Form 10-K
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

þ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008

or

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File No. 0-20847

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

(Telephone No.)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class        Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value      NYSE

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None.

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    þ  Yes    ¨  No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    ¨  Yes    þ  No

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.    þ  Yes    ¨  No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers to Item 405 of Regulations S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  þ            Accelerated filer  ¨            Non-accelerated filer  ¨            Smaller reporting company  ¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12-b of the Act).    ¨  Yes    þ  No

Aggregate market value of Class A Common Stock held by non-affiliates based on the closing price as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on the last business day of Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter: $1,032,480,498. Shares of Class A Common Stock held by each executive officer and director have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. The determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determinant for other purposes.

Shares of common stock outstanding as of the close of business on February 20, 2009:

 

Class

   Number of Shares Outstanding

Class A Common Stock

   33,450,537

Class B Common Stock

     2,585,152

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof and made a part hereof.


Table of Contents

Genesee & Wyoming Inc.

FORM 10-K

For The Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008

INDEX

 

          PAGE NO.

PART I

     

ITEM 1.

  

Business

   5

ITEM 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   15

ITEM 1B.

  

Unresolved Staff Comments

   25

ITEM 2.

  

Properties

   26

ITEM 3.

  

Legal Proceedings

   30

ITEM 4.

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   31

PART II

     

ITEM 5.

  

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

   32

ITEM 6.

  

Selected Financial Data

   33

ITEM 7.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   34

ITEM 7A.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   64

ITEM 8.

  

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

   66

ITEM 9.

  

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

   66

ITEM 9A.

  

Controls and Procedures

   67

ITEM 9B.

  

Other Information

   69

PART III

     

ITEM 10.

  

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

   69

ITEM 11.

  

Executive Compensation

   69

ITEM 12.

  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

   69

ITEM 13.

  

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

   69

ITEM 14.

  

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

   69

PART IV

     

ITEM 15.

  

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

   70
  

Signatures

   71
  

Index to Exhibits

   72
  

Index to Financial Statements

   F-1

 

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Unless the context otherwise requires, when used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms “Genesee & Wyoming,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates and when we use the term “ARG” we are referring to the Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd and its subsidiaries. Up until June 1, 2006, ARG was our 50% owned affiliate based in Perth, Western Australia. All references to currency amounts included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the financial statements, are in United States dollars unless specifically noted otherwise.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (Annual Report), including Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), regarding future events and future performance of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Words such as “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “expects,” “estimates,” variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to forecast. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or forecast in these forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical in nature, including statements regarding:

 

   

the effects of economic, political or social conditions;

 

   

our operations, competitive position, growth strategy and prospects;

 

   

industry conditions, including downturns in the general economy;

 

   

changes in foreign exchange policy or rates;

 

   

our ability to complete, integrate and benefit from acquisitions, investments, joint ventures and strategic alliances;

 

   

governmental policies affecting our railroad operations, including laws and regulations regarding health, safety, security, labor, environmental and other matters;

 

   

our funding needs and financing sources; and

 

   

the outcome of pending legal proceedings.

These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to forecast. Forward-looking statements may be influenced by risks which exist in the following areas, among others:

 

   

our susceptibility to downturns in the general economy;

 

   

our ability to fund, consummate and integrate acquisitions and investments;

 

   

the imposition of operational restrictions as the result of covenants in our credit facilities and in our note purchase agreements;

 

   

our relationships with Class I railroads and other connecting carriers for our operations;

 

   

our ability to obtain railcars and locomotives from other providers on which we are currently dependent;

 

   

competition from numerous sources, including those relating to geography, substitute products, other types of transportation and other rail operators;

 

   

the effects of economic, political or social conditions;

 

   

changes in foreign exchange policy or rates;

 

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legislative and regulatory developments, including rulings by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB);

 

   

strikes, work stoppages or unionization efforts by our employees;

 

   

our ability to attract and retain a sufficient number of skilled employees;

 

   

our obligation as a common carrier to transport hazardous materials by rail;

 

   

the occurrence of losses or other liabilities which are not covered by insurance or which exceed our insurance limits;

 

   

rising fuel costs or constraints in fuel supply;

 

   

customer retention and contract continuation, including as a result of economic downturns;

 

   

our susceptibility to severe weather conditions and other natural occurrences;

 

   

our ability to obtain funding for capital projects;

 

   

acts of terrorism and anti-terrorism measures;

 

   

the effects of market and regulatory responses to climate changes;

 

   

the effects of violations of, or liabilities under, environmental laws and regulations;

 

   

our susceptibility to various legal claims and lawsuits; and

 

   

our susceptibility to risks associated with doing business in foreign countries.

The areas in which there is risk and uncertainty are further described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item 1A, as well as in documents that we file from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), which contain additional important factors that could cause actual results to differ from current expectations and from the forward-looking statements contained herein. Readers of this document are cautioned that our forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements.

In light of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions associated with forward-looking statements, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Additional risks that we may currently deem immaterial or that are not presently known to us could also cause the forward-looking events discussed or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report not to occur. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason after the date of this Annual Report.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their companies without fear of litigation. We are taking advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act in connection with the forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report.

Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report or as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements.

Information set forth in Item 1 as well as in Item 2 should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 and the discussion of risk factors in Item 1A.

 

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PART I

 

Item 1. Business

OVERVIEW

We own and operate short line and regional freight railroads and provide railcar switching services in the United States, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands and own a minority interest in a railroad in Bolivia. The Company’s corporate predecessor was founded in 1899 as a 14-mile rail line serving a single salt mine in upstate New York. As of December 31, 2008, we operated over approximately 6,800 miles of owned and leased track and approximately 3,100 additional miles under track access arrangements. We operated in 26 states in the United States, five Australian states, and two Canadian provinces and provided rail service at 16 ports in North America and Europe. Based on track miles, we believe that we are the second largest operator of short line and regional freight railroads in North America.

By focusing our corporate and regional management teams on improving our return on invested capital, we intend to continue to increase our earnings and cash flow. In addition, we expect that acquisitions will adhere to our return on capital targets and that existing operations will strive to improve year-over-year financial returns and safety performance.

During 2007, we ceased operations in Mexico. Results of our Mexican operations are included in results from discontinued operations.

GROWTH STRATEGY

The two main drivers of our growth strategy are the execution of our disciplined acquisition strategy and focused operating strategy.

Acquisition Strategy

Our acquisition, investment and long-term lease opportunities are of the following five types:

 

   

other regional railroads or short line railroads, such as Rail Management Corporation (RMC), Ohio Central Railroad System (OCR) and CAGY Industries, Inc. (CAGY);

 

   

rail lines of industrial companies, such as Bethlehem Steel Corporation and Georgia-Pacific Corporation (GP);

 

   

international railroads, such as Rotterdam Rail Feeding (RRF);

 

   

new rail and infrastructure and/or equipment associated with greenfield industrial and mineral development, such as potential new mining projects in Australia; and

 

   

branch lines of Class I railroads, such as Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (BNSF) and CSX Corporation (CSX).

When acquiring or leasing railroads in our existing regions, we target contiguous or nearby rail properties where our local management teams are best able to identify opportunities to reduce operating costs and increase equipment utilization. In new regions, we target rail properties that have adequate size to establish a presence in the region, provide a platform for growth in the region and attract qualified management. To help ensure accountability for the projected financial results of our potential acquisitions, we typically include the regional manager who would operate the rail property after the acquisition as part of our due diligence team.

 

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Since 1977, we have completed 34 acquisitions. We believe that additional acquisition opportunities in the United States exist among the more than 550 short line and regional railroads operating approximately 45,800 miles of track, as well as additional lines that might be sold or leased by industrial companies or Class I railroads. We also believe that there are additional acquisition candidates in Australia, Europe, Canada and other markets outside the United States. In 2008, we consummated the acquisitions of 10 railroads known as the Ohio Central Railroad System, one railroad known as the Georgia Southwestern Railroad, Inc., three railroads known as CAGY Industries, Inc. and one railroad known as Rotterdam Rail Feeding. We believe that we are well-positioned to capitalize on additional acquisitions and will continue to adhere to our disciplined approach when evaluating opportunities.

Operating Strategy

In each of our regions, we seek to encourage the entrepreneurial drive, local knowledge and customer service that we view as prerequisites to achieving our financial goals. Our railroads operate under strong local management, with centralized administrative support and oversight. Our regional managers are continually focused on increasing our return on invested capital, earnings and cash flow through the execution of our operating strategy. At the regional level, our operating strategy consists of the following four principal elements:

 

   

Continuous Safety Improvement. We believe that a safe work environment is essential for our employees, our customers and the communities in which we conduct business. Each year we establish stringent safety targets as part of our safety program. Through the execution of our safety program, we have reduced our injury frequency rate from 5.89 injuries per 200,000 man-hours worked in 1998 to 1.33 in 2008.

 

   

Focused Regional Marketing. We build each regional rail system on a base of large industrial customers, seek to grow that business through marketing efforts and pursue additional revenues by attracting new customers and providing ancillary rail services. These ancillary rail services include railcar switching, repair, storage, cleaning, weighing and blocking and bulk transfer, which enable shippers and Class I carriers to move freight more easily and cost-effectively. In addition, our capacity to compete for new customers and provide ancillary rail services is enhanced by the open access environments in both Europe and Australia.

 

   

Lower Operating Costs. We focus on lowering operating costs and historically have been able to operate acquired rail lines more efficiently than the companies and governments from whom we acquired these properties. We typically achieve efficiencies by lowering administrative overhead, consolidating equipment and track maintenance contracts, reducing transportation costs and selling surplus assets.

 

   

Efficient Use of Capital. We invest in track and rolling stock to ensure that we operate safe railroads that meet the needs of customers. At the same time, we seek to maximize our return on invested capital by focusing on cost effective capital programs. For example, we rebuild older locomotives rather than purchase new ones and invest in track at levels appropriate for traffic type and density. In addition, because of the importance of certain customers and railroads to the regional economies, we are able, in some instances, to obtain state and/or federal grants to upgrade track. Typically, we seek government funds to support investments that would not otherwise be economically viable for us to fund on a stand-alone basis.

As of December 31, 2008, our continuing operations were organized in nine businesses, which we refer to as regions. In the United States, we have six regions: Illinois, New York/Ohio/Pennsylvania, Oregon, Rail Link (which includes industrial switching and port operations in various geographic locations), Rocky Mountain and Southern (principally consisting of railroads in the Southern part of the United States). Outside the United States, we have three regions: Australia, Canada (which includes certain adjacent properties located in the United States) and the Netherlands.

 

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INDUSTRY

According to the Association of American Railroads (AAR), there are 563 railroads in the United States operating over 140,000 miles of track. The AAR classifies railroads operating in the United States into one of three categories based on the amount of revenues and track miles. Class I railroads, those with over $359.6 million in revenues, represent approximately 93% of total rail revenues. Regional and local railroads operate approximately 45,800 miles of track in the United States. The primary function of these smaller railroads is to provide feeder traffic to the Class I carriers. Regional and local railroads combined account for approximately 7% of total rail revenues. We operate one regional and 56 local (short line) railroads in the United States.

The following table shows the breakdown of railroads in the United States by classification.

 

Classification of Railroads

   Number    Aggregate
Miles
Operated
  

Revenues and Miles Operated

Class I (1)

   7    94,313    Over $359.6 million

Regional

   33    16,930    $40.0 to $359.6 million and /or 350 or more miles operated

Local

   523    28,891    Less than $40.0 million and less than 350 miles operated
            

Total

   563    140,134   
            

 

(1) Includes CSX Transportation (CSXT), BNSF Railway Co. (BNSF), Norfolk Southern (NS), Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCS), Union Pacific (UP), Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railroad Co. (CP)

Source: Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts, 2008 Edition.

The railroad industry in the United States has undergone significant change since the passage of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 (Staggers Act), which deregulated the pricing and types of services provided by railroads. Following the passage of the Staggers Act, Class I railroads in the United States took steps to improve profitability and recapture market share lost to other modes of transportation, primarily trucks. In furtherance of that goal, Class I railroads focused their management and capital resources on their core long-haul systems, and some of them sold branch lines to smaller and more cost-efficient rail operators willing to commit the resources necessary to meet the needs of the customers located on these lines. Divestiture of branch lines enabled Class I carriers to minimize incremental capital expenditures, concentrate traffic density, improve operating efficiency and avoid traffic losses associated with rail line abandonment.

Although the acquisition market is competitive in the railroad industry, we believe we will continue to find opportunities to acquire rail properties in the United States and Canada from independent local and regional railroads, industrial companies and Class I railroads. We also believe we will continue to find additional acquisition opportunities in markets outside of North America. For additional information, see the discussion under “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

OPERATIONS

As of December 31, 2008, through our subsidiaries and unconsolidated affiliate, we owned, leased or operated 63 short line and regional freight railroads with approximately 6,800 miles of track in the United States, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Bolivia.

Freight Revenues

We generate revenues primarily from the haulage of freight by rail over relatively short distances. Freight revenues represented 61.5%, 63.8 % and 69.1% of our total revenues in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

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Non-Freight Revenues

We generate non-freight revenues primarily through the following activities:

 

   

Railcar switching—revenues from industrial switching (the movement of railcars within industrial plants and their related facilities) and customer switching (the movement of customer railcars from one track to another track on the same railroad, primarily at United States ports);

 

   

Fuel sales to third parties—revenues earned by Genesee & Wyoming Australia Pty Ltd (GWA) in South Australia from the sale of diesel fuel to other rail operators;

 

   

Car hire and rental services—charges paid by other railroads for the use of our railcars;

 

   

Demurrage and storage—charges to customers for holding or storing their railcars; and

 

   

Car repair services—charges for repairing freight cars owned by others, either under contract or in accordance with AAR rules.

Non-freight revenues represented 38.5%, 36.2% and 30.9% of our total operating revenues in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Railcar switching represented 42.4%, 40.3% and 46.2% of our total non-freight revenues in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Customers

As of December 31, 2008, our operations served more than 950 customers. Freight revenue from our 10 largest freight revenue customers accounted for approximately 20%, 22% and 24% of our total revenues in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Four of our 10 largest freight customers operated in the paper and forest products industry. We typically handle freight pursuant to transportation contracts between us, our connecting carriers and the customer. These contracts are in accordance with industry norms and vary in duration, with terms ranging from less than one year to 10 years. These contracts establish a price or, in the case of longer term contracts, a methodology for determining price, but do not typically obligate the customer to move any particular volume and are not typically linked to the prices of the commodities being shipped.

Commodities

Our railroads transport a wide variety of commodities. Some of our railroads have a diversified commodity mix while others transport one or two principal commodities. Our pulp and paper commodity freight revenues accounted for 12%, 13% and 15% of our total revenues in the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Our coal, coke and ores commodity revenues accounted for 12%, 12% and 13% of our total revenues in the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. For a comparison of freight revenues, carloads and average freight revenues per carload by commodity group for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, see the discussion under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Commodity Group Descriptions

The Pulp and Paper commodity group consists primarily of inbound shipments of pulp and outbound shipments of newsprint and finished papers and container board.

The Coal, Coke and Ores commodity group consists primarily of shipments of coal to power plants and industrial customers.

The Metals commodity group consists primarily of scrap metal, finished steel products, coils, pipe, slab and ingots.

 

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The Minerals and Stone commodity group consists primarily of gypsum, salt used in highway ice control, cement, limestone and sand.

The Lumber and Forest Products commodity group consists primarily of export logs, finished lumber, plywood, oriented strand board and particle board used in construction and furniture manufacturing and wood chips and pulpwood used in paper manufacturing.

The Farm and Food Products commodity group consists primarily of wheat, barley, corn and other grains.

The Chemicals-Plastics commodity group consists primarily of chemicals used in manufacturing, particularly in the paper industry.

The Petroleum Products commodity group consists primarily of liquefied petroleum gases, asphalt and crude oil.

The Autos and Auto Parts commodity group consists primarily of finished automobiles and stamped auto parts.

The Intermodal commodity group consists of various commodities shipped in trailers or containers on flat cars.

The Other commodity group consists of all freight moved not included in the commodity groups set forth above, such as municipal waste, other transported items and all haulage traffic.

Geographic Information

For financial information with respect to each of our geographic areas, see Note 16 to our Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report.

Traffic

Rail traffic shipped on our rail lines can be categorized as interline, local or overhead traffic. Interline traffic either originates or terminates with customers located along a rail line and is interchanged with other rail carriers. Local traffic both originates and terminates on the same rail line and does not involve other carriers. Overhead traffic passes over the line from one connecting rail carrier to another without the carload originating or terminating on the line. Unlike overhead traffic, interline and local traffic provide us with a more stable source of revenue, because this traffic represents shipments to and/or from customers located along our rail lines and is less susceptible to competition from other rail routes or other modes of transportation. In 2008, revenues generated from interline and local traffic constituted approximately 96% of our freight revenues.

Seasonality of Operations

Typically, we experience relatively lower revenues in the first and fourth quarters of each year as the winter season and colder weather in North America tend to reduce shipments of certain products such as construction materials. In addition, due to adverse winter weather conditions, we also tend to incur higher operating costs during the first and fourth quarters. We typically initiate capital projects in North America in the second and third quarters when weather conditions are more favorable.

Employees

As of December 31, 2008, our railroads and industrial switching locations had 2,647 full time employees. Of this total, 967 railroad employees are members of national labor organizations. Our railroads have 37 contracts with these national labor organizations, six of which are currently in negotiation. We also entered into

 

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employee association agreements with an additional 145 employees who are not represented by a national labor organization. The Railway Labor Act (RLA) governs the labor relations of employers and employees engaged in the railroad industry in the United States. The RLA establishes the right of railroad employees to organize and bargain collectively along craft or class lines and imposes a duty upon carriers and their employees to exert every reasonable effort to make and maintain collective bargaining agreements. Le Code Canadian du Travail and the Federal Workplace Relations Act govern the labor relations of employers and employees engaged in the railroad industry in Canada and Australia, respectively. The RLA and foreign labor regulations contain detailed procedures that must be exhausted before a lawful work stoppage may occur. In the Netherlands, RRF is not party to any collective bargaining agreements. We believe our relationship with our employees is good.

SAFETY

Our safety program involves all employees and focuses on the prevention of accidents and injuries. Operating personnel are trained and certified in train operations, the transportation of hazardous materials, safety and operating rules and governmental rules and regulations. We also participate in safety committees of the AAR, governmental and industry sponsored safety programs and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association Safety Committee. Our reportable injury frequency ratio, which is defined by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as reportable injuries per 200,000 man hours worked, was 1.33 and 1.67 in 2008 and 2007, respectively.

INSURANCE

We maintain liability and property insurance coverage. Our primary liability policies have self-insured retentions of up to $0.5 million per occurrence. In addition, we maintain excess liability policies that provide supplemental coverage for losses in excess of our primary policy limits. With respect to the transportation of hazardous commodities, our liability policy covers sudden releases of hazardous materials, including expenses related to evacuation. Personal injuries associated with grade crossing accidents are also covered under our liability policies. Our property damage policies have self-insured retentions generally ranging from $0.1 million to $0.5 million, depending on the category of incident.

Employees of our United States railroads are covered by the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), a fault-based system under which claims resulting from injuries and deaths of railroad employees are settled by negotiation or litigation. FELA-related claims are covered under our liability insurance policies. Employees of our industrial switching business are covered under workers’ compensation policies.

Employees of our Canadian railroads are covered by the applicable provincial workers’ compensation policy. Employees of GWA are covered by the respective state-based workers’ compensation legislation. Employees of RRF are covered by the workers’ compensation legislation of the Netherlands.

We believe our insurance coverage is adequate in light of our experience and the experience of the rail industry.

 

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COMPETITION

Each of our railroads is typically the only rail carrier directly serving our customers. However, in certain circumstances, including under the open access regimes in Australia and the Netherlands, our customers have access to other rail carriers. In addition, our railroads compete directly with other modes of transportation, principally highway competition from motor carriers and, on some routes, ship, barge and pipeline operators. Competition is based primarily upon the rate charged and the transit time required, as well as the quality and reliability of the service provided. Most of the freight we handle is interchanged with other railroads prior to reaching its final destination. As a result, to the extent other rail carriers are involved in transporting a shipment, we cannot necessarily control the cost and quality of such service. To the extent highway competition is involved, the effectiveness of that competition is affected by government policy with respect to fuel and other taxes, highway tolls and permissible truck sizes and weights.

To a lesser degree, we also face competition with similar products made in other areas, a kind of competition commonly known as “geographic competition.” For example, a paper producer may choose to increase or decrease production at a specific plant served by one of our railroads depending on the relative competitiveness of that plant versus paper plants in other locations. In some instances, we face “product competition,” where commodities we transport are exposed to competition from substitutes.

In acquiring rail properties, we generally compete with other short line and regional railroad operators, and more recently with various financial institutions, including private equity firms, operating in conjunction with short line rail operators. Competition for rail properties is based primarily upon price and the seller’s assessment of the buyer’s railroad operating expertise and financing capability. We believe our established reputation as a successful acquirer and operator of short line rail properties, combined with our managerial and financial resources, effectively positions us to take advantage of acquisition opportunities.

REGULATION

United States

In addition to environmental laws, securities laws, state and local laws and regulations generally applicable to many businesses, our United States railroads are subject to regulation by:

 

   

the STB;

 

   

the FRA;

 

   

the United States Department of Transportation (DOT);

 

   

federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which operates under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS);

 

   

state departments of transportation; and

 

   

some state and local regulatory agencies.

The STB is the successor to certain regulatory functions previously administered by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). Established by the ICC Termination Act of 1995, the STB has jurisdiction over, among other things, certain freight rates (where there is no effective competition), extension or abandonment of rail lines, the acquisition of rail lines and consolidation, merger or acquisition of control of rail common carriers. In limited circumstances, the STB may condition its approval of an acquisition upon the acquirer of a railroad agreeing to provide severance benefits to certain subsequently terminated employees. The FRA and DOT have jurisdiction over safety, which includes the regulation of equipment standards, track maintenance, handling of hazardous shipments, locomotive and rail car inspection, repair requirements, operating practices and crew qualifications. The TSA has broad authority over railroad operating practices that have implications for homeland security. In some cases, state and local laws and regulations may be preempted in their application to railroads by the operation of these and other federal authorities.

 

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Canada

St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (Quebec) is a federally regulated railroad and falls under the jurisdiction of the Canada Transportation Agency (CTA) and Transport Canada (TC) and is subject to the Railway Safety Act. The CTA regulates construction and operation of federally regulated railways, financial transactions of federally regulated railway companies, all aspects of rates, tariffs and services and the transferring and discontinuing of the operation of railway lines. TC administers the Railway Safety Act, which ensures that federally regulated railway companies abide by all regulations with respect to engineering standards governing the construction or alteration of railway works and the operation and maintenance standards of railway works and equipment.

Quebec Gatineau Railway and Huron Central Railway are subject to the jurisdiction of the provincial governments of Quebec and Ontario, respectively. Provincially regulated railways operate only within one province and hold a Certificate of Fitness delivered by a provincial authority. In the Province of Quebec, the Fitness Certificate is delivered by the Ministère des Transports du Quebec, while in Ontario, under the Shortline Railways Act, 1995, a license must be obtained from the Registrar of Shortline Railways. Construction, operation and discontinuance of operation are regulated, as are railway services.

Acquisitions of additional railroad operations in Canada, whether federally or provincially regulated, may be subject to review under the Investment Canada Act (ICA), a federal statute that applies to the acquisition of a Canadian business or establishment of a new Canadian business by a non-Canadian. In the case of an acquisition that is subject to review, a non-Canadian investor must observe a statutory waiting period prior to completion and satisfy the minister responsible for the administration of the ICA that the investment will be of net benefit to Canada, considering certain evaluative factors set out in the legislation.

Any contemplated acquisitions may also be subject to Canada’s Competition Act, which contains provisions relating to pre-merger notification as well as substantive merger provisions.

Australia

In Australia, regulation of rail safety is generally governed by state legislation and administered by state regulatory agencies. GWA’s assets are subject to the regulatory regimes governing safety in each of the states in which it operates. Regulation of track access is governed by overriding federal legislation with state-based regimes operating in compliance with the federal legislation. As a result, with respect to rail infrastructure access, GWA’s Australian assets are also subject to state-based access regimes and Part IIIA of the Trade Practices Act 1974.

GWA’s interstate access includes the standard gauge tracks in South Australia which are part of the standard gauge network connecting the state capital cities of Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The majority of interstate network access is controlled by the Australian Rail Track Corporation, owned by the Commonwealth of Australia. Freightlink Pty Ltd provides network access for the standard gauge tracks operating between Tarcoola, South Australia to Darwin, Northern Territory.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, we are subject to regulation by the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, the Transport, Public Works and Water Management Inspectorate and the Dutch railways manager, Pro Rail.

In addition, at the European Level, several directives have been issued concerning the transportation of goods by railway. These directives generally cover the development of the railways, allocation of railway infrastructure capacity and the levying of charges for the use of railway infrastructure and the licensing of railway undertakings. The European Union (EU) legislation also sets a framework for a harmonised approach to railway safety. Every

 

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railway company must obtain a safety certification before it can run trains on the European network and EU Member States must set up national railway safety authorities and independent accident investigation bodies. These directives have been implemented in Dutch railway legislation such as the Railways Act.

The Dutch Competition Authority (DCA) is charged with the supervision of compliance with the European Community’s directives on the development of the railways, the allocation of railway infrastructure capacity and the levying of charges for the use of railway infrastructure.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

Our operations are subject to various federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. In the United States, these environmental laws and regulations, which are implemented principally by the Environmental Protection Agency and comparable state agencies, govern the management of hazardous wastes, the discharge of pollutants into the air and into surface and underground waters and the manufacture and disposal of certain substances. Similarly, in Canada, these functions are administered at the federal level by Environment Canada and the Ministry of Transport and comparable agencies at the provincial level. In Australia, these functions are administered primarily by the Department of Transport at the federal level and by environmental protection agencies at the state level. In the Netherlands, national laws regulating the protection of the environment are administered by the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment and authorities at the provincial and municipal level, while laws regulating the transportation of hazardous substances are primarily administered by the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.

