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 September 30, 2007
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File No. 001-31456
GENESEE & WYOMING INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 06-0984624 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
66 Field Point Road, Greenwich, Connecticut |
06830 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(203) 629-3722
(Registrants 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. x YES ¨ NO
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer (See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) (Check One):
Large Accelerated Filer x Accelerated Filer ¨ Non-Accelerated Filer ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act):
¨ YES x NO
Shares of common stock outstanding as of the close of business on November 2, 2007:
Class |
Number of Shares Outstanding |
|
Class A Common Stock |
31,291,350 |
|
Class B Common Stock |
3,975,178 |
Page | ||||
Part I. |
FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
|||
Item 1. |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED): |
|||
3 | ||||
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 AND DECEMBER 31, 2006 |
4 | |||
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 AND 2006 |
5 | |||
6-16 | ||||
Item 2. |
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
17-35 | ||
Item 3. |
35 | |||
Item 4. |
35 | |||
Part II. |
36 | |||
Item 1. |
36-37 | |||
Item 1A. |
37 | |||
Item 2. |
38 | |||
Item 3. |
38 | |||
Item 4. |
38 | |||
Item 5. |
38 | |||
Item 6. |
38 | |||
39 | ||||
40 |
2
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) |
GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 AND 2006
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
September 30, |
Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
OPERATING REVENUES |
$ | 131,224 | $ | 121,019 | $ | 381,625 | $ | 332,981 | ||||||||
OPERATING EXPENSES: |
||||||||||||||||
Transportation |
42,164 | 38,916 | 121,732 | 108,336 | ||||||||||||
Maintenance of ways and structures |
11,783 | 10,930 | 34,830 | 30,088 | ||||||||||||
Maintenance of equipment |
17,426 | 16,357 | 52,622 | 45,724 | ||||||||||||
Diesel fuel sold to third parties |
6,482 | 5,458 | 16,680 | 7,089 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative |
21,189 | 19,144 | 63,799 | 60,716 | ||||||||||||
Net gain on sale of assets |
(5,450 | ) | (197 | ) | (5,914 | ) | (243 | ) | ||||||||
Gain on insurance recovery |
| | | (1,937 | ) | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
7,969 | 7,307 | 23,515 | 20,405 | ||||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
101,563 | 97,915 | 307,264 | 270,178 | ||||||||||||
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS |
29,661 | 23,104 | 74,361 | 62,803 | ||||||||||||
Gain on sale of equity investment in ARG |
| 10,421 | | 218,845 | ||||||||||||
Investment loss - Bolivia |
| | | (5,878 | ) | |||||||||||
Equity loss of unconsolidated international affiliates |
| | | (10,752 | ) | |||||||||||
Interest income |
1,107 | 3,300 | 7,069 | 4,467 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(3,613 | ) | (3,532 | ) | (10,626 | ) | (12,507 | ) | ||||||||
Other (expense) income, net |
(47 | ) | 28 | 846 | 111 | |||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes |
27,108 | 33,321 | 71,650 | 257,089 | ||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
4,069 | 9,337 | 16,927 | 100,250 | ||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
23,039 | 23,984 | 54,723 | 156,839 | ||||||||||||
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |
(6,873 | ) | (36,090 | ) | (13,494 | ) | (37,182 | ) | ||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 16,166 | $ | (12,106 | ) | $ | 41,229 | $ | 119,657 | |||||||
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations |
$ | 0.68 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 1.53 | $ | 4.17 | ||||||||
Basic loss per common share from discontinued operations |
(0.20 | ) | (0.96 | ) | (0.38 | ) | (0.99 | ) | ||||||||
Basic earnings (loss) per common share |
$ | 0.48 | $ | (0.32 | ) | $ | 1.15 | $ | 3.18 | |||||||
Weighted average shares - Basic |
34,026 | 37,739 | 35,702 | 37,600 | ||||||||||||
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations |
$ | 0.60 | $ | 0.56 | $ | 1.36 | $ | 3.69 | ||||||||
Diluted loss per common share from discontinued operations |
(0.18 | ) | (0.85 | ) | (0.34 | ) | (0.87 | ) | ||||||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share |
$ | 0.42 | $ | (0.29 | ) | $ | 1.02 | $ | 2.82 | |||||||
Weighted average shares - Diluted |
38,515 | 42,366 | 40,233 | 42,488 | ||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
3
GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 AND DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollars in thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
4
GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 AND 2006
(dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |
||||||||
Net income |
$ | 41,229 | $ | 119,657 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities: |
||||||||
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |
13,494 | 37,182 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
23,515 | 20,405 | ||||||
Compensation cost related to equity awards |
4,068 | 6,172 | ||||||
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation |
(847 | ) | (4,368 | ) | ||||
Deferred income taxes |
4,195 | 15,337 | ||||||
Gain on insurance recovery |
| (1,937 | ) | |||||
Gain on sale of equity investment in ARG |
| (218,845 | ) | |||||
Net gain on sale of assets |
(5,914 | ) | (243 | ) | ||||
Decrease (increase) in cash surrender value of split dollar life insurance |
39 | (337 | ) | |||||
Investment loss - Bolivia |
| 5,878 | ||||||
Equity loss of unconsolidated international affiliates, net of tax |
| 7,500 | ||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities which provided (used) cash, net of effect of acquisitions: |
||||||||
Accounts receivable, net |
(4,514 | ) | (12,538 | ) | ||||
Materials and supplies |
2,197 | (2,255 | ) | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other |
(144 | ) | (1,622 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
20,920 | 9,103 | ||||||
Income tax payable - Australia |
(92,737 | ) | 86,216 | |||||
Other assets and liabilities, net |
118 | (1,348 | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations |
5,619 | 63,957 | ||||||
Net cash used in operating activities from discontinued operations |
(10,677 | ) | (314 | ) | ||||
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities |
(5,058 | ) | 63,643 | |||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: |
||||||||
Purchase of property and equipment, net of grants from external parties |
(41,358 | ) | (30,306 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from ARG Sale |
| 306,746 | ||||||
Cash paid for acquisitions, net |
| (21,189 | ) | |||||
Insurance proceeds for the replacement of assets |
1,747 | | ||||||
Premiums paid on split dollar life insurance |
(99 | ) | (130 | ) | ||||
Cash received from cash surrender of split dollar life insurance |
| 366 | ||||||
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment |
8,106 | 278 | ||||||
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities from continuing operations |
(31,604 | ) | 255,765 | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations |
(517 | ) | (3,036 | ) | ||||
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities |
(32,121 | ) | 252,729 | |||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |
||||||||
Principal payments on long-term borrowings, including capital leases |
(1,451 | ) | (182,207 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt |
25,000 | 92,500 | ||||||
Net proceeds from employee stock purchases |
2,978 | 6,345 | ||||||
Treasury stock purchases |
(171,018 | ) | (11,188 | ) | ||||
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation |
847 | 4,368 | ||||||
Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations |
(143,644 | ) | (90,182 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in financing activities from discontinued operations |
(13,301 | ) | (1,239 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in financing activities |
(156,945 | ) | (91,421 | ) | ||||
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |
7,838 | (1,254 | ) | |||||
CHANGE IN CASH BALANCES INCLUDED IN CURRENT ASSETS OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS |
(1,258 | ) | | |||||
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |
(187,544 | ) | 223,697 | |||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period |
240,206 | 18,669 | ||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period |
$ | 52,662 | $ | 242,366 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
5
GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. | PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION: |
The interim consolidated financial statements presented herein include the accounts of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company). All references to currency amounts included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the financial statements, are in U.S. dollars unless specifically noted otherwise. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. These interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and, accordingly, do not contain all disclosures which would be required in a full set of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, are presented on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements and contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments except as otherwise noted in notes to the financial statements, necessary for a fair presentation. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the full year. The consolidated balance sheet data for 2006 was derived from the audited financial statements in the Companys 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP.
The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2006, included in the Companys 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain prior period balances have been reclassified to conform to the 2007 presentation.
2. | CHANGES IN OPERATIONS: |
Mexico
In October 2005, the Companys wholly-owned subsidiary, Ferrocarriles Chiapas-Mayab, S.A. de C.V. (FCCM), was struck by Hurricane Stan which destroyed or damaged approximately 70 bridges and washed out segments of track in the State of Chiapas between the town of Tonalá and the Guatemalan border, rendering approximately 175 miles of rail line inoperable.
On June 25, 2007, FCCM formally notified the Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transporte (SCT) of its intent to cease its rail operations and to resign its 30-year concession from the Mexican government. The decision to cease FCCMs operations was made on June 22, 2007, and was due to the continued uncertain timing of the Chiapas reconstruction by the Mexican government. Without reconstruction of the hurricane-damaged line, FCCM is not a viable business. During the third quarter of 2007, the Company ceased its Mexican rail operations and initiated formal liquidation proceedings of FCCMs operations. There were no remaining employees of FCCM as of September 30, 2007. The SCT has contested the resignation of the concession and has seized substantially all of FCCMs operating assets in response to the resignation. The Company believes the SCTs actions are unlawful and is pursuing appropriate legal remedies to recover its operating assets. As a result of these recent actions, the Company recorded a pre-tax loss in the third quarter of 2007 of $18.5 million, including non-cash charges of $14.4 million. This is in addition to the Companys non-cash charge of $33.1 million recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2006, reflecting the write-down of non-current assets and related effects. Results from the Companys Mexican operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, are now included in results from discontinued operations. See Note 9 for additional information regarding the Companys discontinued operations.
As a result of the changing economic circumstances of the Companys Mexican operations as compared to its other businesses, the Company presented its Mexican business as a separate segment in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, beginning July 1, 2006. Since the Companys results from its Mexican operations are now included in results from discontinued operations, the Company no longer presents separate segments within its continuing operations.
Australia
Effective June 1, 2006, the Company and its 50% partner, Wesfarmers Limited (Wesfarmers), completed the sale of the Western Australia operations and certain other assets of Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd (ARG) to Queensland Rail and Babcock & Brown Limited (ARG Sale) generating a net gain of $218.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Simultaneous with the ARG Sale, the Company purchased Wesfarmers 50% ownership of the remaining ARG operations, which are principally located
6
in South Australia, for $15.1 million (GWA Purchase) (collectively, Australian Transactions). This business, which is based in Adelaide, South Australia, was renamed Genesee & Wyoming Australia Pty Ltd (GWA) and is a 100% owned subsidiary. The GWA Purchase was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. However, because the Company previously held a 50% share of these assets through the Companys ownership interest in ARG, it applied a step-method to the allocation of value among the assets and liabilities of GWA. Because the $15.1 million purchase price for Wesfarmers 50% share was lower than 50% of the book value ARG had historically recorded on these assets, the Company recorded a non-cash loss of $16.2 million ($11.3 million, net of tax), representing the Companys 50% share of the impairment loss recorded by ARG, which was included in equity loss of unconsolidated international affiliates in the consolidated statement of operations during the second quarter of 2006. GWA commenced operations on June 1, 2006. Accordingly, the Company has included 100% of the value of GWAs net assets ($30.1 million) in its consolidated balance sheet since June 1, 2006. The Company completed its allocation of purchase price for this acquisition during the second quarter of 2007 without material adjustment to its preliminary allocation.
South America
As previously disclosed, the Company indirectly has a 12.52% equity interest in Ferroviaria Oriental S.A. (Oriental) through its interest in Genesee & Wyoming Chile S.A. (GWC), an unconsolidated affiliate. In addition, the Company holds a 10.37% indirect equity interest in Oriental through other companies.
During 2006, due to heightened political and economic unrest and uncertainties in Bolivia, GWC advised its creditors that it was ceasing its efforts to restructure its $12.0 million non-recourse debt obligation. Also in 2006, the Bolivian government issued a Presidential decree ordering the nationalization of Bolivias oil and gas industry. The government further announced in 2006 that it intends to nationalize, take a partial ownership stake in or restructure the operations of other local companies, including Oriental.
Accordingly, the Company determined that its indirect investments in Oriental had suffered an other-than-temporary decline in value. Based on the Companys assessment of fair value, the Companys $8.9 million investment was written down by $5.9 million with a corresponding charge to earnings in the second quarter of 2006.
As of June 1, 2006, the Company discontinued equity accounting for the remaining $3.0 million investment in Oriental. Since then, the Company has accounted for this investment under the cost method. Historically, Orientals results of operations have not had a material impact on the Companys results of operations. The Company will continue to monitor the political situation in Bolivia.
United States
Chattahoochee Bay Railroad, Inc.: On August 25, 2006, the Companys newly formed subsidiary, the Chattahoochee Bay Railroad, Inc. (CHAT), acquired the assets of the Chattahoochee & Gulf Railroad Co., Inc. and the H&S Railroad Company, Inc. for $6.1 million in cash. The purchase price was allocated between property and equipment ($5.1 million) and intangible assets ($1.0 million). The rail assets acquired by CHAT are contiguous to and connect the Companys Bay Line Railroad and the Companys Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad.
Commonwealth Railway, Inc.: On August 25, 2006, the Company exercised an option to purchase 12.5 miles of previously leased rail line from Norfolk Southern Corp. (NS) for $3.6 million, of which, approximately $2.1 million is expected to be funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The 12.5 mile rail line runs through Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Suffolk, VA. The Companys subsidiary, the Commonwealth Railway (CWRY), will own and continue to operate the line upon the final execution of the contract with the Commonwealth of Virginia. In July 2007, the Company completed a $13.2 million improvement project (including $6.6 million in government grants) to meet the projected capacity needs of a customers new container terminal in Portsmouth.
Results of Operations
When comparing the Companys results of operations from one reporting period to another, you should consider that it has historically experienced fluctuations in revenues and expenses due to one-time freight moves, weather-related impacts such as hurricanes or droughts, customer plant expansions and shut-downs, sales of land and equipment, accidents and derailments. In periods when these events occur, results of operations are not easily comparable to other periods. Also, the Company has completed and entered into a number of transactions recently that have changed and will change its results of operations. Because of variations in the structure, timing, and size of these transactions, the Companys operating results in any reporting period may not be directly comparable to its operating results in other reporting periods.
7
Certain of the Companys railroads have commodity shipments which are sensitive to general economic conditions in
the countries in which it operates, including paper products in Canada and lumber and forest products in the United States. However, shipments of other commodities are less affected by economic conditions and are more closely affected by other
Pro Forma Financial Results
The following table summarizes the Companys unaudited pro forma operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as if the Australian Transactions had occurred as of January 1, 2006 (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 |
|||
Operating revenues |
$ | 363,106 | |
Income from continuing operations |
$ | 40,934 | |
Net income |
$ | 3,752 | |
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations |
$ | 1.09 | |
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations |
$ | 0.96 |
The unaudited pro forma operating results include the Australian Transactions, adjusted, net of tax, for the net gain of $218.8 million from the ARG Sale, certain closing costs incurred from the ARG Sale and interest expense savings from the pay down of the debt from proceeds received from the ARG Sale.
The pro forma financial information does not purport to be indicative of the results that actually would have been obtained had the Australian Transactions been completed as of the assumed date and for the period presented and are not intended to be a projection of future results or trends.
8
3. | EARNINGS PER SHARE: |
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended Septemeber 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Numerator: |
||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
$ | 23,039 | $ | 23,984 | $ | 54,723 | $ | 156,839 | ||||||||
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |
(6,873 | ) | (36,090 | ) | (13,494 | ) | (37,182 | ) | ||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 16,166 | $ | (12,106 | ) | $ | 41,229 | $ | 119,657 | |||||||
Denominators: |
||||||||||||||||
Weighted average Class A Common Shares outstanding - Basic |
34,026 | 37,739 | 35,702 | 37,600 | ||||||||||||
Weighted average Class B Common Shares outstanding |
3,975 | 3,975 | 3,975 | 3,975 | ||||||||||||
Dilutive effect of equity awards |
514 | 652 | 556 | 913 | ||||||||||||
Weighted average shares - Diluted |
38,515 | 42,366 | 40,233 | 42,488 | ||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) per common share: |
||||||||||||||||
Basic: |
||||||||||||||||
Earnings per common share from continuing operations |
$ | 0.68 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 1.53 | $ | 4.17 | ||||||||
Loss per common share from discontinued operations |
(0.20 | ) | (0.96 | ) | (0.38 | ) | (0.99 | ) | ||||||||
Earnings (loss) per common share |
$ | 0.48 | $ | (0.32 | ) | $ | 1.15 | $ | 3.18 | |||||||
Diluted: |
||||||||||||||||
Earnings per common share from continuing operations |
$ | 0.60 | $ | 0.56 | $ | 1.36 | $ | 3.69 | ||||||||
Loss per common share from discontinued operations |
(0.18 | ) | (0.85 | ) | (0.34 | ) | (0.87 | ) | ||||||||
Earnings (loss) per common share |
$ | 0.42 | $ | (0.29 | ) | $ | 1.02 | $ | 2.82 | |||||||
For the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, a total of 1,166,634 and 721,184 shares, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, a total of 1,166,634 and 721,184 shares, respectively, of Class A Common Stock issuable under the assumed exercises of stock options computed based on the treasury stock method were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share, as the effect of including these shares would have been anti-dilutive.
Stock Repurchase
The Company announced on February 13, 2007 and August 1, 2007, that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 2,000,000 shares and 4,000,000 shares, respectively, of the Companys Class A Common Stock, which was in addition to 538,500 shares available for repurchase under a previous authorization. The repurchases may occur from time to time in the open market, including under 10b5-1 plans, or in privately negotiated transactions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company repurchased 6,387,430 shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock available for repurchase under the repurchase plan. The shares were repurchased at an average cost of $26.75 per share. At September 30, 2007, authorization remained for the repurchase of up to 151,070 shares.
4. | DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS: |
In 2004, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement and swapped our variable LIBOR interest rate on long-term debt for a fixed interest rate. At December 31, 2006, the notional amount under the agreement was $21.4 million and represented a liability with a fair value of less than $0.1 million. The swap expired in September 2007.
9
On February 13, 2006, the Company entered into two foreign currency forward contracts with a total notional amount of $190 million to hedge a portion of its investment in 50% of the equity of ARG. The contracts, which expired in May 2006, were extended to June 1, 2006, and protected the hedged portion of the Companys net investment from exposure to large fluctuations in the U.S. Dollar/Australian Dollar exchange rate. At expiration, excluding the effects of fluctuations in the exchange rate on the Companys net investment, the Company recorded a loss of $4.3 million from these contracts, which was included in the net gain on the ARG Sale in the second quarter of 2006.
5. | PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS: |
Components of net periodic benefit cost (income) (dollars in thousands):
Pension | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Service cost |
$ | (6 | ) | $ | 20 | $ | 17 | $ | 87 | |||||||
Interest cost |
50 | 48 | 153 | 152 | ||||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(60 | ) | (47 | ) | (181 | ) | (140 | ) | ||||||||
Amortization of transition liability |
36 | 36 | 108 | 108 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of prior service cost |
(4 | ) | (5 | ) | (12 | ) | (11 | ) | ||||||||
Amortization of loss |
4 | 1 | 11 | 10 | ||||||||||||
Curtailment gain |
| | (142 | ) | | |||||||||||
Net periodic benefit cost (income) |
$ | 20 | $ | 53 | $ | (46 | ) | $ | 206 | |||||||
Other Post Retirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Service cost |
$ | 10 | $ | 32 | $ | 54 | $ | 99 | ||||||||
Interest cost |
52 | 63 | 164 | 187 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of loss |
5 | 9 | 11 | 33 | ||||||||||||
Net periodic benefit cost |
$ | 67 | $ | 104 | $ | 229 | $ | 319 | ||||||||
The Company previously disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006, that it expected to contribute $0.6 million to its pension plans in 2007. As of September 30, 2007, contributions of $0.4 million have been made to fund the Companys pension plans. The Company anticipates contributing the remaining $0.2 million to fund its pension plans in the fourth quarter of 2007.
During the three months ended June 30, 2007, the Company froze the pension benefits of substantially all remaining eligible employees (Frozen Participants). As a result, the Company recorded a $0.1 million curtailment gain. Effective with the curtailment, new employees will not be eligible to participate in the plan. Future earnings of Frozen Participants will not be considered in the computation of benefits.
6. | INCOME TAXES: |
The Companys effective income tax rate in the three months ended September 30, 2007, was 15.0% compared with 28.0% in the three months ended September 30, 2006. The Companys effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, was 23.6% compared with 39.0% in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The decrease in 2007 was primarily attributable to incremental U.S. foreign tax credits of $5.8 million associated with the ARG Sale in 2006. The determination of the amount of the U.S. foreign tax credits was dependent upon the payment of the foreign tax and an election made concurrent with the filing of the 2006 U.S. tax return, which occurred in June and September 2007, respectively. In the three months ended September 30, 2007, the Company recorded $2.6 million of additional prior year U.S. taxes relative to the ARG Sale. The Company assessed the effect of the $2.6 million additional taxes on the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole and determined that the effect was not material to any period.
As disclosed in Note 2, the Company has ceased its Mexican rail operations and initiated formal liquidation proceedings of FCCMs operations. As a result, the Company recorded a net U.S. tax benefit of $11.6 million within its loss from discontinued operations for the three months ended September 30, 2007. The Company also has a related capital loss carryforward which can be used to reduce the impact of future capital gains. The tax benefit associated with to this carryforward of approximately $8.0 million is fully offset by a valuation allowance. The Companys capital loss carryforward expires in 2012.
On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attributes for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in
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a tax return. After considering the Companys preexisting reserves for uncertain tax positions, the adoption of FIN 48 did not result in any material adjustments to the Companys results of operations or financial position.
At September 30, 2007, the Companys liability for uncertain tax positions was $1.1 million, $0.7 million of which would reduce its effective tax rate if recognized.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in its provision for income taxes. As of September 30, 2007, the Company had $0.2 million of accrued interest related to such uncertain tax positions.
As of September 30, 2007, the following tax years remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company or its subsidiaries are subject:
Jurisdiction |
Open Tax Year(s) |
|
United States |
2003 - 2006 | |
Australia |
2006 | |
Canada |
2003 - 2006 | |
Mexico |
2001 - 2006 |
7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
Litigation
Mexico
On June 25, 2007, FCCM formally notified the SCT of its intent to cease its rail operations and to resign its 30-year concession from the Mexican government. In response to this notification, on July 24, 2007, the SCT issued an official letter informing FCCM that the SCT did not accept the resignation of the concession. On August 8, 2007, the SCT issued another official letter to initiate a proceeding to impose sanctions on FCCM. The proposed sanctions are based, in part, on allegations that FCCM has violated the Railroad Service Law in Mexico and the terms of its concession. On August 30, 2007, FCCM filed a brief with the SCT that challenged the proposed sanctions and introduced evidence supporting FCCMs right to resign its concession. On September 21, 2007, FCCM also filed a proceeding in the Tax and Administrative Federal Court in Mexico seeking an annulment of the SCTs July 24, 2007 official letter and recognition of FCCMs right to resign its concession. The SCT has also seized substantially all of FCCMs operating assets in response to FCCMs resignation of the concession. On September 19, 2007, FCCM filed a proceeding in the Second District Court in Merida (District Court) challenging the SCTs seizure of its operating assets as unconstitutional. The District Court admitted the proceeding on October 11, 2007, and issued a provisional ruling upholding the seizure, pending a full review of the constitutional grounds for the seizure and the legality of the SCTs actions. The Company believes the SCTs actions were unlawful and will continue to pursue appropriate legal remedies to support FCCMs resignation of the concession and to recover FCCMs operating assets.
Canada
In February 2002, Mr. Paquin, an individual living adjacent to the Outremont rail yard, filed a motion for authorization of class certification in the Quebec Superior Court in Canada in connection with a claim against two of the Companys subsidiaries, Genesee Rail-One Inc. (now Genesee & Wyoming Canada Inc.) and Quebec-Gatineau Railway Inc., as well as Canadian Pacific Railways (CP) (collectively, the Parties). Mr. Paquin alleged that the noise emanating from the Outremont rail yard causes significant nuisance problems to the residents living near the rail yard. The rail yard is owned by CP, part of which is leased and operated by Quebec-Gatineau Railway Inc. The plaintiff described the proposed class as comprised of all owners and tenants of dwellings who have lived within a defined section of the Outremont neighborhood in Montreal, which is adjacent to the rail yard. Mr. Paquin requested the issuance of an injunction in order to limit the hours when the rail yard may operate. The plaintiff did not allege any specific monetary claim with respect to the damages of other members of the class, but sought to recover for his trouble and inconvenience as well as for potential devaluation of the value of his property.
Following a May 2007 settlement conference, the Parties agreed on the terms of a settlement agreement whereby all outstanding claims under the class action will be dropped. The settlement agreement remains subject to
11
review and approval by the class members and the Quebec Superior Court. The Company does not expect Genesee & Wyoming Canada Inc. or Quebec-Gatineau Railway Inc. to make any material financial contribution in connection with the proposed settlement.
Bolivia
As previously disclosed, the Company indirectly has a 12.52% equity interest in Oriental through its interest in GWC, an unconsolidated affiliate. GWC is an obligor of non-recourse debt of $12.0 million, which debt is secured by a lien on GWCs 12.52% indirect equity interest in Oriental held through GWCs subsidiary, Inversiones Ferroviarias Bolivianas Ltda. This non-recourse debt became due and payable on November 2, 2003. In 2006, certain creditors of GWC commenced court proceedings to (i) collect on their share of the debt and (ii) exercise their rights pursuant to the lien. In addition, the Company holds a 10.37% indirect equity interest in Oriental through other companies. The Company does not expect the commencement of court proceedings to have any impact on this remaining 10.37% interest. The Company does not expect these proceedings to have a material effect on its financial statements.
Other
In addition to the lawsuits set forth above, from time to time the Company is a defendant in certain lawsuits resulting from its operations. Management believes that the Company has adequate provisions in the financial statements for any expected liabilities that may result from disposition of pending lawsuits. Nevertheless, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties and unfavorable rulings could occur. Were an unfavorable ruling to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact to the Companys results of operations, financial position or liquidity as of and for the period in which the ruling occurs.
Guarantees
On June 8, 2007, the Company entered into an assignment agreement with International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Nederlandse FinancieringsMaatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (FMO), pursuant to which, among other things, IFC and FMO demanded payment of, and the Company paid, approximately $7.0 million due under the guarantee agreement related to its Mexican subsidiary, GW Servicios S.A. (Servicios). See Note 9 for additional information regarding this guarantee.
The Company also guarantees an obligation of one of its Canadian rail lines under a lease agreement entered into on July 28, 1997. The maximum amount of the obligation subject to this guarantee is $2.0 million.
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8. | COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS): |
Comprehensive income (loss) is the total of net income (loss) and all other non-owner changes in equity. The following table sets forth the Companys comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 16,166 | $ | (12,106 | ) | ||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: |
|||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
6,459 | 1,647 | |||||
Mexico investment (recognized loss from foreign currency translation) |
5,426 | | |||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on qualifying cash flow hedges, net of tax provision (benefit) of $6 and ($21), respectively |
13 | (52 | ) | ||||
Changes in pension and other postretirement benefit, net of tax provision of $31 |
57 | | |||||
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax |
$ | 28,121 | $ | (10,511 | ) | ||
Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Net income |
$ | 41,229 | $ | 119,657 | |||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax: |
|||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
15,369 | 441 | |||||
Sale of ARG investment (recognized gain from currency translation adjustment) |
| (22,755 | ) | ||||
Mexico investment (recognized loss from foreign currency translation) |
5,472 | | |||||
Net unrealized gains on qualifying cash flow hedges, net of tax provision of $19 and $63, respectively |
43 | 97 | |||||
Net unrealized gains on qualifying cash flow hedges of ARG, net of tax provision of $343 |
| 801 | |||||
Sale of ARG investment (write-off of unrealized gain/losses on qualifying cash flow hedges) |
| 857 | |||||
Changes in pension and other postretirement benefit, net of tax provision of $64 |
119 | | |||||
Comprehensive income, net of tax |
$ | 62,232 | $ | 99,098 | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, included in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 (dollars in thousands):
Foreign
Currency Translation Adjustment |
Defined Benefit
Plans |
Net
Unrealized Losses on Cash Flow Hedges |
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income |
|||||||||||
Balances, December 31, 2006 |
$ | 5,137 | $ | (683 | ) | $ | (43 | ) | $ | 4,411 | ||||
Current period change |
20,841 | 119 | 43 | 21,003 | ||||||||||
Balances, September 30, 2007 |
$ | 25,978 | $ | (564 | ) | $ | | $ | 25,414 | |||||
The change in the foreign currency translation adjustment for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, relates primarily to the Companys operations with a functional currency in Australian and Canadian dollars and the loss from the cumulative foreign currency translation into U.S. dollars of the original Mexico investment and FCCMs reported earnings since 1999.
9. | DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS: |
As disclosed in Note 2, the Company has ceased its Mexican rail operations and initiated formal liquidation proceedings of FCCMs operations. There were no remaining employees of FCCM as of September 30, 2007. The SCT has contested the resignation of the concession and has seized substantially all of FCCMs operating assets in response to the resignation. As a result of these actions, the Company recorded a pre-tax loss in the third quarter of 2007 of $18.5 million, including non-cash charges of $14.4 million. The non-cash charges included $8.9 million related to the write-down of FCCMs operating assets and a $5.5 million loss from the cumulative foreign
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currency translation into U.S. dollars of the original investment and FCCMs reported earnings since 1999. This pre-tax loss was partially offset by a U.S. tax benefit of $11.6 million, primarily related to a worthless stock and bad debt deductions to be claimed in the United States.
The Company believes the SCTs actions were unlawful and is pursuing appropriate legal remedies to recover its operating assets. As of September 30, 2007, there was a net liability of $3.5 million remaining on the Companys balance sheet associated with its Mexican operations.
The Companys Mexican operations described above are presented as discontinued operations and its operations are, therefore, excluded from continuing operations in accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (SFAS 144). The operations and cash flows of FCCM are being eliminated from the ongoing operations of the Company and the Company will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of FCCM.
The operating results of the Mexican operations classified as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statement of Operations are as follows (dollars in thousands):
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, 2007 |
September 30, 2006 |
September 30, 2007 |
September 30, 2006 |
|||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 1,730 | $ | 7,285 | $ | 14,305 | $ | 21,895 | ||||||||
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes |
(18,498 | ) | (35,701 | ) | (24,817 | ) | (36,303 | ) | ||||||||
Tax (benefit) provision |
(11,625 | ) | 389 | (11,323 | ) | 879 | ||||||||||
Discontinued operations, net of tax |
$ | (6,873 | ) | $ | (36,090 | ) | $ | (13,494 | ) | $ | (37,182 | ) | ||||
For the three months ended September 30, 2007, in connection with the shut down of FCCMs rail operations, the Company recorded $2.5 million of restructuring and other related charges within loss from discontinued operations. These restructuring and other related charges consisted of $1.0 million related to early lease termination fees, $0.7 million for severance and termination benefits in accordance with SFAS No. 112 Employers Accounting for Postemployment Benefits (SFAS 112), and $0.8 million of other expenses directly related to the liquidation.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, in connection with the liquidation of FCCM, the Company recorded $5.2 million of restructuring and other related charges within loss from discontinued operations. These restructuring and other related charges consisted of $3.2 million for severance and termination benefits in accordance with SFAS 112, $1.0 million related to early lease termination fees and $1.0 million for other expenses directly related to the liquidation.
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Having met the criteria outlined in SFAS No. 144, the assets and liabilities of FCCM and Servicios were classified as discontinued operations on the Companys Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2007. The major classes of assets (at estimated fair value less cost to sell) and liabilities classified as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows (dollars in thousands):
September 30,
2007 |
|||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 1,258 | |
Accounts receivable, net |
2,806 | ||
Prepaid expenses and other |
800 | ||
Property and equipment, net |
128 | ||
Current assets from discontinued operations |
$ | 4,992 | |
Accounts payable |
$ | 4,939 | |
Accrued expenses |
3,481 | ||
Other liabilities |
44 | ||
Current liabilities of discontinued operations |
$ | 8,464 | |
On June 8, 2007, the Company entered into an assignment agreement with IFC and FMO, pursuant to which, among other things, (i) IFC and FMO demanded payment of, and the Company paid, approximately $7.0 million due under the guarantee agreement related to certain amended loan agreements and promissory notes of the Companys Mexican subsidiaries (collectively, the Loan Agreements) and (ii) the Company purchased and assumed the remaining loan amount outstanding under the Loan Agreements for a price equal to the principal balance plus accrued interest, or approximately $7.3 million. As a result, the Company recorded a $0.6 million interest charge due to the recognition of previously deferred financing fees related to the Loan Agreements during the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
Also on June 8, 2007, the Company, IFC and the Companys Mexican subsidiary, Servicios entered into a put option exercise agreement pursuant to which IFC sold its 12.7% equity interest in Servicios to the Company for $1.0 million, plus an additional $0.4 million if FCCM is still in business on June 8, 2008. In addition, on June 8, 2007, the Company, IFC, FMO, Servicios and FCCM entered into a release agreement whereby the parties agreed to release and waive all claims and rights held against one another that existed or arose prior to the date thereof. Neither the payment default discussed above, nor the entering into the agreements described above and the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, resulted in a default under the Companys outstanding debt obligations.
10. | RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS: |
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157), which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and for interim periods within those years. This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands the related disclosure requirements. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS 157.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of SFAS No. 115 (SFAS 159). SFAS 159 permits, but does not require, entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The standard provides entities the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those years. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS 159.
11. | SUBSEQUENT EVENTS: |
On October 22, 2007, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire 87.4% of Maryland Midland Railway, Inc. (Maryland Midland) for cash consideration of approximately $29.1 million, with adjustments for working capital at the time of closing. Maryland Midland stockholders have approved the acquisition. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including, without limitation, receipt of regulatory approvals.
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Headquartered 50 miles northwest of Baltimore, the Maryland Midland operates over 63 miles of track between Glyndon and Highfield, Maryland (near the Pennsylvania border), and between Walkersville and Taneytown, Maryland. Maryland Midland has 30 employees, 10 locomotives and is an interline carrier with CSX.
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ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and with the consolidated financial statements, related notes and other financial information included in our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Forward-Looking Statements
This report and other documents referred to in this report may contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, managements beliefs and assumptions made by management. Words such as anticipates, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the following risks applicable to all of our operations: risks related to the acquisition and integration of railroads; difficulties associated with customers, competition, connecting carriers, employees and partners; derailments; adverse weather conditions; unpredictability of fuel costs; changes in environmental and other laws and regulations to which we are subject; general economic and business conditions and additional risks associated with our foreign operations. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in any such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, in addition to those set forth in this Item 2 and Part II, Item 1A, those noted in our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K under Risk Factors. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
We are a leading owner and operator of short line and regional freight railroads in the United States, Australia and Canada and own a minority interest in a railroad in Bolivia. In addition, we provide freight car switching and rail-related services to industrial companies in the United States and Australia.
As previously reported, we commenced the liquidation of our hurricane-damaged operations in Mexico on June 25, 2007, and have no remaining employees in Mexico as of September 30, 2007. Results from our Mexican operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, are now included in results from discontinued operations.
Net income in the three months ended September 30, 2007, was $16.2 million, compared with a net loss of $12.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006. Our diluted earnings per share (EPS) in the third quarter of 2007 were $0.42 with 38.5 million shares outstanding, compared with diluted loss per share of $0.29 with 42.4 million shares outstanding in the third quarter of 2006. Net income in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, was $41.2 million, compared with net income of $119.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Our diluted EPS in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, were $1.02 with 40.2 million shares outstanding, compared with diluted EPS of $2.82 with 42.5 million shares outstanding in the nine months ended September 30, 2006.
Income from continuing operations in the three months ended September 30, 2007, was $23.0 million, compared with income from continuing operations of $24.0 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006. Our diluted EPS from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2007 were $0.60 with 38.5 million shares outstanding, compared with diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.56 with 42.4 million shares outstanding in the third quarter of 2006. Income from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2007 included gains from the sale of assets and a net tax benefit associated with the sale of the Western Australia operations of ARG, which increased diluted EPS by $0.17. Income from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2006 included certain gains and charges, primarily related to the sale of the Western Australia operations of the Australian Railroad Group (ARG), which increased diluted EPS by $0.14.
Income from continuing operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, was $54.7 million, compared with income from continuing operations of $156.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Our diluted EPS from continuing operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, were $1.36 with 40.2 million shares outstanding, compared with diluted EPS from continuing operations of $3.69 with 42.5 million shares outstanding in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Income from continuing operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, included gains from the sale of assets and a net tax benefit associated with the sale of the Western Australia operations of ARG, which increased diluted EPS by $0.16. Income from continuing operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, included certain gains and charges, primarily related to the sale of the Western Australia operations of ARG, which increased diluted EPS by $2.56.
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When we discuss same railroad revenues, we are referring to the change in our revenues period-over-period associated with our existing operations (i.e., excluding the impact of acquisitions). Operating revenues in the three months ended September 30, 2007, were $131.2 million, compared with $121.0 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006. The increase in our quarter-over-quarter revenues was due to a $0.3 million increase from new operations and a same railroad increase in revenues of $9.9 million.
Operating revenues in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, were $381.6 million, compared with $333.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The increase in our period-over-period revenues was due to a $35.1 million increase from new operations, primarily Genesee & Wyoming Australia Pty Ltd (GWA), and a same railroad increase in revenues of $13.5 million.
Same railroad total revenues increased 8.2% and same railroad freight revenues increased 2.8% in the three months ended September 30, 2007, when compared with the three months ended September 30, 2006. The 2.8% improvement in same railroad freight revenues was primarily due to an increase in average freight revenues per carload of 9.7%, partially offset by a 6.3% decrease in carloads. Same railroad non-freight revenues increased 18.9% in the three months ended September 30, 2007, when compared with the three months ended September 30, 2006, primarily due to our GWA operations. Same railroad total revenues increased 4.1%, while same railroad freight revenues decreased 0.1% in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, when compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The 0.1% decline in same railroad freight revenues was primarily due to a 7.1% decrease in carloads, partially offset by an increase in average freight revenues per carload of 7.6%. Same railroad non-freight revenues increased 14.1% in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, when compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2006, primarily due to our GWA operations.
