C.H. Robinson Reports Second Quarter Results

C.H. Robinson Reports Second Quarter Results

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. ("C.H. Robinson") (NAS: CHRW) , today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2013. Summarized financial results for the quarter ended June 30 are as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

Pro Forma Comparison - The following shows the effects of the disposition of the Company's T-Chek Payment Services business ("T-Chek"), which was completed in October 2012, and the acquisition of Phoenix International Freight Services, Ltd. ("Phoenix"), which was completed in November 2012, as if these transactions had occurred at the beginning of 2012.A reconciliation of these pro forma measures is described on page 4.

Discussion of Second Quarter 2013 Results

Our truckload net revenues increased 3.2 percent in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the second quarter of 2012. Our truckload volumes increased approximately nine percent in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the second quarter of 2012. Our North American truckload volumes increased approximately five percent. We estimate that our acquisition of Apreo Logistics S.A. ("Apreo"), which was completed in October 2012, contributed approximately four percent to our volume growth in the second quarter of 2013. Our truckload net revenue margin decreased in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the second quarter of 2012, due primarily to the net revenue margin decline of our European truckload business. In North America, our truckload net revenue margin was relatively flat as rates charged to our customers and truckload transportation costs increased approximately one percent.

Our less-than-truckload ("LTL") net revenues increased 7.6 percent in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the second quarter of 2012. The increase was driven by an increase in total shipments of approximately eight percent, partially offset by decreased net revenue margin.

Our intermodal net revenues decreased 1.0 percent in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the second quarter of 2012. This was due to decreased volumes, partially offset by increased net revenue margin. Our net revenue margin increase was due to a change in our mix of business.

Our ocean transportation net revenues increased 189.7 percent, our air transportation net revenues increased 91.0 percent, and our customs net revenues increased 148.3 percent in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the second quarter of 2012. These increases were primarily due to our acquisition of Phoenix in November 2012.

Sourcing net revenues decreased 3.6 percent in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the second quarter of 2012. This was due to decreased net revenue margin as a result of a change in our commodity and service mix due to weather.

Our Payment Services net revenues decreased 83.4 percent in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the second quarter of 2012 due to the T-Chek divestiture in the fourth quarter of 2012.

For the second quarter, operating expenses increased 20.6 percent to $290.1 million in 2013 from $240.6 million in 2012. Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues increased to 61.4 percent in the second quarter of 2013 from 56.5 percent in 2012. During the second quarter of 2013, operating expenses grew faster than net revenues primarily as a result of the impact of Phoenix acquisition, including amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets. Phoenix has a higher expense to net revenue ratio than C.H. Robinson has historically experienced.

For the second quarter, personnel expenses increased 16.3 percent to $206.0 million in 2013 from $177.2 million in 2012. This was due to an increase in our average headcount of approximately 30 percent, related primarily to the acquisitions of the Phoenix and Apreo in the fourth quarter of 2012, partially offset by declines in the expenses related to incentive plans that are designed to keep expenses variable with changes in net revenues and profitability. The increase in personnel expenses was also partially offset by the divestiture of T-Chek in October 2012.

For the second quarter, other selling, general, and administrative expenses increased 32.6 percent to $84.1 million in 2013 from $63.4 million in 2012. This increase was driven primarily by Phoenix operations, partially offset by the divestiture of T-Chek. For the second quarter, acquisition amortization expense increased to $5.0 million in 2013 from $0.8 million in 2012 primarily as a result of the finite-lived intangible assets recorded in connection with the acquisition of Phoenix.

During the quarter we also recorded a $5.0 million charge related to the settlement of a contingent auto liability claim. The $5.0 million represents the amount of our retained risk under the terms of our contingent auto liability insurance policy. Although we remain a party to several contingent auto liability cases, it should be noted that this is only the fourth case in the last ten years in which we have been required to contribute in excess of $1.0 million in settlement or satisfaction of a contingent auto liability claim.

Founded in 1905, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., is one of the largest non-asset based third party logistics companies in the world. C.H. Robinson is a global provider of multimodal transportation services and logistics solutions, currently serving over 42,000 active customers through a network of 276 offices in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. C.H. Robinson maintains one of the largest networks of motor carrier capacity in North America and works with approximately 56,000 transportation providers worldwide.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this release are forward-looking statements that represent our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies concerning future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience or our present expectations, including, but not limited to such factors as changes in economic conditions, including uncertain consumer demand; changes in market demand and pressures on the pricing for our services; competition and growth rates within the third party logistics industry; freight levels and increasing costs and availability of truck capacity or alternative means of transporting freight, and changes in relationships with existing truck, rail, ocean and air carriers; changes in our customer base due to possible consolidation among our customers; our ability to integrate the operations of acquired companies with our historic operations successfully; risks associated with litigation and insurance coverage; risks associated with operations outside of the U.S.; risks associated with the potential impacts of changes in government regulations; risks associated with the produce industry, including food safety and contamination issues; fuel prices and availability; the impact of war on the economy; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in our Annual and Quarterly Reports.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update such statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date. All remarks made during our financial results conference call will be current at the time of the call and we undertake no obligation to update the replay.

Non-GAAP vs. GAAP Financial and Pro Forma Financial Measures
To assist investors in understanding our financial performance, we supplement the financial results that are generated in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, with non-GAAP financial measures from time to time. We use non-GAAP measures, including those set forth in this release, to assess our operating performance for the quarter. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of analyzing aspects of our ongoing operations that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provides a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting our business. However, non-GAAP results should not be regarded as a substitute for corresponding GAAP measures, and should be viewed in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. To provide investors with information to assist them in assessing our financial results on a comparable basis with historical results, we have provided certain non-GAAP financial measures in this press release that include the effects of the disposition of T-Chek and the acquisition of Phoenix as if they had occurred at the beginning of our 2012 fiscal year.

A reconciliation of our reported results to pro forma financial measures for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 is as follows (dollars in thousands):

1. Adjustments have been made to historical Phoenix operations for the addition of amortization expense of finite-lived intangible assets recorded in connection with the acquisition ($4.1 million), rent expense for lease agreements entered into in connection with the acquisition ($84 thousand), and depreciation on a building acquired in the acquisition ($37 thousand). An adjustment has also been made for the elimination of contractual changes in compensation ($5.1 million). There were no pro forma adjustments to the T-Chek historical results.

2. Net revenues are our total revenues less purchased transportation and related services, including contracted motor carrier, rail, ocean, air, and other costs, and the purchased price and services related to the products we source.

A reconciliation of our reported results to pro forma financial measures for the six months ended June 30, 2012 is as follows (dollars in thousands):