The Commonwealth of Australia has acknowledged that certain portions of the leasehold and freehold land acquired from them contain contamination arising from activities associated with previous operators. The Commonwealth has carried out certain remediation work to meet existing South Australian environmental standards.

There are no material environmental claims currently pending or, to our knowledge, threatened against us or any of our railroads. In addition, we believe our railroads operate in material compliance with current environmental laws and regulations. We estimate any expenses incurred in maintaining compliance with current environmental laws and regulations will not have a material effect on our earnings or capital expenditures.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

In October 2005, our Mexican subsidiary, Compañía de 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. We believe the Mexican government had the obligation to fund the reconstruction plan for the damaged portion of the rail line.

On June 25, 2007, FCCM formally notified the Mexican Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) of its intent to exercise its right to resign its 30-year concession from the Mexican government and to cease its rail operations. The decision to cease FCCM’s operations was made on June 22, 2007, and was due to the failure of the Mexican government to fulfill its obligation to fund the Chiapas reconstruction. Without reconstruction of the hurricane-damaged line, FCCM was not a viable business. During the third quarter of 2007, FCCM ceased its rail operations and initiated formal liquidation proceedings. 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 FCCM’s operating assets in response to the resignation. Additional information on the SCT’s claims is set forth under “Item 3. Legal Proceedings—Mexico.”

 

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In November 2008, we entered into an amended agreement to sell 100% of the share capital of FCCM to Viablis, S.A. de C.V. (Viablis) for a sale price of approximately $2.4 million. Completion of the sale transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, as well as the final negotiation with Viablis and the SCT of a mutually acceptable transfer of the concession granted by the Mexican government to Viablis and related undertakings. It is not yet possible to determine when or if these closing conditions will be satisfied.

Results of our Mexican operations are included in results from discontinued operations.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We were incorporated in Delaware on September 1, 1977. We completed our initial public offering in June 1996, and since September 27, 2002, our shares have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Our principal executive offices and corporate headquarters are located at 66 Field Point Road, Greenwich, Connecticut, 06830, and our telephone number is (203) 629-3722.

Our Internet website address is www.gwrr.com. We make available free of charge, on or through our Internet website, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after those materials are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Also, filings made pursuant to Section 16 of the Exchange Act with the SEC by our executive officers, directors and other reporting persons with respect to our common shares are made available, free of charge, through our Internet website. Our Internet website also contains hyperlinks to charters for each of the committees of our Board of Directors, our corporate governance guidelines and our Code of Ethics. Our Code of Ethics applies to all directors, officers and employees, including our chief executive officer, our chief financial officer, and our chief accounting officer and global controller. We will post any amendments to the Code of Ethics and any waivers that are required to be disclosed by the rules of either the SEC or the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (NYSE), on our Internet website within the required time period.

In addition, you may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549 and may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically. The SEC Internet website address is www.sec.gov.

The information regarding our Internet website and its content is for your convenience only. From time to time we may use our website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Company is routinely posted on and accessible at www.gwrr.com/investors. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about us by enrolling your email by visiting the “Email Alert” section at www.gwrr.com/investors.

The information contained on or connected to our Internet website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Annual Report or filed with the SEC.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

Our operations and financial condition are subject to certain risks that could cause actual operating and financial results to differ materially from those expressed or forecast in our forward-looking statements, including the risks described below and the risks that may be identified in future documents that are filed or furnished with the SEC.

GENERAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR BUSINESS

Adverse macroeconomic and business conditions could negatively impact our business.

Economic activity in the United States and throughout the world has undergone a sudden, sharp downturn. Global financial markets have and could continue to experience unprecedented volatility and disruption. Certain of our customers and suppliers are directly affected by the economic downturn, are facing credit issues and could experience cash flow problems that have and could continue to give rise to payment delays, increased credit risk, bankruptcies and other financial hardships that could decrease the demand for our rail services. In addition, adverse economic conditions could also affect our costs for insurance and our ability to acquire and maintain adequate insurance coverage for risks associated with the railroad business if insurance companies experience credit downgrades or bankruptcies. Changes in governmental banking, monetary and fiscal policies to stimulate the economy, restore liquidity and increase credit availability may not be effective. It is difficult to determine the depth and duration of the economic and financial market problems and the many ways in which they may impact our customers, suppliers and our business in general. Moreover, given the asset intensive nature of our business, the economic downturn increases the risk of significant asset impairment charges since we are required to assess for potential impairment of non-current assets whenever events or changes in circumstances, including economic circumstances, indicate that the respective asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. Continuation or further worsening of current macroeconomic and financial conditions could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

If we are unable to consummate additional acquisitions or investments, then we may not be able to implement our growth strategy successfully.

Our growth strategy is based to a large extent on the selective acquisition and development of, and investment in, rail properties, both in new regions and in regions in which we currently operate. The success of this strategy will depend on, among other things:

 

   

the availability of suitable opportunities;

 

   

the level of competition from other companies that may have greater financial resources;

 

   

our ability to value acquisition and investment opportunities accurately and negotiate acceptable terms for those acquisitions and investments;

 

   

our ability to identify and enter into mutually beneficial relationships with venture partners; and

 

   

the availability of management resources to oversee the integration and operation of the new businesses.

If we are not successful in implementing our growth strategy, the market price for our Class A common stock may be adversely affected.

We may need additional capital to fund our acquisitions. If we are unable to obtain additional capital at a reasonable cost, then we may forego potential acquisitions, which would impair the execution of our growth strategy.

Since January 1, 1996, we have acquired interests in 54 railroads, the majority of which were purchased for cash. As of December 31, 2008, we had undrawn revolver capacity of $210.9 million and $31.7 million of cash and cash equivalents available for acquisitions or other activities. We intend to continue to review acquisition

 

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candidates and potential purchases of railroad assets and to attempt to acquire companies and assets that meet our investment criteria. We expect that, as in the past, we will pay cash for some or all of the purchase price of any acquisitions or purchases that we make. Depending on the number of acquisitions or purchases and the prices thereof, we may not generate enough cash from operations to pay for the acquisitions or purchases. We may, therefore, need to raise substantial additional capital to fund our acquisitions. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of such securities could result in dilution of our existing stockholders. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of debt securities, the terms of such debt could impose additional restrictions and costs on our operations. Additional capital, if required, may not be available on acceptable terms or at all. The global financial markets have been and may continue to be constrained and may not be a source of additional capital. If we are unable to obtain additional capital, then we may forego potential acquisitions, which could impair the execution of our growth strategy.

Our inability to acquire or integrate acquired businesses successfully or to realize the anticipated cost savings and other benefits could have adverse consequences to our business.

We have experienced significant growth through acquisitions and we expect to continue to grow through additional acquisitions. Evaluating acquisition targets gives rise to additional costs related to legal, financial, operating and industry due diligence. Acquisitions generally result in increased operating and administrative costs and, to the extent financed with debt, additional interest costs. We may not be able to manage or integrate the acquired companies or businesses successfully. The process of acquiring businesses may be disruptive to our business and may cause an interruption or reduction of our business as a result of the following factors, among others:

 

   

loss of key employees or customers;

 

   

possible inconsistencies in or conflicts between standards, controls, procedures and policies among the combined companies and the need to implement company-wide financial, accounting, information technology and other systems;

 

   

failure to maintain the quality of services that have historically been provided;

 

   

integrating employees of rail lines acquired from other entities into our regional railroad culture;

 

   

failure to coordinate geographically diverse organizations; and

 

   

the diversion of management’s attention from our day-to-day business as a result of the need to manage any disruptions and difficulties and the need to add management resources to do so.

These disruptions and difficulties, if they occur, may cause us to fail to realize the cost savings, revenue enhancements and other benefits that we expect to result from integrating acquired companies and may cause material adverse short-and long-term effects on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

Even if we are able to integrate the operations of acquired businesses into our operations, we may not realize the full benefits of the cost savings, revenue enhancements or other benefits that we may have expected at the time of acquisition. The expected revenue enhancements and cost savings are based on analyses completed by members of our management. These analyses necessarily involve assumptions as to future events, including general business and industry conditions, the longevity of specific customer plants and factories served, operating costs and competitive factors, most of which are beyond our control and may not materialize. While we believe these analyses and their underlying assumptions to be reasonable, they are estimates that are necessarily speculative in nature. In addition, even if we achieve the expected benefits, we may not be able to achieve them within the anticipated time frame. Also, the cost savings and other synergies from these acquisitions may be offset by costs incurred in integrating the companies, increases in other expenses or problems in the business unrelated to these acquisitions.

Many of our recent acquisitions have involved the purchase of stock of existing companies. These acquisitions, as well as acquisitions of substantially all of the assets of a company may expose us to liability for actions taken by an acquired business and its management before our acquisition. The due diligence we conduct

 

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in connection with an acquisition and any contractual guarantees or indemnities that we receive from the sellers of acquired companies may not be sufficient to protect us from, or compensate us for, actual liabilities. Generally, the representations made by the sellers, other than certain representations related to fundamental matters, such as ownership of capital stock, expire several years after closing. A material liability associated with an acquisition, especially where there is no right to indemnification, could adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.

Our credit facilities and note purchase agreements contain numerous covenants that impose certain restrictions on the way we operate our business.

Our credit facilities contain numerous covenants that impose restrictions on our ability to, among other things:

 

   

incur additional debt;

 

   

create liens on our assets;

 

   

make certain types of investments;

 

   

repurchase shares or pay dividends;

 

   

make expenditures for capital projects;

 

   

merge or consolidate with others;

 

   

make asset acquisitions other than in the ordinary course of business;

 

   

dispose of assets or use asset sale proceeds;

 

   

enter into sale and leaseback transactions; and

 

   

enter into transactions with affiliates.

Our credit facilities also contain financial covenants that require us to meet a number of financial ratios and tests. Our failure to comply with the obligations in our credit facilities could result in an increase in our interest expense and could give rise to events of default under the credit facilities, which, if not cured or waived, could permit acceleration of our indebtedness, allowing our senior lenders to foreclose on our assets.

We are exposed to the credit risk of our customers and counterparties and their failure to meet their financial obligations could adversely affect our business.

Our business is subject to credit risk. There is a risk that a customer or counterparty will fail to meet its obligations when due. Customers and counterparties that owe us money have defaulted and may continue to default on their obligations to us due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, operational failure or other reasons. We have procedures for reviewing our receivables and credit exposures to specific customers and counterparties; however, default risk may arise from events or circumstances that are difficult to detect or foresee. Some of our risk management methods depend upon the evaluation of information regarding markets, customers or other matters that are not publicly available or otherwise accessible by us and this information may not, in all cases, be accurate, complete, up-to-date or properly evaluated. As a result, unexpected credit exposures could adversely affect our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

The loss of important customers or contracts may adversely affect our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

Our operations served more than 950 customers in 2008. Freight revenue from our 10 largest freight revenue customers accounted for approximately 20% of our total revenues in 2008. As of December 31, 2008, four of our

 

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10 largest customers operated in the paper and forest products industry. In 2008, our largest freight revenue customer was a company in the paper and forest products industry, freight revenue from which accounted for approximately 5% of our total revenues in 2008. We typically handle freight pursuant to transportation contracts between us, our connecting carriers and the customer. These contracts are in accordance with industry norms and vary in duration. These contracts establish price or, in the case of longer term contracts, a methodology for determining price, but do not typically obligate the customer to move any particular volume and are not typically linked to the prices of the commodities being shipped. Substantial reduction in business with or loss of important customers or contracts has had and could continue to have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

Because we depend on Class I railroads and other connecting carriers for a majority of our

operations, our operating results, financial condition and liquidity may be adversely affected if our relationships with these carriers deteriorate.

The railroad industry in the United States and Canada is dominated by seven Class I carriers that have substantial market control and negotiating leverage. In 2008, approximately 88% of our total carloads in the United States and Canada were interchanged with Class I carriers. A decision by any of these Class I carriers to use alternate modes of transportation, such as motor carriers, or to cease certain freight movements, could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity. The quantitative impact of such a decision would depend on which Class I carrier made such a decision and which of our routes and freight movements were affected. In addition, Class I carriers also have traditionally been significant sources of business for us, as well as sources of potential acquisition candidates as they divest branch lines to smaller rail operators, which divestitures are important for the execution of our growth strategy.

Our ability to provide rail service to customers in the United States and Canada depends in large part upon our ability to maintain cooperative relationships with connecting carriers with respect to freight rates, revenue divisions, fuel surcharges, car supply, reciprocal switching, interchange and trackage rights. Deterioration in the operations of or service provided by those connecting carriers or in our relationship with those connecting carriers could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

We are dependent on lease agreements with Class I railroads and other third parties for our operations, strategy and growth.

Our rail operations are dependent, in part, on lease agreements with Class I railroads and third parties, which allow us to operate over certain segments of track critical to our operations. For instance, we lease several railroads from Class I carriers under long-term lease arrangements, which collectively accounted for approximately 12% of our 2008 revenues. In addition, we own several railroads that also lease portions of the track or right of way upon which they operate from Class I railroads and other third parties. Our ability to provide comprehensive rail services to our customers on the leased lines depends in large part upon our ability to maintain and extend these lease agreements. Expiration or termination of these leases or failure of our railroads to comply with the terms of these leases could result in the loss of operating rights with respect to those rail properties, which could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

We face competition from numerous sources, including those relating to geography, substitute products, other types of transportation and other rail operators.

Each of our railroads is typically the only rail carrier directly serving our customers. However, in certain circumstances, including under the open access regimes in Australia and the Netherlands, our customers have access to other rail carriers. In addition, our railroads also compete directly with other modes of transportation, principally motor carriers and, on some routes, ship, barge and pipeline operators. Transportation providers such as motor carriers and barges utilize public rights-of-way that are built and maintained by governmental entities,

 

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while we must build and maintain our network. In addition, other rail operators may build new rail lines to access certain of our customers. If competition from these alternative methods of transportation or competitors materially increases, or if legislation is passed providing materially greater opportunity for motor carriers with respect to size or weight restrictions, we could suffer a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

We are also subject to geographic and product competition. For example, a customer could shift production to a region where we do not have operations or could substitute one commodity for another commodity that is not transported by rail. In either case, we would lose a source of revenues, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

The extent of this competition varies significantly among our railroads. Competition is based primarily upon the rate charged, the relative costs of substitutable products and the transit time required. In addition, competition is based on the quality and reliability of the service provided. Because a significant portion of our carloads in the United States and Canada involve interchange with another carrier, we have only limited control over the total price, transit time or quality of such service. Any future improvements or expenditures materially increasing the quality of these alternative modes of transportation in the locations in which we operate or legislation granting materially greater latitude for other modes of transportation could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

For information on the competition associated with the open access regimes in Europe and Australia, see “Additional Risks Associated with our Foreign Operations.”

It is difficult to quantify the potential impact of competition on our business, since not only each customer, but also each customer location and each product shipped from such location is subject to different types of competition.

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 United States, these agencies include the STB, the DOT, the FRA of the DOT, other federal agencies (including the DHS) 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 CTA, TC and the regulatory departments of the provincial governments of Quebec and Ontario. In the Netherlands, we are subject to regulation by the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, the Transport, Public Works and Water Management Inspectorate and the Dutch railways manager, Pro Rail. 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 legislative and regulatory environment, if adopted, could have a significant impact on 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 and pending are directed at Class I railroads; however, specific initiatives recently introduced in Congress associated with competition, safety, pricing power, positive train control, 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 and pending 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 legislation and the regulatory environment could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

 

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Market and regulatory responses to climate change could adversely affect our operating costs and decrease demand for the commodities we transport.

Clean air laws, restrictions, caps, taxes, or other controls on emissions of greenhouse gases, including diesel exhaust, could significantly increase our operating costs. Restrictions on emissions could also affect our customers that use commodities that we carry to produce energy, use significant amounts of energy in producing or delivering the commodities we carry, or manufacture or produce goods that consume significant amounts of energy or burn fossil fuels, including coal-fired power plants, chemical producers, farmers and food producers, and automakers and other manufacturers. Significant cost increases, government regulation, or changes of consumer preferences for goods or services relating to alternative sources of energy or emissions reductions could materially affect the markets for the commodities we carry, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Government incentives encouraging the use of alternative sources of energy could also affect certain of our customers and the markets for certain of the commodities we carry in an unpredictable manner that could alter our traffic patterns, including, for example, the impacts of ethanol incentives on farming and ethanol producers. Any of these factors, individually or in conjunction with one or more of the other factors, or other unforeseen impacts of climate change could reduce the amount of traffic we handle and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

We could incur significant costs for violations of, or liabilities under, environmental laws and regulations.

Our railroad operations and real estate ownership are subject to extensive federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations concerning, among other things, emissions to the air, discharges to waters, the handling, storage, transportation and disposal of waste and other materials and cleanup of hazardous material or petroleum releases. We may incur environmental liability from conditions or practices at properties previously owned or operated by us, properties leased by us and other properties owned by third parties (for example, properties at which hazardous substances or wastes for which we are responsible have been treated, stored, spilled or disposed), as well as at properties currently owned by us. Under some environmental statutes, such liability may be without regard to whether we were at fault and may also be “joint and several,” whereby we are responsible for all the liability at issue even though we (or the entity that gives rise to our liability) may be only one of a number of entities whose conduct contributed to the liability.

Environmental liabilities may arise from claims asserted by owners or occupants of affected properties or other third parties affected by environmental conditions (for example, contractors and current or former employees) seeking to recover in connection with alleged damages to their property or with personal injury or death, as well as by governmental authorities seeking to remedy environmental conditions or to enforce environmental obligations. Environmental requirements and liabilities could obligate us to incur significant costs, including significant expenses to investigate and remediate environmental contamination, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

Rising fuel costs could materially adversely affect our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

Fuel costs constitute a significant portion of our total operating expenses and an increase in fuel costs could have a negative effect on our profitability. Although we receive fuel surcharges and other rate adjustments to offset rising fuel prices, if Class I railroads change their policies regarding fuel surcharges, then the compensation we receive for increases in fuel costs may decrease. Fuel costs for fuel used in operations were approximately 13% and 11% of our operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Fuel prices and supplies are influenced by factors beyond our control, such as international political and economic circumstances. If diesel fuel prices increase dramatically or if a fuel supply shortage were to arise from production curtailments, a disruption of oil imports or otherwise, these events could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

 

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We may be affected by supply constraints resulting from disruptions in the fuel markets.

We consumed 18.8 million gallons of diesel fuel in 2008. Fuel availability could be affected by any limitation in the fuel supply or by any imposition of mandatory allocation or rationing regulations. If a severe fuel supply shortage arose from production curtailments, disruption of oil imports, disruption of domestic refinery production, damage to refinery or pipeline infrastructure, political unrest, war or otherwise, our financial position, results of operations or liquidity could be adversely affected.

As a common carrier by rail, we are required to transport hazardous materials, regardless of risk.

Transportation of certain hazardous materials could create catastrophic losses in terms of personal injury, property damage and environmental remediation costs and compromise critical parts of our railroads. In addition, insurance premiums charged for some or all of the coverage currently maintained by us could increase dramatically or certain coverage may not be available to us in the future if there is a catastrophic event related to rail transportation of these commodities. In addition, federal regulators have previously prescribed regulations governing railroads’ transportation of hazardous materials and have the ability to put in place additional regulations. For instance, recently enacted legislation requires pre-notification for hazardous materials shipments. Such legislation and regulations could impose significant additional costs on railroads. Additionally, regulations adopted by the DOT and the DHS could significantly increase the costs associated with moving hazardous materials on our railroads. Further, certain local governments have sought to enact ordinances banning hazardous materials moving by rail within their borders. Such ordinances could require the re-routing of hazardous materials shipments, with the potential for significant additional costs. Increases in our costs associated with the transport of hazardous materials could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

The occurrence of losses or other liabilities that are either not covered by insurance or that exceed our insurance limits could materially adversely affect our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

We have obtained for each of our railroads insurance coverage for losses arising from personal injury and for property damage in the event of derailments or other accidents or occurrences. On certain of the rail lines over which we operate, freight trains are commingled with passenger trains. For instance, in Oregon we operate certain passenger trains for the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon over our Portland & Western Railroad. Unexpected or catastrophic circumstances such as accidents involving passenger trains or spillage of hazardous materials could cause our liability to exceed expected statutory limits, third-party insurance limits and our insurance limits. Insurance is available from only a very limited number of insurers, and we may not be able to obtain insurance protection at our current levels or obtain it on terms acceptable to us. In addition, subsequent adverse events directly and indirectly applicable to us may result in additional increases in our insurance premiums and/or our self-insured retentions and could result in limitations to the coverage under our existing policies. The occurrence of losses or other liabilities that are not covered by insurance or that exceed our insurance limits could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

Some of our employees belong to labor unions, and strikes or work stoppages could adversely affect our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

We are a party to collective bargaining agreements with various labor unions in the United States, Australia and Canada. In North America, we are party to 37 contracts with national labor organizations. We are currently engaged in negotiations with respect to six of those agreements. We have also entered into employee association agreements with an additional 145 employees who are not represented by a national labor organization. GWA has a collective enterprise bargaining agreement covering the majority of its employees. Our inability to negotiate acceptable contracts with these unions could result in, among other things, strikes, work stoppages or other slowdowns by the affected workers. If the unionized workers were to engage in a strike, work stoppage or other slowdown, or other employees were to become unionized, or the terms and conditions in future labor

 

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agreements were renegotiated, then we could experience a significant disruption of our operations and/or higher ongoing labor costs, which, in either case, could materially adversely affect our operating results, financial condition and liquidity. To date, we have experienced no material strikes or work stoppages. We are also subject to the risk of the unionization of our non-unionized employees, which risk could increase if pro-union legislation currently under consideration is adopted. Additional unionization of our workforce could result in higher employee compensation and restrictive working condition demands that could increase our operating costs or constrain our operating flexibility. In addition, work interruptions may be threatened, which could cause customers to seek other transportation alternatives, with a corresponding adverse financial impact.

If we are unable to employ a sufficient number of skilled workers, then our operating results, financial condition and liquidity may be materially adversely affected.

We believe that our success and our growth depend upon our ability to attract and retain skilled workers that possess the ability to operate and maintain our equipment and facilities. The operation and maintenance of our equipment and facilities involve complex and specialized processes and often must be performed in harsh conditions, resulting in a high employee turnover rate when compared to many other industries. The challenge of attracting and retaining the necessary workforce is increased by the expected retirement of an aging workforce and significant competition for specialized trades. Within the next five years, we estimate approximately 15% of the current workforce will become eligible for retirement. Many of these workers hold key operating positions, such as conductors, engineers and mechanics. In addition, the demand for workers with the types of skills we require has increased, especially from Class I railroads, which can usually offer higher wages and better benefits. A significant increase in the wages paid by competing employers could result in a reduction of our skilled labor force or an increase in the wage rates that we must pay or both. If any of these events were to occur, then our cost structure could increase, our margins could decrease and our growth potential could be impaired, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

Our operations are dependent on our ability to obtain railcars, locomotives and other critical railroad items from suppliers.

Due to the capital intensive nature and industry-specific requirements of the rail industry, there are high barriers of entry for potential new suppliers of core railroad items such as railcars, locomotives and track materials. If the number of available railcars is insufficient or if the cost of obtaining these railcars increases, then we might not be able to obtain replacement railcars on favorable terms, or at all, and shippers may seek alternate forms of transportation. In addition, in some cases we use third-party locomotives to provide transportation services to our customers. Without these third-party locomotives, we would need to invest additional capital in locomotives. Additionally, we compete with other industries for available capacity and raw materials used in the production of certain track materials, such as rail and ties. Changes in the competitive landscapes of these limited-supplier markets could result in increased prices or material shortages that could materially affect our financial position, results of operations or liquidity in a particular year or quarter.

We may be subject to various claims and lawsuits that could result in significant expenditures.

The nature of our business exposes us to the potential for various claims and litigation related to labor and employment, personal injury, freight loss and other property damage and other matters. For example, United States job-related personal injury claims are subject to FELA, which is applicable only to railroads. FELA’s fault-based tort system produces results that are unpredictable and inconsistent as compared with a no-fault worker’s compensation system. The variability inherent in this system could result in the actual costs of claims being very different from the liability recorded.

Any material changes to current litigation trends or a catastrophic rail accident involving material freight loss or property damage, personal injury and environmental liability that is not covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

 

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Our results of operations are susceptible to severe weather conditions and other natural occurrences.

We are susceptible to adverse weather conditions, including floods, fires, hurricanes, droughts, earthquakes and other natural occurrences. For example:

 

   

Our minerals and stone revenues may be reduced by mild winters in the Northeastern United States, which lessen demand for road salt.

 

   

Our coal, coke and ores revenues may be reduced by mild winters in the Midwestern United States, which lessen demand for coal.

 

   

GWA’s revenues are susceptible to the impact of drought conditions on the South Australian grain harvest.

Bad weather and natural disasters, such as blizzards in the Northeastern United States and Canada and hurricanes in the Southeastern United States, could cause a shutdown or substantial disruption of operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity. Even if a material adverse weather or other condition does not directly affect our operations, it can impact the operations of our customers or connecting carriers. Such weather conditions could cause our customers or connecting carriers to reduce or suspend their operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Furthermore, our expenses could be adversely impacted by weather, including, for example, higher track maintenance and overtime costs in the winter at our railroads in the Northeastern United States and Canada related to snow removal and mandated work breaks.

In addition, GWA derives a significant portion of its rail freight revenues from shipments of grain. For each of the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, grain shipments generated approximately 3% of GWI’s operating revenues. A decrease in grain shipments as a result of adverse weather or other negative agricultural conditions could have a material adverse effect on GWA’s operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

Certain of our capital projects may be impacted by our ability to obtain government funding.

Certain of our existing capital projects are, and certain of our future capital projects may be, partially dependent on our ability to obtain government funding. During 2008, we obtained government funding for 38 separate projects that were partially funded by United States, Canada and Australia federal, state and municipal agencies. These funds represented approximately 18.2% of our total capital expenditures during 2008. Government funding for our projects is limited, and there is no guarantee that budget pressure at the federal, state and local level or changing governmental priorities will not eliminate future funding availability. In addition, competition for government funding from other short line railroads, Class I railroads and other companies is significant, and the receipt of government funds is often contingent on the acceptance of contractual obligations that may not be strictly profit maximizing. In certain jurisdictions, the acceptance of government funds may impose additional legal obligations on our operations, such as compliance with prevailing wage requirements.