Our operating income in the three months ended September 30, 2007, was $29.7 million, compared with $23.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006. The operating ratio, defined as total operating expenses divided by total operating revenues, was 77.4% in the third quarter of 2007, compared with an operating ratio of 80.9% in the third quarter of 2006. The operating ratio for the third quarter of 2007 benefited from $5.5 million of gains from the sale of assets. The operating ratio for the third quarter of 2006 was impacted by charges of $1.1 million for a litigation settlement.
Our operating income in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, was $74.4 million, compared with $62.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The operating ratio was 80.5% in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with an operating ratio of 81.0% in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The operating ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, benefited from $5.5 million of gains from the sale of assets. The operating ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, was impacted by ARG Sale-related expenses of $5.8 million, a gain on an insurance settlement of $1.9 million and charges of $1.1 million for a litigation settlement.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we generated $5.6 million in cash from operating activities of continuing operations which included the payment of $95.6 million in Australian taxes related to the ARG Sale. Also during the nine month period, we repurchased 6,387,430 shares of our Class A Common Stock at an average cost of $26.75 per share for a total of $170.9 million. We also purchased $41.4 million of property and equipment, net of $15.6 million received from current year government grants and $4.3 million in cash received from government grants for capital projects completed in 2006. We received $1.7 million in insurance proceeds for capital projects completed in 2006 and $8.1 million cash proceeds from the disposition of property and equipment.
Discontinued Operations
During the third quarter of 2007, we ceased our Mexican rail operations and initiated formal liquidation proceedings of Ferrocarriles Chiapas-Mayab, S.A. de C.V. (FCCM). The Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transporte (SCT) has contested the resignation of the concession and has seized substantially all of FCCMs operating assets in response to the resignation. As a result of this action, we recorded a pre-tax loss in the third quarter of 2007 of $18.5 million, including non-cash impairment and related effects of $14.4 million. This pre-tax loss was partially offset by a tax benefit of $11.6 million.
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $6.9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared with a loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $36.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006. The loss from discontinued operations in the three months ended September 30, 2006, included a non-cash charge of $33.1 million ($34.1 million after-tax) reflecting the write-down of non-current assets and related effects of FCCM. The loss from discontinued operations reduced diluted EPS by $0.18 in the third quarter of 2007, compared with an $0.85 negative impact on diluted EPS in the third quarter of 2006.
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Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $13.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with a loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $37.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The loss from discontinued operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, included a non-cash charge of $33.1 million ($34.1 million after-tax) reflecting the write-down of non-current assets and related effects of FCCM. The loss from discontinued operations reduced diluted EPS by $0.34 in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with an $0.87 negative impact on diluted EPS in the nine months ended September 30, 2006.
Recent Developments
On October 22, 2007, we announced that we had entered into an agreement to acquire 87.4% of Maryland Midland Railway, Inc. (Maryland Midland) for cash consideration of approximately $29.1 million, with adjustments for working capital at the time of closing. Maryland Midland stockholders have approved the acquisition. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including, without limitation, receipt of regulatory approvals.
Headquartered 50 miles northwest of Baltimore, the Maryland Midland operates over 63 miles of track between Glyndon and Highfield, Maryland (near the Pennsylvania border), and between Walkersville and Taneytown, Maryland. Maryland Midland has 30 employees, 10 locomotives and is an interline carrier with CSX.
Changes in Operations
Mexico
In October 2005, FCCM was struck by Hurricane Stan which destroyed or damaged approximately 70 bridges and washed out segments of track in the State of Chiapas between the town of Tonalá and the Guatemalan border, rendering approximately 175 miles of rail line inoperable.
On June 25, 2007, FCCM formally notified the SCT of its intent to cease its rail operations and to resign its 30-year concession from the Mexican government. The decision to cease FCCMs operations was made on June 22, 2007, and was due to the continued uncertain timing of the Chiapas reconstruction by the Mexican government. Without reconstruction of the hurricane-damaged line, FCCM is not a viable business. During the third quarter of 2007, we ceased our rail operations and initiated formal liquidation proceedings of FCCMs operations. There were no remaining employees of FCCM as of September 30, 2007. The SCT has contested the resignation of the concession and has seized substantially all of FCCMs operating assets in response to the resignation. Results of our Mexican operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 are now included in results from discontinued operations.
We believe the SCTs actions were unlawful and we are pursuing appropriate legal remedies to recover FCCMs operating assets. As of September 30, 2007, there was a net liability of $3.5 million remaining on our balance sheet associated with our Mexican operations.
See Liquidity and Capital Resources - Mexican Financings, for additional information on our obligations with respect to the Mexican operations.
Australia
Effective June 1, 2006, we and our 50% partner, Wesfarmers Limited (Wesfarmers), completed the sale of the Western Australia operations and certain other assets of ARG to Queensland Rail and Babcock & Brown Limited (ARG Sale) generating a net gain of $218.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Simultaneous with the ARG Sale, we purchased Wesfarmers 50% ownership of the remaining operations of ARG, which are principally located in South Australia, for $15.1 million (GWA Purchase). The GWA Purchase was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. However, because we previously held a 50% share of these assets through our ownership interest in ARG, we applied a step-method to the allocation of value among the assets and liabilities of GWA. Because the $15.1 million purchase price for Wesfarmers 50% share was lower than 50% of the book value ARG had historically recorded on these assets, we recorded a non-cash loss of $16.2 million ($11.3 million, net of tax), representing our 50% share of the impairment loss recorded by ARG, which was included in equity loss of unconsolidated international affiliates in the consolidated statement of operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. GWA commenced operations on June 1, 2006. Accordingly, we have included 100% of the value of GWAs net assets ($30.1 million) in our consolidated balance sheet since June 1, 2006. We completed our allocation of purchase price for this acquisition during the second quarter of 2007 without material adjustment to our preliminary allocation.
South America
As previously disclosed, we indirectly have a 12.52% equity interest in Ferroviaria Oriental S.A. (Oriental) through our interest in Genesee & Wyoming Chile S.A. (GWC), an unconsolidated affiliate. In addition, we hold a 10.37% indirect equity interest in Oriental through other companies.
During 2006, due to heightened political and economic unrest and uncertainties in Bolivia, GWC advised its creditors that it was ceasing its efforts to restructure its $12.0 million non-recourse debt obligation. Also in 2006, the Bolivian government issued a Presidential decree ordering the nationalization of Bolivias oil and gas industry. The government further announced in 2006 that it intends to nationalize, take a partial ownership stake in or restructure the operations of other local companies, including Oriental.
19
Accordingly, we determined that our indirect investment in Oriental had suffered an other-than-temporary decline in value. Based on our assessment of fair value, our $8.9 million investment was written down by $5.9 million with a corresponding charge to earnings in the second quarter of 2006.
As of June 1, 2006, we discontinued equity accounting for the remaining $3.0 million investment in Oriental. Since then, we have accounted for this investment under the cost method. Historically, Orientals results of operations have not had a material impact on our results of operations. We will continue to monitor the political situation in Bolivia.
United States
Chattahoochee Bay Railroad, Inc.: On August 25, 2006, our newly formed subsidiary, the Chattahoochee Bay Railroad, Inc. (CHAT), acquired the assets of the Chattahoochee & Gulf Railroad Co., Inc. and the H&S Railroad Company, Inc. for $6.1 million in cash. The purchase price was allocated between property and equipment ($5.1 million) and intangible assets ($1.0 million). The rail assets acquired by CHAT are contiguous to and connect our Bay Line Railroad and our Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad.
Commonwealth Railway, Inc.: On August 25, 2006, we exercised an option to purchase 12.5 miles of previously leased rail line from Norfolk Southern Corp. (NS) for $3.6 million, of which, approximately $2.1 million is expected to be funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The 12.5 mile rail line runs through Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk, VA. Our subsidiary, the Commonwealth Railway (CWRY), will own and continue to operate the line upon the final execution of the contract with the Commonwealth of Virginia. In July 2007, we completed a $13.2 million improvement project (including $6.6 million in government grants) to meet the projected capacity needs of a customers new container terminal in Portsmouth.
Results of Operations
When comparing our results of operations from one reporting period to another, you should consider that we have historically experienced fluctuations in revenues and expenses due to one-time freight moves, weather related impacts such as hurricanes or droughts, customer plant expansions and shut-downs, sales of land and equipment, accidents and derailments. In periods when these events occur, results of operations are not easily comparable to other periods. Recent transactions (including acquisitions in the United States and Australia and the divestiture of our 50% equity investment in ARG). Because of variations in the structure, timing and size of these transactions our operating results in any reporting period may not be directly comparable to our operating results in other reporting periods.
Certain of our railroads have commodity shipments that are sensitive to general economic conditions in the countries in which we operate, including paper products in Canada and lumber and forest products in the United States. However, shipments of other commodities are less affected by economic conditions and are more closely affected by other factors, such as inventory levels maintained at a customer power plant (coal), winter weather (salt) and seasonal rainfall (South Australian grain).
20
Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared with Three Months Ended September 30, 2006
Operating Revenues
Overview
Operating revenues were $131.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $121.0 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $10.2 million, or 8.4%. The $10.2 million increase in operating revenues consisted of $0.3 million in revenues from new operations and an increase of $9.9 million, or 8.2%, in revenues from existing operations. New operations consist of current year results of operations from recent acquisitions that did not exist in our consolidated financial results for a comparable period in the prior year. Operating revenues, in the three months ended September 30, 2007, benefited $3.6 million from the appreciation of the Australian dollar and Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. The $9.9 million increase in revenues from existing operations included increases of $7.6 million in non-freight revenues and $2.2 million in freight revenues. The following table breaks down our operating revenues into new operations and existing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | 2007-2006 Variance Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
Operations |
New
Operations |
Existing
Operations |
Total
Operations |
Increase in Total
Operations |
Increase in
Existing Operations |
|||||||||||||||||||
Freight revenues |
$ | 83,173 | $ | 291 | $ | 82,882 | $ | 80,643 | $ | 2,530 | 3.1 | % | $ | 2,239 | 2.8 | % | ||||||||
Non-freight revenues |
48,051 | 44 | 48,007 | 40,376 | 7,675 | 19.0 | % | 7,631 | 18.9 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total operating revenues |
$ | 131,224 | $ | 335 | $ | 130,889 | $ | 121,019 | $ | 10,205 | 8.4 | % | $ | 9,870 | 8.2 | % | ||||||||
Freight Revenues
The following table compares freight revenues, carloads and average freight revenues per carload for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands, except carloads and average freight revenues
Freight Revenues and Carloads Comparison by Commodity Group
Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
Freight Revenues | Carloads |
Average
Freight Revenues Per Carload |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity Group |
2007 |
% of
Total |
2006 |
% of
Total |
2007 |
% of
Total |
2006 |
% of
Total |
2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||
Pulp & Paper |
$ | 17,244 | 20.7 | % | $ | 17,524 | 21.7 | % | 29,712 | 14.5 | % | 34,421 | 15.8 | % | $ | 580 | $ | 509 | ||||||||||
Coal, Coke & Ores |
15,551 | 18.7 | % | 15,053 | 18.7 | % | 52,307 | 25.5 | % | 51,796 | 23.7 | % | 297 | 291 | ||||||||||||||
Farm & Food Products |
9,239 | 11.1 | % | 8,555 | 10.6 | % | 18,793 | 9.2 | % | 23,832 | 10.9 | % | 492 | 359 | ||||||||||||||
Lumber & Forest Products |
9,151 | 11.0 | % | 8,485 | 10.5 | % | 21,519 | 10.5 | % | 21,328 | 9.8 | % | 425 | 398 | ||||||||||||||
Metals |
8,721 | 10.5 | % | 9,142 | 11.3 | % | 18,796 | 9.2 | % | 21,355 | 9.8 | % | 464 | 428 | ||||||||||||||
Minerals and Stone |
8,426 | 10.1 | % | 7,392 | 9.2 | % | 32,494 | 15.9 | % | 30,473 | 13.9 | % | 259 | 243 | ||||||||||||||
Chemicals-Plastics |
6,675 | 8.0 | % | 6,400 | 7.9 | % | 10,320 | 5.0 | % | 10,848 | 5.0 | % | 647 | 590 | ||||||||||||||
Petroleum Products |
3,755 | 4.5 | % | 3,138 | 3.9 | % | 5,982 | 2.9 | % | 5,697 | 2.6 | % | 628 | 551 | ||||||||||||||
Autos & Auto Parts |
1,553 | 1.9 | % | 1,526 | 1.9 | % | 2,990 | 1.5 | % | 2,954 | 1.4 | % | 519 | 517 | ||||||||||||||
Intermodal |
295 | 0.4 | % | 455 | 0.6 | % | 580 | 0.3 | % | 1,103 | 0.5 | % | 509 | 413 | ||||||||||||||
Other |
2,563 | 3.1 | % | 2,973 | 3.7 | % | 11,367 | 5.5 | % | 14,354 | 6.6 | % | 225 | 207 | ||||||||||||||
Total freight revenues |
$ | 83,173 | 100.0 | % | $ | 80,643 | 100.0 | % | 204,860 | 100.0 | % | 218,161 | 100.0 | % | 406 | 370 | ||||||||||||
Total carloads decreased by 13,301 carloads, or 6.1%, due to a decline of 13,735 carloads from existing operations, partially offset by an increase of 434 carloads from new operations.
21
The overall average freight revenues per carload increased 9.8% to $406. Average freight revenues per carload from existing operations increased 9.7% to $405.
The following table sets forth freight revenues by new operations and existing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | 2007-2006 Variance Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Freight revenues |
Total
Operations |
New
Operations |
Existing
Operations |
Total
Operations |
Increase
(Decrease) in Total Operations |
Increase
(Decrease) in Existing Operations |
||||||||||||||||||||
Pulp & Paper |
$ | 17,244 | $ | 140 | $ | 17,104 | $ | 17,524 | $ | (280 | ) | -1.6 | % | $ | (420 | ) | -2.4 | % | ||||||||
Coal, Coke & Ores |
15,551 | 15 | 15,536 | 15,053 | 498 | 3.3 | % | 483 | 3.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Farm & Food Products |
9,239 | 46 | 9,193 | 8,555 | 684 | 8.0 | % | 638 | 7.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Lumber & Forest Products |
9,151 | 3 | 9,148 | 8,485 | 666 | 7.8 | % | 663 | 7.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Metals |
8,721 | 15 | 8,706 | 9,142 | (421 | ) | -4.6 | % | (436 | ) | -4.8 | % | ||||||||||||||
Minerals and Stone |
8,426 | 4 | 8,422 | 7,392 | 1,034 | 14.0 | % | 1,030 | 13.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Chemicals-Plastics |
6,675 | 16 | 6,659 | 6,400 | 275 | 4.3 | % | 259 | 4.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Petroleum Products |
3,755 | 4 | 3,751 | 3,138 | 617 | 19.7 | % | 613 | 19.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Autos & Auto Parts |
1,553 | | 1,553 | 1,526 | 27 | 1.8 | % | 27 | 1.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Intermodal |
295 | | 295 | 455 | (160 | ) | -35.2 | % | (160 | ) | -35.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
Other |
2,563 | 48 | 2,515 | 2,973 | (410 | ) | -13.8 | % | (458 | ) | -15.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total freight revenues |
$ | 83,173 | $ | 291 | $ | 82,882 | $ | 80,643 | $ | 2,530 | 3.1 | % | $ | 2,239 | 2.8 | % | ||||||||||
The following information discusses the significant changes in freight revenues by commodity group from existing operations.
Pulp and paper revenues decreased by $0.4 million, or 2.4%. The decrease consisted of $2.7 million due to a carload decrease of 4,709, or 13.7%, partially offset by $2.3 million due to a 13.1% increase in average revenues per carload. The carload decrease was primarily due to higher truck competition resulting from Class I rate increases and a weak newsprint market.
Farm and food products revenues increased by $0.6 million, or 7.5%. The increase consisted of $3.2 million due to a 37.3% increase in average revenues per carload, partially offset by $2.6 million due to a carload decrease of 5,179, or 21.7%. The carload decrease was primarily due to GWAs drought affected grain traffic. Because rates for GWAs grain traffic have both a fixed and variable component, the grain traffic decrease resulted in higher average revenues per carload.
Metals revenues decreased by $0.4 million, or 4.8%. The decrease consisted of $1.2 million due to a carload decrease of 2,619, or 12.3%, partially offset by $0.8 million due to an 8.5% increase in average revenues per carload. The decrease in carloads was primarily due to a maintenance shutdown at a steel mill customer.
Minerals and stone revenues increased $1.0 million, or 13.9%. The increase consisted of $0.5 million due to a 6.8% increase in average revenues per carload and $0.5 million due to a carload increase of 2,021, or 6.6%. The increase in carloads was primarily due to higher rock salt traffic in the Northeastern United States.
Other revenues decreased $0.5 million, or 15.4%. The decrease consisted of $0.8 million due to a carload decrease of 3,202, or 23.2%, partially offset by $0.3 million due to a 8.9% increase in average revenues per carload. The carload decrease was primarily the result of the discontinuation of haulage traffic on one of our rail lines.
All remaining commodities combined increased by a net $1.9 million, or 5.4%.
Non-Freight Revenues
Non-freight revenues were $48.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $40.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $7.7 million, or 19.0%. The $7.7 million increase in non-freight revenues consisted of $7.6 million in non-freight revenues from existing operations and $0.1 million in non-freight revenues from new operations.
22
The following table compares non-freight revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in
Non-Freight Revenues Comparison
Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
2007 | % of Total | 2006 | % of Total | |||||||||
Railcar switching |
$ | 19,967 | 41.5 | % | $ | 18,211 | 45.1 | % | ||||
Car hire and rental income |
7,054 | 14.7 | % | 5,717 | 14.2 | % | ||||||
Fuel sales to third parties |
7,447 | 15.5 | % | 5,997 | 14.8 | % | ||||||
Demurrage and storage |
3,450 | 7.2 | % | 3,039 | 7.5 | % | ||||||
Car repair services |
1,680 | 3.5 | % | 1,361 | 3.4 | % | ||||||
Other operating income |
8,453 | 17.6 | % | 6,051 | 15.0 | % | ||||||
Total non-freight revenues |
$ | 48,051 | 100.0 | % | $ | 40,376 | 100.0 | % | ||||
The following table sets forth non-freight revenues by new operations and existing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | 2007-2006 Variance Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-freight revenues |
Total
Operations |
New
Operations |
Existing
Operations |
Total
Operations |
Increase in
Total Operations |
Increase in
Existing Operations |
||||||||||||||||||
Railcar switching |
$ | 19,967 | $ | 15 | $ | 19,952 | $ | 18,211 | $ | 1,756 | 9.6 | % | $ | 1,741 | 9.6 | % | ||||||||
Car hire and rental income |
7,054 | 2 | 7,052 | 5,717 | 1,337 | 23.4 | % | 1,335 | 23.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
Fuel sales to third parties |
7,447 | | 7,447 | 5,997 | 1,450 | 24.2 | % | 1,450 | 24.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
Demurrage and storage |
3,450 | | 3,450 | 3,039 | 411 | 13.5 | % | 411 | 13.5 | % | ||||||||||||||
Car repair services |
1,680 | | 1,680 | 1,361 | 319 | 23.4 | % | 319 | 23.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
Other operating income |
8,453 | 27 | 8,426 | 6,051 | 2,402 | 39.7 | % | 2,375 | 39.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total non-freight revenues |
$ | 48,051 | $ | 44 | $ | 48,007 | $ | 40,376 | $ | 7,675 | 19.0 | % | $ | 7,631 | 18.9 | % | ||||||||
The following information discusses the significant changes in non-freight revenues from existing operations.
