8-KOther Events

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON INC 8-K Report (Apr 17, 2002)

Filed April 17, 2002For Securities:EXPD

Summary

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD) filed an 8-K on April 17, 2002, addressing investor inquiries. The filing clarifies the company's policies on cash advances, revenue recognition, and real estate investments. Expeditors explained that while they do not easily track the aggregate amount of cash advances for DSO calculations, their systems focus on managing individual account receivables within established terms, with cash flow statements being the best measure of cash management. Regarding revenue recognition, the company stands by its policy of recognizing shipment-related revenue when freight is tendered to a direct carrier at origin, aligning with cost incurrence and risk transfer, while other services are recognized upon performance. The company also addressed concerns about real estate investments, clarifying that it strategically purchases or leases properties to house its operations and manage occupancy costs, viewing it as a necessary long-term operational strategy rather than a speculative real estate venture. They emphasize that their goal is to reduce operating costs, not to generate direct real estate profits, and they do not rely on traditional ROI or IRR calculations for these decisions, but rather on the impact on operational expenses. The filing also touches on market conditions, network capacity, and revenue trends, reiterating their focus on operational efficiency and integrity.

Key Highlights

  • 1Expeditors clarifies its policy on cash advances, stating it does not easily aggregate this data for DSO calculations, focusing instead on managing individual account receivables.
  • 2The company defends its revenue recognition policy, recognizing shipment revenues upon tendering freight to carriers at origin, citing risk transfer and cost incurrence.
  • 3Expeditors justifies its real estate investments as strategic decisions to manage occupancy costs and reduce long-term operating expenses, not as speculative ventures.
  • 4The company emphasizes that its real estate strategy is driven by operational needs and aims to lower costs, rather than seeking traditional investment returns like IRR or ROI.
  • 5Expeditors confirmed that its trace and track system, Exp.o, provides updates that are typically no more than 60 minutes old, aiming to meet customer needs for visibility.
  • 6The company announced its next earnings results are expected on May 8, 2002, after market close, and confirmed they do not hold conference calls.
  • 7Expeditors stated it has minority investments in private entities, but none are material or are special purpose entities requiring consolidation under GAAP.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Expeditors stated it is not easy to roll up total periodic cash advances globally. Their focus is on getting their money back and keeping total customer receivables within established terms, which their accounting system tracks effectively. They recommend looking at cash flow statements and free cash flow as better measures of cash management.

Expeditors, as a non-asset based carrier, purchases and resells transportation. They recognize revenue at origin because it's at that point they've earned the right to receive transportation revenue for the entire trip, and their risk of loss is assumed by the direct carrier. All costs are also incurred in bulk at origin. Other services, performed at origin or destination, are recognized upon performance.

Expeditors views real estate as a necessary operational component, not a speculative investment. They strategically purchase or lease properties to house their operations and manage occupancy costs. Their goal is to lower operating costs in key markets, and they do not seek direct profits from real estate, nor do they rely on traditional ROI or IRR calculations for these decisions.

Expeditors' trace and track system, Exp.o, updates continuously and the information should never be more than 60 minutes old, even from remote locations. While 'real-time' with GPS-like precision might be misleading in international commerce, they believe their system's timeliness meets the needs of international air and ocean shippers.