Acts of terrorism or anti-terrorism measures may adversely affect us.

Our rail lines, port operations and other facilities and equipment, including rail cars carrying hazardous materials that we are required to transport under federal law as a common carrier, could be direct targets or indirect casualties of terrorist attacks. Any terrorist attack or other similar event could cause significant business interruption and may adversely affect our operating results, financial condition and liquidity. In addition, regulatory measures designed to control terrorism could impose substantial costs upon us and could result in impairment to our service, which could also adversely affect our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

 

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ADDITIONAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR FOREIGN OPERATIONS

We are subject to the risks of doing business in foreign countries.

Some of our significant subsidiaries transact business in foreign countries, namely in Australia, Canada and the Netherlands, and we have a minority investment in Bolivia. In addition, we may consider acquisitions or other investments in other foreign countries in the future. The risks of doing business in foreign countries include:

 

   

adverse renegotiation or modification of existing agreements or arrangements with governmental authorities;

 

   

adverse changes or greater volatility in the economies of those countries;

 

   

adverse effects of currency exchange controls;

 

   

adverse currency movements that make goods produced in those countries that are destined for export markets less competitive;

 

   

adverse changes to the regulatory environment of those countries;

 

   

adverse changes to the tax laws and regulations of those countries;

 

   

restrictions on the withdrawal of foreign investment and earnings;

 

   

the nationalization of the businesses that we operate, such as threatened nationalization in Bolivia;

 

   

the actual or perceived failure by us to fulfill commitments under concession agreements;

 

   

the potential instability of foreign governments, including from domestic insurgency;

 

   

the ability to identify and retain qualified local managers; and

 

   

the challenge of managing a culturally and geographically diverse operation.

Because some of our significant subsidiaries and affiliates transact business in foreign currencies and because a significant portion of our net income comes from the operations of our foreign subsidiaries, future exchange rate fluctuations may adversely affect us and may affect the comparability of our results between financial periods.

Our operations in Australia, Canada and the Netherlands accounted for 19.0%, 9.1% and 1.7% of our consolidated operating revenues, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2008. The results of operations of our foreign entities are reported in the local currency—the Australian dollar, the Canadian dollar and the Euro—and then translated into United States dollars at the applicable exchange rates for inclusion in our consolidated financial statements. As a result, any appreciation or depreciation of these currencies against the United States dollar can impact our results of operations. The exchange rates between these currencies and the United States dollar have fluctuated significantly in recent years and may continue to do so in the future. For instance, in the year ended December 31, 2008, the Australian dollar and Canadian dollar depreciated 20.4% and 19.3%, respectively, relative to the United States dollar.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to effectively manage our exchange rate risks, and the volatility in currency exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity. In addition, because our financial statements are stated in United States dollars, such fluctuations may affect our results of operations and financial position and may affect the comparability of our results between financial periods.

Failure to meet concession commitments with respect to operations of our rail lines could result in the loss of our investment and a related loss of revenues.

Through our subsidiaries in South Australia and unconsolidated minority interest in Bolivia, we have entered into long-term concession and/or lease agreements with governmental authorities in South Australia and

 

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Bolivia. These concession and lease agreements are subject to a number of conditions, including those relating to the maintenance of certain standards with respect to safety, service, price and the environment. These concession and lease agreements also typically carry with them a commitment to maintain the condition of the railroad and to make a certain level of capital expenditures. Our failure to meet these commitments under the long-term concession and lease agreements could result in the loss of those concession or lease agreements. The loss of any concession or lease agreement could result in the loss of our entire investment relating to that concession or lease agreement and the related revenues and income.

Open access regimes in Australia and the Netherlands could lead to additional competition for rail services and decreased revenues and profit margins.

The legislative and regulatory framework in Australia allows third-party rail operators to gain access to GWA’s railway infrastructure and also governs GWA’s access to track owned by others. The Netherlands also has an open access regime that permits third-party rail operators to compete for RRF’s business. There are limited barriers to entry to preclude a current or prospective rail operator from approaching GWA or RRF’s customers, and seeking to capture market share. The loss of GWA or RRF’s customers to competitors could result in decreased revenues and profit margins and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

Changes to the open access regimes in Australia and the Netherlands could have a significant impact on our operations.

Access charges paid for access onto the track of other companies, and access charges under state and federal regimes are subject to change. Where we pay access fees to others, if those fees were increased, our operating margins could be negatively affected. In Australia, if the federal government or respective state regulators were to alter the regulatory regime or determine that access fees charged to current or prospective third-party rail freight operators by GWA did not meet competitive standards, then GWA’s income from those fees could decline. In addition, when GWA and RRF operate over track networks owned by others, the owners of the network are responsible for scheduling the use of the tracks as well as for determining the amount and timing of the expenditures necessary to maintain the tracks in satisfactory condition. Therefore, in areas where we operate over tracks owned by others, our operations are subject to train scheduling set by the owners as well as the risk that the network will not be adequately maintained. Either risk could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

GWA is subject to several contractual restrictions on its ability to compete.

As a result of our June 2006 sale of the Western Australia operations and certain other assets of ARG to Queensland Rail and Babcock & Brown Limited (ARG Sale), GWA is subject to (a) a five-year non-compete in the State of Western Australia, the Melbourne-to-Adelaide corridor and certain areas within the State of New South Wales historically served by ARG; (b) a right of first refusal for the benefit of Queensland Rail on the sale of (i) GWA or a majority of the ownership of GWA and (ii) a number of high horsepower locomotives and intermodal wagons owned or operated by GWA and (c) a restriction on hiring of ARG employees who remain employed by ARG after the sale. These contractual restrictions may place limits on our ability to grow GWA’s business or divest of certain assets, which could have a material adverse effect on GWA’s operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

 

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Item 2. Properties

Genesee & Wyoming, through our subsidiaries and our unconsolidated affiliate in Bolivia, currently has interests in 63 short line and regional freight railroads, of which 57 are located in the United States, three are located in Canada, one is located in Australia, one is located in the Netherlands and one is located in Bolivia. These rail properties typically consist of the track and the underlying land. Real estate adjacent to the railroad rights-of-way is generally retained by the sellers, and our holdings of such real estate are not material. Similarly, the seller typically retains mineral rights and rights to grant fiber optic and other easements in the properties acquired by us. Several of our railroads are operated under leases or operating licenses in which we do not assume ownership of the track or the underlying land.

Our railroads operate over approximately 6,800 miles of track that is owned, jointly owned or leased by us or our affiliates. We also operate, through various trackage rights and lease agreements, over more than 3,100 miles of track that is owned or leased by others. The track miles listed below exclude 929 miles of sidings and yards located in the United States (777 miles), Canada (87 miles) and Australia (65 miles).

The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2008, with respect to our and our affiliate’s railroads, excluding 998 miles associated with our discontinued operations in Mexico:

 

RAILROAD AND LOCATION

  YEAR
ACQUIRED
  TRACK
MILES
  NOTES  

STRUCTURE

 

CONNECTING CARRIERS (1)

UNITED STATES:

         

Genesee and Wyoming Railroad Company

(GNWR) New York

  1899   27   (2)   Owned   CP, DMM, RSR, NS, CSX

The Dansville & Mount Morris

Railroad Company

(DMM) New York

  1985   8   (2)   Owned   GNWR

Rochester & Southern Railroad, Inc.  

(RSR) New York

  1986   51   (3)   Owned   BPRR, CP, GNWR, CSX, LAL

Louisiana & Delta Railroad, Inc.  

(LDRR) Louisiana

  1987   86   (4)   Owned/Leased   UP, BNSF

Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.  

(BPRR) New York, Pennsylvania

  1988   392   (5)   Owned/Leased   ALY, BR, CN, CP, CSX, NS, PS, RSR, AVR, SB, SBOR

Allegheny & Eastern Railroad, Inc.  

(ALY) Pennsylvania

  1992   128   (6)   Owned   BPRR, NS, CSX

Bradford Industrial Rail, Inc.  

(BIR) Pennsylvania

  1993   4   (7)   Owned   BPRR

Willamette & Pacific Railroad, Inc.  

(WPRR) Oregon

  1993   184   (8)   Leased   UP, PNWR, HLSC, AERC

Portland & Western Railroad, Inc.  

(PNWR) Oregon

  1995   288   (9)   Owned/Leased   BNSF, UP, WPRR, AERC, POTB

Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad, Inc.  

(PS) Pennsylvania

  1996   111   (10)   Owned   BPRR, NS

Illinois & Midland Railroad, Inc.  

(IMR) Illinois

  1996   97   (11)   Owned   BNSF, IAIS, CN, NS, TZPR, TPW, UP, KCS

Commonwealth Railway, Inc.  

(CWRY) Virginia

  1996   19   (12)   Owned   NS, CSX

Talleyrand Terminal Railroad Company, Inc.  

(TTR) Florida

  1996   2   (13)   Leased   NS, CSX

Corpus Christi Terminal Railroad, Inc.  

(CCPN) Texas

  1997   30   (14)   Leased   UP, BNSF, TM

Golden Isles Terminal Railroad, Inc.  

(GITM) Georgia

  1998   13   (15)   Owned/Leased   CSX, NS

Savannah Port Terminal Railroad, Inc.  

(SAPT) Georgia

  1998   18   (16)   Leased   CSX, NS

South Buffalo Railway Company

(SB) New York

  2001   54   (17)   Owned/Leased   BPRR, CSX, NS, CP, CN

St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad Company

(SLR) Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont

  2002   157   (18)   Owned/Leased   PAR, SLQ

York Railway Company

(YRC) Pennsylvania

  2002   42   (18)   Owned   CSX, NS

 

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Table of Contents

RAILROAD AND LOCATION

  YEAR
ACQUIRED
  TRACK
MILES
  NOTES  

STRUCTURE

 

CONNECTING CARRIERS (1)

Utah Railway Company

(URC) Utah

  2002   47   (19)   Owned   UP, BNSF

Salt Lake City Southern Railroad Company

(SLCS) Utah

  2002   2   (20)   Owned   UP, BNSF

Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad

(CIRR) Georgia

  2003   15   (21)   Owned   CSX, NS, CHAT

Arkansas Louisiana and Mississippi

Railroad Company

(ALM) Arkansas, Louisiana

  2003   53   (21)   Owned   UP, KCS, FP

Fordyce and Princeton R.R. Co.  

(FP) Arkansas

  2003   57   (21)   Owned   UP, KCS, ALM

Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, Inc.  

(TZPR) Illinois

  2004   24   (22)   Leased   CN, UP, NS, BNSF, TPW, KJRY IAIS, IMRR, CIRY,

Golden Isles Terminal Wharf

(GITW) Georgia

  2004   7   (23)   Owned   CSX

First Coast Railroad Inc.  

(FCRD) Florida, Georgia

  2005   32   (24)   Leased   CSX, SM

AN Railway, L.L.C.  

(AN) Florida

  2005   96   (25)   Leased   CSX

Atlantic & Western Railway, L.P.  

(ATW) North Carolina

  2005   11   (26)   Owned   CSX, NS

The Bay Line Railroad, L.L.C.  

(BAYL) Alabama, Florida

  2005   108   (26)   Owned   CSX, NS, CHAT

East Tennessee Railway, L.P.  

(ETRY) Tennessee

  2005   14   (27)   Owned/Leased   CSX, NS

Galveston Railroad, L.P.  

(GVSR) Texas

  2005   38   (28)   Leased   BNSF, UP

Georgia Central Railway, L.P.  

(GC) Georgia

  2005   171   (29)   Owned/Leased   CSX, NS

KWT Railway, Inc.  

(KWT) Kentucky, Tennessee

  2005   69   (26)   Owned   CSX

Little Rock & Western Railway, L.P.  

(LRWN) Arkansas

  2005   79   (26)   Owned   BNSF, UP

Meridian & Bigbee Railroad, L.L.C.  

(MNBR) Alabama, Mississippi

  2005   148   (30)   Owned/Leased   CSX, KCS, NS, AGR, BNSF

Riceboro Southern Railway, L.L.C.  

(RSOR) Georgia

  2005   18   (31)   Leased   CSX

Tomahawk Railway, L.P.  

(TR) Wisconsin

  2005   6   (26)   Owned   CN

Valdosta Railway, L.P.  

(VR) Georgia

  2005   10   (26)   Owned   CSX, NS

Western Kentucky Railway, L.L.C.  

(WKRL) Kentucky

  2005   19   (26)   Owned   CSX

Wilmington Terminal Railroad, L.L.C.  

(WTRY) North Carolina

  2005   17   (32)   Leased   CSX

Chattahoochee Bay Railroad, Inc.  

(CHAT) Georgia

  2006   26   (33)   Owned   BAYL, NS, CIRR, CSX

Maryland Midland Railway, Inc.  

(MMID) Maryland

  2007   70   (34)   Owned   CSX

Chattooga & Chickamauga Railway Co.  

(CCKY) Georgia

  2008   68   (35)   Leased   NS

Luxapalia Valley Railroad, Inc.  

(LXVR) Alabama, Mississippi

  2008   38   (35)   Owned   NS, KCS, C&G, GTRA

Columbus and Greenville Railway Company

(C&G) Mississippi

  2008   162   (35)   Owned   NS, KCS, LXVR, AGR, CN, GTRA, CXS

 

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Table of Contents

RAILROAD AND LOCATION

  YEAR
ACQUIRED
  TRACK
MILES
  NOTES  

STRUCTURE

 

CONNECTING CARRIERS (1)

The Aliquippa & Ohio River Railroad Company

(AORR) Pennsylvania

  2008   6   (36)   Owned   CSX

The Columbus and Ohio River Rail

Road Company

(CUOH) Ohio

  2008   242   (37)   Owned/Leased   CSX, NS, OHCR, OSRR

The Mahoning Valley Railway Company

(MVRR) Ohio

  2008   6   (36)   Owned   CSX, NS, OHPA, YBRR

Ohio Central Railroad, Inc.  

(OHCR) Ohio

  2008   95   (36)   Owned   CSX, CUOH, NS, WE, OSRR, RJCL,

Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad Company

(OHPA) Ohio

  2008   2   (36)   Owned   CSX, MVRR, NS, YBRR, YSER

Ohio Southern Railroad, Inc.  

(OSRR) Ohio

  2008   38   (36)   Owned   CUOH, NS, OHCR

The Pittsburgh & Ohio Central

Railroad Company

(POHC) Pennsylvania

  2008   35   (36)   Owned   CSX, NS, PAM

The Warren & Trumbull Railroad Company

(WTRR) Ohio

  2008   6   (38)   Leased   NS, YBRR

Youngstown & Austintown Railroad, Inc.  

(YARR) Ohio

  2008   5   (39)   Leased   CSX, NS, YBRR

The Youngstown Belt Railroad Company

(YBRR) Ohio

  2008   26   (36)   Owned   CSX, MVRR, NS, WTRR, YARR, OHPA

Georgia Southwestern Railroad Inc.  

(GSWR) Georgia

  2008   231   (40)   Owned/Leased   NS, CSX

CANADA:

Huron Central Railway Inc.  

(HCR) Canada

 

1997

 

173

 

(41)

 

Leased

 

CP, CN

         

Quebec Gatineau Railway Inc.  

(QGRY) Canada

  1997   313   (42)   Owned/Leased   CP, CN

St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (Quebec) Inc.  

(SLQ) Canada

  2002   95   (18)   Owned   CP, CN, MMA, SLR

AUSTRALIA:

Genesee & Wyoming Australia Pty Ltd  

(GWA)

 

2006

 

791

 

(43)

 

Leased

 
         

NETHERLANDS:

Rotterdam Rail Feeding, B.V.  

(RRF)

 

2008

 

0

 

(44)

 

Open Access

 
         

BOLIVIA (Minority Investment):

Ferroviaria Oriental, S.A.  

(Oriental)

 

2000

 

773

 

(45)

 

Leased

 

General Belgrano, Novoeste

         

 

(1) See Legend of Connecting Carriers following this table.
(2) Includes 13 miles obtained in 1982. The GNWR and DMM are now operated by RSR.
(3) In addition, RSR has haulage contracts over 52 miles of NS that are terminable at will and 70 miles of CSX that expire in 2013.
(4) Includes 3 miles under a lease with M.A. Patout & Sons expiring in 2011. If the lease terminates, the lessor is obligated to reimburse us for leasehold improvements based upon stipulations in the agreement. In addition, LDRR operates by trackage rights over 91 miles of UP under an agreement terminable at will by either party.
(5) Includes 92 miles under a perpetual lease and 41 miles, 9 miles and 24 miles under leases with CSX expiring in 2027, 2080 and 2024, respectively, and 36 miles under a lease with NS expiring in 2027. In addition, BPRR operates by trackage rights over 14 miles of CSX under an agreement expiring in 2018 and 8 miles of NS under an agreement expiring in 2027.
(6) ALY operates by an indefinite interchange agreement over 1 mile of NS. ALY merged with BPRR in January 2004.
(7) BIR merged with BPRR on January 1, 2004.
(8) All under lease with UP expiring in 2013, with a ten-year renewal unless terminated by either party. If the lease terminates, the UP is obligated to reimburse us for leasehold improvements, subject to certain limitations. In addition, WPRR operates over 41 miles of UP under a concurrent trackage rights agreement.
(9) Includes 60 miles under lease with UP expiring in 2015, with a ten-year renewal unless terminated by either party. If the lease terminates, UP is obligated to reimburse us for pre-approved leasehold improvements, subject to certain limitations. Includes 76 miles under lease with BNSF, expiring in 2017. If the lease terminates, BNSF is obligated to reimburse us for leasehold improvements, subject to certain limitations. In addition, PNWR operates by trackage rights over 2 miles of UP expiring in 2015 and 4 miles of POTB expiring in 2010. PNWR also has haulage contracts over 49 miles of UP, 13 miles of BNSF and 2 miles of the Portland Terminal Railroad Company, expiring in 2016, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Includes 56 miles and 92 miles operated pursuant to a perpetual rail service easement from the State of Oregon.

 

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(10) PS merged with BPRR in January 2004.
(11) In addition, IMR operates by perpetual trackage rights over 15 miles of CN. IMR also operates by trackage rights over 9 miles of TZPR and 48 miles of UP that expire in 2024 and 2099, respectively.
(12) Includes 12.5 miles of previously leased rail line, which was purchased from Norfolk Southern Corp. in April 2008.
(13) All under lease with Jacksonville Port Authority.
(14) All under lease with Port of Corpus Christi Authority of Nueces County Texas.
(15) Includes 13 miles which are under lease with the Georgia Port Authority.
(16) All under lease with the Georgia Port Authority.
(17) SB was acquired from Bethlehem Steel in October 2001.
(18) Subsidiary of Emons Transportation Group, Inc., acquired in February 2002. Includes 3 miles which are under lease from the Lewiston & Auburn Railroad expiring in 2043.
(19) URC was acquired in 2002. In addition, URC operates by trackage rights over 349 miles of UP under a five-year renewable agreement expiring in 2010, subject to extension.
(20) Subsidiary of URC, acquired in August 2002. In addition, SLCS operates by trackage rights over 34 miles of UP terminable at will, subject to one-year advance notice.
(21) All acquired in December 2003 from Georgia Pacific Corporation.
(22) All under lease with Peoria and Pekin Union Railway (PPU) expiring in 2024. In addition, TZPR operates by trackage rights over 4 miles of UP under an agreement expiring in 2013.
(23) The Company purchased the Golden Isles Terminal Wharf in August 2004 from CSX.
(24) All under lease with CSX expiring in 2025.
(25) Acquired in June 2005 from RMC. All under lease with the St. Joe Company expiring in 2018, subject to three automatic ten-year renewals. If the lease terminates, AN is entitled to the undepreciated value of track and bridge improvements, subject to certain limitations.
(26) Acquired in June 2005 from RMC.
(27) Acquired in June 2005 from RMC. Includes 3 miles under lease with CSX Transportation expiring in 2013.
(28) Acquired in June 2005 from RMC. All under lease with the Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves.
(29) Acquired in June 2005 from RMC. Includes 58 miles on the GC under lease with CSX Transportation expiring in 2010.
(30) Acquired in June 2005 from RMC. Includes a lease of 94 miles of the right of way of MNBR from CSX expiring in 2023.
(31) Acquired in June 2005 from RMC. All under lease with CSX Transportation expiring in 2024. If the lease terminates, CSX Transportation is obligated to reimburse us for leasehold improvements, subject to certain limitations.
(32) Acquired in June 2005 from RMC. All under lease with the North Carolina State Ports Authority.
(33) CHAT purchased the Chattahoochee & Gulf Railroad Co., Inc. and the H&S Railroad Company, Inc. in August 2006 from Gulf & Ohio Railways.
(34) The Company purchased 87.4% of MMID in December 2007.
(35) The Company purchased 100% of CAGY Industries, Inc. in May 2008. CAGY Industries, Inc. was the parent company of three short line railroads, including the LXVX, CCKY and C&G. The C&G operates by trackage rights over 26 miles of KCS track that expire in 2057. The CCKY leases 49 miles from the State of Georgia and 21 miles from NS that expire in 2018 and 2009, respectively.
(36) The Company purchased 100% of the equity interest of Summit View, Inc. in October 2008. Summit View, Inc. was the parent company of 10 short line railroads known as the Ohio Central Railroad System (OCR).
(37) The Company purchased 100% of the equity interest of Summit View, Inc. in October 2008. Includes 160 miles under an operating agreement with the Ohio Rail Development Corporation expiring in 2012, subject to a five-year renewal.
(38) The Company purchased 100% of the equity interest of Summit View, Inc. in October 2008. Summit View, Inc. was the parent company of 10 short line railroads known as the OCR. Includes the WTRR under a year-to-year lease with the Economic Development Rail II Corporation.
(39) The Company purchased 100% of the equity interest of Summit View, Inc. in October 2008. Includes the YARR under lease with the Economic Development Rail Corporation expiring in 2013.
(40) The Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired 100% of GSWR in October 2008. GSWR leases 104 miles from the State of Georgia and 50 miles from NS that expire in 2022 and 2015, respectively.
(41) All under lease with CP expiring in 2017.
(42) Includes 18 miles that are under lease with CP expiring in 2017, with renewal options subject to both parties’ consent. In addition, QGRY operates by trackage rights over 65 miles of CP that expire in 2017, subject to renewal.
(43) All under lease from the Government of South Australia expiring in 2047.
(44) The Company purchased 100% of RRF in April 2008. RRF operates primarily in the Port of Rotterdam pursuant to an open access regime.
(45) All under a 40-year concession agreement expiring in 2036 operating on track structure that is owned by the state-owned rail company Red Ferroviario Oriental.

Legend of Connecting Carriers

 

AERC Albany & Eastern Railroad
AGR Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway LLC
AVR Allegheny Valley Railroad
BNSF Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company
CIRY Central Illinois Railway
CN Canadian National
CP Canadian Pacific Railway

 

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Table of Contents
CSX CSX Transportation, Inc.
GTRA Golden Triangle Railroad
HLSC Hampton Railway
IAIS Iowa Interstate Railroad, Ltd.
KCS Kansas City Southern
KJRY Keokuk Junction Railway
LAL Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad Corp.
MMA Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, Ltd.
NS Norfolk Southern Corp.
PAM Pittsburgh & McKees Rocks
PAR Pan Am Railways
POTB Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad
RJCL RJ Corman Cleveland Line
SBOR Buffalo Southern Railroad
SM St. Mary’s Railroad
TM The Texas Mexican Railway Company
TPW Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway Corp.
UP Union Pacific Railroad Company
WE Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway
YSER Youngstown Southeastern Railroad

EQUIPMENT

As of December 31, 2008, the rolling stock of our continuing operations consisted of 583 locomotives, of which 523 were owned and 60 were leased, and 14,767 freight cars, of which 3,905 were owned and 10,862 were leased. A breakdown of the types of freight cars owned and leased by our continuing operations is set forth in the table below. As of December 31, 2008, our discontinued operations in Mexico owned 30 locomotives and 206 freight cars.

Rail Cars by Car Type:

 

     Owned    Leased    Totals

Box

   1,492    7,411    8,903

Hoppers

   952    1,011    1,963

Flats

   735    122    857

Gondolas

   277    1,347    1,624

Covered Hoppers

   384    971    1,355

Tank Cars

   29    —      29

Maintenance of Way

   23    —      23

Crew Cars

   13    —      13
              
   3,905    10,862    14,767
              

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

Mexico. As previously disclosed, on June 25, 2007, FCCM formally notified the SCT of its intent to exercise its right to resign its 30-year concession from the Mexican government and to cease its rail operations. 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 amount of the sanctions has not been specified. 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 FCCM’s 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

 

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annulment of the SCT’s July 24, 2007 official letter and recognition of FCCM’s right to resign its concession. As a result of SCT’s answer in this proceeding, on June 26, 2008, FCCM filed a brief with new arguments. The SCT has also seized substantially all of FCCM’s operating assets in response to FCCM’s resignation of the concession. On September 19, 2007, FCCM filed a proceeding in the Second District Court in Merida (District Court) challenging the SCT’s seizure of its operating assets as unconstitutional. The District Court admitted the proceeding on October 11, 2007, and a hearing on the constitutional grounds for the seizure and the legality of the SCT’s actions took place on February 1, 2008. On April 30, 2008, the District Court issued a decision upholding the seizure without analyzing the merits of the case. On May 21, 2008, FCCM appealed the decision issued by the District Court, before the Circuit Court in Merida. The Circuit Court has not yet issued a decision. In addition to the allegations made by the SCT, FCCM is subject to claims and lawsuits from aggrieved customers as a result of its cessation of rail operations and the initiation of formal liquidation proceedings. We believe the SCT and customer actions are without merit and unlawful and we will continue to pursue appropriate legal remedies to support FCCM’s resignation of the concession and to recover FCCM’s operating assets. As of December 31, 2008, there was a net asset of $0.6 million remaining on our balance sheet associated with our Mexican operations.