Railcar switching revenues increased $1.7 million, or 9.6%, of which $1.2 million was from an increase in intra-plant switching, primarily at GWA, and $0.5 million was due to an increase from intra-terminal switching.
Car hire and rental income increased $1.3 million, or 23.4%, primarily due to increased locomotive and freight car rental at GWA.
Fuel sales to third parties increased $1.5 million, or 24.2%, due to increased volumes, primarily as a result of a new customer and the strengthening of the Australian dollar in relation to the U.S. dollar.
Other operating income increased $2.4 million, or 39.2%, primarily due to $1.3 million from GWA crewing and other ancillary charges and an increase in all other operating revenues of approximately $1.1 million.
Operating Expenses
Overview
Operating expenses were $101.6 million in the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $97.9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $3.6 million, or 3.7%. The increase was attributable to an increase of $3.4 million from existing operations and $0.2 million from new operations.
23
Operating Ratios
Our operating ratio, defined as total operating expenses divided by total operating revenues, improved to 77.4% in the three months ended September 30, 2007, from 80.9% in the three months ended September 30, 2006, primarily as a result of $5.5 million of gains on the sale of assets in the third quarter of 2007.
The following table sets forth
Operating Expense Comparison
Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
$ |
Percentage of
Operating Revenues |
$ |
Percentage of
Operating Revenues |
|||||||||||
Labor and benefits |
$ | 41,318 | 31.5 | % | $ | 37,227 | 30.8 | % | ||||||
Equipment rents |
8,652 | 6.6 | % | 9,029 | 7.5 | % | ||||||||
Purchased services |
11,057 | 8.4 | % | 10,076 | 8.3 | % | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
7,969 | 6.1 | % | 7,307 | 6.0 | % | ||||||||
Diesel fuel |
10,815 | 8.2 | % | 10,239 | 8.5 | % | ||||||||
Diesel fuel sold to third parties |
6,482 | 4.9 | % | 5,458 | 4.5 | % | ||||||||
Casualties and insurance |
4,589 | 3.5 | % | 3,750 | 3.1 | % | ||||||||
Materials |
6,445 | 4.9 | % | 5,720 | 4.7 | % | ||||||||
Net gain on sale of assets |
(5,450 | ) | -4.1 | % | (197 | ) | -0.2 | % | ||||||
Other expenses |
9,686 | 7.4 | % | 9,306 | 7.7 | % | ||||||||
Total operating expenses |
$ | 101,563 | 77.4 | % | $ | 97,915 | 80.9 | % | ||||||
Labor and benefits expense was $41.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $37.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $4.1 million, or 11.0%. The increase from existing operations of $4.1 million was primarily attributable to a $3.0 million increase as a result of regular wage and benefit rate increases and the impact of approximately 30 new hires, and a $1.0 million increase due to foreign currency changes.
Purchased services expense was $11.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $10.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $1.0 million, or 9.7%. The increase was primarily attributable to increased track and equipment maintenance.
Diesel fuel sold to third parties was $6.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $5.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $1.0 million, or 18.8%. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in gallons of fuel sold to third parties at GWA.
Net gain on the sale of assets was $5.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $0.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006. The net gain recognized in the three months ended September 30, 2007, included gains resulting from the sale of certain land and track related assets in the Northeast United States.
Other Income (Expense) Items
Gain On Sale of ARG
We recorded a pre-tax gain of $10.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006, related to the ARG Sale. See Note 2 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report for additional information on the ARG Sale.
24
Interest Income
Interest income was $1.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $3.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006, a decrease of $2.2 million. The decrease in interest income was primarily due to lower cash balances in the third quarter of 2007, due to the payment in the second quarter of 2007 of $95.6 million for Australian taxes that resulted from the ARG Sale in the second quarter of 2006, and the use of cash to repurchase our Class A Common Stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $3.6 million in the three months ended September 30, 2007, which was consistent with interest expense of $3.5 in the three months ended September 30, 2006.
Provision for Income Taxes
Our effective income tax rate in the three months ended September 30, 2007, was 15.0% compared with 28.0% in the three months ended September 30, 2006. The decrease in three months ended September 30, 2007 was primarily attributable to incremental U.S. foreign tax credits of $5.8 million associated with the ARG Sale in 2006. The determination of the amount of U.S. foreign tax credits was dependent upon the payment of the foreign tax and an election made concurrent with the filing of the 2006 U.S. tax return, which occurred in June and September 2007, respectively. In the three months ended September 30, 2007, we recorded $2.6 million of additional prior year U.S. taxes relative to the ARG Sale. We assessed the effect of the $2.6 million of additional taxes on the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole and determined that the effect was not material to any period.
For the three months ended September 30, 2007, as a result of ceasing our Mexican rail operations and initiating formal liquidation proceedings, we recorded a net U.S. tax benefit of $11.6 million within the loss from discontinued operations. We also have a related capital loss carryforward which can be used to reduce the impact of future capital gains. The tax benefit associated with this carryforward of approximately $8.0 million is fully offset by a valuation allowance. This capital loss carryforward expires in 2012.
Income and Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations
Income from continuing operations in the three months ended September 30, 2007, was $23.0 million, compared with income from continuing operations of $24.0 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006. Our diluted EPS from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2007 were $0.60 with 38.5 million shares outstanding, compared with diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.56 with 42.4 million shares outstanding in the third quarter of 2006. The third quarter of 2007 included gains from the sale of assets and foreign tax credits, which increased diluted EPS from continuing operations by $0.17. The third quarter of 2006 included certain gains and charges, primarily related to the ARG Sale, which increased diluted EPS from continuing operations by $0.14. Basic EPS from continuing operations were $0.68 with 34.0 million shares outstanding in the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared with basic EPS of $0.64 with 37.7 million shares outstanding in the three months ended September 30, 2006.
Loss and Loss Per Share from Discontinued Operations
During the third quarter of 2007, we ceased our Mexican rail operations and initiated formal liquidation proceedings of FCCMs operations. The SCT has contested the resignation of the concession and has seized substantially all of FCCMs operating assets in response to the resignation. As a result of this action, we recorded a pre-tax loss in the third quarter of 2007 of $18.5 million, including non-cash charges of $14.4 million. The non-cash charges included $8.9 million related to the write-down of FCCMs operating assets and a $5.5 million loss from the cumulative foreign currency translation into U.S. dollars of the original investment and FCCMs reported earnings since 1999. This pre-tax loss was partially offset by a tax benefit of $11.6 million primarily related to worthless stock and bad debt deductions to be claimed in the United States.
Our Mexican operations described above are presented as discontinued operations and its operations are, therefore, excluded from continuing operations in accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (SFAS 144). The operations and cash flows of FCCM are being eliminated from our ongoing operations and we will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of FCCM.
For the three months ended September 30, 2007, in connection with the shut down of FCCMs rail operations, we recorded $2.5 million of restructuring and other related charges within loss from discontinued operations. These restructuring and other related charges consisted of $1.0 million related to early lease termination fees, $0.7 million for severance and termination benefits in accordance with SFAS No. 112, Employers Accounting for Postemployement Benefits (SFAS 112), and $0.8 million of other expenses directly related to the liquidation.
25
Loss from discontinued operations in the three months ended September 30, 2007, was $6.9 million, compared with a loss from discontinued operations of $36.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006. The loss from discontinued operations in the three months ended September 30, 2006, included a non-cash charge of $33.1 million ($34.1 million after-tax) reflecting the write-down of non-current assets and related effects of FCCM. Our diluted loss per share from discontinued operations in the third quarter of 2007 were $0.18 with 38.5 million shares outstanding, compared with diluted loss per share from discontinued operations of $0.85 with 42.4 million shares outstanding in the third quarter of 2006. Basic loss per share from discontinued operations was $0.20 with 34.0 million shares outstanding in the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared with basic loss per share from discontinued operations of $0.96 with 37.7 million shares outstanding in the three months ended September 30, 2006.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared with Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006
Operating Revenues
Overview
Operating revenues were $381.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $333.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $48.6 million, or 14.6%. The $48.6 million increase in operating revenues consisted of $35.1 million in revenues from new operations and an increase of $13.5 million, or 4.1%, in revenues from existing operations. New operations consist of current year results of operations from recent acquisitions that did not exist in our consolidated financial results for a comparable period in the prior year. The $13.5 million increase in revenues from existing operations included an increase of $13.7 million in non-freight revenues, partially offset by a decrease of $0.2 million in freight revenues. Operating revenues in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, benefited $6.5 million from the appreciation of the Australian dollar and Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. The following table breaks down our operating revenues into new operations and existing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | 2007-2006 Variance Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
Operations |
New
Operations |
Existing
Operations |
Total
Operations |
Increase in Total
Operations |
Increase
(Decrease) in Existing Operations |
||||||||||||||||||||
Freight revenues |
$ | 247,047 | $ | 11,056 | $ | 235,991 | $ | 236,162 | $ | 10,885 | 4.6 | % | $ | (171 | ) | -0.1 | % | ||||||||
Non-freight revenues |
134,578 | 24,074 | 110,504 | 96,819 | 37,759 | 39.0 | % | 13,685 | 14.1 | % | |||||||||||||||
Total operating revenues |
$ | 381,625 | $ | 35,130 | $ | 346,495 | $ | 332,981 | $ | 48,644 | 14.6 | % | $ | 13,514 | 4.1 | % | |||||||||
26
Freight Revenues
The following table compares freight revenues, carloads and average freight revenues per carload for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands, except carloads and average freight revenues
Freight Revenues and Carloads Comparison by Commodity Group
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
Freight Revenues | Carloads |
Average
Freight Revenues Per Carload |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity Group |
2007 |
% of
Total |
2006 |
% of
Total |
2007 |
% of
Total |
2006 |
% of
Total |
2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||
Pulp & Paper |
$ | 51,749 | 20.9 | % | $ | 51,976 | 22.0 | % | 92,604 | 15.2 | % | 104,267 | 16.9 | % | $ | 559 | $ | 498 | ||||||||||
Coal, Coke & Ores |
44,303 | 17.9 | % | 47,075 | 19.9 | % | 143,850 | 23.6 | % | 150,826 | 24.4 | % | 308 | 312 | ||||||||||||||
Lumber & Forest Products |
27,704 | 11.2 | % | 27,288 | 11.6 | % | 65,354 | 10.7 | % | 70,574 | 11.4 | % | 424 | 387 | ||||||||||||||
Farm & Food Products |
27,561 | 11.2 | % | 19,206 | 8.1 | % | 57,424 | 9.4 | % | 54,236 | 8.8 | % | 480 | 354 | ||||||||||||||
Metals |
27,456 | 11.1 | % | 27,340 | 11.6 | % | 59,857 | 9.8 | % | 64,328 | 10.4 | % | 459 | 425 | ||||||||||||||
Minerals and Stone |
23,269 | 9.4 | % | 19,196 | 8.1 | % | 92,173 | 15.1 | % | 67,993 | 11.0 | % | 252 | 282 | ||||||||||||||
Chemicals-Plastics |
19,297 | 7.8 | % | 18,825 | 8.0 | % | 31,037 | 5.1 | % | 32,310 | 5.2 | % | 622 | 583 | ||||||||||||||
Petroleum Products |
11,751 | 4.8 | % | 10,426 | 4.4 | % | 18,715 | 3.1 | % | 18,150 | 2.9 | % | 628 | 574 | ||||||||||||||
Autos & Auto Parts |
5,317 | 2.2 | % | 4,935 | 2.1 | % | 10,552 | 1.7 | % | 10,120 | 1.6 | % | 504 | 488 | ||||||||||||||
Intermodal |
856 | 0.3 | % | 1,310 | 0.6 | % | 1,680 | 0.3 | % | 3,058 | 0.5 | % | 510 | 428 | ||||||||||||||
Other |
7,784 | 3.2 | % | 8,585 | 3.6 | % | 36,164 | 6.0 | % | 41,929 | 6.9 | % | 215 | 205 | ||||||||||||||
Total freight revenues |
$ | 247,047 | 100.0 | % | $ | 236,162 | 100.0 | % | 609,410 | 100.0 | % | 617,791 | 100.0 | % | 405 | 382 | ||||||||||||
Total carloads decreased by 8,381 carloads, or 1.4%, due to a decline of 44,142 carloads, or 7.1%, from existing operations, partially offset by an increase of 35,761 carloads from new operations.
The overall average freight revenues per carload increased 6.0% to $405. Average freight revenues per carload from existing operations increased 7.6% to $411.
The following table sets forth freight revenues by new operations and existing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | 2007-2006 Variance Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Freight revenues |
Total
Operations |
New
Operations |
Existing
Operations |
Total
Operations |
Increase
(Decrease) in Total Operations |
Increase
(Decrease) in Existing Operations |
||||||||||||||||||||
Pulp & Paper |
$ | 51,749 | $ | 555 | $ | 51,194 | $ | 51,976 | $ | (227 | ) | -0.4 | % | $ | (782 | ) | -1.5 | % | ||||||||
Coal, Coke & Ores |
44,303 | 65 | 44,238 | 47,075 | (2,772 | ) | -5.9 | % | (2,837 | ) | -6.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Lumber & Forest Products |
27,704 | 23 | 27,681 | 27,288 | 416 | 1.5 | % | 393 | 1.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Farm & Food Products |
27,561 | 6,555 | 21,006 | 19,206 | 8,355 | 43.5 | % | 1,800 | 9.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Metals |
27,456 | 92 | 27,364 | 27,340 | 116 | 0.4 | % | 24 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Minerals and Stone |
23,269 | 3,515 | 19,754 | 19,196 | 4,073 | 21.2 | % | 558 | 2.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Chemicals-Plastics |
19,297 | 82 | 19,215 | 18,825 | 472 | 2.5 | % | 390 | 2.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Petroleum Products |
11,751 | 15 | 11,736 | 10,426 | 1,325 | 12.7 | % | 1,310 | 12.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Autos & Auto Parts |
5,317 | | 5,317 | 4,935 | 382 | 7.7 | % | 382 | 7.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Intermodal |
856 | | 856 | 1,310 | (454 | ) | -34.7 | % | (454 | ) | -34.7 | % | ||||||||||||||
Other |
7,784 | 154 | 7,630 | 8,585 | (801 | ) | -9.3 | % | (955 | ) | -11.1 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total freight revenues |
$ | 247,047 | $ | 11,056 | $ | 235,991 | $ | 236,162 | $ | 10,885 | 4.6 | % | $ | (171 | ) | -0.1 | % | |||||||||
The following information discusses the significant changes in freight revenues by commodity group from existing operations.
27
Pulp and paper revenues decreased by $0.8 million, or 1.5%. The decrease consisted of $6.5 million due to a carload decrease of 11,669, or 11.2%, partially offset by $5.7 million due to a 10.9% increase in average revenues per carload. The carload decrease was primarily due to higher truck competition resulting from Class I rate increases and a weak newsprint market.
Coal, coke and ores revenues decreased by $2.8 million, or 6.0%. The decrease consisted of $2.1 million due to a carload decrease of 6,976, or 4.6%, and $0.7 million due to a 1.5% decrease in average revenues per carload. The carload decrease was primarily due to scheduled maintenance outages at two electricity generating facilities served by us. The maintenance at both plants was completed in mid-May. In addition, we experienced stronger shipments of coal in the first quarter of 2006 to electricity generating facilities to replenish their inventories which had been reduced in 2005 as a result of service interruptions and milder weather. In the first quarter of 2007, volumes were more representative of normal levels.
Lumber and forest products revenues increased by $0.4 million, or 1.4%. The increase consisted of $2.6 million due to a 9.6% increase in average revenues per carload, partially offset by $2.2 million due to a carload decrease of 5,231, or 7.4%.
Farm and food products revenues increased by $1.8 million, or 9.4%. The increase consisted of $4.5 million due to a 23.4% increase in average revenues per carload, partially offset by $2.7 million due to a carload decrease of 6,158, or 11.4%. The carload decrease was primarily due to GWAs drought affected grain traffic. Because rates for GWAs grain traffic have both a fixed and variable component, the grain traffic decrease resulted in higher average revenues per carload.
Petroleum products revenues increased $1.3 million, or 12.6%. The increase consisted of $1.0 million due to a 9.2% increase in average revenues per carload and $0.3 million due to a carload increase of 565, or 3.1%.
Other revenues decreased $1.0 million, or 11.1%. The decrease consisted of $1.4 million due to a carload decrease of 6,432, or 15.3%, partially offset by $0.4 million due to a 5.0% increase in average revenues per carload. The carload decrease was primarily the result of the discontinuation of haulage traffic on one of our rail lines.
All remaining commodities combined increased by a net $0.9 million, or 1.3%.
Non-Freight Revenues
Non-freight revenues were $134.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $96.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $37.8 million, or 39.0%. The $37.8 million increase in non-freight revenues consisted of $24.1 million in non-freight revenues from new operations and $13.7 million in non-freight revenues from existing operations.
The following table compares non-freight revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):
Non-Freight Revenues Comparison
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
2007 | % of Total | 2006 | % of Total | |||||||||
Railcar switching |
$ | 57,515 | 42.7 | % | $ | 47,111 | 48.7 | % | ||||
Car hire and rental income |
20,005 | 14.9 | % | 14,818 | 15.3 | % | ||||||
Fuel sales to third parties |
19,120 | 14.2 | % | 7,757 | 8.0 | % | ||||||
Demurrage and storage |
10,225 | 7.6 | % | 8,935 | 9.2 | % | ||||||
Car repair services |
4,856 | 3.6 | % | 4,265 | 4.4 | % | ||||||
Other operating income |
22,857 | 17.0 | % | 13,933 | 14.4 | % | ||||||
Total non-freight revenues |
$ | 134,578 | 100.0 | % | $ | 96,819 | 100.0 | % | ||||
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The following table sets forth non-freight revenues by new operations and existing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):
2007 | 2006 | 2007-2006 Variance Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-freight revenues |
Total
Operations |
New
Operations |
Existing
Operations |
Total
Operations |
Increase in Total
Operations |
Increase in
Existing Operations |
||||||||||||||||||
Railcar switching |
$ | 57,515 | $ | 5,381 | $ | 52,134 | $ | 47,111 | $ | 10,404 | 22.1 | % | $ | 5,023 | 10.7 | % | ||||||||
Car hire and rental income |
20,005 | 4,089 | 15,916 | 14,818 | 5,187 | 35.0 | % | 1,098 | 7.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
Fuel sales to third parties |
19,120 | 9,561 | 9,559 | 7,757 | 11,363 | 146.5 | % | 1,802 | 23.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
Demurrage and storage |
10,225 | 25 | 10,200 | 8,935 | 1,290 | 14.4 | % | 1,265 | 14.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
Car repair services |
4,856 | | 4,856 | 4,265 | 591 | 13.9 | % | 591 | 13.9 | % | ||||||||||||||
Other operating income |
22,857 | 5,018 | 17,839 | 13,933 | 8,924 | 64.0 | % | 3,906 | 28.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total non-freight revenues |
$ | 134,578 | $ | 24,074 | $ | 110,504 | $ | 96,819 | $ | 37,759 | 39.0 | % | $ | 13,685 | 14.1 | % | ||||||||
The following information discusses the significant changes in non-freight revenues from existing operations.
