we believe is probable, we have not recorded a liability for this claim at this time.

We are not subject to any other pending or threatened litigation other than routine litigation arising in the ordinary course of our business operations, none of which is currently expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Fair Value Measurement
Fair Value Measurement

4. Fair Value Measurement

Accounting guidance on fair value measurements for certain financial assets and liabilities requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 

   

Level 1 - Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 2 - Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

 

   

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs reflecting the reporting entity’s own assumptions or external inputs from inactive markets.

A financial asset or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The following table presents information as of March 31, 2010, about our financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, according to the valuation techniques we used to determine their fair values.

 

     Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total Fair
Value

Debt securities- Available-for-sale:

           

State and municipal obligations

   $ 0    $ 52,486    $ 0    $ 52,486

Corporate bonds

     0      1,120      0      1,120
                           

Total assets at fair value

   $ 0    $ 53,606    $ —      $ 53,606
                           

Contingent purchase price related to acquisitions

   $ 0    $ 0    $ 15,460    $ 15,460
                           

 

Cash and cash equivalents are recorded at amortized cost which approximates fair value as maturities are three months or less. The estimated fair values of debt securities held as available-for-sale are based on other market data for comparable instruments and the transactions related in establishing the prices. In measuring the fair value of the contingent payment liability, we used an income approach that considers the expected future earnings of the acquired businesses and the resulting contingent payments, discounted at a risk-adjusted rate.

The table below sets forth a reconciliation of our beginning and ending Level 3 financial liability balances for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

 

Balance December 31, 2009

   $  14,658

Total unrealized losses included in earnings

     802
      

Balance March 31, 2010

   $ 15,460
      
Stock Award Plans
Stock Award Plans

5. Stock Award Plans

Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized as expense as it vests. A summary of our total compensation expense recognized in our statements of operations for stock-based compensation is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     2010    2009

Stock-based compensation expense

   $ 4,664    $ 5,627

Our 1997 Omnibus Stock Plan allows us to grant certain stock awards, including stock options at fair market value and restricted shares and units, to our key employees and outside directors. A maximum of 28,000,000 shares can be granted under this plan; approximately 7,856,000 shares were available for stock awards as of March 31, 2010, which cover stock options and restricted stock awards. Awards that expire or are cancelled without delivery of shares generally become available for issuance under the plans.

Stock Options—The contractual lives of all options as originally granted are ten years. Options vested over a five-year period from the date of grant, with none vesting the first year and one quarter vesting each year after that. Recipients are able to exercise options using a stock swap which results in a new, fully-vested restoration option with a grant price established based on the date of the swap and a remaining contractual life equal to the remaining life of the original option. Options issued to non-employee directors vest immediately. The fair value per option is established using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, with the resulting expense being recorded over the vesting period of the award. Other than restoration options, we have not issued any new stock options since 2003. As of March 31, 2010, there was no unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options since all outstanding options were fully vested.

Restricted Stock Awards—We have awarded performance-based restricted shares and restricted units to certain key employees and non-employee directors. These restricted shares and restricted units are subject to certain vesting requirements over a five-year period, based on the company’s earnings growth. The awards also contain restrictions on the awardees’ ability to sell or transfer vested shares or units for a specified period of time. The fair value of these shares is established based on the market price on the date of grant, discounted for post-vesting holding restrictions. The discounts have varied from 12 percent to 22 percent and are calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Increased stock price volatility is the primary reason that the discount increased. These grants are being expensed based on the terms of the awards.

We have also awarded restricted shares and units to certain key employees that vest primarily based on their continued employment. The value of these awards is established by the market price on the date of the grant and is being expensed over the vesting period of the award.

We have also issued to certain key employees and non-employee directors restricted shares and units which are fully vested upon issuance. These shares and units contain restrictions on the awardees’ ability to sell or transfer vested shares and units for a specified period of time. The fair value of these shares is established using the same method discussed above. These grants have been expensed during the year they were earned.

As of March 31, 2010, there was unrecognized compensation expense of $152.2 million related to previously granted restricted equity. The amount of future expense will be based primarily on company performance and certain other conditions.

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan—Our 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan allows our employees to contribute up to $10,000 of their annual cash compensation to purchase company stock. Purchase price is determined using the closing price on the last day of the quarter, discounted by 15 percent. Shares are vested immediately. The following table summarizes employee stock purchase plan activity for the period (dollars in thousands).

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
Shares purchased by
employees
   Aggregate cost
to employees
   Expense recognized
by the company
96,427    $ 4,578    $ 808
Income Taxes
Income Taxes

6. Income Taxes

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and its 80 percent (or more) owned U.S. subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. We file unitary or separate state returns based on state filing requirements. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to audits of U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax returns before 2005.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2009  

Effective income tax rate

   38.4   38.1

The effective income tax rate for both periods is greater than the statutory federal income tax rate primarily due to state income taxes, net of federal benefit.