M&B Arbitration. As previously disclosed, Meridian & Bigbee Railroad LLC (M&B), our subsidiary, CSX and Kansas City Southern (KCS) were parties to a Haulage Agreement governing the movement of traffic between Meridian, Mississippi and Burkeville, Alabama. On November 17, 2007, M&B initiated arbitration with the American Arbitration Association against CSX in an effort to collect on outstanding claims under the Haulage Agreement and on March 26, 2008, M&B filed an amended demand for arbitration to add KCS. To date, our total claims against CSX and KCS under the Haulage Agreement are approximately $6.8 million, which amount could change pending receipt of additional information and resolution of pending legal actions. On April 21, 2008, CSX filed an amended arbitration response, answering statement and counterclaim. On May 5, 2008, KCS filed an answering statement and counterclaims. On August 25, 2008, CSX and KCS alleged that they have suffered damages in an amount exceeding $3.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively, but yet to be finally determined. Arbitration is scheduled for June 2009. We plan to vigorously defend ourself against the CSX and KCS claims, which we believe to be without merit, and will pursue insurance recovery as appropriate. Although we believe we are entitled to payment for our claims, and that we have meritorious defenses against the counter claims, arbitration is inherently uncertain, and it is possible that an unfavorable ruling could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity as of and for the period in which the determination occurs.

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 there are adequate provisions in the financial statements for any expected liabilities that may result from disposition of the pending lawsuits. Nevertheless, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. Were an unfavorable ruling to occur, there would exist the possibility of a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity as of and for the period in which the ruling occurs.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Stock Market Results. Our Class A common stock publicly trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol GWR. On February 14, 2006, we announced a three-for-two common stock split in the form of a 50% stock dividend distributed on March 14, 2006, to shareholders of record on February 28, 2006. All share and per share amounts presented herein have been restated to reflect the retroactive effect of this stock split as well as any previous stock splits.

The tables below show the range of high and low actual trade prices for our Class A common stock during each quarterly period of 2008 and 2007.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2008

   High    Low

4th Quarter

   $ 38.34    $ 22.53

3rd Quarter

   $ 47.41    $ 30.86

2nd Quarter

   $ 42.54    $ 31.61

1st Quarter

   $ 36.14    $ 21.96

Year Ended December 31, 2007

   High    Low

4th Quarter

   $ 29.95    $ 24.08

3rd Quarter

   $ 31.57    $ 24.57

2nd Quarter

   $ 33.40    $ 25.80

1st Quarter

   $ 28.60    $ 24.20

Our Class B common stock is not publicly traded.

Number of Holders. On February 20, 2009, there were 199 Class A common stock record holders and 8 Class B common stock record holders.

Dividends. We did not pay cash dividends in 2008 and 2007. We do not intend to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future and intend to retain earnings, if any, for future operation and expansion of our business. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and subject to any restrictions contained in our credit facilities and note purchase agreements. For more information on contractual restrictions on our ability to pay dividends, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Credit Facilities.”

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

None.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

We announced on February 13, 2007 and August 1, 2007, that our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 2,000,000 shares and 4,000,000 shares, respectively, of our Class A common stock, which was in addition to 538,500 shares available for repurchase under a previous authorization in November 2004. The Board granted management the authority to make purchases in any amount and manner legally permissible, which, in the aggregate, would offset dilution caused by the issuance of shares in connection with employee and director stock plans that may occur over time. During the year ended December 31, 2007, we repurchased 6,538,500 shares of our Class A common stock at an average cost of $26.81 per share. As of December 31, 2007, we had fully exhausted all of our existing authorizations to repurchase shares.

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following selected consolidated income statement data and selected consolidated balance sheet data of Genesee & Wyoming as of and for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004, have been derived from our consolidated financial statements. Historical information has been reclassified to conform to the presentation of discontinued operations. All of the information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)  

INCOME STATEMENT DATA:

         

Operating revenues

  $ 601,984     $ 516,167     $ 450,683     $ 350,401     $ 270,550  

Operating expenses

    486,053       419,339       369,026       280,960       224,438  
                                       

Income from operations

    115,931       96,828       81,657       69,441       46,112  

Gain on sale of equity investment in ARG

    —         —         218,845       —         —    

Investment loss—Bolivia

    —         —         (5,878 )     —         —    

Equity (loss) income of unconsolidated international affiliates

    —         —         (10,752 )     14,224       21,044  

Interest income

    2,093       7,813       7,839       249       165  

Interest expense

    (20,610 )     (14,735 )     (16,007 )     (13,335 )     (9,266 )

Other income (expense), net

    227       889       252       95       (162 )
                                       

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

    97,641       90,795       275,956       70,674       57,893  

Provision for income taxes

    24,909       21,548       103,309       20,163       21,264  
                                       

Income from continuing operations

    72,732       69,247       172,647       50,511       36,629  

Preferred stock dividends and cost accretion

    —         —         —         —         479  
                                       

Income from continuing operations available to common stockholders

    72,732       69,247       172,647       50,511       36,150  

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax

    (501 )     (14,072 )     (38,644 )     (376 )     990  
                                       

Net income available to common stockholders

  $ 72,231     $ 55,175     $ 134,003     $ 50,135     $ 37,140  
                                       

Basic earnings per common share:

         

Earnings per common share from continuing operations

  $ 2.28     $ 2.00     $ 4.59     $ 1.37     $ 1.00  

Weighted average shares

    31,922       34,625       37,609       36,907       36,207  

Diluted earnings per common share:

         

Earnings per common share from continuing operations

  $ 2.00     $ 1.77     $ 4.07     $ 1.21     $ 0.88  

Weighted average shares

    36,348       39,148       42,417       41,712       41,103  

BALANCE SHEET DATA AT YEAR-END:

         

Total assets

  $ 1,587,281     $ 1,077,801     $ 1,141,064     $ 980,598     $ 677,251  

Total debt

    561,265       272,766       245,685       338,351       132,237  

Stockholders’ equity

    478,063       430,981       520,187       397,820       341,700  

We have completed a number of acquisitions and a disposition during the periods reported. Because of variations in the structure, timing and size of these acquisitions and disposition, our results of operations in any reporting period may not be directly comparable to our results of operations in other reporting periods. See Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for a complete description of our most recent acquisitions and disposition.

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, were determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (United States GAAP). Historical information has been reclassified to conform to the presentation of discontinued operations.

Outlook for 2009

Economic activity in the United States and throughout the world has and could continue to undergo a sharp downturn, which renders expectations inherently uncertain. However, there are certain noteworthy trends that we expect to affect our 2009 results of operations.

We expect same railroad revenues to decline in 2009 due to three factors. First, the Canadian and Australian dollars depreciated significantly in the second half of 2008. The translation impact of the change in exchange rates will consequently reduce our reported revenues in 2009. Second, we expect lower third party fuel sales, primarily due to lower diesel fuel prices. Third, we expect same railroad freight and non-freight revenues to decline due to decreased demand, primarily due to the deterioration in the economy.

In 2009, we expect same railroad carload volumes to be lower than in 2008. The significant deterioration in the United States and global economies that began in the second half of 2008 is expected to continue throughout 2009. As a result, we expect lower carloads in those commodities that are most sensitive to the economic cycle; namely, steel, pulp and paper and lumber and forest products. However, we expect that carloads from acquisitions completed in 2008 will offset the declines in same railroad carloads and that total carloads will therefore increase.

We expect average revenues per carload to decrease due to (i) the depreciation of the Canadian and Australian dollar versus the United States dollar, (ii) decreases in fuel-indexed freight rates and decreases in fuel surcharges, in each case as a result of lower diesel fuel prices and (iii) the effect of carload changes associated with acquisitions, which carloads collectively have lower average revenues per carload than those of same railroad operations.

We expect the freight pricing environment to moderate in the United States and Canada in 2009 as a result of reduced demand from shippers and a lower fuel price environment. We expect diesel fuel prices in 2009 to be significantly lower than in 2008. Consequently, we expect lower fuel surcharges and lower freight rates from those freight contracts that are indexed directly or indirectly to the price of diesel fuel.

We expect same railroad non-freight revenues to decline primarily due to exiting an industrial switching contract in the United States, lower grain traffic at our United States port terminal railroads and lower equipment and property lease income in Australia.

Same railroad operating expenses are expected to decrease in 2009 primarily due to two factors. First, in combination with lower fuel consumption, we expect that diesel fuel prices will be significantly lower in 2009, resulting in lower diesel fuel expense in 2009. Second, transportation expenses are expected to decline in 2009 primarily due to lower same railroad carloads. However, we expect that higher depreciation expense due to higher levels of capital spending in 2009 will partially offset these expense reductions.

In response to the rapidly changing economic environment we have taken a number of steps to reduce our operating costs including: the furloughing of workers on railroads where volumes have decreased, the storage of cars in excess of current needs and the reduction of the number of locomotives in service.

 

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Overview

We own and operate short line and regional freight railroads and provide railcar switching services in the United States, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands and own a minority interest in a railroad in Bolivia. Operations currently include 63 railroads organized in nine regions, with more than 6,800 miles of owned and leased track and approximately 3,100 additional miles under track access arrangements. In addition, we provide rail service at 16 ports in North America and Europe and perform contract coal loading and railcar switching for industrial customers.

Net income in the year ended December 31, 2008, was $72.2 million, compared with net income of $55.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2007. Our diluted earnings per share (EPS) in the year ended December 31, 2008, were $1.99 with 36.3 million weighted average shares outstanding, compared with diluted EPS of $1.41 with 39.1 million weighted average shares outstanding in the year ended December 31, 2007.

Income from continuing operations in the year ended December 31, 2008, was $72.7 million, compared with income from continuing operations of $69.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2007. Our diluted EPS from continuing operations in the year ended December 31, 2008, were $2.00 with 36.3 million weighted average shares outstanding, compared with diluted EPS from continuing operations of $1.77 with 39.1 million weighted average shares outstanding in the year ended December 31, 2007. Income from continuing operations in the year ended December 31, 2007, included a net tax benefit of $3.7 million (or $0.09 per diluted share) associated with the sale of the Western Australia operations and certain other assets of ARG to Queensland Rail and Babcock & Brown Limited (ARG Sale) in 2006.

Operating revenues in the year ended December 31, 2008, were $602.0 million, compared with $516.2 million in the year ended December 30, 2007. The increase in our revenues was due to $49.4 million from recent acquisitions, the Maryland Midland Railway, Inc. (Maryland Midland), Rotterdam Rail Feeding B.V. (RRF), CAGY Industries, Inc. (CAGY), Ohio Central Railway (OCR) and Georgia Southwestern Railroad, Inc. (Georgia Southwestern), and an increase of $36.4 million, or 7.1%, in same railroad revenues.

When we discuss same railroad revenues, we are referring to the change in our revenues, period-over-period, associated with operations that we managed in both periods (i.e., excluding the impact of acquisitions). Same railroad freight revenues increased $10.0 million, or 3.0%, in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with the year ended December 31, 2007, primarily due to an increase in average freight revenues per carload of 11.2%. Same railroad non-freight revenues increased $26.4 million, or 14.1%, in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with the year ended December 31, 2007, primarily due to higher revenues at our industrial switching and United States port railroads, higher third-party fuel sales in Australia, and increased crewing and iron ore services in Australia.

Our operating ratio was 80.7% in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with an operating ratio of 81.2% in the year ended December 31, 2007. Operating expenses were $486.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $419.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $66.7 million, or 15.9%. The increase was attributable to $37.0 million from new operations and an increase of $29.7 million from existing operations. Operating income in the year ended December 31, 2008, included gains on the sale of assets of $8.1 million, including an insurance recovery of $0.4 million, compared with gains of $6.7 million, including an insurance recovery of $1.7 million, in the 2007 period.

During the year ended December 31, 2008, we generated $128.7 million in cash from operating activities from continuing operations, which included $7.3 million provided by working capital. We purchased $97.9 million of property and equipment, received $19.3 million from government grants for capital spending completed in 2008 and $9.3 million in cash from government grants for capital spending completed in prior years. We paid $345.5 million for the acquisitions of CAGY, RRF, OCR and Georgia Southwestern and the final working capital adjustment related to the December 2007 acquisition of Maryland Midland. We received $8.5 million in cash from the sale of assets and insurance proceeds.

 

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Discontinued Operations

During the third quarter of 2007, we ceased our Mexican rail operations and initiated formal liquidation proceedings of FCCM. The SCT has contested our resignation of the concession and has seized substantially all of FCCM’s operating assets in response to the resignation. We believe the SCT’s actions were unlawful and we are pursuing appropriate legal remedies to recover FCCM’s operating assets.

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $0.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with a loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $14.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2007. The loss from discontinued operations reduced diluted EPS by $0.01 in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with a $0.36 negative impact on diluted EPS in the year ended December 31, 2007.

In November 2008, we entered into an amended agreement to sell 100% of the share capital of FCCM to Viablis, S.A. de C.V. (Viablis) for a sale price of approximately $2.4 million. At that time, Viablis paid a deposit of $0.5 million on the purchase price of FCCM subject to certain conditions of the sale contract. Completion of the sale transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, as well as the final negotiation with Viablis and the SCT of a mutually acceptable transfer of the concession granted by the Mexican government to Viablis and related undertakings. It is not yet possible to determine when or if these closing conditions will be satisfied.

Changes in Operations

United States

Ohio Central Railroad System: On October 1, 2008, we acquired 100% of the equity interests of Summit View, Inc. (Summit View), the parent company of 10 short line railroads known as OCR for cash consideration of approximately $212.6 million (net of $2.8 million cash acquired). An additional $4.5 million of purchase price was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2008 to reflect adjustments for working capital. In addition, we placed $7.5 million of contingent consideration into escrow that will be paid to the seller upon satisfaction of certain conditions.

Summit View is the parent company of 10 short line railroads: Aliquippa & Ohio River Railroad Company in Pennsylvania; The Columbus and Ohio River Rail Road Company in Ohio; The Mahoning Valley Railway Company in Ohio; Ohio Central Railroad, Inc. in Ohio; Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad Company in Ohio; Ohio Southern Railroad in Ohio; The Pittsburgh & Ohio Central Railroad Company in Pennsylvania; The Warren & Trumbull Railroad Company in Ohio; Youngstown & Austintown Railroad, Inc. in Ohio; and The Youngstown Belt Railroad Company in Ohio. OCR’s 10 railroads employ more than 170 people, own and operate a fleet of 64 locomotives, and own and lease more than 445 miles of track. We have included 100% of the value of OCR’s net assets in our consolidated balance sheet since October 1, 2008.

Georgia Southwestern Railroad, Inc.: On October 1, 2008, we acquired 100% of Georgia Southwestern for cash consideration of approximately $16.5 million (net of $0.4 million cash acquired). An additional $0.2 million was paid in the fourth quarter of 2008 to reflect adjustments for final working capital. Headquartered in Dawson, Georgia, the Georgia Southwestern operates over 220 miles of track between White Oak, Alabama, and Smithville, Georgia; between Cuthbert and Bainbridge, Georgia; and in and around Columbus, Georgia. Georgia Southwestern has 20 employees and 10 locomotives and it interchanges with Norfolk Southern (NS), CSX and the Heart of Georgia Railroad. We have included 100% of the value of Georgia Southwestern’s net assets in our consolidated balance sheet since October 1, 2008.

CAGY Industries, Inc.: On May 30, 2008, we acquired 100% of CAGY for cash consideration of approximately $71.9 million (net of $17.2 million cash acquired). An additional $2.9 million was recorded in the second quarter of 2008 to reflect adjustments for working capital. During the third quarter of 2008, we paid contingent consideration of $15.1 million due to the satisfaction of certain conditions. In addition, we have

 

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agreed to pay contingent consideration of up to $3.5 million upon satisfaction of certain conditions over the next two years, which will be recorded as additional cost of the acquisition when the contingency is resolved.

CAGY is the parent company of three short line railroads: Columbus & Greenville Railway in Mississippi; Chattooga & Chickamauga Railway in Georgia and Tennessee; and Luxapalila Valley Railroad in Mississippi and Alabama. CAGY’s three railroads employ 48 people, own and operate a fleet of 22 locomotives, own and lease more than 280 miles of track and are expected to haul more than 26,000 carloads of freight traffic over the next 12 months. We have included 100% of the value of CAGY’s net assets in our consolidated balance sheet since May 30, 2008.

Maryland Midland Railway, Inc.: On December 31, 2007, we acquired 87.4% of Maryland Midland for cash consideration of approximately $19.5 million (net of $7.5 million cash acquired). An additional $3.7 million was paid in 2008 to reflect adjustments for final working capital and direct costs.

Commonwealth Railway, Inc.: On August 25, 2006, we exercised an option to purchase 12.5 miles of previously leased rail line from NS. 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 customer’s new container terminal in Portsmouth, Virginia. On April 21, 2008, the Commonwealth Railway (CWRY) closed on the purchase of 12.5 miles of the rail line from NS for $3.6 million. The rail line runs through Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Suffolk, Virginia. The $3.6 million purchase price was allocated as follows: land ($1.7 million) and track assets ($1.9 million).

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 connect our Bay Line Railroad and our Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad.

Netherlands

Rotterdam Rail Feeding B.V.: On April 8, 2008, we acquired 100% of RRF for cash consideration of approximately $22.6 million. In addition, we have agreed to pay contingent consideration of up to €1.8 million (or $2.4 million at the December 31, 2008 exchange rate) payable over the next three years, which will be recorded as additional cost of the acquisition when the contingency is resolved. At December 31, 2008, we accrued €0.8 million (or $1.0 million at the December 31, 2008 exchange rate) of the contingent consideration due to the satisfaction of certain conditions. Headquartered in the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, RRF is an independent provider of short-haul rail and switching services. RRF’s principal business is “last mile” rail services within the Port of Rotterdam for long-haul railroads and industrial customers. In addition, RRF provides locomotives, railroad operating personnel and rail-related services throughout the Netherlands to track construction and maintenance companies as well as government-owned operators. RRF’s operations include 12 locomotives (leased and owned) and 35 employees. We have included 100% of the value of RRF’s net assets in our consolidated balance sheet since April 8, 2008.

Australia

Effective June 1, 2006, we and our former 50% partner in ARG, Wesfarmers Limited (Wesfarmers), completed the ARG Sale generating a net gain of $218.8 million during the year ended December 31, 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

 

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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 year ended December 31, 2006. GWA commenced operations on June 1, 2006. Accordingly, we have included 100% of the value of GWA’s net assets ($30.1 million) in our consolidated balance sheet since June 1, 2006.

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 Bolivia’s oil and gas industry. The government further announced in 2006 that it intended to nationalize, take a partial ownership stake in or restructure the operations of other local companies, including Oriental.

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, Oriental’s results of operations have not had a material impact on our results of operations.

 

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Purchase Price Allocation

The following table summarizes selected financial data for the opening balance sheet of acquisitions completed in 2008 and 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

     2008    2007
     OCR    Georgia
Southwestern
   CAGY    RRF    Maryland
Midland

Purchase Price Allocations:

              

Cash

   $ 2,757    $ 362    $ 17,242    $ —      $ 9,510

Other current assets

     6,972      748      5,075      2,660      —  

Property and equipment

     224,119      24,471      33,549      799      34,099

Intangible assets

     32,490      —        74,240      5,345      —  

Goodwill

     59,201      4,699      25,191      18,188      8,144

Other assets

     560      —        894      —        1
                                  

Total assets

     326,099      30,280      156,191      26,992      51,754
                                  

Current liabilities

     4,817      1,018      6,919      1,932      5,325

Long-term debt, including current portion

     12,826      5,401      1,361      —        1,545

Deferred tax liabilities, net

     83,503      6,803      40,377      1,483      13,397

Other long-term liabilities

     5,043      —        345      —        19

Minority interest

     —        —        —        —        814
                                  

Total liabilities

     106,189      13,222      49,002      3,415      21,100
                                  

Net assets

   $ 219,910    $ 17,058    $ 107,189    $ 23,577    $ 30,654
                                  

Intangible Assets:

              

Customer contracts and relationships

     —        —        —        4,874      —  

Track access agreements

     32,490      —        74,240      —        —  

Proprietary software

     —        —        —        314      —  

Non-Amortizable Intangible Assets:

              

Operating license

     —        —        —        157      —  

Intangible Asset Amortization Period:

              

Customer contracts and relationships

     —        —        —        20 Years      —  

Track access agreements

     46 Years      —        43 Years      —        —  

Proprietary software

     —        —        —        2 Years      —  

The allocation of purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was finalized during the fourth quarter of 2008 for CAGY, RRF and MMID as a result of the finalization of non-current asset valuations. The following significant adjustments were made subsequent to December 31, 2007 to the Maryland Midland purchase price allocation: a decrease in property and equipment of $12.5 million, an increase in goodwill of $8.1 million and a decrease in deferred tax liabilities of $4.1 million. Allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed has not been finalized for OCR or Georgia Southwestern. The purchase price allocation for these acquisitions will be finalized in 2009 upon the completion of working capital adjustments and fair value analyses. The deferred tax liabilities in the purchase price allocations are primarily driven by temporary differences between values assigned to non-current assets and the acquired tax basis in those assets.

Results from Continuing Operations

When comparing our results from continuing operations from one reporting period to another, consider that we have historically experienced fluctuations in revenues and expenses due to one-time freight moves, hurricanes, droughts, heavy snowfall, freezing and flooding, customer plant expansions and shut-downs, sales of land and equipment and derailments. In periods when these events occur, results of operations are not easily

 

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comparable to other periods. Also, we have completed and entered into a number of transactions recently that have changed and will change our results of operations. 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, including steel products, paper products and lumber and forest products. 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).

Year Ended December 31, 2008 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2007

Operating Revenues

Overview

Operating revenues were $602.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $516.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $85.8 million or 16.6%. The $85.8 million increase in operating revenues consisted of $49.4 million in revenues from new operations and an increase of $36.4 million, or 7.1%, in revenues from existing operations. New operations are those that did not exist in our consolidated financial results for a comparable period in the prior year. The $36.4 million increase in revenues from existing operations included $26.4 million in non-freight revenues and $10.0 million in freight revenues. The appreciation of the Australian dollar and Canadian dollar relative to the United States dollar resulted in a $2.6 million increase in operating revenues from existing operations. The following table breaks down our operating revenues into new operations and existing operations for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

     2008    2007    2008-2007 Variance Information  
     Total
Operations
   New
Operations
   Existing
Operations
   Total
Operations
   Increase in Total
Operations
    Increase in
Existing
Operations
 

Freight revenues

   $ 369,937    $ 30,788    $ 339,149    $ 329,184    $ 40,753    12.4 %   $ 9,965    3.0 %

Non-freight revenues

     232,047      18,632      213,415      186,983      45,064    24.1 %     26,432    14.1 %
                                              

Total operating revenues

   $ 601,984    $ 49,420    $ 552,564    $ 516,167    $ 85,817    16.6 %   $ 36,397    7.1 %
                                              

 

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Freight Revenues

The following table compares freight revenues, carloads and average freight revenues per carload for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 (dollars in thousands, except average freight revenues per carload):

Freight Revenues and Carloads Comparison by Commodity Group

Years Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

 

    Freight Revenues     Carloads     Average
Freight
Revenues
Per Carload

Commodity Group

  2008   % of
Total
    2007   % of
Total
    2008   % of
Total
    2007   % of
Total
    2008   2007

Pulp & Paper

  $ 72,353   19.6 %   $ 69,598   21.1 %   119,613   14.7 %   122,706   15.3 %   $ 605   $ 567

Coal, Coke & Ores

    71,628   19.4 %     60,164   18.3 %   193,703   23.8 %   195,393   24.4 %     370     308

Minerals and Stone

    45,126   12.2 %     30,932   9.4 %   143,991   17.7 %   122,006   15.2 %     313     254

Metals

    42,076   11.4 %     36,569   11.1 %   84,817   10.4 %   78,191   9.8 %     496     468

Farm & Food Products

    39,011   10.5 %     34,833   10.6 %   73,432   9.0 %   68,909   8.6 %     531     505

Lumber & Forest Products

    33,215   9.0 %     35,967   10.9 %   74,665   9.2 %   85,309   10.6 %     445     422

Chemicals-Plastics

    32,538   8.8 %     27,120   8.2 %   48,501   5.9 %   44,164   5.5 %     671     614

Petroleum Products

    18,503   5.0 %     16,941   5.2 %   27,344   3.3 %   27,700   3.5 %     677     612

Autos & Auto Parts

    6,731   1.8 %     7,096   2.2 %   11,112   1.4 %   13,853   1.7 %     606     512

Intermodal

    505   0.1 %     1,060   0.3 %   1,213   0.1 %   2,108   0.3 %     416     503

Other

    8,251   2.2 %     8,904   2.7 %   36,453   4.5 %   40,930   5.1 %     226     218
                                               

Total freight revenues

  $ 369,937   100.0 %   $ 329,184   100.0 %   814,844   100.0 %   801,269   100.0 %     454     411
                                               

Total carloads increased by 13,575 carloads, or 1.7%, in 2008 compared with 2007. The net change consisted of 72,400 carloads from new operations, partially offset by a decrease of 58,825 carloads, or 7.3%, from existing operations.

Average revenues per carload increased 10.5% to $454 in 2008 compared with 2007. Average freight revenues per carload from existing operations increased 11.2% to $457.