Railcar switching revenues increased $5.0 million, or 10.7%, of which $1.4 million was due to an increase from intra-plant switching due to new customers and rate increases, $1.9 million was due to an increase from intra-terminal switching, primarily at U.S. ports served by our railroads and $1.4 million from GWA intra-plant switching.
Car hire and rental income increased $1.1 million, or 7.4%, primarily due to increased customer demand.
Fuel sales to third parties increased $1.8 million, or 23.2%, primarily due to increased sales volumes, primarily as a result of a new customer, and the strengthening of the Australian dollar in relation to the U.S. dollar.
Demurrage and storage revenues increased $1.3 million, or 14.2%, primarily due to increased demurrage from existing customers, mainly due to the weakness of the paper industry in the Northeastern United States.
Other operating income increased $3.9 million, or 28.0%, primarily due to $2.0 million from GWA crewing and other ancillary charges and an increase in all other operating revenues of approximately $1.9 million.
Operating Expenses
Overview
Operating expenses were $307.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $270.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $37.1 million, or 13.7%. The increase was attributable to $29.4 million from new operations and an increase of $7.7 million from existing operations.
Operating Ratios
Our operating ratio, defined as total operating expenses divided by total operating revenues, improved to 80.5% in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, from 81.0% in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, primarily as a result of $5.5 million of gains on the sale of assets in the third quarter of 2007.
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The following table sets forth a comparison of our operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2007
Operating Expense Comparison
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
$ |
Percentage of
Operating Revenues |
$ |
Percentage of
Operating Revenues |
|||||||||||
Labor and benefits |
$ | 122,978 | 32.2 | % | $ | 112,682 | 33.8 | % | ||||||
Equipment rents |
27,122 | 7.1 | % | 26,478 | 8.0 | % | ||||||||
Purchased services |
31,702 | 8.3 | % | 23,691 | 7.1 | % | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
23,515 | 6.2 | % | 20,405 | 6.1 | % | ||||||||
Diesel fuel |
31,917 | 8.4 | % | 30,267 | 9.1 | % | ||||||||
Diesel fuel sold to third parties |
16,680 | 4.4 | % | 7,089 | 2.1 | % | ||||||||
Casualties and insurance |
12,485 | 3.3 | % | 9,406 | 2.8 | % | ||||||||
Materials |
18,283 | 4.8 | % | 15,775 | 4.7 | % | ||||||||
Net gain on sale of assets |
(5,914 | ) | -1.6 | % | (243 | ) | -0.1 | % | ||||||
Gain on insurance recovery |
| 0.0 | % | (1,937 | ) | -0.6 | % | |||||||
Other expenses |
28,496 | 7.4 | % | 26,565 | 8.0 | % | ||||||||
Total operating expenses |
$ | 307,264 | 80.5 | % | $ | 270,178 | 81.0 | % | ||||||
Labor and benefits expense was $123.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $112.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $10.3 million, or 9.1%. The increase was attributable to $7.7 million from new operations and an increase of $2.6 million from existing operations. The increase of $2.6 million from existing operations was primarily attributable to $7.0 million due to regular wage and benefit rate increases, and the impact of approximately 30 new hires and $0.9 million due to foreign currency changes, partially offset by $6.0 million in bonus and stock option expense related to the ARG Sale in the nine months ended September 30, 2006.
Purchased services expense was $31.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $23.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $8.0 million, or 33.8%. The increase was attributable to $7.0 million from new operations and an increase of $1.0 million from existing operations. The increase in existing operations was primarily attributable to contract maintenance of way and equipment maintenance services.
Depreciation and amortization expense was $23.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $20.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $3.1 million, or 15.2%. The increase was attributable to $1.2 million from new operations and an increase of $1.9 million from existing operations. The increase in existing operations was primarily attributable to increased capital expenditures in 2006 and 2007.
Diesel fuel expense was $31.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $30.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $1.6 million, or 5.5%. The increase was attributable to $1.4 million from new operations and an increase of $0.2 million from existing operations.
Diesel fuel sold to third parties was $16.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $7.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $9.6 million. The increase was attributable to an increase in gallons of fuel sold to third parties at GWA as well as the full year impact of our GWA operations.
Casualties and insurance expense was $12.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $9.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $3.1 million, or 32.7%. The increase was due to a $2.4 million increase in existing operations and $0.7 million from new operations. The increase in existing operations was primarily due to an increase of $1.6 million in derailment expense and $0.8 million from a tunnel fire on one of our railroads.
30
Materials expense was $18.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $15.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $2.5 million, or 15.9%. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $2.2 million from existing operations and $0.3 million from new operations. The increase in existing operations was primarily due to increased track and bridge repairs to one of our rail lines.
Net gain on sale of assets was $5.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $0.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The gain of $5.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, included gains resulting from the sale of certain land and track related assets in the Northeast United States.
Gain on insurance recovery of $1.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, was attributable to an insurance receivable for the replacement of a bridge destroyed by fire at one of our railroads.
Other expenses were $28.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $26.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $1.9 million. The increase was attributable to $1.6 million from new operations, primarily GWA, and an increase of $0.3 million from existing operations.
Other Income (Expense) Items
Gain On Sale of ARG
We recorded a pre-tax gain of $218.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, related to the ARG Sale. See Note 2 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report for additional information on the ARG Sale.
Investment Loss - Bolivia
We recorded an investment loss of $5.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, related to our South American equity investment. See Note 2 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report for additional information on our Bolivia investment.
Equity Loss of Unconsolidated International Affiliates
In the nine months ended September 30, 2006, equity loss of unconsolidated international affiliates was $10.8 million primarily due to our investment in ARG, including a $16.2 million pre-tax impairment loss, representing our 50% share of the impairment loss recorded by ARG. As previously disclosed, we sold our equity investment in ARG and discontinued equity accounting for our Bolivia investment during the second quarter of 2006.
Interest Income
Interest income was $7.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $4.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $2.6 million. The increase in interest income was primarily due to the investment of a portion of the cash proceeds from the ARG Sale.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $10.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with $12.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, a decrease of $1.9 million, or 15.0%, primarily due to the reduction of debt resulting from the use of a portion of the cash proceeds from the ARG Sale.
Provision for Income Taxes
Our effective income tax rate in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, was 23.6% compared with 39.0% in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The decrease in 2007 was primarily attributable to incremental U.S. foreign tax credits of $5.8 million associated with the ARG Sale in 2006. The determination of the amount of U.S. foreign tax credits was dependent upon the payment of the foreign tax and an election made concurrent with the filing of the 2006 U.S. tax return, which occurred in June and September 2007, respectively. In the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we recorded $2.6 million of additional prior year U.S. taxes relative to the ARG Sale. We assessed the effect of the $2.6 million of additional taxes on the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole and determined that the effect was not material to any period.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, as a result of ceasing our Mexican rail operations and initiating formal liquidation proceedings, we recorded a net U.S. tax benefit of $11.3 million within the loss from discontinued operations. We also have a related capital loss carryforward which can be used to reduce the impact of future capital gains. The tax benefit associated with this carryforward of approximately $8.0 million is fully offset by a valuation allowance. This capital loss carryforward expires in 2012.
31
Income and Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations
Income from continuing operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, was $54.7 million, compared with income from continuing operations of $156.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Our diluted EPS from continuing operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, were $1.36 with 40.2 million shares outstanding, compared with diluted EPS from continuing operations of $3.69, with 42.5 million shares outstanding in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The nine months ended September 30, 2007, also included gains from the sale of assets and foreign tax credits, which increased diluted EPS by $0.16. The nine months ended September 30, 2006, also included certain gains and charges, primarily related to the ARG Sale, which increased diluted EPS by $2.56. Basic EPS from continuing operations were $1.53 with 35.7 million shares outstanding in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with basic EPS from continuing operations of $4.17 with 37.6 million shares outstanding in the nine months ended September 30, 2006.
Loss and Loss Per Share from Discontinued Operations
During the third quarter of 2007, we ceased our Mexican rail operations and initiated formal liquidation proceedings of FCCMs operations. The SCT has contested the resignation of the concession and has seized substantially all of FCCMs operating assets in response to the resignation. As a result of this action, we recorded a pre-tax loss in the third quarter of 2007 of $18.5 million, including non-cash charges of $14.4 million. The non-cash charges included $8.9 million primarily related to the write-down of FCCMs operating assets and a $5.5 million loss from the cumulative foreign currency translation into U.S. dollars of the original investment and FCCMs reported earnings since 1999. This pre-tax loss was partially offset by a tax benefit of $11.6 million primarily related to worthless stock and bad debt deductions to be claimed in the United States.
Our Mexican operations described above are presented as discontinued operations and its operations are, therefore, excluded from continuing operations in accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (SFAS 144). The operations and cash flows of FCCM are being eliminated from our ongoing operations and we will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of FCCM.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, in connection with the liquidation of FCCM, we recorded $5.2 million of restructuring and other related charges within loss from discontinued operations. These restructuring and other related charges consisted of $3.2 million for severance and termination benefits in accordance with SFAS 112, $1.0 million related to early lease termination fees and $1.0 million for other expenses directly related to the liquidation. We also recorded a charge to interest expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2007, of $0.6 million due to the recognition of previously deferred financing fees.
Loss from discontinued operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, was $13.5 million, compared with a loss from discontinued operations of $37.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The loss from discontinued operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, included a non-cash charge of $33.1 million ($34.1 million after-tax) reflecting the write-down of non-current assets and related effects of FCCM. Our diluted loss per share from discontinued operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, were $0.34 with 40.2 million shares outstanding, compared with diluted loss per share from discontinued operations of $0.87 with 42.4 million shares outstanding in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Basic loss per share from discontinued operations were $0.38 with 35.7 million shares outstanding in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with basic loss per share from discontinued operations of $0.99 with 37.6 million shares outstanding in the nine months ended September 30, 2006.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we generated $5.6 million in cash from operating activities from continuing operations, compared with $64.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The decrease in 2007 from 2006 was primarily due to the June 2007 payment of $95.6 million for Australian taxes related to the ARG Sale, partially offset by the sourcing of cash from working capital.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, our cash flows used in investing activities from continuing operations were $31.6 million, compared with cash provided by investing activities of $255.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, primary drivers of cash used in investing activities from continuing operations were $41.4 million of cash used for capital expenditures, net of $15.6 million received from current year government grants, and $4.3
32
million in cash received from government grants for capital projects completed in 2006, partially offset by $1.7 million in insurance proceeds for capital projects completed in 2006 and $8.1 million in cash proceeds from the disposition of property and equipment. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, primary drivers of the cash flows provided by investing activities were $306.7 million in proceeds received from the ARG Sale and $0.3 million in cash proceeds from the disposition of property and equipment, partially offset by $30.3 million of net cash used for capital expenditures and $21.2 million in cash paid for acquisitions.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, our cash flows used in financing activities from continuing operations were $143.6 million and $90.2 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the primary use of cash for financing activities was treasury stock repurchases totaling $171.0 million, partially offset by a net increase in outstanding debt of $23.5 million, $3.0 million for stock purchases by employees and $0.8 million from the excess income tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, primary uses of cash for financing activities were a net decrease in outstanding debt of $89.7 million and treasury stock repurchases of $11.2 million, partially offset by $6.3 million for stock purchases by employees and $4.4 million from the excess income tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements.
At September 30, 2007, we had long-term debt, including current portion, totaling $261.0 million, which comprised 38.4% of our total capitalization. At December 31, 2006, we had long-term debt, including current portion, totaling $245.7 million, which comprised 32.1% of our total capitalization. The net increase in long-term debt, including current portion in 2007, was primarily due to borrowings of $25.0 million under our $225.0 million revolving loan during the third quarter of 2007 in conjunction with the share repurchase program, partially offset by the assignment agreement we entered into with IFC and FMO as described below under Mexican Financings.
2007 Budgeted Capital Expenditures
We have budgeted $58.0 million, net of government grants, in capital expenditures in 2007, which consists of track and equipment improvements of $42.0 million, business development projects of $7.0 million and equipment lease buyouts of $9.0 million. As of September 30, 2007, we have incurred $41.4 million, net of $19.9 million received under related government grants, of the $58.0 million in budgeted capital expenditures for 2007. Of the $19.9 million of cash received under government grants, $4.3 million related to our prior year capital budget. We have historically relied primarily on cash generated from operations to fund working capital and capital expenditures relating to ongoing operations, while relying on borrowed funds and stock issuances to finance acquisitions and investments in unconsolidated affiliates. We believe that our cash flow from operations, together with amounts available under our credit facilities, will enable us to meet our liquidity and capital expenditure requirements relating to ongoing operations for at least the duration of the credit facilities.
U.S. Credit Facilities
As of September 30, 2007, our $225.0 million revolving loan, which matures in 2010, consisted of $25.0 million of outstanding debt, letter of credit guarantees of $0.1 million and $199.9 million of unused borrowing capacity. The $199.9 million unused borrowing capacity is available for general corporate purposes including acquisitions. Our credit facilities require us to comply with certain financial covenants all of which we were in compliance with as of September 30, 2007. See Note 9 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, for additional information regarding our credit facilities.
Mexican Financings
As previously disclosed, our Mexican subsidiaries, Servicios and FCCM, were parties to certain amended loan agreements and promissory notes (collectively, the Loan Agreements) and related documents, and we were a party to certain related documents, with the IFC and FMO. The Loan Agreements and related documents set forth the terms of Servicios existing loans from IFC and FMO, as well as our support obligations related to Servicios obligations under the Loan Agreements. Servicios obligations under the Loan Agreements were secured by essentially all of the assets of Servicios and FCCM, and a pledge of the shares of Servicios and FCCM held by us. Pursuant to a guarantee agreement related to the Loan Agreements, we guaranteed $8.9 million of Servicios debt payment obligations under the Loan Agreements, of which we previously paid approximately $1.9 million on Servicios behalf in 2006. IFC also received an equity interest in Servicios of 12.7% in connection with the Loan Agreements. Pursuant to an existing put option agreement among us, IFC and Servicios dated as of December 5, 2000, as amended as of March 15, 2005, IFC had the right to sell to us its 12.7% equity interest in Servicios, and on March 3, 2006, IFC notified us of its intention to exercise this put option.
33
On June 8, 2007, we entered into an assignment agreement with IFC and FMO, pursuant to which, among other things, (i) IFC and FMO demanded payment of, and we paid, approximately $7.0 million due under the guarantee agreement related to the Loan Agreements and (ii) we purchased and assumed the remaining loan amount outstanding under the Loan Agreements for a price equal to the principal balance plus accrued interest, or approximately $7.3 million. As a result, we recorded a $0.6 million interest charge due to the recognition of previously deferred financing fees related to the Loan Agreements during the second quarter of 2007. Also on June 8, 2007, we, IFC and Servicios entered into a put option exercise agreement pursuant to which IFC sold its 12.7% equity interest in Servicios to us for $1.0 million, plus an additional $0.4 million if FCCM is still in business on June 8, 2008. In addition, on June 8, 2007, we, IFC, FMO, Servicios and FCCM entered into a release agreement whereby the parties agreed to release and waive all claims and rights held against one another that existed or arose prior to the date thereof.
Neither the payment default discussed above, nor the entering into the agreements described above and the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, resulted in a default under our outstanding debt obligations.
Impact of Foreign Currencies on Operating Revenues
In the nine months ended September 30, 2007, foreign currency translation had a positive impact on our consolidated operating revenues primarily due to the strengthening of the Australian dollar. The following table presents the effect of translating our nine months of 2007 reported operating revenues at the average foreign currency exchange rates in effect for the first nine months of 2006 (dollars in thousands):
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 |
||||||||||
As Reported |
Currency
Translation Impact |
Revenues
Excluding Currency Impact |
||||||||
U.S. Operating Revenues |
$ | 271,474 | $ | | $ | 271,474 | ||||
Australia Operating Revenues |
65,908 | (5,593 | ) | 60,315 | ||||||
Canada Operating Revenues |
44,243 | (908 | ) | 43,335 | ||||||
Total Operating Revenues |
$ | 381,625 | $ | (6,501 | ) | $ | 375,124 | |||
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
An off-balance sheet arrangement includes any contractual obligation, agreement or transaction involving an unconsolidated entity under which we 1) have made guarantees, 2) have a retained or contingent interest in transferred assets, or a similar arrangement, that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to that entity for such assets, 3) have an obligation under certain derivative instruments or 4) have any obligation arising out of a material variable interest in such an entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to us, or that engages in leasing or hedging services with us.
Our off-balance sheet arrangements consist of operating lease obligations and guarantee arrangements. For additional information on our operating lease obligations and guarantee arrangements see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments in our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have no other types of off-balance sheet arrangements that we believe may have a material current or future adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, (SFAS 157), which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and for interim periods within those years. This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands the related disclosure requirements. We are currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS 157.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of SFAS No. 115 (SFAS 159). SFAS 159 permits, but does not require, entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The standard provides entities the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.
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SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those years. We are currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS 159.
ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
In 2004, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement and swapped our variable LIBOR interest rate on long-term debt for a fixed interest rate. At December 31, 2006, the notional amount under the agreement was $21.4 million and represented a liability with a fair value of less than $0.1 million. The swap expired in September 2007.
On February 13, 2006, we entered into two foreign currency forward contracts with a total notional amount of $190 million to hedge a portion of our investment in 50% of the equity of ARG. The contracts, which expired in May 2006, were extended to June 1, 2006, and protected the hedged portion of our net investment from exposure to large fluctuations in the U.S. Dollar/Australian Dollar exchange rate. At expiration, excluding the effects of fluctuations in the exchange rate on our net investment, we recorded a loss of $4.3 million from these contracts, which was included in the net gain on the ARG Sale in the second quarter of 2006.
ITEM 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
Disclosure Controls and Procedures We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2007. Based upon that evaluation and subject to the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2007, the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures provided reasonable assurance that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting During the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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ITEM 1. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
Mexico
On June 25, 2007, FCCM formally notified the SCT of its intent to cease its rail operations and to resign its 30-year concession from the Mexican government. In response to this notification, on July 24, 2007, the SCT issued an official letter informing FCCM that the SCT did not accept the resignation of the concession. On August 8, 2007, the SCT issued another official letter to initiate a proceeding to impose sanctions on FCCM. The proposed sanctions are based, in part, on allegations that FCCM has violated the Railroad Service Law in Mexico and the terms of its concession. On August 30, 2007, FCCM filed a brief with the SCT that challenged the proposed sanctions and introduced evidence supporting FCCMs right to resign its concession. On September 21, 2007, FCCM also filed a proceeding in the Tax and Administrative Federal Court in Mexico seeking an annulment of the SCTs July 24, 2007 official letter and recognition of FCCMs right to resign its concession. The SCT has also seized substantially all of FCCMs operating assets in response to FCCMs resignation of the concession. On September 19, 2007, FCCM filed a proceeding in the Second District Court in Merida (District Court) challenging the SCTs seizure of its operating assets as unconstitutional. The District Court admitted the proceeding on October 11, 2007, and issued a provisional ruling upholding the seizure, pending a full review of the constitutional grounds for the seizure and the legality of the SCTs actions. We believe the SCTs actions were unlawful and will continue to pursue appropriate legal remedies to support FCCMs resignation of the concession and to recover FCCMs operating assets.