The following table sets forth freight revenues by new operations and existing operations for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

    2008   2007   2008-2007 Variance Information  

Freight revenues

  Total
Operations
  New
Operations
  Existing
Operations
  Total
Operations
  Increase in Total
Operations
    Increase in
Existing
Operations
 

Pulp & Paper

  $ 72,353   $ 847   $ 71,506   $ 69,598   $ 2,755     4.0 %   $ 1,908     2.7 %

Coal, Coke & Ores

    71,628     6,336     65,292     60,164     11,464     19.1 %     5,128     8.5 %

Minerals and Stone

    45,126     8,502     36,624     30,932     14,194     45.9 %     5,692     18.4 %

Metals

    42,076     5,529     36,547     36,569     5,507     15.1 %     (22 )   -0.1 %

Farm & Food Products

    39,011     3,254     35,757     34,833     4,178     12.0 %     924     2.7 %

Lumber & Forest Products

    33,215     589     32,626     35,967     (2,752 )   -7.7 %     (3,341 )   -9.3 %

Chemicals-Plastics

    32,538     2,052     30,486     27,120     5,418     20.0 %     3,366     12.4 %

Petroleum Products

    18,503     285     18,218     16,941     1,562     9.2 %     1,277     7.5 %

Autos & Auto Parts

    6,731     105     6,626     7,096     (365 )   -5.1 %     (470 )   -6.6 %

Intermodal

    505     —       505     1,060     (555 )   -52.4 %     (555 )   -52.4 %

Other

    8,251     3,289     4,962     8,904     (653 )   -7.3 %     (3,942 )   -44.3 %
                                           

Total freight revenues

  $ 369,937   $ 30,788   $ 339,149   $ 329,184   $ 40,753     12.4 %   $ 9,965     3.0 %
                                           

 

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The following information discusses the significant changes in freight revenues by commodity group from existing operations. The increase in average freight revenues per carload reflected the continuing strong rate environment, timing of fuel surcharge recovery, the impact of higher fuel prices on rates that are indexed to fuel prices and changes in mix of business. Individually significant changes in mix of business, if any, are further discussed below.

Pulp and paper revenues increased $1.9 million, or 2.7%. The increase consisted of $4.8 million due to a 6.8% increase in average revenues per carload, partially offset by $2.9 million due to a carload decrease of 4,710, or 3.8%. The carload decrease was primarily due to production cutbacks at certain customer locations, including mill shut-downs in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the June 2007 closure of a paper mill served by us, partially offset by an increase in other traffic.

Coal, coke and ores revenues increased by $5.1 million, or 8.5%. The increase consisted of $10.0 million due to a 16.7% increase in average revenues per carload, partially offset by $4.9 million due to a carload decrease of 13,644, or 7.0%. The carload decrease was primarily due to the shut-down of a coal mine in Utah in March 2008 and a decrease in local and off-line coal shipments in the Northeastern United States. During 2007, coal shipments were impacted by longer scheduled maintenance outages at two electricity generating facilities served by us.

Minerals and stone revenues increased by $5.7 million, or 18.4%. The increase consisted of $4.5 million due to a 14.4% increase in average revenues per carload and $1.2 million due to a carload increase of 4,248, or 3.5%. The carload increase was primarily due to increased gypsum shipments in Australia and increased shipments of rock salt in the Northeastern United States to replenish stockpiles, partially offset by decreased shipments of aggregates due to a slow down in the construction industry in the United States.

Metals revenues decreased by less than $0.1 million, or 0.1%. The decrease consisted of $3.6 million due to a carload decrease of 7,023, or 9.0%, partially offset by $3.6 million due to a 9.8% increase in average revenues per carload. The carload decrease was primarily due to the downturn in the steel market primarily as a result of reduced auto production and decreased demand in the consumer markets, as well as competition from other modes of transportation.

Farm and food products revenues increased by $0.9 million, or 2.7%. The increase consisted of $1.8 million due to a 5.3% increase in average revenues per carload, partially offset by $0.9 million due to a carload decrease of 1,730, or 2.5%. The carload decrease was primarily due to higher local demand for grain in the Midwestern United States, which reduced shipments by rail, competition from other modes of transportation, a plant closure in November 2008 and decreased wheat traffic in Canada. Corn shipments to a new ethanol customer in the Northwestern United States partially offset the decrease.

Lumber and forest products revenues decreased by $3.3 million, or 9.3%. The decrease consisted of $5.2 million due to a carload decrease of 11,661, or 13.7%, partially offset by $1.8 million due to a 5.1% increase in average revenues per carload. The carload decrease was primarily due to the closure of a connecting railroad in the Northwestern United States, weaker product demand attributable to the decline in the housing market in the United States and the closure of a lumber mill in Quebec.

Chemicals and plastics revenues increased by $3.4 million, or 12.4%. The increase consisted of $2.3 million due to an 8.5% increase in average revenues per carload and $1.1 million due to a carload increase of 1,583, or 3.6%. The carload increase was primarily due to increased ethanol shipments in the United States.

Petroleum products revenues increased by $1.3 million, or 7.5%, primarily driven by an 11.3% increase in average revenues per carload.

 

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Freight revenues from all remaining commodities combined decreased by $5.0 million, or 29.1%. The decrease consisted of $7.4 million due to a carload decrease of 24,957, or 43.9%, partially offset by $2.5 million due to an increase of 3.0% in average revenues per carload. The decrease in carloads was primarily due to the discontinuation of haulage traffic on one of our United States railroads in September 2007.

Non-Freight Revenues

Non-freight revenues were $232.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $187.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $45.0 million or 24.1%. The $45.0 million increase in non-freight revenues consisted of an increase of $26.4 million, or 14.1%, in revenues from existing operations and $18.6 million in revenues from new operations.

The following table compares non-freight revenues for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 (dollars in thousands):

Non-Freight Revenues Comparison

Years Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

 

     2008    % of
Total
    2007    % of
Total
 

Railcar switching

   $ 98,384    42.4 %   $ 75,399    40.3 %

Car hire and rental income

     28,969    12.5 %     27,087    14.5 %

Fuel sales to third parties

     36,523    15.7 %     28,564    15.3 %

Demurrage and storage

     20,926    9.0 %     16,980    9.1 %

Car repair services

     7,796    3.4 %     6,437    3.4 %

Other operating income

     39,449    17.0 %     32,516    17.4 %
                          

Total non-freight revenues

   $ 232,047    100.0 %   $ 186,983    100.0 %
                          

The following table sets forth non-freight revenues by new operations and existing operations for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

     2008    2007    2008-2007 Variance Information  

Non-freight revenues

   Total
Operations
   New
Operations
   Existing
Operations
   Total
Operations
   Increase in Total
Operations
    Increase in
Existing
Operations
 

Railcar switching

   $ 98,384    $ 11,825    $ 86,559    $ 75,399    $ 22,985    30.5 %   $ 11,160     14.8 %

Car hire and rental income

     28,969      3,895      25,074      27,087      1,882    6.9 %     (2,013 )   -7.4 %

Fuel sales to third parties

     36,523      —        36,523      28,564      7,959    27.9 %     7,959     27.9 %

Demurrage and storage

     20,926      2,177      18,749      16,980      3,946    23.2 %     1,769     10.4 %

Car repair services

     7,796      359      7,437      6,437      1,359    21.1 %     1,000     15.5 %

Other operating income

     39,449      376      39,073      32,516      6,933    21.3 %     6,557     20.2 %
                                               

Total non-freight revenues

   $ 232,047    $ 18,632    $ 213,415    $ 186,983    $ 45,064    24.1 %   $ 26,432     14.1 %
                                               

The following information discusses the significant changes in non-freight revenues from existing operations.

Railcar switching revenues increased $11.1 million, or 14.8%, of which $8.5 million was due to an increase from industrial switching due to expanded iron ore services in Australia and new industrial switching contracts in the United States, and $2.6 million was due to an increase in port switching revenues principally as a result of increased grain exports from the United States.

 

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Car hire and rental income revenues decreased $2.0 million, or 7.4%, primarily due to the expiration of a rental income agreement in Canada.

Fuel sales to third parties increased $8.0 million, or 27.9%, primarily due to a $7.0 million increase in revenues resulting from a 24.6% increase in revenue per gallon and a $1.0 million increase in revenues resulting from a 2.6% increase in gallons sold.

Demurrage and storage increased $1.8 million, or 10.4%, primarily due to storage rate increases and an increase in the number of third-party railcars being stored.

Car repair services revenues increased $1.0 million, or 15.5%.

Other operating income increased $6.6 million, or 20.2%, primarily due to a $5.0 million increase from crewing and $1.0 million increase from other services and management fees in Australia.

Operating Expenses

Overview

Operating expenses were $486.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $419.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $66.7 million, or 15.9%. The increase was attributable to $37.0 million from new operations and an increase of $29.7 million from existing operations.

Operating Ratio

Our operating ratio, defined as total operating expenses divided by total operating revenues, improved to 80.7% in the year ended December 31, 2008, from 81.2% in the year ended December 31, 2007. The operating ratio for the year ended December 31, 2008, included gains on the sale of assets of $8.1 million, compared with gains on the sale of assets of $6.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2007.

The following table sets forth a comparison of our operating expenses in the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 (dollars in thousands):

Operating Expense Comparison

Years Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

 

     2008     2007  
     $     Percentage of
Operating
Revenues
    $     Percentage of
Operating
Revenues
 

Labor and benefits

   $ 191,108     31.7 %   $ 167,066     32.4 %

Equipment rents

     35,170     5.8 %     37,308     7.2 %

Purchased services

     46,169     7.7 %     38,990     7.6 %

Depreciation and amortization

     40,507     6.7 %     31,773     6.1 %

Diesel fuel

     61,013     10.1 %     45,718     8.8 %

Diesel fuel sold to third parties

     34,624     5.8 %     26,975     5.2 %

Casualties and insurance

     15,136     2.5 %     16,179     3.1 %

Materials

     26,138     4.3 %     23,504     4.6 %

Net gain on sale of assets

     (8,107 )   -1.3 %     (6,742 )   -1.3 %

Other expenses

     44,295     7.4 %     38,568     7.5 %
                            

Total operating expenses

   $ 486,053     80.7 %   $ 419,339     81.2 %
                            

Labor and benefits expense was $191.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $167.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $24.0 million, or 14.4%, of which $13.1

 

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million was from existing operations and $10.9 million was from new operations. The increase from existing operations consisted primarily of an increase of $12.6 million attributable to annual wage increases and an increase of approximately 73 employees. The increase in employees was primarily due to new crewing contracts in Australia and new switching contracts in the United States.

Equipment rents were $35.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $37.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, a decrease of $2.1 million, or 5.7%. The decrease was attributable to a decrease of $7.5 million from existing operations, partially offset by an increase of $5.3 million from new operations. The decrease from existing operations was primarily due to the purchase of rail cars previously leased.

Purchased services expense was $46.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $39.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $7.2 million, or 18.5%. The increase was attributable to an increase of $3.7 million from existing operations and $3.5 million from new operations. The increase in existing operations was primarily due to higher equipment maintenance in Australia.

Depreciation and amortization expense was $40.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $31.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $8.7 million, or 27.5%. The increase was attributable to $5.5 million from new operations and an increase of $3.2 million from existing operations. The increase in existing operations was primarily attributable to capital expenditures in 2008 and 2007.

Diesel fuel expense was $61.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $45.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $15.3 million, or 33.5%. The increase was attributable to an increase of $11.4 million from existing operations and $3.9 million from new operations. The increase from existing operations was due to a $16.5 million increase resulting from a 36.1% increase in fuel cost per gallon, partially offset by $5.2 million due to an 8.3% decrease in diesel fuel consumption.

Diesel fuel sold to third parties was $34.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $27.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $7.6 million. Of this increase, $6.8 million resulted from a 25.1% increase in diesel fuel cost per gallon and $0.9 million resulted from a 2.6% increase in gallons sold.

Materials expense was $26.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $23.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $2.6 million, or 11.2%. The increase was primarily attributable to new operations.

Net gain on sale of assets was $8.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $6.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2007. The gain of $8.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, included gains resulting from the sale of certain buildings and track related assets in Australia. The gain of $6.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, included gains resulting from the sale of certain land and track related assets in the Northeastern United States.

All other expenses combined were $59.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $54.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $4.7 million, or 8.6%. The increase was attributable to $5.5 million from new operations, partially offset by a decrease of $0.8 million from existing operations.

Other Income (Expense) Items

Interest Income

Interest income was $2.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $7.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, a decrease of $5.7 million. The decrease in interest income was primarily driven by a reduction in our cash balances in 2007 primarily due to the June 2007 payment of $95.6 million for Australian taxes related to the ARG Sale and a share repurchase program completed in October 2007.

 

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Interest Expense

Interest expense was $20.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with $14.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2007. The increase of $5.9 million, or 39.9%, was primarily due to the increase in debt resulting from the purchase of Maryland Midland, RRF, CAGY, OCR and Georgia Southwestern.

Provision for Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate in the year ended December 31, 2008, was 25.5% compared with 23.7% in the year ended December 31, 2007. Two primary drivers increased the effective income tax rate: 1) we recorded valuation allowances in Australia and Canada as a result of our assessment that it is more likely than not the underlying tax benefits will not be realized and 2) we recognized higher United States foreign tax credits in 2007 associated with the 2006 ARG Sale. These increases were partially offset by a higher United States track maintenance credit in 2008. The track maintenance credit represents 50% of qualified spending during each year, subject to limitation based upon the number of track miles owned or leased at the end of the year, inclusive of those miles acquired during the year. Historically, we have incurred sufficient spending to meet the limitation.

Income and Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations

Income from continuing operations in the year ended December 31, 2008, was $72.7 million, compared with income from continuing operations of $69.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2007. Our diluted EPS from continuing operations in the year ended December 31, 2008, were $2.00 with 36.3 million weighted average shares outstanding, compared with diluted EPS from continuing operations of $1.77 with 39.1 million weighted average shares outstanding in the year ended December 31, 2007. Income from continuing operations in the year ended December 31, 2007, included a net tax benefit associated with the ARG Sale in 2006, which increased diluted EPS by $0.09. Basic EPS from continuing operations were $2.28 with 31.9 million shares outstanding in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with basic EPS from continuing operations of $2.00 with 34.6 million shares outstanding in the year ended December 31, 2007.

Year Ended December 31, 2007 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2006

Operating Revenues

Overview

Operating revenues were $516.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with $450.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $65.5 million or 14.5%. The $65.5 million increase in operating revenues consisted of $35.1 million in revenues from new operations and an increase of $30.4 million, or 6.7%, in revenues from existing operations. New operations are those that did not exist in our consolidated financial results for a comparable period in the prior year. The $30.4 million increase in revenues from existing operations included increases of $6.8 million in freight revenues and $23.5 million in non-freight revenues. Operating revenues in the year ended December 31, 2007, benefited $11.8 million from the appreciation of the Australian dollar and Canadian dollar relative to the United States dollar. The following table breaks down our operating revenues into new operations and existing operations for the years ended December 31, 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

   $ 329,184    $ 11,056    $ 318,128    $ 311,310    $ 17,874    5.7 %   $ 6,818    2.2 %

Non-freight revenues

     186,983      24,074      162,909      139,373      47,610    34.2 %     23,536    16.9 %
                                              

Total operating revenues

   $ 516,167    $ 35,130    $ 481,037    $ 450,683    $ 65,484    14.5 %   $ 30,354    6.7 %
                                              

 

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Freight Revenues

The following table compares freight revenues, carloads and average freight revenues per carload for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands, except average freight revenues per carload):

Freight Revenues and Carloads Comparison by Commodity Group

Years Ended December 31, 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

  $ 69,598   21.2 %   $ 69,049   22.2 %   122,706   15.3 %   136,128   16.6 %   $ 567   $ 507

Coal, Coke & Ores

    60,164   18.3 %     59,367   19.1 %   195,393   24.4 %   198,075   24.1 %     308     300

Metals

    36,569   11.1 %     35,558   11.4 %   78,191   9.8 %   82,938   10.1 %     468     429

Lumber & Forest Products

    35,967   10.9 %     34,714   11.2 %   85,309   10.6 %   90,017   11.0 %     422     386

Farm & Food Products

    34,833   10.6 %     26,959   8.7 %   68,909   8.6 %   74,386   9.1 %     505     362

Minerals and Stone

    30,932   9.4 %     25,995   8.4 %   122,006   15.2 %   95,759   11.7 %     254     271

Chemicals-Plastics

    27,120   8.2 %     25,104   8.0 %   44,164   5.5 %   43,868   5.3 %     614     572

Petroleum Products

    16,941   5.1 %     14,460   4.6 %   27,700   3.5 %   24,873   3.0 %     612     581

Autos & Auto Parts

    7,096   2.2 %     6,281   2.0 %   13,853   1.7 %   12,839   1.6 %     512     489

Intermodal

    1,060   0.3 %     1,651   0.5 %   2,108   0.3 %   3,936   0.5 %     503     419

Other

    8,904   2.7 %     12,172   3.9 %   40,930   5.1 %   58,203   7.0 %     218     209
                                               

Total freight revenues

  $ 329,184   100.0 %   $ 311,310   100.0 %   801,269   100.0 %   821,022   100.0 %     411     379
                                               

Total carloads decreased by 19,753 carloads, or 2.4%, in 2007 compared with 2006. The decrease consisted of a decrease of 55,514 carloads, or 6.8%, from existing operations, partially offset by 35,761 carloads from new operations.

Average revenues per carload increased 8.3% to $411 in 2007 compared with 2006. Average freight revenues per carload from existing operations increased 9.6% to $416.

The following table sets forth freight revenues by new operations and existing operations for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):

 

     2007    2006    2007-2006 Variance Information  

Freight revenues

   Total
Operations
   New
Operations
   Existing
Operations
   Total
Operations
   Increase in Total
Operations
    Increase in
Existing
Operations
 

Pulp & Paper

   $ 69,598    $ 555    $ 69,043    $ 69,049    $ 549     0.8 %   $ (6 )   0.0 %

Coal, Coke & Ores

     60,164      65      60,099      59,367      797     1.3 %     732     1.2 %

Metals

     36,569      92      36,477      35,558      1,011     2.8 %     919     2.6 %

Lumber & Forest Products

     35,967      23      35,944      34,714      1,253     3.6 %     1,230     3.5 %

Farm & Food Products

     34,833      6,555      28,278      26,959      7,874     29.2 %     1,319     4.9 %

Minerals and Stone

     30,932      3,515      27,417      25,995      4,937     19.0 %     1,422     5.5 %

Chemicals-Plastics

     27,120      82      27,038      25,104      2,016     8.0 %     1,934     7.7 %

Petroleum Products

     16,941      15      16,926      14,460      2,481     17.2 %     2,466     17.1 %

Autos & Auto Parts

     7,096      —        7,096      6,281      815     13.0 %     815     13.0 %

Intermodal

     1,060      —        1,060      1,651      (591 )   -35.8 %     (591 )   -35.8 %

Other

     8,904      154      8,750      12,172      (3,268 )   -26.8 %     (3,422 )   -28.1 %
                                                

Total freight revenues

   $ 329,184    $ 11,056    $ 318,128    $ 311,310    $ 17,874     5.7 %   $ 6,818     2.2 %
                                                

 

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The following information discusses the significant changes in freight revenues by commodity group from existing operations.

Pulp and paper revenues were flat. A decrease of $7.6 million due to a carload decrease of 13,428, or 9.9%, was offset by a $7.6 million increase 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 increased by $0.7 million, or 1.2%. The increase consisted of $1.6 million due to a 2.6% increase in average revenues per carload, partially offset by $0.8 million due to a carload decrease of 2,682, or 1.4%. The carload decrease was primarily due to coal quality issues at two mine facilities served by us.

Metals revenues increased by $0.9 million, or 2.6%. The increase consisted of $3.3 million due to a 9.2% increase in average revenues per carload, partially offset by $2.3 million due to a carload decrease of 5,018, or 6.1%. The carload decrease was primarily due to weakness in the galvanized steel market and geographic competition.

Lumber and forest products revenues increased by $1.2 million, or 3.5%. The increase consisted of $3.2 million due to a 9.3% increase in average revenues per carload, partially offset by $2.0 million due to a carload decrease of 4,719, or 5.2%. The carload decrease was primarily due to lower product demand attributable to a decline in the housing market in the United States.

Farm and food products revenues increased by $1.3 million, or 4.9%. The increase consisted of $8.4 million due to a 31.0% increase in average revenues per carload, partially offset by $7.0 million due to a carload decrease of 14,823, or 19.9%. The carload decrease was primarily due to GWA’s drought-affected grain traffic. Because rates for GWA’s grain traffic have both a fixed and variable component, the grain traffic decrease resulted in higher average revenues per carload.

Minerals and stone revenues increased by $1.4 million, or 5.5%. The increase consisted of $1.2 million due to a 4.5% increase in average revenues per carload and $0.3 million due to a carload increase of 891, or 0.9%. The increase in carloads was primarily due to higher rock salt traffic in the Northeastern United States and higher gypsum at GWA.

Chemicals-plastics revenues increased by $1.9 million, or 7.7%. The increase consisted of $1.8 million due to a 7.2% increase in average revenues per carload.

Petroleum products revenues increased $2.5 million, or 17.1%. The increase consisted of $1.7 million due to a carload increase of 2,827, or 11.4% and $0.7 million due to a 5.1% increase in average revenues per carload.

Freight revenues from all remaining commodities combined decreased $3.2 million, or 15.9%. The decrease consisted of $4.3 million due to a carload decrease of 18,754, or 25.0%, partially offset by $1.1 million due to a 10.3% 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.

Non-Freight Revenues

Non-freight revenues were $187.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with $139.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $47.6 million or 34.2%. The $47.6 million increase in non-freight revenues consisted of $24.1 million in revenues from new operations and an increase of $23.5 million, or 16.9%, in revenues from existing operations.

 

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The following table compares non-freight revenues for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):

Non-Freight Revenues Comparison

Years Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006

 

     2007    % of
Total
    2006    % of
Total
 

Railcar switching

   $ 75,399    40.3 %   $ 64,326    46.2 %

Car hire and rental income

     27,087    14.5 %     21,873    15.7 %

Fuel sales to third parties

     28,564    15.3 %     13,831    9.9 %

Demurrage and storage

     16,980    9.1 %     13,673    9.8 %

Car repair services

     6,437    3.4 %     5,513    4.0 %

Other operating income

     32,516    17.4 %     20,157    14.4 %
                          

Total non-freight revenues

   $ 186,983    100.0 %   $ 139,373    100.0 %
                          

The following table sets forth non-freight revenues by new operations and existing operations for the years ended December 31, 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

  $ 75,399   $ 5,380   $ 70,019   $ 64,326   $ 11,073   17.2 %   $ 5,693   8.9 %

Car hire and rental income

    27,087     4,091     22,996     21,873     5,214   23.8 %     1,123   5.1 %

Fuel sales to third parties

    28,564     9,561     19,003     13,831     14,733   106.5 %     5,172   37.4 %

Demurrage and storage

    16,980     24     16,956     13,673     3,307   24.2 %     3,283   24.0 %

Car repair services

    6,437     —       6,437     5,513     924   16.8 %     924   16.8 %

Other operating income

    32,516     5,018     27,498     20,157     12,359   61.3 %     7,341   36.4 %
                                       

Total non-freight revenues

  $ 186,983   $ 24,074   $ 162,909   $ 139,373   $ 47,610   34.2 %   $ 23,536   16.9 %
                                       

The following information discusses the significant changes in non-freight revenues from existing operations.

Railcar switching revenues increased $5.7 million, or 8.9%, of which $4.0 million was due to an increase in iron ore services and rates at GWA and $2.1 million was due to increased switching activity at our port terminal railroads.

Car hire and rental income increased $1.1 million, or 5.1%, primarily due to increased locomotive and freight car rental at GWA.

Fuel sales to third parties increased $5.2 million, or 37.4%, primarily due to a combination of higher average fuel prices and increased volumes at GWA.

Demurrage and storage increased $3.3 million, or 24.0%, primarily due to an increase of $3.5 million in storage, partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in demurrage.

Other operating income increased $7.3 million, or 36.4%, primarily due to $3.5 million from GWA crewing and other ancillary charges, $0.9 million from our drayage business and an increase in all other operating revenues of approximately $2.9 million.

 

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Operating Expenses

Overview

Operating expenses were $419.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with $369.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $50.3 million, or 13.6%. The increase was attributable to $29.4 million from new operations and an increase of $20.9 million from existing operations.

Operating Ratio

Our operating ratio, defined as total operating expenses divided by total operating revenues, improved to 81.2% in the year ended December 31, 2007, from 81.9% in the year ended December 31, 2006. The operating ratio for the year ended December 31, 2007, benefited from $6.7 million of gains from the sale of assets, compared with $3.1 million of gains from the sale of assets in the year ended December 31, 2006. The operating ratio for the year ended December 31, 2006, was also 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.

The following table sets forth a comparison of our operating expenses in the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):

Operating Expense Comparison

Years Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006

 

     2007     2006  
     $     Percentage of
Operating
Revenues
    $     Percentage of
Operating
Revenues
 

Labor and benefits

   $ 167,066     32.4 %   $ 152,566     33.9 %

Equipment rents

     37,308     7.2 %     37,561     8.3 %

Purchased services

     38,990     7.6 %     33,728     7.5 %

Depreciation and amortization

     31,773     6.1 %     27,907     6.2 %

Diesel fuel

     45,718     8.8 %     40,061     8.9 %

Diesel fuel sold to third parties

     26,975     5.2 %     13,189     2.9 %

Casualties and insurance

     16,179     3.1 %     13,062     2.9 %

Materials

     23,504     4.6 %     19,718     4.4 %

Net gain on sale of assets

     (6,742 )   -1.3 %     (3,078 )   -0.7 %

Gain on insurance recovery

     —       0.0 %     (1,937 )   -0.4 %

Other expenses

     38,568     7.5 %     36,249     8.0 %
                            

Total operating expenses

   $ 419,339     81.2 %   $ 369,026     81.9 %
                            

Labor and benefits expense was $167.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with $152.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $14.5 million, or 9.5 %, of which $7.7 million was from new operations and $6.8 million was from existing operations. The increase from existing operations consisted primarily of an increase of $11.2 million attributable to annual wage increases and the impact of approximately 44 new hires and $2.6 million due to foreign currency changes. In the year ended December 31, 2006, labor and benefits included $5.8 million in bonus and stock option expense related to the ARG Sale and $1.2 million in non-cash compensation expense related to the reassessment of accounting measurement dates for certain stock options in prior years.

Purchased services expense was $39.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with $33.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $5.3 million, or 15.6%. The increase was attributable to $7.0 million from new operations, partially offset by a decrease of $1.7 million from existing operations.

 

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Depreciation and amortization expense was $31.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with $27.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $3.9 million, or 13.9%. The increase was attributable to $1.2 million from new operations and an increase of $2.7 million from existing operations.

Diesel fuel expense was $45.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with $40.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $5.7 million, or 14.1%. The increase was attributable to $1.4 million from new operations and an increase of $4.3 million from existing operations. The increase from existing operations was due to a $3.9 million increase resulting from a 9.6% increase in fuel price per gallon and a $0.4 million increase due to an increase of 0.9% in fuel consumption.

Diesel fuel sold to third parties was $27.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with $13.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $13.8 million. The increase was attributable to an increase in price per gallon and an increase in gallons of fuel sold to third parties at GWA as a result of the incorporation of a full year of operating results.

Casualties and insurance expense was $16.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with $13.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $3.1 million, or 23.9%. 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 due to an increase of $0.7 million in derailment expense, $0.8 million from a tunnel fire on one of our railroads and an increase of $0.9 million in FELA and other claims.

Materials expense was $23.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with $19.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $3.8 million, or 19.2%. The increase was attributable to an increase of $3.2 million from existing operations and $0.6 million from new operations. The increase in existing operations was primarily due to increased track and bridge repairs.

Net gain on sale of assets was $6.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with $3.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2006. The gain of $6.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, included gains resulting from the sale of certain land and track related assets in the Northeastern United States.

Gain on insurance recovery of $1.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, was attributable to an insurance receivable for the replacement of a bridge destroyed by a fire at one of our railroads.

Other expenses were $38.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with $36.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $2.3 million. The increase was primarily attributable to $1.6 million from new operations.

Other Income (Expense) Items

Gain On Sale of ARG

We recorded a pre-tax gain of $218.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, related to the ARG Sale. See Note 3 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for additional information on the ARG Sale.

Investment Loss—Bolivia

We recorded an investment loss of $5.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, related to our South America equity investment. See Note 3 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

 

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Equity Loss of Unconsolidated International Affiliates

In the year ended December 31, 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. See Note 3 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for additional information regarding the impairment.

Interest Income

Interest income was $7.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, which was consistent with interest income in the year ended December 31, 2006.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $14.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with $16.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2006. The decrease of $1.3 million, or 7.9%, was 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 year ended December 31, 2007, was 23.7% compared with 37.4% in the year ended December 31, 2006. The decrease in 2007 was primarily attributable to higher United States foreign tax credits of $6.2 million associated with the ARG Sale in 2006. The determination of the amount of United States foreign tax credits was dependent upon the payment of the foreign tax and an election made concurrent with the filing of the 2006 United States tax return, which occurred in June and September 2007, respectively. In the year ended December 31, 2007, we recorded $2.6 million of additional prior year United States 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. In addition, in 2007 and 2006, we benefited from the generation of track maintenance credits.

For the year ended December 31, 2007, as a result of ceasing our Mexican rail operations and initiating formal liquidation proceedings, we recorded a net United States tax benefit of $11.3 million within the loss from discontinued operations. We also have a related capital loss carryforward that can be used to reduce the impact of future capital gains. The tax benefit associated with this carryforward of approximately $8.7 million is almost entirely 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 year ended December 31, 2007, was $69.2 million, compared with income from continuing operations of $172.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2006. Our diluted EPS from continuing operations in the year ended December 31, 2007, were $1.77 with 39.1 million weighted average shares outstanding, compared with diluted EPS from continuing operations of $4.07 with 42.4 million weighted average shares outstanding in the year ended December 31, 2006. Income from continuing operations in the year ended December 31, 2007, included a net tax benefit associated with the ARG Sale in 2006, which increased diluted EPS by $0.09. Income from continuing operations in the year ended December 31, 2006, included a net gain from the ARG Sale of $114.5 million after-tax ($2.70 per diluted share), partially offset by an investment loss in Bolivia of $5.9 million ($0.14 per diluted share), which together increased diluted EPS by $2.56. Basic EPS from continuing operations were $2.00 with 34.6 million shares outstanding in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared with basic EPS from continuing operations of $4.59 with 37.6 million shares outstanding in the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

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Results from Discontinued Operations

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 exercise its right to resign its 30-year concession from the Mexican government and to cease its rail operations. The decision to cease FCCM’s operations was made on June 22, 2007, and was due to the failure of the Mexican government to fulfill their obligation to fund the Chiapas reconstruction. Without reconstruction of the hurricane-damaged line, FCCM was not a viable business. During the third quarter of 2007, we ceased our rail operations and initiated formal liquidation proceedings of FCCM’s 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 FCCM’s operating assets in response to the resignation. We believe the SCT’s actions were unlawful, and we are pursuing appropriate legal remedies to recover FCCM’s operating assets.

In November 2008, we entered into an amended agreement to sell 100% of the share capital of FCCM to Viablis for a sale price of approximately $2.4 million. At that time, Viablis paid a deposit of $0.5 million on the purchase price of FCCM subject to certain conditions of the sale contract. Completion of the sale transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, as well as the final negotiation with Viablis and the SCT of a mutually acceptable transfer of the concession granted by the Mexican government to Viablis and related undertakings. It is not yet possible to determine when or if these closing conditions will be satisfied.

As of December 31, 2008, there was a net asset of $0.6 million remaining on our balance sheet associated with our Mexican operations. Our Mexican operations described above are presented as discontinued operations and its operations are, therefore, excluded from continuing operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (SFAS 144) for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006. 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.

Loss from discontinued operations related to our Mexican business in the year ended December 31, 2008, was $0.5 million, compared with a loss from discontinued operations of $14.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2007. Loss from discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2008, included an income tax benefit of $1.1 million, which was primarily due to tax deductions indentified in conjunction with the filing of our 2007 United States income tax return. Our diluted loss per share from discontinued operations in the year ended December 31, 2008, was $0.01 with 36.3 million weighted average shares outstanding, compared with diluted loss per share from discontinued operations of $0.36 with 39.1 million weighted average shares outstanding in the year ended December 31, 2007.

Loss from discontinued operations related to our Mexican business in the year ended December 31, 2007, was $14.1 million. The loss from discontinued operations in the year ended December 31, 2007, included non-cash charges of $8.9 million primarily related to the write-down of FCCM’s operating assets and a $5.5 million loss from the cumulative foreign currency translation into United States dollars of the original investment and FCCM’s reported earnings since 1999. These charges were partially offset by a tax benefit of $11.3 million primarily related to worthless stock and bad debt deductions to be claimed in the United States. Our diluted loss per share from discontinued operations in the year ended December 31, 2007, was $0.36 with 39.1 million weighted average shares outstanding.

Loss from discontinued operations related to our Mexican business in the year ended December 31 2006, was $38.6 million. The loss from discontinued operations in the year ended December 31, 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. Diluted loss per share from discontinued operations was $0.91 with 42.4 million weighted average shares outstanding in the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

During 2008, 2007 and 2006, we generated $128.7 million, $34.5 million and $85.2 million, respectively, of cash from operating activities from continuing operations. The increase in 2008 from 2007 and the decrease in 2007 compared with 2006 were primarily due to the June 2007 payment of $95.6 million for Australian taxes related to the 2006 ARG Sale.

During 2008 and 2007, our cash flows used in investing activities from continuing operations were $413.8 million and $70.0 million, respectively, and during 2006, our cash flows provided by investing activities were $230.7 million. For 2008, primary drivers of the cash flows used in investing activities from continuing operations were $345.5 million of cash paid for acquisitions (net of cash acquired), $97.9 million of cash used for capital expenditures, $7.5 million of contingent consideration held in escrow, partially offset by $19.3 million in cash received from government grants for capital spending completed in 2008, $9.3 million in cash received from government grants for capital spending completed in prior years, $8.1 million in cash proceeds from the disposition of property and equipment and $0.4 million of insurance proceeds for the replacement of assets. For 2007, primary drivers of the cash flows used in investing activities from continuing operations were $96.1 million of cash used for capital expenditures, $19.4 million of cash paid for acquisitions, partially offset by $29.9 million in cash received from government grants for capital spending completed in 2007, $4.4 million in cash received from government grants for capital spending completed in 2006, $1.7 million in insurance proceeds for capital projects and $9.4 million in cash proceeds from the disposition of property and equipment. For 2006, primary drivers of the cash flows provided by investing activities from continuing operations were $306.7 million in proceeds from the ARG Sale, $4.9 million received in government grants, $3.4 million in proceeds from the sale of assets, partially offset by the purchase of Wesfarmers’ 50% ownership of the remaining ARG operations for $15.1 million, the purchase of the assets of the Chattahoochee Bay Railroad for $6.1 million and capital expenditures of $64.5 million.

During 2008, our cash flows provided by financing activities from continuing operations were $279.5 million, and during 2007 and 2006, our cash flows used in financing activities from continuing operations were $137.5 million and $90.1 million, respectively. For 2008, primary drivers of the cash flows provided by financing activities from continuing operations were a net increase in outstanding debt of $275.0 million, net cash inflows of $8.8 million from exercises of stock-based awards, partially offset by $4.3 million of debt issuance costs. For 2007, primary drivers of the cash flows used in financing activities from continuing operations were treasury stock purchases of $175.3 million, which were partially offset by a net increase in outstanding debt of $33.6 million and net cash inflows of $4.9 million from exercises of stock-based awards. For 2006, primary drivers of the cash flows used in financing activities from continuing operations were a net decrease in outstanding debt of $90.2 million and treasury stock purchases of $10.9 million, which were partially offset by net cash inflows of $11.8 million from exercises of stock-based awards.

At December 31, 2008, we had long-term debt, including current portion, totaling $561.3 million, which comprised 54.0% of our total capitalization and $210.9 million unused borrowing capacity. At December 31, 2007, we had long-term debt, including current portion, totaling $272.8 million, which comprised 38.8% of our total capitalization.

Credit Facilities

On August 8, 2008, we entered into the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement (the Credit Agreement). We closed the Credit Agreement on October 1, 2008, concurrent with the closing of the OCR and Georgia Southwestern acquisitions. The Credit Agreement expanded the size of our previous senior credit facility from $256.0 million to $570.0 million and extended the maturity date of the Credit Agreement to October 1, 2013. The new credit facilities include a $300.0 million revolving loan, a $240.0 million United States term loan and a C$31.2 million ($25.5 million at the December 31, 2008 exchange rate) Canadian term loan, as well as borrowing capacity for letters of credit and for borrowings on same-day notice

 

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referred to as swingline loans. As of December 31, 2008, our $300.0 million revolving credit facility consisted of $89.0 million of outstanding debt, subsidiary letter of credit guarantees of $0.1 million and $210.9 million of unused borrowing capacity. Initial borrowings were priced at LIBOR plus 2.0%. As of December 31, 2008, the revolving credit facility, United States term loan and Canadian term loan had interest rates of 3.43%, 3.43% and 4.46%, respectively. The proceeds under the Credit Agreement can be used for general corporate purposes, working capital, to refinance existing indebtedness, as well as capital expenditures, acquisitions and investments permitted under the Credit Agreement.

The Credit Agreement provides lending under the revolving credit facility in United States dollars, Euros, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Interest rates for the revolving loans are based on a base rate plus applicable margin or the LIBOR rate plus applicable margin. The base rate margin varies from 0.25% to 1.25% depending on leverage and the LIBOR margin varies from 1.25% to 2.25% depending on leverage. The minimum margin through March 31, 2009 is 2.0%. The credit facilities and revolving loan are guaranteed by substantially all of our United States subsidiaries for the United States guaranteed obligations and by substantially all of our foreign subsidiaries for the foreign guaranteed obligations.

Financial covenants, which are measured on a trailing twelve month basis and calculated quarterly, are as follows:

a. Maximum leverage of 3.5 times, measured as Funded Debt (indebtedness plus guarantees and letters of credit by any of the borrowers, plus certain contingent acquisition purchase price amounts, plus the present value of all operating leases) to EBITDAR (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, rental payments on operating leases and non-cash compensation expense), except for the period October 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009, where the maximum leverage is 3.75 times.

b. Minimum interest coverage of 3.5 times, measured as EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) divided by interest expense.

The financial covenant that is tested and reported annually is as follows:

c. Capital expenditures: Restricted subsidiaries will not make capital expenditures in any fiscal year that exceed, in the aggregate, 20% of the net revenues of the parties of the loan for the preceding fiscal year. The 20% of net revenues limitation on capital expenditures may be increased under certain conditions.

The credit facilities contain a number of covenants restricting our ability to incur additional indebtedness, create certain liens, make certain investments, sell assets, enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions, enter into certain consolidations or mergers unless under permitted acquisitions, issue subsidiary stock, enter into certain transactions with affiliates, enter into certain modifications to certain documents such as the senior notes and make other restricted payments consisting of stock repurchases and cash dividends. The credit facilities allow us to repurchase stock and pay dividends provided that the ratio of Funded Debt to EBITDAR, including any borrowings made to fund the dividend or distribution, is less than 3.0 to 1.0 but subject to certain limitations if the ratio is greater than 2.25 to 1.0. As of December 31, 2008, we were in compliance with the provisions of the covenant requirements of our Credit Agreement.

Senior Notes

In 2005, we completed a private placement of $100.0 million of Series B senior notes and $25.0 million of Series C senior notes. The Series B senior notes bear interest at 5.36% and are due in August 2015. The Series C senior notes have a borrowing rate of LIBOR plus 0.70% and are due in August 2012. As of December 31, 2008, the Series C senior notes had an interest rate of 4.22%.

In 2004, we completed a $75.0 million private placement of the Series A senior notes. The Series A senior notes bear interest at 4.85% and are due in November 2011.

 

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The senior notes are unsecured but are guaranteed by substantially all of our United States and Canadian subsidiaries. The senior notes contain a number of covenants limiting our ability to incur additional indebtedness, sell assets, create certain liens, enter into certain consolidations or mergers and enter into certain transactions with affiliates.

Financial covenants, which must be satisfied quarterly, include (a) maximum debt to capitalization of 65% and (b) minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.75 times (measured as EBITDAR for the preceding twelve months divided by interest expense plus operating lease payments for the preceding twelve months). As of December 31, 2008, we were in compliance with the provisions of these covenants.

Mexican Financings

On June 8, 2007, we entered into an assignment agreement with International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Nederlandse Financierings–Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (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 promissory notes of the Company’s Mexican subsidiaries (collectively, 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 our subsidiary GW Servicios S.A. (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. 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.

South America

We indirectly hold a 12.52% equity interest in Oriental through an interest in GWC. GWC is an obligor of non-recourse debt of $12.0 million, which debt is secured by a lien on GWC’s 12.52% indirect equity interest in Oriental held through GWC’s subsidiary, IFB. This debt became due and payable on November 2, 2003. On April 21, 2006, due to the heightened political and economic unrest and uncertainties in Bolivia, we advised the creditors of GWC that we were ceasing our efforts to restructure the $12.0 million debt obligation. Accordingly, during the second quarter of 2006, we reduced the carrying value of our 12.52% equity interest to zero as part of an overall assessment that our investments in Oriental had suffered an other than temporary decline in value. On October 27, 2006, Banco de Crédito e Inversiones (one of GWC’s creditors) commenced court proceedings before the 9th Civil Tribunal of Santiago to (i) collect on its share of the debt (approximately 24% of the $12.0 million) and (ii) exercise its pro-rata rights pursuant to the lien. Notice of this proceeding was given to GWC and IFB on November 6, 2006. On October 26, 2006, Banco de Chile (another of GWC’s creditors that holds approximately 15% of the $12.0 million debt) commenced separate court proceedings before the 4th Civil Tribunal of Santiago with the same objectives. We do not expect these proceedings to have any additional effect on our financial statements.

We also hold a 10.37% equity interest in Oriental through other companies. We do not expect the commencement of these court proceedings to have any impact on this remaining 10.37% equity interest.

Please refer to Note 3 in the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for additional information regarding our investment in Oriental.

 

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Equipment and Property Leases

We are party to several cancelable leases for rolling stock that have automatic renewal provisions. Typically, we have the option, at various dates, to terminate the leases or purchase the underlying assets. Penalties for non-renewal are not considered material. During 2008, we exercised our option to purchase certain leased rolling stock for $2.6 million. Since these assets were the subject of a previous sale-leaseback transaction, the remaining balance of pre-tax unamortized deferred gains of approximately $1.8 million was included as an offset to the recorded value of the rolling stock acquired.

We are party to several lease agreements with Class I carriers to operate over various rail lines in North America. Certain of these lease agreements have annual lease payments. Under certain other of these leases, no payments to the lessors are required as long as certain operating conditions are met. Through December 31, 2008, no payments were required under these lease arrangements.

Government Grants

Our railroads have received a number of project grants from state and federal agencies for upgrades and construction of rail lines. We use the grant funds as a supplement to our normal capital programs. In return for the grants, the railroads pledge to maintain various levels of service and improvements on the rail lines that have been upgraded or constructed. We believe that the levels of service and improvements required under the grants are reasonable. However, we can offer no assurance that government grants will continue to be available or that even if available, our railroads will be able to obtain them.

2009 Budgeted Capital Expenditures

We have budgeted $58 million for capital expenditures in 2009, which consist of track and equipment improvements of $51 million and new business development projects of $7 million. In addition, we expect to receive approximately $38 million from government grants to fund additional capital expenditures in 2009. 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.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

As of December 31, 2008, we had contractual obligations and commercial commitments that could affect our financial condition. However, based on our assessment of the underlying provisions and circumstances of our material contractual obligations and commercial commitments, there is no known trend, demand, commitment, event or uncertainty that is reasonably likely to occur that would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.

 

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The following table represents our obligations and commitments for future cash payments under various agreements as of December 31, 2008 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Payments Due By Period
     Total    Less than 1
year
   1-3 years    3-5 years    More than 5
years

Contractual Obligations (1)

              

Long-Term Debt Obligations (2)

   $ 561,265    $ 26,034    $ 129,281    $ 301,496    $ 104,454

Interest on Long-Term Debt (3)

     101,187      22,602      41,759      27,813      9,013

Capital Lease Obligations

     397      60      34      36      267

Operating Lease Obligations

     180,990      19,219      29,822      17,628      114,321

Purchase Obligations (4)

     21,330      17,422      3,908      —        —  
                                  

Total

   $ 865,169    $ 85,337    $ 204,804    $ 346,973    $ 228,055
                                  

 

(1) Excludes any reserves for income taxes under FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” because we are unable to reasonably predict the ultimate amount or timing of settlement of our unrecognized tax benefits beyond 2009. As of December 31, 2008, our reserves for income taxes totaled approximately $2.9 million. Certain of these items are covered by letters of credit.
(2) Excludes capital lease obligations of $0.4 million.
(3) Assumes no change in variable interest rates from December 31, 2008.
(4) Includes an obligation of $4.4 million in existence for the next four years at the discretion of the 12.6% minority shareholder of Maryland Midland and contingent consideration obligations of up to € 1.0 million ($1.4 million at the December 31, 2008 exchange rate), $3.5 million and $7.5 million payable over the next two years upon satisfaction of certain conditions related to the acquisitions of RRF, CAGY and OCR, respectively. The amounts are reflected in the table above at the earliest possible payment date.

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, which are included in the contractual obligations table above.

 

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Impact of Foreign Currencies on Operating Revenues

When comparing the effects on revenues for average foreign currency exchange rates in effect during the year ended December 31, 2008, versus the year ended December 31, 2007, foreign currency translation had a positive impact on our consolidated revenues due to the strengthening of the Australian and Canadian dollars relative to the United States dollar in the year ended December 31, 2008. The estimated impact for foreign currency was calculated by comparing reported revenues with estimated revenues assuming average rates in effect in the comparable period of the prior year. However, since the world’s major crude oil and refined products are traded in United States dollars, we believe there was little, if any, impact of foreign currency translation on our fuel sales to third parties in Australia. The following table sets forth the impact of foreign currency translation on reported operating revenues (dollars in thousands):

Operating Revenues

Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

     As
Reported
   Currency
Translation
Impact
    Revenues
Excluding
Currency
Impact

United States Operating Revenues

   $ 422,883    $ —       $ 422,883

Australia Operating Revenues

     114,161      (1,111 )     113,050

Canada Operating Revenues

     54,835      (841 )     53,994

Netherlands Operating Revenues

     10,105      (619 )     9,486
                     

Total Operating Revenues

   $ 601,984    $ (2,571 )   $ 599,413
                     

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to use judgment and to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management uses its judgment in making significant estimates in the areas of recoverability and useful life of assets, as well as liabilities for casualty claims and income taxes. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Management has discussed the development and selection of the critical accounting estimates described below with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (Audit Committee), and the Audit Committee has reviewed our disclosure relating to such estimates in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Property and Equipment

We record property and equipment at historical cost and acquired railroad property at the allocated cost. We capitalize major renewals or improvements, but routine maintenance and repairs are expensed when incurred. We credit or charge operating expense for gains or losses on sales or other dispositions. We depreciate our property and equipment on the straight-line method over the useful lives of the road property (5-50 years) and equipment (3-30 years).

 

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The following table sets forth the estimated useful lives of our major classes of property and equipment:

 

Property:

  

Estimated useful life

Buildings & Leasehold Improvements

   30 years or life of lease

Bridges/Tunnels/Culverts

   20 – 50 years

Track Property

   5 – 50 years

Equipment:

    

Computer Equipment

   3 years

Locomotives & Freight Cars

   5 – 30 years

Vehicles & Mobile Equipment

   5 – 10 years

Signals & Crossing Equipment

   5 – 30 years

Track Equipment

   5 – 10 years

Other Equipment

   5 – 10 years

We continually evaluate whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate that our long-lived tangible assets may not be recoverable. When factors indicate that an asset should be evaluated for possible impairment, we use an estimate of the related undiscounted future cash flows over the remaining life of such asset in measuring whether or not impairment has occurred. If we identify impairment of an asset, we would report a loss to the extent that the carrying value of the related asset exceeds the fair value of such asset, as determined by valuation techniques applicable in the circumstances.

Government Grants

Grants from governmental agencies are recorded as long-term liabilities and are amortized as a reduction to depreciation expense over the same period during which the underlying purchased assets are depreciated.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

We account for our business acquisitions using the purchase method of accounting. We allocate the total cost of an acquisition to the underlying net assets based on their respective estimated fair values. As part of this allocation process, we identify and attribute values and estimated lives to the intangible assets acquired. These determinations involve significant estimates and assumptions, including those with respect to future cash flows, discount rates and asset lives, and therefore require considerable judgment. These determinations will affect the amount of amortization expense recognized in future periods.

We review the carrying values of identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill at least annually to assess impairment, since these assets are not amortized. Additionally, we review the carrying value of any intangible asset or goodwill whenever such events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. Specifically, we test for impairments in accordance with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (SFAS 142). The determination of fair value involves significant management judgment. Impairments are expensed when incurred. We perform our annual impairment test as of November 30th of each year, and no impairment was recognized for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.

For intangible assets, the impairment test compares the fair value of an intangible asset with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of an intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess.

For goodwill, a two-step impairment model is used. We first compare the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. The estimate of fair value of the respective reporting unit is based on the best information available as of the date of assessment, which primarily incorporates certain factors

 

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including our assumptions about operating results, business plans, income projections, anticipated future cash flows and market data. Second, if the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying amount, goodwill would be considered impaired and we would then record the goodwill impairment as the excess of recorded goodwill over its implied fair value.

Amortizable Intangible Assets

SFAS 144 requires us to perform an impairment test on amortizable intangible assets when specific impairment indicators, as set-forth in SFAS 144, are present. We have amortizable intangible assets primarily recorded as customer relationships or contracts, service agreements, track access agreements and proprietary software. The intangible assets are generally amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected economic longevity of the customer relationship, the facility served or the length of the contract or agreement including expected renewals.

Derailment and Property Damages, Personal Injuries and Third-Party Claims

We maintain insurance, with varying deductibles up to $0.5 million per incident for liability and generally up to $0.5 million per incident for property damage, for claims resulting from train derailments and other accidents related to our railroad and industrial switching operations. Accruals for FELA claims by our railroad employees and third-party personal injury or other claims are recorded in the period when such claims are determined to be probable and estimable. These estimates are updated in future periods as facts and circumstances change.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors (Compensation Committee) has discretion to determine grantees, grant dates, amounts of grants, vesting and expiration dates for grants to our employees through our Amended and Restated 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Plan). The Plan permits the issuance of stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units and any other form of award established by the Compensation Committee, in each case consistent with the Plan’s purpose. Restricted stock units constitute a commitment to deliver stock at some future date as defined by the terms of the awards. Under the terms of the awards, equity grants for employees generally vest over three years and equity grants for directors vest over their respective terms as directors.

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model and straight-line amortization of compensation expense over the requisite service period of the grant. Two assumptions in the Black-Scholes pricing model that require management judgment are the expected life and expected volatility of the stock. The expected life is based on historical experience and is estimated for each grant. The expected volatility of the stock is based on actual historical volatility and adjusted to reflect future expectations. The fair value of our restricted stock and restricted stock units is based on the closing price on the date of grant.

During the fourth quarter of 2006, we voluntarily conducted and completed a comprehensive internal review of our historical stock option practices for stock option grants made during the period from our initial public offering on June 24, 1996 through the third quarter of 2006, under the direction of the independent members of the Board of Directors. The review found no evidence of any intentional wrongdoing by our executive officers, members of our Board of Directors or any other employees. However, the internal review identified certain administrative procedural deficiencies that resulted in unintentional accounting errors. These errors principally related to situations where, as of the grant date approved by the Compensation Committee, an aggregate number of stock options to be granted was approved and the exercise price for the stock options was established, but the allocation of those stock options to certain individual employee recipients was not finalized until a later date. As a result, we determined that later measurement dates for accounting purposes for those individuals’ grants should

 

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have been used, and we determined that non-cash stock-based compensation expense was understated by a cumulative amount of $1.2 million ($0.5 million after-tax), with $1.1 million related to grants to the general population of employees, none of whom was an executive officer at the time of grant. Under the direction of the Audit Committee, the results of the internal review were evaluated by outside counsel, who concurred with the findings.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, compensation cost from equity awards was $5.7 million. The compensation cost related to non-vested awards not yet recognized is $7.8 million, which will be recognized over the next three years with a weighted-average period of one year. The total income tax benefit recognized in the consolidated income statement for equity awards was $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

For the year ended December 31, 2007, compensation cost from equity awards was $5.4 million. The total income tax benefit recognized in the consolidated income statement for equity awards was $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

For the year ended December 31, 2006, compensation cost from equity awards was $8.5 million. Of the $8.5 million compensation cost, $2.7 million was attributable to stock option awards that were part of the transaction bonuses related to the ARG Sale in the quarter ended June 30, 2006, and $1.2 million was attributable to the unintentional accounting errors associated with the use of incorrect measurement dates for certain grants, as discussed above. The total income tax benefit recognized in the consolidated income statement for equity awards was $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Income Taxes

On January 1, 2007, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation (FIN) 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 a tax return. After considering our preexisting reserves for uncertain tax positions, the adoption of FIN 48 did not result in any material adjustments to our results of operations or financial position.