For additional information on the Companys operations in Mexico, see Part 1 Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Changes in Operations Mexico.
Canada
In February 2002, Mr. Paquin, an individual living adjacent to the Outremont rail yard, filed a motion for authorization of class certification in the Quebec Superior Court in Canada in connection with a claim against two of the Companys subsidiaries, Genesee Rail-One Inc. (now Genesee & Wyoming Canada Inc.) and Quebec-Gatineau Railway Inc., as well as Canadian Pacific Railways (CP) (collectively, the Parties). Mr. Paquin alleged that the noise emanating from the Outremont rail yard causes significant nuisance problems to the residents living near the rail yard. The rail yard is owned by CP, part of which is leased and operated by Quebec-Gatineau Railway Inc. The plaintiff described the proposed class as comprised of all owners and tenants of dwellings who have lived within a defined section of the Outremont neighborhood in Montreal, which is adjacent to the rail yard. Mr. Paquin requested the issuance of an injunction in order to limit the hours when the rail yard may operate. The plaintiff did not allege any specific monetary claim with respect to the damages of other members of the class, but sought to recover for his trouble and inconvenience as well as for potential devaluation of the value of his property.
Following a May 2007 settlement conference, the Parties agreed on the terms of a settlement agreement whereby all outstanding claims under the class action will be dropped. The settlement agreement remains subject to review and approval by the class members and the Quebec Superior Court. We do not expect Genesee & Wyoming Canada Inc. or Quebec-Gatineau Railway to make any material financial contribution in connection with the proposed settlement.
Bolivia
As previously disclosed, we indirectly have a 12.52% equity interest in Oriental through its interest in GWC. GWC is an obligor of non-recourse debt of $12.0 million, which debt is secured by a lien on GWCs 12.52% indirect equity interest in Oriental held through GWCs subsidiary, Inversiones Ferroviarias Bolivianas Ltda. This non-recourse debt became due and payable on November 2, 2003. In 2006, certain creditors of GWC commenced court proceedings to (i) collect on their share of the debt and (ii) exercise their rights pursuant to the lien. In addition, we hold a 10.37% indirect interest in Oriental through other companies. We do not expect the commencement of court proceedings to have any impact on this remaining 10.37% interest. We do not expect these proceedings to have a material effect on our financial statements.
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Other
In addition to the lawsuits set forth above, from time to time we are a defendant in certain lawsuits resulting from our operations. Management believes that we have adequate provisions in the financial statements for any expected liabilities that may result from disposition of pending lawsuits. Nevertheless, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties and unfavorable rulings could occur. Were an unfavorable ruling to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact to our results of operations, financial position or liquidity as of and for the period in which the ruling occurs.
ITEM 1A. | RISK FACTORS |
Set forth below are updates to certain risk factors that were previously disclosed in our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as an additional risk factor that arose during the three months ended September 30, 2007. For further explanation of the additional factors affecting our business, please refer to the Risk Factors section in Item 1A of our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We are subject to significant governmental regulation of our railroad operations. The failure to comply with governmental regulations could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
We are subject to governmental regulation with respect to our railroad operations and a variety of health, safety, security, labor, environmental and other matters by a significant number of federal, state and local regulatory authorities. In the U.S., these agencies include the Surface Transportation Board (STB), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of the DOT, other federal agencies (including the Department of Homeland Security) and state departments of transportation. In Australia, we are subject to both Commonwealth and state regulations. In Canada, we are subject to regulation by the Canada Transportation Agency, Transport Canada and the regulatory departments of the provincial governments of Quebec and Ontario. In Mexico, we are subject to regulation by the SCT. Our failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
Changes to the regulatory environment, if adopted, could have a significant impact our railroad operations.
There are various legislative actions being considered in the United States that modify or increase regulatory oversight of the rail industry. The majority of the actions under consideration are directed at Class I railroads; however, specific initiatives introduced in Congress in 2007 associated with competition, safety, security and labor regulations could significantly affect our operations and the cost of compliance with the proposed rules and regulations could be significant. In addition, proposed regulations may require us to obtain and maintain various licenses, permits and other authorizations, and we may not be able to do so. Federal, state and local regulatory authorities may change the regulatory framework without providing us with any recourse for the adverse effects that the changes may have on our operations. As a result, changes to the regulatory environment could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
The expiration of the short line tax credit on January 1, 2008, could materially adversely affect our effective tax rate.
On October 22, 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act (P.L. 108-357) was signed into law. The Act provides a tax credit for Class II and Class III railroads against their federal income tax based on qualified railroad track maintenance expenditures (the Short Line Tax Credit). Qualified expenditures include amounts incurred for maintaining track, including roadbed, bridges, and related track structures owned or leased by a Class II or III railroad. The credit is equal to 50% of the qualified expenditures, subject to an annual limitation of $3,500 multiplied by the number of miles of railroad track owned or leased by the Class II or Class III railroad as of the end of their tax year. The Short Line Tax Credit is applicable to tax years beginning after December 31, 2004, and before January 1, 2008, which includes calendar years 2005, 2006 and 2007. Although legislation to extend the Short Line Tax Credit was introduced in early 2007, there is no guarantee that the legislation will be approved. The Short Line Tax Credit lowers our effective tax rate on continuing operations by up to 10%. If the Short Line Tax Credit is not extended and expires, the loss of the credit could have a material adverse effect on our effective tax rate and our reported earnings per share.
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ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
There were no unregistered sales of equity securities for the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
On November 2, 2004, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock. On February 13, 2007, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 2,000,000 additional shares of our Class A Common Stock. On August 1, 2007, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 4,000,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock. The repurchases of stock may occur from time to time in the open market, including under 10b5-1 plans, or in privately negotiated transactions. Subsequent to September 30, 2007, we have fully exhausted our existing authorizations to repurchase shares.
During the three months ended September 30, 2007, we repurchased 3,934,900 shares of our Class A Common Stock at an average cost of $26.94 per share. As of September 30, 2007, we had repurchased 6,848,930 shares of our common stock under the previously announced plans.
2007 |
(a) Total Number
of Shares (or Units) Purchased |
(b) Average
Price Paid per Share or Unit |
(c) Total Number
of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly announced Plans or Programs |
(d) Maximum Number
of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans of Program |
|||||
July 1 to July 31 |
| $ | | | 4,085,970 | ||||
August 1 to August 31 |
2,320,800 | $ | 26.37 | 2,320,800 | 1,765,170 | ||||
September 1 to September 30 |
1,614,100 | $ | 27.76 | 1,614,100 | 151,070 |
ITEM 3. | DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES |
None
ITEM 4. | SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS |
None
ITEM 5. | OTHER INFORMATION |
None
ITEM 6. | EXHIBITS |
For a list of exhibits, see INDEX TO EXHIBITS following the signature page to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
GENESEE & WYOMING INC. | ||||||||
Date: November 8, 2007 | By: | /s/ Timothy J. Gallagher | ||||||
Name: | Timothy J. Gallagher | |||||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |||||||
Date: November 8, 2007 | By: | /s/ Christopher F. Liucci | ||||||
Name: | Christopher F. Liucci | |||||||
Title: | Chief Accounting Officer and Global Controller |
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Exhibit No. |
Description of Exhibits |
|
(3) | (i) Articles of Incorporation | |
Restated Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit I to the Registrants Definitive Information Statement on Schedule 14C filed on February 23, 2004. | ||
(ii) By-laws | ||
3.1 | Amended Bylaws, effective as of August 19, 2004, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrants Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. | |
*10.1 | Form of Senior Executive Continuity Agreement | |
*10.2 | Form of Executive Continuity Agreement | |
*31.1 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer | |
*31.2 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer | |
*32.1 | Section 1350 Certifications |
* | Exhibit filed with this Report |
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Exhibit 10.1
FORM OF
CONTINUITY AGREEMENT
This Agreement (the Agreement ) is dated as of [DATE] by and between Genesee & Wyoming Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), and [NAME] (the Executive ).
WHEREAS, the Companys Board of Directors (the Board ) considers the continued services of key executives of the Company to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders; and
WHEREAS, the Board desires to assure, and has determined that it is appropriate and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of key executives of the Company to their duties of employment without personal distraction or conflict of interest in circumstances which could arise from the occurrence of a change in control of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into continuity agreements with those key executives of the Company, such agreements to set forth the severance compensation which the Company agrees under certain circumstances to pay such executives; and
WHEREAS, the Executive is a key executive of the Company and has been designated by the Committee as an executive to be offered such a continuity compensation agreement with the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:
1. Term . This Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof and remain in effect until the second anniversary thereof; provided , however , that, on such anniversary and on each successive anniversary thereof, this Agreement shall automatically renew, unless the Company provides to the Executive, in writing, at least 180 days prior to the renewal date, notice that this Agreement shall not be renewed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Change in Control (as hereinafter defined) occurs at any time prior to the termination or expiration of this Agreement in accordance with the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the second anniversary of the effective date of such Change in Control, and obligations of the parties hereunder that may be triggered by a termination of the Executives employment within such two-year period following a Change in Control shall remain in effect and be enforceable beyond such second anniversary as and to the extent provided in accordance with the terms hereof.
2. Change in Control . No compensation or other benefit shall be payable pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement unless and until either (i) a Change in Control shall have occurred while the Executive is an employee of the Company and the Executives employment by the Company thereafter shall have terminated in accordance with Section 3(a)(i) hereof or (ii) the Executives employment by the Company shall have terminated in accordance with Section 3(a)(ii) hereof prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred when:
(a) Any person as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act ), and as used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a group as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (but excluding the Company and any subsidiary and any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary (including any trustee of such plan acting as trustee)), directly or indirectly, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), of securities of the Company representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities (other than indirectly as a result of the Companys redemption of its securities); provided , however , that in no event shall a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred under this Section 2(a) so long as (i) the combined voting power of shares beneficially owned by (A) the Companys executive officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act) then in office (the Executive Officer Shares ), (B) Mortimer B. Fuller and/or Sue Fuller and their lineal descendants (the Founder Shares ), and (C) the shares beneficially owned by any other members of a group that includes the Founder Shares and/or a majority of the Executive Officer shares, exceeds 35% of the combined voting power of the Companys current outstanding securities and remains the person or group with beneficial ownership of the largest percentage of combined voting power of the Companys outstanding securities and (ii) the Company remains subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act; or
(b) The consummation of any merger or other business combination of the Company, a sale of 51% or more of the Companys assets, liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a combination of the foregoing transactions (the Transactions ) other than a Transaction immediately following which either (i) the shareholders of the Company and any trustee or fiduciary of any Company employee benefit plan immediately prior to the Transaction own at least 51% of the voting power, directly or indirectly, of (A) the surviving corporation in any such merger or other business combination; (B) the purchaser of or successor to the Companys assets; (C) both the surviving corporation and the purchaser in the event of any combination of Transactions; or (D) the parent company owning 100% of such surviving corporation, purchaser or both the surviving corporation and the purchaser, as the case may be ((A), (B), (C) or (D), as applicable, the Surviving Entity ) or (ii) the Incumbent Directors, as defined below, shall continue to serve as a majority of the board of directors of the Surviving Entity without an agreement or understanding that such Incumbent Directors will later surrender such majority; or
(c) Within any twelve-month period, the persons who were directors immediately before the beginning of such period (the Incumbent Directors ) shall cease (for any reason other than death) to constitute at least a majority of the Board or the board of directors of any successor to the Company, including any Surviving Entity. For this purpose, any director who was not a director at the beginning of such period shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director if such director was elected to the Board by, or on the recommendation of, or with the approval of, at least two-thirds of the directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors (so long as such director was not nominated by a person who commenced or threatened to commence an election contest or proxy solicitation by or on behalf of a person (other than the Board) or who has entered into an agreement to effect a Change in Control or expressed an intention to cause such a Change in Control).
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3. Termination of Employment; Definitions .
(a) Termination without Cause by the Company or for Good Reason by the Executive .
(i) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof if, on or within two years following a Change in Control, the Executives employment by the Company shall be terminated (A) by the Company for any reason other than (I) the Executives Disability or Retirement, (II) the Executives death or (III) for Cause, or (B) by the Executive with Good Reason (all terms are hereinafter defined).
(ii) In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof if the following events occur: (A) an agreement is signed that, if consummated, would result in a Change in Control, (B) the Executive is terminated without Cause by the Company (other than for any reason listed in clauses (I), (II) and (III) above) or terminates employment with Good Reason prior to the Change in Control, and (C) such termination is at the direction of the acquirer or merger partner or is otherwise in connection with the anticipated Change in Control.
(b) Disability . For purposes of this Agreement, Disability shall mean the Executives absence from the full-time performance of the Executives duties (as such duties existed immediately prior to such absence) for 180 consecutive business days, when the Executive is disabled as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness, as determined by a physician mutually agreed upon by the Executive and the Company for such purpose.
(c) Retirement . For purposes of this Agreement, Retirement shall mean the Executives voluntary termination of employment pursuant to late, normal or early retirement under a pension plan sponsored by the Company, as defined in such plan, but only if such retirement occurs prior to a termination either (i) by the Company without Cause (and not in anticipation of a termination for Cause) or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason.
(d) Cause . For purposes of this Agreement, Cause shall mean the occurrence, during the term of this Agreement, of:
(i) The willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform substantially all of his or her duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness) for a period of ten days following the delivery of a written demand for performance that specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Executive has not performed his or her duties; or
(ii) Dishonesty in the performance of the Executives duties with the Company; or
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(iii) The Executives conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a crime under the laws of the United States or any state thereof constituting (x) a felony or (y) a misdemeanor involving fraudulent conduct or moral turpitude; or
(iv) The Executives willful malfeasance or willful misconduct in connection with the Executives duties with the Company or any act or omission which is injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of the Company or its affiliates; or
(v) The Executives breach of the provisions of Section 13 of this Agreement.
Termination of the Executive for Cause shall be made by delivery to the Executive of a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the non-employee members of the Board or the board of directors of the Surviving Entity, if applicable, finding that, in the reasonable judgment of such members, the conduct or event set forth in any of clauses (i) through (v) above has occurred; provided , however , that such meeting of the Board may only occur after the Executive has received (i) prior written notice specifying the basis for such termination and the particulars thereof and (ii) with respect to clause (d)(i) only, a reasonable opportunity to cure or otherwise resolve the behavior in question.
(e) Good Reason . For purposes of this Agreement, Good Reason shall mean the occurrence, during the term of this Agreement, of any of the following without the Executives express written consent:
(i) Any material and adverse diminution in the Executives duties, titles or responsibilities with the Company from those in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (or for the purposes of Section 3(a)(ii), those in effect immediately prior to the signing of an agreement as described in 3(a)(ii)(A)); provided , however , that no such diminution shall be deemed to exist because of changes in the Executives duties, titles or responsibilities as a consequence of the Company ceasing to be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act;
(ii) Any material reduction in the Executives annual base salary, annual equity award target or annual cash bonus percentage target from the annual base salary, annual equity award target or annual cash bonus percentage target in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (or for the purposes of Section 3(a)(ii), annual base salary, annual equity award target or annual cash bonus percentage target in effect immediately prior to the signing of an agreement as described in 3(a)(ii)(A)); provided that Good Reason shall not exist if, in lieu of annual equity grants, the Executive is provided with an equivalent compensation package;
(iii) Any requirement that Executive be based at a location more than thirty-five (35) miles from the location at which the Executive was based immediately prior to the Change in Control (or for the purposes of Section 3(a)(ii), the Executives location immediately prior to the signing of an agreement as described in 3(a)(ii)(A)) (or a substantial increase in the amount of travel the Executive is required to do because of a relocation of the executive offices); and
4
(iv) Any failure by the Company to obtain from any successor to the Company, including any Surviving Entity, an agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Executive to assume and perform this Agreement, as contemplated by Section 11(a) hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a termination by the Executive shall not be deemed to have occurred for Good Reason unless the Executive provides the Company with a Notice of Termination (as defined below) referencing this Section 3(e) within sixty (60) days after the occurrence of an event giving rise to a claim of Good Reason, and the Company shall have thirty (30) days thereafter in which to cure or resolve the behavior otherwise constituting Good Reason.
(f) Notice of Termination . Any purported termination of the Executives employment (other than on account of Executives death) with the Company shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination (i) to the Executive, if such termination is by the Company, or (ii) to the Company, if such termination is by the Executive. For purposes of this Agreement, Notice of Termination shall mean a written notice that shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executives employment under the provisions so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no purported termination of Executives employment with the Company for Cause or for Good Reason shall be effective without such a Notice of Termination having been given. Any involuntary termination of the Executives employment effected by the Company without delivery of a Notice of Termination in accordance with this Section 3(f) shall be deemed a termination without Cause for purposes of this Agreement. Any resignation by the Executive effected without delivery of a Notice of Termination in accordance with this Section 3(f) shall be deemed a resignation without Good Reason.
4. Compensation Upon Termination in Connection with a Change in Control .
If the Executives employment with the Company shall be terminated in accordance with Section 3(a)(i) or (ii) (an Involuntary Termination ), the Executive shall be entitled to the following payments and benefits:
(a) Severance . The Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to the Executive a cash severance amount equal to the product of three times the sum of (i) the Executives annual base salary on the date of the Change in Control (or for the purposes of Section 3(a)(ii), base salary in effect immediately prior to the signing of an agreement as described in 3(a)(ii)(A)) and (ii) the Executives target bonus for the year in which the Involuntary Termination occurs under the Companys annual incentive compensation plan. This cash severance amount shall be payable in a lump sum, calculated without any present value discount, within fifteen business days after the Executives date of Involuntary Termination.
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(b) Additional Payments and Benefits . The Executive shall also be entitled to:
(i) A lump sum cash payment equal to the sum of (A) the Executives accrued but unpaid annual base salary through the date of Involuntary Termination and (B) the unpaid portion, if any, of bonuses previously earned by the Executive pursuant to the Companys annual incentive compensation plan with regard to any previously completed fiscal year;
(ii) A lump sum cash payment equal to a pro-rata portion of the Executives actual bonus earned through the date of Involuntary Termination, calculated based on the most recently completed calendar month, pursuant to the Companys annual incentive compensation plan;
(iii) Continued medical, dental, vision and other benefits for the Executive and his or her dependents, to be paid for by the Executive at his or her sole cost, to the extent and for the periods required under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ( COBRA );
(iv) Immediate 100% vesting of all outstanding stock options, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock units, and restricted stock granted or issued by the Company to the extent not previously vested on or following the Change in Control; and
(v) All other accrued or vested benefits in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and prompt reimbursement of any unreimbursed expenses properly incurred by the Executive in accordance with Company policies as in effect at the time such expenses were incurred (such benefits described in this subparagraph (v) hereinafter referred to as the Accrued Rights ).