We account for income taxes under the provisions of SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (SFAS 109). SFAS 109 requires a balance sheet approach for the financial accounting and reporting of deferred income taxes. Deferred income taxes reflect the tax effect of temporary differences between book and tax basis assets and liabilities, as well as available income tax credits and net operating loss carryforwards. In our consolidated balance sheets, these deferred obligations are classified as current or non-current based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred income tax obligation or benefit that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred income tax assets related to carryforwards, is classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary difference as of the end of the year. We evaluate on a quarterly basis whether, based on all available evidence, our deferred income tax assets are realizable. Valuation allowances are established when it is estimated that it is more likely than not that the tax benefit of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

No provision is made for the United States income taxes applicable to the undistributed earnings of controlled foreign subsidiaries because it is the intention of management to fully utilize those earnings in the operations of foreign subsidiaries. If the earnings were to be distributed in the future, those distributions may be subject to United States income taxes (appropriately reduced by available foreign tax credits) and withholding taxes payable to various foreign countries. The amount of undistributed earnings of our controlled foreign subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 was $47.0 million.

 

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Other Uncertainties

Our operations and financial condition are subject to certain risks that could cause actual operating and financial results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in our forward-looking statements. For a complete description of our general risk factors including risk factors of foreign operations, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Management believes that full consideration has been given to all relevant circumstances to which we may be currently subject, and the financial statements accurately reflect management’s best estimate of our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows for the years presented.

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. On February 12, 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 157-2 which delayed the effective date of SFAS 157 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). This FSP partially defers the effective date of SFAS 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands the related disclosure requirements. We adopted SFAS 157 on January 1, 2008, and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. However, we have not applied the provisions of the standard to our property and equipment, goodwill and certain other assets, which are measured at fair value for impairment assessment, nor to any business combinations. We will apply the provisions of the standard to these assets and liabilities beginning January 1, 2009, as required by FSP FAS 157-2. The adoption of SFAS 157 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations” (SFAS 141R). SFAS 141R retains the fundamental requirements of the original pronouncement requiring that the acquisition method be used for all business combinations. SFAS 141R defines the acquirer, establishes the acquisition date and requires the acquirer to recognize the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest at their fair values as of the acquisition date. SFAS 141R also requires acquisition-related costs to be expensed as incurred and changes in the amount of acquired tax attributes to be included in our results of operations. SFAS 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption of SFAS 141R is prohibited. The provisions of SFAS 141R will be effective for us for all business combinations with an acquisition date on or after January 1, 2009.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements (an amendment of ARB No. 51)” (SFAS 160). SFAS 160 requires that noncontrolling (minority) interests are reported as a component of equity, that net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest is separately identified in the income statement, that changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling interest are accounted for as equity transactions, and that any retained noncontrolling equity investment upon the deconsolidation of a subsidiary is initially measured at fair value. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and shall be applied prospectively. However, the presentation and disclosure requirements of SFAS 160 shall be applied retrospectively for all periods presented. We will apply the provisions of the standard to our minority interest prospectively beginning January 1, 2009, and apply the presentation and disclosure requirements retrospective as of that date. We do not expect the application of the retrospective requirements of this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment to FASB Statement No. 133” (SFAS 161). SFAS 161 expands disclosure about an

 

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entity’s derivative instruments and hedging activities, but does not change the scope of SFAS 133. SFAS 161 requires increased qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies of using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit- risk related contingent features in derivative agreements. SFAS 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early adoption permitted. Entities are encouraged, but not required, to provide comparative disclosures for earlier periods. The adoption of SFAS 161 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP SFAS No. 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets” (FSP SFAS 142-3). FSP SFAS 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS 142. FSP SFAS 142-3 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of FSP SFAS 142-3 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (SFAS 162), which has been established by the FASB as a framework for entities to identify the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with United States GAAP. SFAS 162 is not expected to result in a change in current practices. SFAS 162 is effective January 15, 2009. We do not expect the adoption of SFAS 162 to impact our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2008, the FASB issued FSP EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities” (FSP EITF 03-6-1), which addresses whether unvested instruments granted in share-based payment transactions that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents are participating securities subject to the two-class method of computing earnings per share under SFAS No. 128, “Earnings Per Share.” FSP EITF 03-6-1 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those years. We do not expect the adoption of FSP EITF 03-6-1 to impact our consolidated financial statements.

In September 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-5, “Disclosures about Credit Derivatives and Certain Guarantees: An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 and FASB Interpretation No. 45; and Clarification of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 161” (FSP 133-1 and FIN 45-5), which is effective for reporting periods ending after November 15, 2008. This FSP amends FASB Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, to require disclosures by sellers of credit derivatives, including credit derivatives embedded in a hybrid instrument. This FSP also amends FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, to require an additional disclosure about the current status of the payment/performance risk of a guarantee. Further, this FSP clarifies the Board’s intent about the effective date of FASB Statement No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. We adopted FSP 133-1 and FIN 45-5 on December 31, 2008, and it did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 132R-1, “Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets” (FAS 132R-1), which is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. Upon initial application, the provisions of this FSP are not required for earlier periods that are presented for comparative purposes. This FSP provides guidance on an employer’s disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan. We do not expect the adoption of FSP 132R-1 to have a material impact our consolidated financial statements.

 

ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We actively monitor our exposure to interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate risks and use derivative financial instruments to manage the impact of certain of these risks. We use derivatives only for purposes of managing risk associated with underlying exposures. We do not trade or use such instruments with

 

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the objective of earning financial gains on the interest rate or exchange rate fluctuations alone, nor do we use such instruments where there are no underlying cash exposures. Complex instruments involving leverage or multipliers are not used. We manage our hedging positions and monitor the credit ratings of counterparties and do not anticipate losses due to counterparty nonperformance. Management believes that our use of derivative financial instruments to manage risk is in our best interest. However, our use of derivative financial instruments may result in short-term gains or losses and increased earnings volatility.

Interest Rate Risk

Our interest rate risk results from issuing variable rate debt obligations, since an increase in interest rates would result in lower earnings and increased cash outflows. The table below provides amounts outstanding, fair value and corresponding interest rates for our fixed and variable rate debt (dollars in thousands).

 

     December 31, 2008
     Carrying Value     Fair Value

Fixed Rate Debt

   $ 181,807     $ 164,965

Weighted Average Fixed Interest Rate

     5.22 %  

Variable Rate Debt Swapped to Fixed Rate Debt

   $ 220,000     $ 194,686

Weighted Average Fixed Interest Rate

     3.51 %  

Unswapped Variable Rate Debt

   $ 159,458     $ 137,879

Weighted Average Variable Interest Rate

     3.72 %  

Total Long-Term Debt

   $ 561,265     $ 497,530

Weighted Average Interest Rate

     4.21 %  

Table Assumptions

Variable Interest Rates: The table presents variable interest rates based on United States and Canadian LIBOR rates (as of December 31, 2008). The borrowing margin is composed of a weighted average of 2.0% for debt under our United States and Canadian credit facilities and 0.7% for our Series C senior notes.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. SFAS 157 specifies a three-level hierarchy of valuation inputs established to increase consistency, clarity and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that we have the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices that are observable in the market for the asset or liability. Level 3 inputs are valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable. SFAS 157 requires companies to maximize the use of observable inputs (Level 1 and Level 2), when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (Level 3) when determining fair value.

Fair Value of Debt

Since our long-term debt is not quoted, fair value was estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis based on Level 2 valuation inputs, including borrowing rates we believe are currently available to us for loans with similar terms and maturities.

Interest Rate Sensitivity

Based on the table above, assuming a one percentage point increase in market interest rates, annual interest expense on our variable rate debt would increase by approximately $1.6 million.

 

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Interest Rate Swap

We use interest rate swap agreements to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates of our variable rate debt. These agreements are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. Changes in the fair value of the agreements are recorded in net income or other comprehensive (loss) income, based on whether the agreements are designated as part of a hedge transaction and whether the agreements are effective in offsetting the change in the value of the interest payments attributable to our variable rate debt.

On October 2, 2008, we entered into two interest rate swap agreements to manage our exposure to interest rates on a portion of our outstanding borrowings. The first swap has a notional amount of $120.0 million and requires us to pay 3.88% on the notional amount and allows us to receive 1-month LIBOR. This swap expires on September 30, 2013. The second swap has a notional amount of $100.0 million and requires us to pay 3.07% on the notional amount and allows us to receive 1-month LIBOR. This swap expires on December 31, 2009. The fair value of the interest rate swap agreements were estimated based on Level 2 valuation inputs. The fair values of the swaps represented liabilities of $10.6 million and $2.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2008. The 1-month LIBOR was set at 0.46% at December 31, 2008.

Foreign Currency Risk

Debt related to our Canadian operations is denominated in Canadian dollars. Therefore, foreign currency risk related to debt service payments generally does not exist at our Canadian operations. However, in the event that this debt service is funded from our United States operations, we may face exchange rate risk if the Canadian dollar were to appreciate relative to the United States dollar, thereby requiring higher United States dollar equivalent cash to settle the outstanding debt, which is due in 2013.

Foreign Currency Hedge

On February 13, 2006, we entered into two foreign currency forward contracts with a total notional amount of $190.0 million to hedge a portion of our investment in 50% of the equity of ARG. The contracts, which expired on June 1, 2006, protected a portion of our investment from exposure to large fluctuations in the United States/Australian Dollar exchange rate. At expiration, excluding the effects of fluctuations in the exchange rate on our investment, we recorded a loss of $4.3 million from these contracts, which is included in the net gain on the sale of ARG.

Sensitivity to Diesel Fuel Prices

We are exposed to fluctuations in diesel fuel prices, since an increase in the price of diesel fuel would result in lower earnings and cash outflows. In the year ended December 31, 2008, fuel costs for fuel used in operations represented 12.6% of our total expenses. As of December 31, 2008, we had not entered into any hedging transactions to manage this diesel fuel risk. As of December 31, 2008, each one percentage point increase in the price of diesel fuel would result in a $0.6 million increase in our annual fuel expense to the extent not offset by higher fuel surcharges.

 

ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The financial statements and supplementary financial data required by this item are listed under Part IV, Item 15 and are filed herewith following the signature page hereto and are incorporated by reference herein.

 

ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None

 

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ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s 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 our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2008. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2008, to accomplish their objectives at the reasonable assurance level.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2008, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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REPORT OF MANAGEMENT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Management of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

 

   

pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of Genesee & Wyoming Inc.;

 

   

provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America;

 

   

provide reasonable assurance that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorization of management and directors of Genesee & Wyoming Inc.; and

 

   

provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. Management based this assessment on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, established and maintained by management, are under the general oversight of the Company’s Audit Committee. Management’s assessment included an evaluation of the design of our internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operating effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

Based on this assessment, management determined that, as of December 31, 2008, we maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, which has audited and reported on the consolidated financial statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued its written attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as stated in their report which is included herein.

 

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ITEM 9B. Other Information

None

PART III

 

ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our proxy statement to be issued in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Genesee & Wyoming to be held on May 27, 2009, under “Election of Directors” and “Executive Officers”, which proxy statement will be filed within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year.

 

ITEM 11. Executive Compensation

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our proxy statement to be issued in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Genesee & Wyoming to be held on May 27, 2009, under “Executive Compensation” and “2008 Director Compensation”, which proxy statement will be filed within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year.

 

ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2008

 

     (a)    (b)    (c)

Plan Category

   Number of Securities
to be Issued upon
Exercise of
Outstanding Options
   Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options
   Number of Securities Remaining
Available for Future Issuance
Under Equity Compensation
Plans (Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column (a))

Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders

   2,022,904    $ 28.52    1,999,978

Equity Compensation Plans not Approved by Security Holders

   —        —      —  
                

Total

   2,022,904    $ 28.52    1,999,978
                

The remaining information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our proxy statement to be issued in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Genesee & Wyoming to be held on May 27, 2009, under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management”, which proxy statement will be filed within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year.

 

ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our proxy statement to be issued in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Genesee & Wyoming to be held on May 27, 2009, under “Related Person Transactions and Other Information”, which proxy statement will be filed within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year.

 

ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our proxy statement to be issued in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Genesee & Wyoming to be held on May 27, 2009, under “Approval of the Selection of Independent Auditors”, which proxy statement will be filed within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year.

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedule

 

(a) DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THIS FORM 10-K

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and Subsidiaries Financial Statements:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income for the Years

Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd and Subsidiaries Financial Statements:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of May 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Five Month Period Ended May 31, 2006

and for the Years Ended December 31, 2005 and 2004

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the

Five Month Period Ended May 31, 2006 and for the Years Ended December 31, 2005

and 2004

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Five Month Period Ended May 31, 2006

and for the Years Ended December 31, 2005 and 2004

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

See INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

(b) EXHIBITS—See INDEX TO EXHIBITS filed herewith immediately following the signature page hereto, and which is incorporated herein by reference

 

(c) NONE

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

Date

 

February 27, 2009     GENESEE & WYOMING INC.
      By:   /S/    JOHN C. HELLMANN        
       

John C. Hellmann

Chief Executive Officer and

President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Date

  

Title

 

Signature

February 27, 2009

   Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors  

/S/    MORTIMER B. FULLER III        

Mortimer B. Fuller III

    
February 27, 2009    Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)  

/S/    JOHN C. HELLMANN        

John C. Hellmann

February 27, 2009    Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)  

/S/    TIMOTHY J. GALLAGHER        

Timothy J. Gallagher

    
February 27, 2009    Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)  

/S/    CHRISTOPHER F. LIUCCI        

Christopher F. Liucci

February 27, 2009    Director  

/S/    DAVID C. HURLEY        

David C. Hurley

February 27, 2009    Director  

/S/    ØIVIND LORENTZEN III        

Øivind Lorentzen III

February 27, 2009    Director  

/S/    ROBERT M. MELZER        

Robert M. Melzer

February 27, 2009    Director  

/S/    PHILIP J. RINGO        

Philip J. Ringo

February 27, 2009    Director  

/S/    PETER O. SCANNELL        

Peter O. Scannell

February 27, 2009    Director  

/S/    MARK A. SCUDDER        

Mark A. Scudder

February 27, 2009    Director  

/S/    M. DOUGLAS YOUNG        

M. Douglas Young

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

(3)    (i) Articles of Incorporation
   The Exhibit referenced under 4.1 hereof is incorporated herein by reference.
   (ii) By-laws
  3.1    Amended Bylaws, effective as of August 19, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 9, 2004.
(4)    Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures
  4.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit I to the Registrant’s Definitive Information Statement on Schedule 14C filed on February 23, 2004.
  4.2    Specimen stock certificate representing shares of Class A Common Stock is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-3972).
  4.3    Form of Class B Stockholders’ Agreement dated as of May 20, 1996, among the Registrant, its executive officers and its Class B stockholders is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-3972).
(10)    Material Contracts
   The Exhibit referenced under 4.3 hereof is incorporated herein by reference.
10.1     Memorandum of Lease between Minister for Transport and Urban Planning a Body Corporate Under the Administrative Arrangements Act, the Lessor and Australia Southern Railroad Pty Ltd., the Lessee, dated November 7, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1998 (SEC File No. 0-20847).
10.2     Purchase and Sale Agreement dated August 17, 1999, between the Federal Government of United Mexican States, Compañía de Ferrocarriles Chiapas-Mayab, S.A. de C.V. and Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 15, 1999.
10.3     Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 3, 2001, by and among Genesee & Wyoming Inc., ETR Acquisition Corporation and Emons Transportation Group, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K filed on December 12, 2001.
10.4     Stock Purchase Agreement by and among Mueller Industries, Inc., Arava Natural Resources Company, Inc. and Genesee & Wyoming Inc. relating to the purchase and sale of Utah Railway Company, dated as August 19, 2002, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K filed on August 30, 2002.
10.5     Note Purchase Agreement dated as of November 12, 2004 among Genesee & Wyoming Inc., certain subsidiaries of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. as Guarantors and note purchasers party thereto is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K filed on November 18, 2004.
10.6     Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of May 25, 2005 by and among Rail Management Corporation, Durden 1991 Family Gift Trust, Durden 1991 Family Discretionary Trust, Durden 1991 Family Trust, K. Earl Durden 1991 Gift Trust, Durden 1996 Family Gift Trust, RP Acquisition Company One, a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and RP Acquisition Company Two, a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K filed on June 1, 2005.

 

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10.7     First Supplement to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of June 1, 2005 by and among Genesee & Wyoming Inc., certain subsidiaries of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. as Guarantors and note purchasers party thereto is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K filed on June 3, 2005.
10.8     Second Supplement to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of July 26, 2005 by and among Genesee & Wyoming Inc., certain subsidiaries of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. as Guarantors and note purchasers party thereto is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K filed on August 1, 2005.
10.9     Share Sale Agreement dated February 14, 2006 by and among Genesee & Wyoming Inc., GWI Holdings Pty Ltd, Wesfarmers Limited, Wesfarmers Railroad Holdings Pty Ltd, Babcock & Brown WA Rail Pty Ltd, QRNational West Pty Ltd, Australia Southern Railroad Pty Ltd, Australia Western Railroad Pty Ltd and Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K filed on February 17, 2006.
10.10    Letter Agreement dated February 16, 2006 between Wesfarmers Railroad Holdings Pty Ltd and GWI Holdings Pty Ltd is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K filed on February 17, 2006.
10.11    Consulting Agreement between Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and Charles N. Marshall dated as of May 1, 2006 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K filed on May 2, 2006.
10.12    Restated Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended through September 27, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1(a) to the Registrant’s Report on Form S-8 filed on November 3, 2006. **
10.13    Employment Agreement dated as of May 30, 2007 by and between Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and Mortimer B. Fuller III, together with Exhibit A (Waiver and General Release Agreement) thereto is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 9.01 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K filed on June 5, 2007. **
10.14    Form of Senior Executive Continuity Agreement by and between Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and the Company Senior Executives is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 8, 2007. **
10.15   

Form of Executive Continuity Agreement by and between Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and the Company Executives is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Registrant’s Report on Form

10-Q filed on November 8, 2007. **

10.16    Amended and Restated 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan, dated as of May 30, 2007 (as supplemented, May 28, 2008), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2008. **
10.17    Form of Option Award Notice under the Amended and Restated 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan, dated as of May 30, 2007 (as supplemented, May 28, 2008), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2008. **
10.18    Form of Restricted Stock Award Notice under the Amended and Restated 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan, dated as of May 30, 2007 (as supplemented, May 28, 2008), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2008. **
10.19    Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K filed on August 8, 2008.

 

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10.20   Amended and Restated Stock Purchase Agreement by and among Summit View, Inc., Jerry Joe Jacobson and Genesee & Wyoming Inc. dated as of September 10, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2008.
10.21   Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Amended and Restated 2004 Deferred Compensation Plan, dated as of December 31, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K filed on January 7, 2009. **
*10.22   Summary of Increases in Compensation for Non-management Directors. **
(11)   Not included as a separate exhibit as computation can be determined from Note 2 to the financial statements included in this Report under Item 8
(14)   Code of Ethics included on the Registrant’s website, www.gwrr.com
*(21.1)   Subsidiaries of the Registrant
*(23.1)   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
*(23.2)   Consent of Ernst & Young
*(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.
** Management contract or compensatory plan in which directors and/or executive officers are eligible to participate.

 

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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and Subsidiaries Financial Statements:

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007

   F-4

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

   F-5

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December  31, 2008, 2007, and 2006

   F-6

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

   F-7

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-8

Separate Financial Statements of Subsidiaries Not Consolidated and 50 Percent Owned:

  

Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd and Subsidiaries Financial Statements:

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-49

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of May 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005

   F-50

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Five Month Period Ended May  31, 2006 and the Years Ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004

   F-51

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the Five Month Period Ended May 31, 2006 and for the Years Ended December 31, 2005 and 2004

   F-52

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Five Month Period Ended May  31, 2006 and for the Years Ended December 31, 2005 and 2004

   F-53

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-54

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Genesee & Wyoming Inc.:

In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of other auditors, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, of cash flows and of stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We did not audit the financial statements of the Australian Railway Group Pty Ltd (ARG), an equity method investment through May 31, 2006 which statements reflect total assets of $709.7 million as of May 31, 2006, and a net loss of $15.3 million for the five month period ended May 31, 2006. The financial statements of ARG were audited by other auditors whose report thereon has been furnished to us, and our opinion on the consolidated financial statements expressed herein, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for ARG, is based solely on the report of the other auditors. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits and the report of other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

As discussed in Note 11, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for pension and other post-retirement benefits effective December 31, 2006.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed 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. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

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Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (signed)

New York, New York

February 26, 2009

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2008 and 2007

(dollars in thousands, except share amounts)

 

     December 31,  
     2008     2007  

ASSETS

    

CURRENTS ASSETS:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 31,693     $ 46,684  

Accounts receivable, net

     120,874       125,934  

Materials and supplies

     7,708       7,555  

Prepaid expenses and other

     12,270       18,147  

Current assets of discontinued operations

     1,676       2,213  

Deferred income tax assets, net

     18,101       7,495  
                

Total current assets

     192,322       208,028  
                

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net

     998,995       696,990  

INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES

     4,986       4,696  

GOODWILL

     150,958       39,352  

INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net

     223,442       117,106  

DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSETS, net

     —         1,353  

OTHER ASSETS, net

     16,578       10,276  
                

Total assets

   $ 1,587,281     $ 1,077,801  
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 26,034     $ 2,247  

Accounts payable

     124,162       128,038  

Accrued expenses

     37,903       37,792  

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

     1,121       3,919  

Deferred income tax liabilities, net

     192       66  
                

Total current liabilities

     189,412       172,062  
                

LONG -TERM DEBT, less current portion

     535,231       270,519  

DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITIES, net

     234,979       93,336  

DEFERRED ITEMS—grants from governmental agencies

     113,302       94,651  

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

     34,943       15,144  

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

     —         —    

MINORITY INTEREST

     1,351       1,108  

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

    

Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value, one vote per share; 90,000,000 shares authorized; 45,830,569 and 43,773,926 shares issued and 33,435,168 and 31,436,607 shares outstanding (net of 12,395,401 and 12,337,319 shares in treasury) on December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively

     458       438  

Class B Common Stock, $0.01 par value, ten votes per share; 15,000,000 shares authorized; 2,585,152 and 3,975,178 shares issued and outstanding on December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively

     26       40  

Additional paid-in capital

     214,356       197,463  

Retained earnings

     479,598       407,367  

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

     (14,033 )     25,660  

Treasury stock, at cost

     (202,342 )     (199,987 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     478,063       430,981  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,587,281     $ 1,077,801  
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2008     2007     2006  

OPERATING REVENUES

   $ 601,984     $ 516,167     $ 450,683  
                        

OPERATING EXPENSES:

      

Transportation

     199,702       166,146       147,874  

Maintenance of ways and structures

     53,529       48,621       43,507  

Maintenance of equipment

     72,186       70,330       64,419  

Diesel fuel sold to third parties

     34,624       26,975       13,189  

General and administrative

     93,612       82,236       77,145  

Net gain on sale of assets

     (8,107 )     (6,742 )     (3,078 )

Gain on insurance recovery

     —         —         (1,937 )

Depreciation and amortization

     40,507       31,773       27,907  
                        

Total operating expenses

     486,053       419,339       369,026  
                        

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

     115,931       96,828       81,657  

Gain on sale of equity investment in ARG

     —         —         218,845  

Investment loss—Bolivia

     —         —         (5,878 )

Equity loss of unconsolidated international affiliates

     —         —         (10,752 )

Interest income

     2,093       7,813       7,839  

Interest expense

     (20,610 )     (14,735 )     (16,007 )

Other income, net

     227       889       252  
                        

Income from continuing operations before taxes

     97,641       90,795       275,956  

Provision for income taxes

     24,909       21,548       103,309  
                        

Income from continuing operations

     72,732       69,247       172,647  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (501 )     (14,072 )     (38,644 )
                        

Net income

   $ 72,231     $ 55,175     $ 134,003  
                        

Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ 2.28     $ 2.00     $ 4.59  

Basic loss per common share from discontinued operations

     (0.02 )     (0.41 )     (1.03 )
                        

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 2.26     $ 1.59     $ 3.56  
                        

Weighted average shares—Basic

     31,922       34,625       37,609  
                        

Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ 2.00     $ 1.77     $ 4.07  

Diluted loss per common share from discontinued operations

     (0.01 )     (0.36 )     (0.91 )
                        

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 1.99     $ 1.41     $ 3.16  
                        

Weighted average shares—Diluted

     36,348       39,148       42,417  
                        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

(dollars in thousands)

 

    Class A
Common
Stock
  Class B
Common
Stock
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Treasury
Stock
    Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 

BALANCE, December 31, 2005

  $ 425   $ 40     $ 168,007     $ 218,189   $ 24,175     $ (13,016 )   $ 397,820  
                                                   

Comprehensive income, net of tax:

             

Net income

    —       —         —         134,003     —         —         134,003  

Currency translation adjustments

    —       —         —         —       1,503       —         1,503  

Sale of ARG investment (recognized gain from foreign currency translation adjustment)

            (22,755 )     —         (22,755 )

Fair market value adjustments of cash flow hedges

    —       —         —         —       1,776       —         1,776  

Pension and post-retirement medical adjustment

    —       —         —         —       (52 )     —         (52 )
                   

Comprehensive income

                114,475  

Adjustment to initially apply FASB Statement No. 158, net of tax

    —       —         —         —       (236 )     —         (236 )

Proceeds from employee stock purchases

    9     —         6,848       —       —         —         6,857  

Tax reductions from share-based compensation

    —       —         (394 )     —       —         —         (394 )