All lump sum payments under this Section 4(b) shall be paid within fifteen business days after the Executives date of Involuntary Termination. Additionally, any expense reimbursements shall be paid to the Executive as soon as practicable, but in any event, no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year during which such expenses were incurred.
5. Compensation Upon Termination for Cause or Voluntary Termination .
If an Executives employment is terminated for Cause by the Company or the Executive terminates employment voluntarily, Executive will receive (a) the Executives accrued but unpaid salary through the date of termination and (b) the any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided by law or under any plan, policy or practice of the Company.
All lump sum payments under this Section 5 shall be paid within fifteen business days after the Executives date of termination. Additionally, any expense reimbursements shall be paid to the Executive as soon as practicable, but in any event, no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year during which such expenses were incurred.
6. Compensation Upon Termination for Death, Disability or Retirement .
If an Executives employment is terminated by reason of Death, Disability or Retirement prior to any other termination (other than in anticipation of a termination for Cause by the Company), Executive will receive (a) the Executives accrued but unpaid salary through the date of termination and (b) the Accrued Rights.
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All lump sum payments under this Section 6 shall be paid within fifteen business days after the Executives date of termination. Additionally, any expense reimbursements shall be paid to the Executive as soon as practicable, but in any event, no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year during which such expenses were incurred.
7. Excess Parachute Excise Tax .
(a) (i) If it is determined (as hereafter provided) that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise pursuant to or by reason of any other agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement, including without limitation any stock option, stock appreciation right or similar right, or the lapse or termination of any restriction on or the vesting or exercisability of any of the foregoing (a Payment ), would be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code , all references to specific sections of the Code include any successor provision thereto), by reason of being contingent on a change in ownership or control of the Company, within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code or to any similar tax imposed by state or local law, or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such tax or taxes, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereafter collectively referred to as the Excise Tax ), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment or payments (a Gross-Up Payment ) in an amount such that, after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax, imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(a)(i), if it shall be determined that the Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the Payment does not exceed 110% of the greatest amount that could be paid to the Executive without giving rise to any Excise Tax (the Safe Harbor Amount ), then no Gross-Up Payment shall be made to the Executive and the amounts payable under this Agreement shall be reduced so that the Payment, in the aggregate, is reduced to the Safe Harbor Amount. The reduction of the amounts payable hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by first reducing the payments under Section 4(a).
(ii) Subject to the provisions of Section 7(a)(i) hereof, all determinations required to be made under this Section 7, including whether an Excise Tax is payable by the Executive and the amount of such Excise Tax and whether a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, shall be made by the nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants (the Accounting Firm ) used by the Company prior to the Change in Control (or, if such Accounting Firm declines to serve, the Accounting Firm shall be a nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants selected by the Executive). The Accounting Firm shall be directed by the Company or the Executive to submit its preliminary determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and the Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date of termination, if applicable, and any other such time or times as may be requested by the Company or the Executive. If the
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Accounting Firm determines that any Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, the Company shall pay the required Gross-Up Payment to, or for the benefit of, the Executive within ten business days after receipt of such determination and calculations. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall, at the same time as it makes such determination, furnish the Executive with an opinion that he has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on his/her federal, state, local income or other tax return. Any determination by the Accounting Firm as to the amount of the Gross-Up Payment shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive absent a contrary determination by the Internal Revenue Service or a court of competent jurisdiction; provided , however , that no such determination shall eliminate or reduce the Companys obligation to provide any Gross-Up Payment as a result of such contrary determination. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code and the possibility of similar uncertainty regarding state or local tax law at the time of any determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments that will not have been made by the Company should have been made (an Underpayment ), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts or fails to pursue its remedies pursuant to Section 7(b) hereof and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Executive shall direct the Accounting Firm to determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and to submit its determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and the Executive as promptly as possible. Any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to, or for the benefit of, the Executive within ten business days after receipt of such determination and calculations.
(iii) The federal, state and local income or other tax returns filed by the Executive (or any filing made by a consolidated tax group that includes the Company) shall be prepared and filed on a consistent basis with the determination of the Accounting Firm with respect to the Excise Tax payable by the Executive. The Executive shall make proper payment of the amount of any Excise Tax, and at the request of the Company, provide to the Company true and correct copies (with any amendments) of his/her federal income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service and corresponding state and local tax returns, if relevant, as filed with the applicable taxing authority, and such other documents reasonably requested by the Company, evidencing such payment. If prior to the filing of the Executives federal income tax return, or corresponding state or local tax return, if relevant, the Accounting Firm determines that the amount of the Gross-Up Payment should be reduced, the Executive shall, within ten business days, pay to the Company the amount of such reduction.
(b) (i) In the event that the Internal Revenue Service claims that any Payment constitutes an excess parachute payment, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code, the Executive shall notify the Company in writing of such claim. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than ten business days after the Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid.
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The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30 day period following the date on which the Executive gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall (A) give the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim; (B) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company and reasonably satisfactory to the Executive; (C) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to effectively contest such claim; and (D) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; provided , however , that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, additional interest and penalties and related legal, consulting or other similar fees) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for and against any Excise Tax or other tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses.
(ii) The Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided , however , that if the Company directs the Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive on an interest-free basis, and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or other tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and provided , further , that if the Executive is required to extend the statute of limitations to enable the Company to contest such claim, the Executive may limit this extension solely to such contested amount. The Companys control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to whether any Payment should be subject to Section 280G of the Code and any other issue of fact or law that may have an impact on the Companys obligations under this Section 7 and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. In addition, no position may be taken nor any final resolution be agreed to by the Company without the Executives consent if such position or resolution could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Executive (including any other tax position of the Executive unrelated to matters covered hereby).
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(iii) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company in connection with the contest of the Excise Tax claim, the Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto); provided , however , if the amount of that refund exceeds the amount advanced by the Company, such excess shall not be paid to the Company. If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company in connection with an Excise Tax claim, a determination is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company notifies the Executive in writing of its intent not to contest the denial of such refund prior to the expiration of thirty (30) days after such determination, such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and shall be deemed to be in consideration for services rendered after the date of the termination.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7, any Gross-Up Payment or reimbursement by the Company of expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with a litigation proceeding relating to the Excise Tax, as provided for in this Section 7, shall be paid no later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Executive remitted the Excise Tax or, if no Excise Tax is paid, the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which there is a final and nonappealable settlement or other resolution of the litigation.
(d) The Company and the Executive shall each provide the Accounting Firm access to and copies of any books, records and documents in the possession of the Company or the Executive, as the case may be, reasonably requested by the Accounting Firm, and otherwise cooperate with the Accounting Firm in connection with the preparation and issuance of the determination contemplated by Section 7(a) hereof.
(e) The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its services in connection with the determinations and calculations contemplated by Section 7(b) hereof shall be borne by the Company. If such fees and expenses are initially advanced by the Executive, the Company shall reimburse the Executive the full amount of such fees and expenses within ten business days after receipt from the Executive of a statement therefor and reasonable evidence of his/her payment thereof.
(f) Any payments that the Company is required to pay to or on behalf of the Executive pursuant to this Section 7 shall be paid to the Executive within the time periods specified under Section 7(a)(d) above; provided , however , that in no event shall such payments be made later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year during which the Executive remits the corresponding Excise Tax payments to any taxing authority or incurs the corresponding expenses.
8. Legal Expenses . In addition to all other amounts payable to the Executive under this Agreement, the Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for legal fees (including without limitation, any and all court costs and attorneys fees and expenses) incurred by the Executive in connection with or as a result of any claim, action or proceeding brought by the Company or the Executive with
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respect to or arising out of this Agreement or any provision hereof; provided , however , that in the case of an action brought by the Executive, the Company shall have no obligation for any such legal fees if the Company is successful in establishing with the court that the Executives action was taken in bad faith or was frivolous or otherwise without a reasonable legal or factual basis. Any such reimbursements shall be paid to the Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than thirty (30) days following the Executives submission to the Company of documentation to substantiate the amount of such expenses); provided , however , that in no event shall such reimbursements be paid to the Executive later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year during which the Executive incurs such expenses.
9. Obligations Absolute; Non-Exclusivity of Rights; Joint and Several Liability .
(a) The obligations of the Company to make the payment to the Executive, and to make the arrangements provided for herein shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be reduced by any circumstances, including without limitation any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or any third party at any time.
(b) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executives continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plan or program provided by the Company and for which the Executive may qualify (other than any change in control or other severance plan or policy), nor shall anything herein limit or reduce such rights as the Executive may have under any agreements with the Company. Amounts that are vested benefits or that the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan or program of the Company shall be payable in accordance with such plan or program, except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.
(c) Any successors or assigns of the Company shall be joint and severally liable with the Company under this Agreement.
10. Entire Agreement; Not an Employment Agreement .
(a) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings (including term sheets), both written and oral, between the parties hereto, or either of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party that are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.
(b) This Agreement is not, and nothing herein shall be deemed to create, a contract of employment between the Executive and the Company. The Company may terminate the employment of the Executive by the Company at any time, subject to the terms of this Agreement and/or any employment agreement or arrangement between the Company and the Executive that may then be in effect.
11. Successors; Binding Agreement, Assignment .
(a) The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business of the Company, by agreement to expressly, absolutely and unconditionally assume and agree to
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perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, Company shall mean (i) the Company as hereinbefore defined, and (ii) any successor to all the stock of the Company or to all or substantially all of the Companys business or assets which executes and delivers an agreement provided for in this Section 11(a) or that otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executives personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should die while any amount would be payable to the Executive hereunder if the Executive had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executives estate or designated beneficiary. Neither this Agreement nor any right arising hereunder may be assigned or pledged by the Executive.
12. Notice . For purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement or contemplated hereby shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, delivered by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service or when mailed United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and addressed, in the case of the Company, to the Company at:
Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
66 Field Point Rd.
Greenwich, CT 06830
Attention: General Counsel
and in the case of the Executive, to the Executive at the address set forth on the execution page at the end hereof.
Either party may designate a different address by giving notice of change of address in the manner provided above, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
13. Restrictive Covenants .
(a) Confidentiality . The Executive shall retain in confidence any and all confidential information concerning the Company, its shareholders, officers, directors and customers and its respective business which is now known or hereafter becomes known to the Executive, except as otherwise required by law and except information (i) ascertainable or obtained from public information, (ii) received by the Executive at any time after the Executives employment by the Company shall have terminated, from a third party not employed by or otherwise affiliated with the Company or (iii) which is or becomes known to the public by any means other than a breach of this Section 13. Upon the termination of employment, the Executive will not take or keep any proprietary or confidential information or documentation belonging to the Company.
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(b) During the term of the Executives employment with the Company (or any successor thereto) and continuing for twelve months thereafter, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, as a sole proprietor, member of a partnership, stockholder, investor, officer or director of a corporation, or as an employee, associate, consultant or agent of any person, partnership, corporation or other business organization or entity other than a member of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (the Company Group ) (i) solicit or endeavor to entice away from any member of the Company Group, any person or entity who is, or was on the date of this Agreement, employed by, or serving as a key consultant of, any member of the Company Group or (ii) solicit or endeavor to entice away from any member of the Company Group, any person or entity who is, or was on the date of this Agreement, a customer or client (or reasonably anticipated to become a customer or client) of any member of the Company Group. As used herein, indirectly shall include, without limitation, the Executive permitting the use of the Executives name by any competitor of any member of the Company Group to induce or interfere with any person employed by, or serving as a key consultant of, any member of the Company Group or interfere with any business relationship of any member of the Company Group.
14. Miscellaneous .
(a) Amendments . No provision of this Agreement may be amended, altered, modified, waived or discharged unless such amendment, alteration, modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and such officer of the Company as shall be specifically designated by the Committee or by the Board.
(b) Waivers . No waiver by either party, at any time, of any breach by the other party of, or of compliance by the other party with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed or complied with by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition of this Agreement or any other breach of or failure to comply with the same condition or provision at the same time or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.
15. Severability . If any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto waives any provision of law that renders any provision of this Agreement invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect.
16. Governing Law; Venue . The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed on a non-exclusive basis by the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to its conflict of laws rules. For purposes of jurisdiction and venue, the Company and the Executive hereby consent to jurisdiction and venue in any suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement in any court of competent jurisdiction in the states of Connecticut and New York and waive any objection, challenge or dispute as to such jurisdiction or venue being proper.
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17. Indemnification; Directors and Officers Liability Insurance . The Executive shall retain all rights to indemnification under the Companys Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws, and the Company shall maintain Directors and Officers liability insurance on behalf of the Executive, in both cases at the level in effect immediately prior to the Executives date of termination or immediately prior to the Change in Control, whichever is greater, throughout the period of any applicable statute of limitations.
18. Section 409A . In the event that it is reasonably determined by the Company that, as a result of Section 409A ( Section 409A ) of the Code (and any related regulations or other pronouncements thereunder), any of the payments that the Executive is entitled to under the terms of this Agreement or any nonqualified deferred compensation plan (as defined under Section 409A) may not be made at the time contemplated by the terms hereof or thereof, as the case may be, without causing the Executive to incur additional taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A, the Company will make such payment (together with interest thereon based on the Companys borrowing interest rate in effect at such time with respect to the Companys principal lending financial institution) on the first day that would not result in Executive incurring any tax liability under Section 409A, which day, if the Executive is a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A, shall be the first day following the six-month period beginning on the date of the Executives termination of employment. For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under this Agreement shall be designated as a separate payment within the meaning of the Section 409A.
19. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
GENESEE & WYOMING INC. | ||
By: | ||
Title: |
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EXECUTIVE: |
[Name of Executive] |
Address: |
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Exhibit 10.2
FORM OF
CONTINUITY AGREEMENT
This Agreement (the Agreement ) is dated as of [DATE] by and between Genesee & Wyoming Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), and [NAME] (the Executive ).
WHEREAS, the Companys Board of Directors (the Board ) considers the continued services of key executives of the Company to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders; and
WHEREAS, the Board desires to assure, and has determined that it is appropriate and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of key executives of the Company to their duties of employment without personal distraction or conflict of interest in circumstances which could arise from the occurrence of a change in control of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into continuity agreements with those key executives of the Company, such agreements to set forth the severance compensation which the Company agrees under certain circumstances to pay such executives; and
WHEREAS, the Executive is a key executive of the Company and has been designated by the Committee as an executive to be offered such a continuity compensation agreement with the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:
1. Term . This Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof and remain in effect until the second anniversary thereof; provided , however , that, on such anniversary and on each successive anniversary thereof, this Agreement shall automatically renew, unless the Company provides to the Executive, in writing, at least 180 days prior to the renewal date, notice that this Agreement shall not be renewed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Change in Control (as hereinafter defined) occurs at any time prior to the termination or expiration of this Agreement in accordance with the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the second anniversary of the effective date of such Change in Control, and obligations of the parties hereunder that may be triggered by a termination of the Executives employment within such two-year period following a Change in Control shall remain in effect and be enforceable beyond such second anniversary as and to the extent provided in accordance with the terms hereof.
2. Change in Control . No compensation or other benefit shall be payable pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement unless and until either (i) a Change in Control shall have occurred while the Executive is an employee of the Company and the Executives employment by the Company thereafter shall have terminated in accordance with Section 3(a)(i) hereof or (ii) the Executives employment by the Company shall have terminated in accordance with Section 3(a)(ii) hereof prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred when:
(a) Any person as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act ), and as used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a group as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (but excluding the Company and any subsidiary and any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary (including any trustee of such plan acting as trustee)), directly or indirectly, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), of securities of the Company representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities (other than indirectly as a result of the Companys redemption of its securities); provided , however , that in no event shall a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred under this Section 2(a) so long as (i) the combined voting power of shares beneficially owned by (A) the Companys executive officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act) then in office (the Executive Officer Shares ), (B) Mortimer B. Fuller and/or Sue Fuller and their lineal descendants (the Founder Shares ), and (C) the shares beneficially owned by any other members of a group that includes the Founder Shares and/or a majority of the Executive Officer shares, exceeds 35% of the combined voting power of the Companys current outstanding securities and remains the person or group with beneficial ownership of the largest percentage of combined voting power of the Companys outstanding securities and (ii) the Company remains subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act; or
(b) The consummation of any merger or other business combination of the Company, a sale of 51% or more of the Companys assets, liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a combination of the foregoing transactions (the Transactions ) other than a Transaction immediately following which either (i) the shareholders of the Company and any trustee or fiduciary of any Company employee benefit plan immediately prior to the Transaction own at least 51% of the voting power, directly or indirectly, of (A) the surviving corporation in any such merger or other business combination; (B) the purchaser of or successor to the Companys assets; (C) both the surviving corporation and the purchaser in the event of any combination of Transactions; or (D) the parent company owning 100% of such surviving corporation, purchaser or both the surviving corporation and the purchaser, as the case may be ((A), (B), (C) or (D), as applicable, the Surviving Entity ) or (ii) the Incumbent Directors, as defined below, shall continue to serve as a majority of the board of directors of the Surviving Entity without an agreement or understanding that such Incumbent Directors will later surrender such majority; or
(c) Within any twelve-month period, the persons who were directors immediately before the beginning of such period (the Incumbent Directors ) shall cease (for any reason other than death) to constitute at least a majority of the Board or the board of directors of any successor to the Company, including any Surviving Entity. For this purpose, any director who was not a director at the beginning of such period shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director if such director was elected to the Board by, or on the recommendation of, or with the approval of, at least two-thirds of the directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors (so long as such director was not nominated by a person who commenced or threatened to commence an election contest or proxy solicitation by or on behalf of a person (other than the Board) or who has entered into an agreement to effect a Change in Control or expressed an intention to cause such a Change in Control).
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3. Termination of Employment; Definitions .
(a) Termination without Cause by the Company or for Good Reason by the Executive .
(i) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof if, on or within two years following a Change in Control, the Executives employment by the Company shall be terminated (A) by the Company for any reason other than (I) the Executives Disability or Retirement, (II) the Executives death or (III) for Cause, or (B) by the Executive with Good Reason (all terms are hereinafter defined).
(ii) In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof if the following events occur: (A) an agreement is signed that, if consummated, would result in a Change in Control, (B) the Executive is terminated without Cause by the Company (other than for any reason listed in clauses (I), (II) and (III) above) or terminates employment with Good Reason prior to the Change in Control, and (C) such termination is at the direction of the acquirer or merger partner or is otherwise in connection with the anticipated Change in Control.
(b) Disability . For purposes of this Agreement, Disability shall mean the Executives absence from the full-time performance of the Executives duties (as such duties existed immediately prior to such absence) for 180 consecutive business days, when the Executive is disabled as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness, as determined by a physician mutually agreed upon by the Executive and the Company for such purpose.
(c) Retirement . For purposes of this Agreement, Retirement shall mean the Executives voluntary termination of employment pursuant to late, normal or early retirement under a pension plan sponsored by the Company, as defined in such plan, but only if such retirement occurs prior to a termination either (i) by the Company without Cause (and not in anticipation of a termination for Cause) or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason.
(d) Cause . For purposes of this Agreement, Cause shall mean the occurrence, during the term of this Agreement, of:
(i) The willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform substantially all of his or her duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness) for a period of ten days following the delivery of a written demand for performance that specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Executive has not performed his or her duties; or
(ii) Dishonesty in the performance of the Executives duties with the Company; or
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(iii) The Executives conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a crime under the laws of the United States or any state thereof constituting (x) a felony or (y) a misdemeanor involving fraudulent conduct or moral turpitude; or
(iv) The Executives willful malfeasance or willful misconduct in connection with the Executives duties with the Company or any act or omission which is injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of the Company or its affiliates; or
(v) The Executives breach of the provisions of Section 13 of this Agreement.
Termination of the Executive for Cause shall be made by delivery to the Executive of a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the non-employee members of the Board or the board of directors of the Surviving Entity, if applicable, finding that, in the reasonable judgment of such members, the conduct or event set forth in any of clauses (i) through (v) above has occurred; provided , however , that such meeting of the Board may only occur after the Executive has received (i) prior written notice specifying the basis for such termination and the particulars thereof and (ii) with respect to clause (d)(i) only, a reasonable opportunity to cure or otherwise resolve the behavior in question.
(e) Good Reason . For purposes of this Agreement, Good Reason shall mean the occurrence, during the term of this Agreement, of any of the following without the Executives express written consent:
(i) Any material and adverse diminution in the Executives duties, titles or responsibilities with the Company from those in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (or for the purposes of Section 3(a)(ii), those in effect immediately prior to the signing of an agreement as described in 3(a)(ii)(A)); provided , however , that no such diminution shall be deemed to exist because of changes in the Executives duties, titles or responsibilities as a consequence of the Company ceasing to be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act;
(ii) Any material reduction in the Executives annual base salary, annual equity award target or annual cash bonus percentage target from the annual base salary, annual equity award target or annual cash bonus percentage target in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (or for the purposes of Section 3(a)(ii), annual base salary, annual equity award target or annual cash bonus percentage target in effect immediately prior to the signing of an agreement as described in 3(a)(ii)(A)); provided that Good Reason shall not exist if, in lieu of annual equity grants, the Executive is provided with an equivalent compensation package;
(iii) Any requirement that Executive be based at a location more than thirty-five (35) miles from the location at which the Executive was based immediately prior to the Change in Control (or for the purposes of Section 3(a)(ii), the Executives location immediately prior to the signing of an agreement as described in 3(a)(ii)(A)) (or a substantial increase in the amount of travel the Executive is required to do because of a relocation of the executive offices); and
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(iv) Any failure by the Company to obtain from any successor to the Company, including any Surviving Entity, an agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Executive to assume and perform this Agreement, as contemplated by Section 11(a) hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a termination by the Executive shall not be deemed to have occurred for Good Reason unless the Executive provides the Company with a Notice of Termination (as defined below) referencing this Section 3(e) within sixty (60) days after the occurrence of an event giving rise to a claim of Good Reason, and the Company shall have thirty (30) days thereafter in which to cure or resolve the behavior otherwise constituting Good Reason.
(f) Notice of Termination . Any purported termination of the Executives employment (other than on account of Executives death) with the Company shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination (i) to the Executive, if such termination is by the Company, or (ii) to the Company, if such termination is by the Executive. For purposes of this Agreement, Notice of Termination shall mean a written notice that shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executives employment under the provisions so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no purported termination of Executives employment with the Company for Cause or for Good Reason shall be effective without such a Notice of Termination having been given. Any involuntary termination of the Executives employment effected by the Company without delivery of a Notice of Termination in accordance with this Section 3(f) shall be deemed a termination without Cause for purposes of this Agreement. Any resignation by the Executive effected without delivery of a Notice of Termination in accordance with this Section 3(f) shall be deemed a resignation without Good Reason.
4. Compensation Upon Termination in Connection with a Change in Control .
If the Executives employment with the Company shall be terminated in accordance with Section 3(a)(i) or (ii) (an Involuntary Termination ), the Executive shall be entitled to the following payments and benefits:
(a) Severance . The Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to the Executive a cash severance amount equal to the product of multiple times the sum of (i) the Executives annual base salary on the date of the Change in Control (or for the purposes of Section 3(a)(ii), base salary in effect immediately prior to the signing of an agreement as described in 3(a)(ii)(A)) and (ii) the Executives target bonus for the year in which the Involuntary Termination occurs under the Companys annual incentive compensation plan. This cash severance amount shall be payable in a lump sum, calculated without any present value discount, within fifteen business days after the Executives date of Involuntary Termination.
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(b) Additional Payments and Benefits . The Executive shall also be entitled to:
(i) A lump sum cash payment equal to the sum of (A) the Executives accrued but unpaid annual base salary through the date of Involuntary Termination and (B) the unpaid portion, if any, of bonuses previously earned by the Executive pursuant to the Companys annual incentive compensation plan with regard to any previously completed fiscal year;
(ii) A lump sum cash payment equal to a pro-rata portion of the Executives actual bonus earned through the date of Involuntary Termination, calculated based on the most recently completed calendar month, pursuant to the Companys annual incentive compensation plan;
(iii) Continued medical, dental, vision and other benefits for the Executive and his or her dependents, to be paid for by the Executive at his or her sole cost, to the extent and for the periods required under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ( COBRA );
(iv) Immediate 100% vesting of all outstanding stock options, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock units, and restricted stock granted or issued by the Company to the extent not previously vested on or following the Change in Control; and
(v) All other accrued or vested benefits in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and prompt reimbursement of any unreimbursed expenses properly incurred by the Executive in accordance with Company policies as in effect at the time such expenses were incurred (such benefits described in this subparagraph (v) hereinafter referred to as the Accrued Rights ).
All lump sum payments under this Section 4(b) shall be paid within fifteen business days after the Executives date of Involuntary Termination. Additionally, any expense reimbursements shall be paid to the Executive as soon as practicable, but in any event, no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year during which such expenses were incurred.
5. Compensation Upon Termination for Cause or Voluntary Termination .
If an Executives employment is terminated for Cause by the Company or the Executive terminates employment voluntarily, Executive will receive (a) the Executives accrued but unpaid salary through the date of termination and (b) any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided by law or under any plan, policy or practice of the Company.
All lump sum payments under this Section 5 shall be paid within fifteen business days after the Executives date of termination. Additionally, any expense reimbursements shall be paid to the Executive as soon as practicable, but in any event, no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year during which such expenses were incurred.
6. Compensation Upon Termination for Death, Disability or Retirement .
If an Executives employment is terminated by reason of Death, Disability or Retirement prior to any other termination (other than in anticipation of a termination for Cause by the Company), Executive will receive (a) the Executives accrued but unpaid salary through the date of termination and (b) the Accrued Rights.
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All lump sum payments under this Section 6 shall be paid within fifteen business days after the Executives date of termination. Additionally, any expense reimbursements shall be paid to the Executive as soon as practicable, but in any event, no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year during which such expenses were incurred.
7. Excess Parachute Excise Tax .
(a) (i) If it is determined (as hereafter provided) that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise pursuant to or by reason of any other agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement, including without limitation any stock option, stock appreciation right or similar right, or the lapse or termination of any restriction on or the vesting or exercisability of any of the foregoing (a Payment ), would be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code , all references to specific sections of the Code include any successor provision thereto) by reason of being contingent on a change in ownership or control of the Company, within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code or to any similar tax imposed by state or local law, or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such tax or taxes, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereafter collectively referred to as the Excise Tax ), and the net after-tax (including Excise Tax) amount of the aggregate Payments to or for the benefit of the Executive is less than the net after-tax amount if the aggregate Payments to be made to the Executive that constitute parachute payments (as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) were three times the Executives base amount (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) less $1.00, then the aggregate of such amounts constituting the parachute payments shall be reduced to an amount that will equal three times the Executives base amount, less $1.00. However, if the net after-tax (including Excise Tax) amount of the Payment is greater than the net after-tax amount if the aggregate parachute payments to be made to the Executive were three times the Executives base amount less $1.00, then the Executive shall receive the full Payments and shall pay any related Excise Tax.
(ii) Subject to the provisions of Section 7(a)(i) hereof, all determinations required to be made under this Section 7 shall be made by the nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants (the Accounting Firm ) used by the Company prior to the Change in Control (or, if such Accounting Firm declines to serve, the Accounting Firm shall be a nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants selected by the Executive). The Accounting Firm shall be directed by the Company or the Executive to submit its preliminary determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and the Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date of termination, if applicable, and any other such time or times as may be requested by the Company or the Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that any Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, the Company shall notify the Executive that the amounts payable hereunder will be reduced in accordance with Section 7(a)(i) hereunder and the amount of such reduction within ten business days after receipt of such determination and calculations. If the
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Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall, at the same time as it makes such determination, furnish the Executive with an opinion that he has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on his/her federal, state, local income or other tax return. Any determination made by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive absent a contrary determination by the Internal Revenue Service or a court of competent jurisdiction.
(iii) The federal, state and local income or other tax returns filed by the Executive (or any filing made by a consolidated tax group that includes the Company) shall be prepared and filed on a consistent basis with the determination of the Accounting Firm. The Executive shall, at the request of the Company, provide to the Company true and correct copies (with any amendments) of his/her federal income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service and corresponding state and local tax returns, if relevant, as filed with the applicable taxing authority, and such other documents reasonably requested by the Company, evidencing such payment.
(b) (i) In the event that the Internal Revenue Service claims that any Payment constitutes an excess parachute payment, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code, the Executive shall notify the Company in writing of such claim. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than ten business days after the Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30 day period following the date on which the Executive gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall (A) give the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim; (B) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company and reasonably satisfactory to the Executive; (C) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to effectively contest such claim; and (D) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; provided , however , that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, additional interest and penalties and related legal, consulting or other similar fees) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for and against any Excise Tax or other tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses.
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(ii) The Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided , however , that if the Company directs the Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive on an interest-free basis, and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or other tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and provided , further , that if the Executive is required to extend the statute of limitations to enable the Company to contest such claim, the Executive may limit this extension solely to such contested amount. The Companys control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to whether any Payment should be subject to Section 280G of the Code and any other issue of fact or law that may have an impact on the Companys obligations under this Section 7 and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. In addition, no position may be taken nor any final resolution be agreed to by the Company without the Executives consent if such position or resolution could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Executive (including any other tax position of the Executive unrelated to matters covered hereby).
(iii) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company in connection with the contest of the Excise Tax claim, the Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto); provided , however , if the amount of that refund exceeds the amount advanced by the Company, such excess shall not be paid to the Company. If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company in connection with an Excise Tax claim, a determination is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company notifies the Executive in writing of its intent not to contest the denial of such refund prior to the expiration of thirty (30) days after such determination, such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and shall be deemed to be in consideration for services rendered after the date of the termination.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7, any reimbursement by the Company of expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with a litigation proceeding relating to the Excise Tax, as provided for in this Section 7, shall be paid no later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Executive remitted the Excise Tax or, if no Excise Tax is paid, the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which there is a final and nonappealable settlement or other resolution of the litigation.
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(d) The Company and the Executive shall each provide the Accounting Firm access to and copies of any books, records and documents in the possession of the Company or the Executive, as the case may be, reasonably requested by the Accounting Firm, and otherwise cooperate with the Accounting Firm in connection with the preparation and issuance of the determination contemplated by Section 7(a) hereof.
(e) The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its services in connection with the determinations and calculations contemplated by Section 7(b) hereof shall be borne by the Company. If such fees and expenses are initially advanced by the Executive, the Company shall reimburse the Executive the full amount of such fees and expenses within ten business days after receipt from the Executive of a statement therefor and reasonable evidence of his/her payment thereof.
(f) Any payments that the Company is required to pay to or on behalf of the Executive pursuant to this Section 7 shall be paid to the Executive within the time periods specified under Section 7(a)(d) above; provided , however , that in no event shall such payments be made later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year during which the Executive remits the corresponding Excise Tax payments to any taxing authority or incurs the corresponding expenses.
8. Legal Expenses . In addition to all other amounts payable to the Executive under this Agreement, the Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for legal fees (including without limitation, any and all court costs and attorneys fees and expenses) incurred by the Executive in connection with or as a result of any claim, action or proceeding brought by the Company or the Executive with respect to or arising out of this Agreement or any provision hereof; provided , however , that in the case of an action brought by the Executive, the Company shall have no obligation for any such legal fees if the Company is successful in establishing with the court that the Executives action was taken in bad faith or was frivolous or otherwise without a reasonable legal or factual basis. Any such reimbursements shall be paid to the Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than thirty (30) days following the Executives submission to the Company of documentation to substantiate the amount of such expenses); provided , however , that in no event shall such reimbursements be paid to the Executive later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year during which the Executive incurs such expenses.
9. Obligations Absolute; Non-Exclusivity of Rights; Joint and Several Liability .
(a) The obligations of the Company to make the payment to the Executive, and to make the arrangements provided for herein shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be reduced by any circumstances, including without limitation any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or any third party at any time.
(b) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executives continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plan or program provided by the Company and for which the Executive may qualify (other than any change in control or other severance plan or policy), nor shall anything herein limit or reduce such rights as the Executive may have under any agreements with the Company. Amounts that are vested benefits or that the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan or program of the Company shall be payable in accordance with such plan or program, except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.
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(c) Any successors or assigns of the Company shall be joint and severally liable with the Company under this Agreement.
10. Entire Agreement; Not an Employment Agreement .
(a) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings (including term sheets), both written and oral, between the parties hereto, or either of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party that are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.
(b) This Agreement is not, and nothing herein shall be deemed to create, a contract of employment between the Executive and the Company. The Company may terminate the employment of the Executive by the Company at any time, subject to the terms of this Agreement and/or any employment agreement or arrangement between the Company and the Executive that may then be in effect.
11. Successors; Binding Agreement, Assignment .
(a) The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business of the Company, by agreement to expressly, absolutely and unconditionally assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, Company shall mean (i) the Company as hereinbefore defined, and (ii) any successor to all the stock of the Company or to all or substantially all of the Companys business or assets which executes and delivers an agreement provided for in this Section 11(a) or that otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executives personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should die while any amount would be payable to the Executive hereunder if the Executive had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executives estate or designated beneficiary. Neither this Agreement nor any right arising hereunder may be assigned or pledged by the Executive.
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12. Notice . For purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement or contemplated hereby shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, delivered by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service or when mailed United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and addressed, in the case of the Company, to the Company at:
Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
66 Field Point Rd.
Greenwich, CT 06830
Attention: General Counsel
and in the case of the Executive, to the Executive at the address set forth on the execution page at the end hereof.
Either party may designate a different address by giving notice of change of address in the manner provided above, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
13. Restrictive Covenants .
(a) Confidentiality . The Executive shall retain in confidence any and all confidential information concerning the Company, its shareholders, officers, directors and customers and its respective business which is now known or hereafter becomes known to the Executive, except as otherwise required by law and except information (i) ascertainable or obtained from public information, (ii) received by the Executive at any time after the Executives employment by the Company shall have terminated, from a third party not employed by or otherwise affiliated with the Company or (iii) which is or becomes known to the public by any means other than a breach of this Section 13. Upon the termination of employment, the Executive will not take or keep any proprietary or confidential information or documentation belonging to the Company.
(b) During the term of the Executives employment with the Company (or any successor thereto) and continuing for twelve months thereafter, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, as a sole proprietor, member of a partnership, stockholder, investor, officer or director of a corporation, or as an employee, associate, consultant or agent of any person, partnership, corporation or other business organization or entity other than a member of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (the Company Group ) (i) solicit or endeavor to entice away from any member of the Company Group, any person or entity who is, or was on the date of this Agreement, employed by, or serving as a key consultant of, any member of the Company Group or (ii) solicit or endeavor to entice away from any member of the Company Group, any person or entity who is, or was on the date of this Agreement, a customer or client (or reasonably anticipated to become a customer or client) of any member of the Company Group. As used herein, indirectly shall include, without limitation, the Executive permitting the use of the Executives name by any competitor of any member of the Company Group to induce or interfere with any person employed by, or serving as a key consultant of, any member of the Company Group or interfere with any business relationship of any member of the Company Group.
14. Miscellaneous .
(a) Amendments . No provision of this Agreement may be amended, altered, modified, waived or discharged unless such amendment, alteration, modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and such officer of the Company as shall be specifically designated by the Committee or by the Board.
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(b) Waivers . No waiver by either party, at any time, of any breach by the other party of, or of compliance by the other party with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed or complied with by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition of this Agreement or any other breach of or failure to comply with the same condition or provision at the same time or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.
15. Severability . If any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto waives any provision of law that renders any provision of this Agreement invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect.
16. Governing Law; Venue . The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed on a non-exclusive basis by the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to its conflict of laws rules. For purposes of jurisdiction and venue, the Company and the Executive hereby consent to jurisdiction and venue in any suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement in any court of competent jurisdiction in the states of Connecticut and New York and waive any objection, challenge or dispute as to such jurisdiction or venue being proper.
17. Indemnification; Directors and Officers Liability Insurance . The Executive shall retain all rights to indemnification under the Companys Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws, and the Company shall maintain Directors and Officers liability insurance on behalf of the Executive, in both cases at the level in effect immediately prior to the Executives date of termination or immediately prior to the Change in Control, whichever is greater, throughout the period of any applicable statute of limitations.
18. Section 409A . In the event that it is reasonably determined by the Company that, as a result of Section 409A ( Section 409A ) of the Code (and any related regulations or other pronouncements thereunder), any of the payments that the Executive is entitled to under the terms of this Agreement or any nonqualified deferred compensation plan (as defined under Section 409A) may not be made at the time contemplated by the terms hereof or thereof, as the case may be, without causing the Executive to incur additional taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A, the Company will make such payment (together with interest thereon based on the Companys borrowing interest rate in effect at such time with respect to the Companys principal lending financial institution) on the first day that would not result in Executive incurring any tax liability under Section 409A, which day, if the Executive is a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A, shall be the first day following the six-month period beginning on the date of the Executives termination of employment. For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under this Agreement shall be designated as a separate payment within the meaning of the Section 409A.
19. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
GENESEE & WYOMING INC. | ||
By: | ||
Title: |
EXECUTIVE: |
[Name of Executive] |
Address: |
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Exhibit 31.1
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer
I, John C. Hellmann, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007 of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (the registrant); |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
4. | The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. | The registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: November 8, 2007 | /s/ John C. Hellmann | |||
John C. Hellmann, | ||||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 31.2
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer
I, Timothy J. Gallagher, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007 of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (the registrant); |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
4. | The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. | The registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: November 8, 2007 | /s/ Timothy J. Gallagher | |||
Timothy J. Gallagher, | ||||
Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 32.1
Section 1350 Certification
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 906), John C. Hellmann and Timothy J. Gallagher, President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, of Genesee & Wyoming Inc., certify that (i) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2007, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (ii) the information contained in such report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
/s/ John C. Hellmann |
John C. Hellmann |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Date: November 8, 2007 |
/s/ Timothy J. Gallagher |
Timothy J. Gallagher |
Chief Financial Officer |
Date: November 8, 2007 |