Compensation cost related to equity awards

    —         8,455       —       —         —         8,455  

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation

    —       —         4,544       —       —         —         4,544  

Treasury stock acquisitions, 465,863 shares

    —       —         —         —       —         (11,334 )     (11,334 )
                                                   

BALANCE, December 31, 2006

  $ 434   $ 40     $ 187,460     $ 352,192   $ 4,411     $ (24,350 )   $ 520,187  
                                                   

Comprehensive income, net of tax:

             

Net income

    —       —         —         55,175     —         —         55,175  

Currency translation adjustments

    —       —         —         —       15,178       —         15,178  

Mexico investment (recognized gain from foreign currency translation adjustment)

    —       —         —         —       5,426       —         5,426  

Fair market value adjustments of cash flow hedges

    —       —         —         —       43       —         43  

Pension and post-retirement medical adjustment

    —       —         —         —       602       —         602  
                   

Comprehensive income

                76,424  

Proceeds from employee stock purchases

    4     —         3,380       —       —         —         3,384  

Compensation cost related to equity awards

    —         5,183       —       —         —         5,183  

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation

    —       —         1,440       —       —         —         1,440  

Treasury stock acquisitions, 6,549,597 shares

    —       —         —         —       —         (175,637 )     (175,637 )
                                                   

BALANCE, December 31, 2007

  $ 438   $ 40     $ 197,463     $ 407,367   $ 25,660     $ (199,987 )   $ 430,981  
                                                   

Comprehensive income, net of tax:

             

Net income

    —       —         —         72,231     —         —         72,231  

Currency translation adjustments

    —       —         —         —       (31,091 )     —         (31,091 )

Fair market value adjustments of cash flow hedges

    —       —         —         —       (8,214 )     —         (8,214 )

Pension and post-retirement medical adjustment

    —       —         —         —       (388 )     —         (388 )
                   

Comprehensive income

                32,538  

Proceeds from employee stock purchases

    6     —         9,308       —       —         —         9,314  

Conversion of Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock

    14     (14 )     —         —       —         —         —    

Compensation cost related to equity awards

    —       —         5,734       —       —         —         5,734  

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation

    —       —         1,851       —       —         —         1,851  

Treasury stock acquisitions, 58,082 shares

    —       —         —         —       —         (2,355 )     (2,355 )
                                                   

BALANCE, December 31, 2008

  $ 458   $ 26     $ 214,356     $ 479,598   $ (14,033 )   $ (202,342 )   $ 478,063  
                                                   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

(dollars in thousands)

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

     

Net income

  $ 72,231     $ 55,175     $ 134,003  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

     

Loss from discontinued operations

    501       14,072       38,644  

Depreciation and amortization

    40,507       31,773       27,907  

Compensation cost related to equity awards

    5,734       5,412       8,455  

Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation

    (1,829 )     (1,159 )     (4,544 )

Deferred income taxes

    12,205       7,994       13,907  

Gain on insurance recovery

    —         —         (1,937 )

Gain on sale of equity investment in ARG

    —         —         (218,845 )

Net gain on sale of assets

    (8,107 )     (6,742 )     (3,078 )

Investment loss—Bolivia

    —         —         5,878  

Equity loss of unconsolidated international affiliates, net of tax

    —         —         7,500  

Minority interest

    243       —         —    

Changes in assets and liabilities which provided (used) cash, net of effect of acquisitions:

     

Accounts receivable, net

    11,541       (5,412 )     (7,936 )

Materials and supplies

    (812 )     2,400       (1,760 )

Prepaid expenses and other

    6,597       (6,159 )     (5,140 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    (14,372 )     29,160       6,571  

Income tax payable—Australia

    (3,717 )     (92,982 )     86,358  

Other assets and liabilities, net

    8,024       989       (762 )
                       

Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations

    128,746       34,521       85,221  

Net cash used in operating activities from discontinued operations

    (3,484 )     (14,000 )     (1,843 )
                       

Net cash provided by operating activities

    125,262       20,521       83,378  
                       

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

     

Purchase of property and equipment

    (97,853 )     (96,081 )     (64,494 )

Grant proceeds from government agencies

    28,551       34,307       4,949  

Proceeds from ARG Sale

    —         —         306,746  

Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired

    (345,477 )     (19,424 )     (20,354 )

Contingent consideration held in escrow

    (7,500 )     —         —    

Insurance proceeds for the replacement of assets

    419       1,747       —    

Cash received from unconsolidated international affiliates

    —         —         378  

Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment

    8,081       9,404       3,447  
                       

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities from continuing operations

    (413,779 )     (70,047 )     230,672  

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities from discontinued operations

    450       (517 )     (3,232 )
                       

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

    (413,329 )     (70,564 )     227,440  
                       

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

     

Principal payments on long-term borrowings, including capital leases

    (193,051 )     (21,448 )     (182,712 )

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

    468,076       55,000       92,500  

Debt issuance costs

    (4,340 )     —         —    

Net proceeds from employee stock purchases

    9,314       3,384       6,857  

Treasury stock purchases

    (2,355 )     (175,637 )     (11,334 )

Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation

    1,829       1,159       4,544  
                       

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities from continuing operations

    279,473       (137,542 )     (90,145 )

Net cash used in financing activities from discontinued operations

    —         (13,301 )     (2,478 )
                       

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    279,473       (150,843 )     (92,623 )
                       

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

    (5,973 )     7,581       3,342  
                       

CHANGE IN CASH BALANCES INCLUDED IN CURRENT ASSETS OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

    (424 )     (217 )     —    
                       

(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

    (14,991 )     (193,522 )     221,537  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of year

    46,684       240,206       18,669  
                       

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of year

  $ 31,693     $ 46,684     $ 240,206  
                       

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. BUSINESS AND CUSTOMERS:

Genesee & Wyoming Inc., through its subsidiaries and unconsolidated affiliate, currently has interests in 63 railroads, of which 57 are located in the United States, three are located in Canada, one is located in Australia, one is located in the Netherlands and one is located in Bolivia. From January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008, the Company acquired eighteen railroads in the United States, Australia and the Netherlands, sold its 50% equity interest in the Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd (ARG) and discontinued its operations in Mexico. The Company also leases and manages railroad transportation equipment in the United States and Canada and provides freight car switching and ancillary rail services. See Note 3 for descriptions of the Company’s expansion in recent years.

A large portion of the Company’s operating revenue is attributable to industrial customers operating in the paper and forest products, electricity generation, and farm and food products industries. Freight revenue from the Company’s ten largest freight revenue customers accounted for approximately 20%, 22% and 24% of the Company’s operating revenues in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements presented herein include the accounts of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and its subsidiaries. Historically, the Company’s investments in unconsolidated international affiliates were accounted for under the equity method. However, in June 2006, the Company sold its 50% interest in ARG and wrote down its equity interest in Bolivia and simultaneously discontinued equity method accounting. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

Revenue Recognition

Railroad revenues are estimated and recognized as shipments initially move onto the Company’s tracks, which, due to the relatively short length of haul, is not materially different from the recognition of revenues as shipments progress. Industrial switching and other service revenues are recognized as such services are provided.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Materials and Supplies

Materials and supplies consist of purchased items for improvement and maintenance of road property and equipment and are stated at the lower of average cost or market. Materials and supplies are removed from inventory using the average cost method.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are carried at historical cost. Railroad property acquired in a purchase acquisition is recorded at the allocated cost. Major renewals or improvements are capitalized, while routine maintenance and repairs are expensed when incurred. Gains or losses on sales or other dispositions are credited or charged to operating expense. Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the useful lives of the road property (5-50 years) and equipment (3-30 years).

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following table sets forth the estimated useful lives of the Company’s major classes of property and equipment:

 

Property:

  

Estimated useful life

Buildings and Leasehold Improvements

   30 years or life of lease

Bridges/Tunnels/Culverts

   20 – 50 years

Track Property

   5 – 50 years

Equipment:

    

Computer Equipment

   3 years

Locomotives & Freight Cars

   5 – 30 years

Vehicles and Mobile Equipment

   5 – 10 years

Signals and Crossing Equipment

   5 – 30 years

Track Equipment

   5 – 10 years

Other Equipment

   5 – 10 years

The Company reviews its long-lived tangible assets for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such assets may not be recoverable. When factors indicate that assets may not be recoverable, the Company uses an estimate of the related undiscounted future cash flows over the remaining lives of assets in measuring whether or not impairment has occurred. If impairment is identified, a loss would be reported to the extent that the carrying value of the related assets exceeds the fair value of those assets as determined by valuation techniques applicable in the circumstances. The recent economic downturn in the United States and throughout the world increases the risk of significant asset impairment charges since the Company is required to assess for potential impairment of non-current assets whenever events or changes in circumstances occur.

Government Grants

Grants from governmental agencies are recorded as long-term liabilities and are amortized as a reduction to depreciation expense over the same period which the underlying purchased assets are depreciated.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

The Company accounts for its business acquisitions using the purchase method of accounting and allocates the total cost of an acquisition to the underlying net assets based on their respective estimated fair values. As part of this allocation process, the Company identifies and attributes values and estimated lives to the intangible assets acquired. These determinations involve significant estimates and assumptions, including those with respect to future cash flows, discount rates, and asset lives and, therefore, require considerable judgment.

The Company reviews the carrying values of goodwill and identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives at least annually to assess impairment since these assets are not amortized. Additionally, the Company reviews the carrying value of any intangible asset or goodwill whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. Specifically, the Company tests for impairment in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (SFAS 142). The determination of fair value involves significant management judgment. Impairments are expensed when incurred. The Company performs its annual impairment review as of November 30 of each year and no impairment was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2008. The recent economic downturn in the United States and throughout the world increases the risk of significant asset impairment charges since the Company is required to assess for potential impairment of non-current assets whenever events or changes in circumstances occur.

 

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For intangible assets the impairment test compares the fair value of an intangible asset with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of an intangible assets exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess.

For goodwill, a two-step impairment model is used. The first step compares the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. The estimate of fair value of the respective reporting unit is based on the best information available as of the date of assessment, which primarily incorporates certain factors including the Company’s assumptions about operating results, business plans, income projections, anticipated future cash flows and market data. Second, if the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying amount, goodwill would be considered impaired. The second step measures the goodwill impairment as the excess of recorded goodwill over the asset’s implied fair value.

Amortizable Intangible Assets

SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (SFAS 144), requires a company to perform an impairment test on amortizable intangible assets when specific impairment indicators are present. The recent economic downturn in the United States and throughout the world increases the risk of significant asset impairment charges since the Company is required to assess for potential impairment of non-current assets whenever events or changes in circumstances occur. The Company has amortizable intangible assets valued primarily as customer relationships or contracts, service agreements, track access agreements and proprietary software. These intangible assets are generally amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected economic longevity of the customer relationship, the facility served, or the length of the contract or agreement including expected renewals.

Derailment and Property Damages, Personal Injuries and Third Party Claims

The Company maintains insurance, with varying deductibles generally up to $0.5 million per incident for property damage and up to $0.5 million per incident for liability, for claims resulting from train derailments and other accidents related to its railroad and industrial switching operations. Accruals for FELA claims by the Company’s railroad employees and third party personal injury or other claims are recorded in the period when such claims are determined to be probable and estimable. These estimates are updated in future periods as information develops.

Common Stock Splits

On February 14, 2006, the Company announced a three-for-two common stock split in the form of a 50% stock dividend distributed on March 14, 2006, to stockholders of record as of February 28, 2006. All share and per share amounts presented herein have been restated to reflect the retroactive effect of this stock split.

Earnings per Share

Common shares issuable under unexercised stock options and unvested restricted stock, calculated under the treasury stock method and weighted average Class B Common Shares outstanding are the only reconciling items between the Company’s basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding. The total number of options and restricted stock used to calculate weighted average share equivalents for diluted earnings per share was as follows:

 

2008

   2,127,183

2007

   2,393,350

2006

   2,224,098

 

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The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     2008     2007     2006  

Numerators:

      

Income from continuing operations

   $ 72,732     $ 69,247     $ 172,647  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (501 )     (14,072 )     (38,644 )
                        

Net income

   $ 72,231     $ 55,175     $ 134,003  
                        

Denominators:

      

Weighted average Class A Common Shares outstanding—Basic

     31,922       34,625       37,609  

Weighted average Class B Common Shares outstanding

     3,885       3,975       3,975  

Dilutive effect of equity awards

     541       548       833  
                        

Weighted average shares—Dilutive

     36,348       39,148       42,417  
                        

Earnings per common share:

      

Basic:

      

Earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ 2.28     $ 2.00     $ 4.59  

Loss per common share from discontinued operations

     (0.02 )     (0.41 )     (1.03 )
                        

Earnings per common share

   $ 2.26     $ 1.59     $ 3.56  
                        

Diluted:

      

Earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ 2.00     $ 1.77     $ 4.07  

Loss per common share from discontinued operations

     (0.01 )     (0.36 )     (0.91 )
                        

Earnings per common share

   $ 1.99     $ 1.41     $ 3.16  
                        

During the fourth quarter of 2008, 1,390,026 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock were converted into 1,390,026 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock in a planned sale in compliance with United States Securities and Exchange Rule 10b5-1.

For 2008, 2007 and 2006, a total of 241,804, 977,756 and 420,147 shares, respectively, of Class A common stock issuable under the assumed exercises of stock options computed based on the treasury stock method, were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share, as the effect of including these shares would have been anti-dilutive, because the exercise prices for those stock options exceeded the average market price for the Company’s common stock for the respective period.

Income Taxes

The Company files a consolidated United States federal income tax return, which includes all of its United States subsidiaries. Each of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries files appropriate income tax returns in their respective countries. No provision is made for the United States income taxes applicable to the undistributed earnings of controlled foreign subsidiaries as it is the intention of management to fully utilize those earnings in the operations of foreign subsidiaries. The provision for, or benefit from, income taxes includes deferred taxes resulting from temporary differences using a balance sheet approach. Such temporary differences result primarily from differences in the carrying value of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and tax purposes. Future realization of deferred income tax assets requires sufficient taxable income within the carryback and/or carryforward period available under tax law. The Company evaluates on a quarterly basis whether, based on all available evidence, the deferred income tax assets are realizable. Valuation allowances are established when it is estimated that it is more likely than not that the tax benefit of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

 

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Stock-based Compensation Plans

The Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (Compensation Committee) has discretion to determine grantees, grant dates, amounts of grants, vesting and expiration dates for grants to the Company’s employees through the Company’s Amended and Restated 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Plan). The Plan permits the issuance of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and any other form of award established by the Compensation Committee, in each case consistent with the plan’s purpose. Restricted stock units constitute a commitment to deliver stock at some future date as defined by the terms of the awards. Under the terms of the awards, equity grants for employees generally vest over three years and equity grants for directors vest over their respective remaining term as of the date of grant.

SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment,” (SFAS 123R) requires the Company to measure compensation cost for stock awards at fair value and recognize compensation over the service period for awards expected to vest. The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model and straight-line amortization of compensation expense over the requisite service period of the grant. Two assumptions in the Black-Scholes pricing model that require management judgment are the expected life and expected volatility of the stock. The expected life is based on historical experience and is estimated for each grant. The expected volatility of the stock is based on actual historical volatility and adjusted to reflect future expectations. The fair value of our restricted stock and restricted stock units are based on the closing price on the date of grant.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (SFAS 157), defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. SFAS 157 specifies the following three-level hierarchy of valuation inputs established to increase consistency, clarity and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures:

 

   

Level 1—Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

 

   

Level 2—Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable market data.

 

   

Level 3—Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

SFAS 157 requires companies to maximize the use of observable inputs (Level 1 and Level 2), when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (Level 3) when determining fair value.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument held by the Company:

 

   

Current assets and current liabilities: The carrying value approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these items.

 

   

Long-term debt: Since the Company’s long-term debt is not quoted, fair value was estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis based on Level 2 valuation inputs, including borrowing rates the Company believes are currently available to it for loans with similar terms and maturities. The

 

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estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt as of December 31, 2008, was $497.5 million. The financial statement carrying value as of December 31, 2008, was $561.3 million. The financial statement carrying value of the Company’s fixed rate and variable rate debt of $232.4 million approximated its fair value as of December 31, 2007.

 

   

Derivative instruments: SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” requires that derivative instruments are recorded on the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities measured at fair value. As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s derivative financial instruments consisted solely of interest rate swap agreements. The Company estimates the fair value of its interest rate swap agreements based on Level 2 valuation inputs. See Note 9, Derivative Financial Instruments, for a discussion of the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements.

In accordance with FASB Staff Position (FSP) SFAS No. 157-2, “Effective date of FASB Statement No. 157,” the Company has not applied the provisions of SFAS 157 to its property and equipment, goodwill and certain other assets, which are measured at fair value for impairment assessment, nor to any business combinations or asset retirement obligations as of December 31, 2008.

Foreign Currency

The financial statements of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries were prepared in the local currency of the respective subsidiary and translated into United States dollars based on the exchange rate at the end of the period for balance sheet items and, for the statement of operations, at the average rate for the statement period. Currency translation adjustments are reflected as currency translation adjustments in stockholders’ equity and are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. Cumulative translation adjustments are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations for substantial or complete liquidation of the underlying investment in the foreign subsidiary.

Management Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to use judgment and to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates using management judgment are made in the areas of recoverability and useful life of assets, as well as liabilities for casualty claims and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Economic activity in the United States and throughout the world has undergone a sudden, sharp downturn. Global financial markets have experienced unprecedented volatility and disruption. Certain of the Company’s customers and suppliers are directly affected by the economic downturn, are facing credit issues and could experience cash flow problems that could give rise to payment delays, increased credit risk, bankruptcies and other financial hardships that have and could continue to decrease the demand for the Company’s rail services. In addition, adverse economic conditions could also affect the Company’s costs for insurance and its ability to acquire and maintain adequate insurance coverage for risks associated with the railroad business if insurance companies experience credit downgrades or bankruptcies. Changes in governmental banking, monetary and fiscal policies to stimulate the economy, restore liquidity and increase credit availability may not be effective. It is difficult to determine the depth and duration of the economic and financial market problems and the many ways in which they may affect the Company’s customers, suppliers and business in general. Moreover, given the asset intensive nature of the Company’s business, the economic downturn increases the risk of significant asset impairment charges since the Company is required to assess for potential impairment of non-current assets whenever events or changes in circumstances, including economic circumstances, indicate that

 

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the respective asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. Continuation or further worsening of current macroeconomic and financial conditions could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the 2008 presentation.

3. CHANGES IN OPERATIONS:

United States

Ohio Central Railroad System: On October 1, 2008, the Company acquired 100% of the equity interests of Summit View, Inc. (Summit View), the parent company of 10 short line railroads known as the Ohio Central Railroad System (OCR) for cash consideration of approximately $212.6 million (net of $2.8 million cash acquired). An additional $4.5 million of purchase price was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2008 to reflect adjustments for working capital. In addition, the Company placed $7.5 million of contingent consideration into escrow that will be paid to the seller upon satisfaction of certain conditions.

Summit View is the parent company of 10 short line railroads, Aliquippa & Ohio River Railroad Company in Pennsylvania; The Columbus and Ohio River Rail Road Company in Ohio; The Mahoning Valley Railway Company in Ohio; Ohio Central Railroad, Inc. in Ohio; Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad Company in Ohio; Ohio Southern Railroad in Ohio; The Pittsburgh & Ohio Central Railroad Company in Pennsylvania; The Warren & Trumbull Railroad Company in Ohio; Youngstown & Austintown Railroad, Inc. in Ohio; and The Youngstown Belt Railroad Company in Ohio. Summit View’s 10 railroads employ more than 170 people, own and operate a fleet of 64 locomotives, and own and lease more than 445 miles of track. The Company has included 100% of the value of OCR’s net assets in its consolidated balance sheet since October 1, 2008.

Georgia Southwestern Railroad, Inc.: On October 1, 2008, the Company acquired 100% of Georgia Southwestern, Inc. (Georgia Southwestern) for cash consideration of approximately $16.5 million (net of $0.4 million cash acquired). An additional $0.2 million was paid in the fourth quarter of 2008 to reflect adjustments for final working capital. Headquartered in Dawson, Georgia, the Georgia Southwestern operates over 220 miles of track between White Oak, Alabama, and Smithville, Georgia; between Cuthbert and Bainbridge, Georgia; and in and around Columbus, Georgia. Georgia Southwestern has 20 employees and 10 locomotives and it interchanges with Norfolk Southern (NS), CSX Corporation (CSX) and the Heart of Georgia Railroad. The Company has included 100% of the value of Georgia Southwestern’s net assets in its consolidated balance sheet since October 1, 2008.

CAGY Industries, Inc.: On May 30, 2008, the Company acquired 100% of CAGY Industries, Inc. (CAGY) for cash consideration of approximately $71.9 million (net of $17.2 million cash acquired). An additional $2.9 million of purchase price was recorded in the second quarter of 2008 to reflect adjustments for working capital. During the third quarter of 2008, the Company also paid contingent consideration of $15.1 million due to the satisfaction of certain conditions. In addition, the Company has agreed to pay additional contingent consideration of up to $3.5 million upon satisfaction of certain conditions over the next two years, which will be recorded as additional cost of the acquisition when the contingency is resolved.

CAGY is the parent company of three short line railroads, Columbus & Greenville Railway in Mississippi; Chattooga & Chickamauga Railway in Georgia and Tennessee; and Luxapalila Valley Railroad in Mississippi and Alabama. CAGY’s three railroads employ 48 people, own and operate a fleet of 22 locomotives, as well as

 

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own and lease more than 280 miles of track. The Company has included 100% of the value of CAGY’s net assets in its consolidated balance sheet since May 30, 2008.

Maryland Midland Railway, Inc.: On December 31, 2007, the Company acquired 87.4% of Maryland Midland Railway, Inc. (Maryland Midland) for cash consideration of approximately $19.5 million (net of $7.5 million cash acquired). An additional $3.7 million was paid in 2008 to reflect adjustments for final working capital and direct costs.

Commonwealth Railway, Inc.: On August 25, 2006, the Company exercised an option to purchase 12.5 miles of previously leased rail line from NS. 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 customer’s new container terminal in Portsmouth, Virginia. On April 21, 2008, the Commonwealth Railway (CWRY) closed on the purchase of 12.5 miles of the rail line from NS for $3.6 million. The rail line runs through Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Suffolk, Virginia. The $3.6 million purchase price was allocated as follows: land ($1.7 million) and track assets ($1.9 million).

Chattahoochee Bay Railroad, Inc.: On August 25, 2006, the Company’s 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 connect the Company’s Bay Line Railroad and the Company’s Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad.

Netherlands

Rotterdam Rail Feeding B.V.: On April 8, 2008, the Company acquired 100% of Rotterdam Rail Feeding B.V. (RRF) for cash consideration of approximately $22.6 million. In addition, the Company has agreed to pay contingent consideration of up to €1.8 million (or $2.4 million at the December 31, 2008 exchange rate) payable over the next two years, which will be recorded as additional cost of the acquisition when the contingency is resolved. At December 31, 2008, the Company accrued €0.8 million (or $1.0 million at the December 31, 2008 exchange rate) of the contingent consideration due to the satisfaction of certain conditions. Headquartered in the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, RRF is an independent provider of short-haul rail and switching services. RRF’s principal business is “last mile” rail services within the Port of Rotterdam for long-haul railroads and industrial customers. In addition, RRF provides locomotives, railroad operating personnel and rail-related services throughout the Netherlands to track construction and maintenance companies as well as government-owned operators. RRF’s operations include 12 locomotives (leased and owned) and 35 employees. The results of operations for RRF are included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations as of the acquisition date. The Company has included 100% of the value of RRF’s net assets in its consolidated balance sheet since April 8, 2008.

Australia

Effective June 1, 2006, the Company and its former 50% partner in ARG, 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). As a result of the ARG Sale, the Company recognized a $218.8 million net gain, including a $22.8 million gain from the cumulative translation of the foreign currency investment and related equity earnings in ARG into United States dollars since 2000. In connection with the ARG Sale, the Company also incurred $6.4 million of net transaction-related expenses, of which $5.8 million related to management bonuses and stock option awards.

 

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Simultaneous with the ARG Sale, the Company purchased Wesfarmers’ 50% ownership of the remaining ARG operations, which are principally located 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 its 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 Company’s 50% share of the impairment loss recorded by ARG, which was included in equity income 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 GWA’s 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

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 Bolivia’s oil and gas industry. The government further announced in 2006 that it intended 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 Company’s assessment of fair value, the Company’s $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, Oriental’s results of operations have not had a material impact on the Company’s results of operations. The Company will continue to monitor the political situation in Bolivia.

Mexico

During the third quarter of 2007, the Company’s Mexican subsidiary, Ferrocarriles Chiapas-Mayab, S.A. de C.V.’s (FCCM), ceased its operations and initiated formal liquidation proceedings. Results from the Company’s Mexican operations for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, are now included in results from discontinued operations.

In November 2008, the Company entered into an amended agreement to sell 100% of the share capital of FCCM to Viablis, S.A. de C.V. (Viablis) for a sale price of approximately $2.4 million. Completion of the sale transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, as well as the final negotiation with Viablis and the Mexican Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) of a mutually acceptable transfer of the concession

 

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granted by the Mexican government to Viablis and related undertakings. It is not yet possible to determine when or if these closing conditions will be satisfied. See Note 20 for additional information regarding the Company’s discontinued operations.

Purchase Price Allocation

The following table summarizes selected financial data for the opening balance sheet of acquisitions completed in 2008 and 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

     2008    2007
     OCR    Georgia
Southwestern
   CAGY    RRF    Maryland
Midland

Purchase Price Allocations:

              

Cash

   $ 2,757    $ 362    $ 17,242    $ —      $ 9,510

Other current assets

     6,972      748      5,075      2,660      —  

Property and equipment

     224,119      24,471      33,549      799      34,099

Intangible assets

     32,490      —        74,240      5,345      —  

Goodwill

     59,201      4,699      25,191      18,188      8,144

Other assets

     560      —        894      —        1
                                  

Total assets

     326,099      30,280      156,191      26,992      51,754
                                  

Current liabilities

     4,817      1,018      6,919      1,932      5,325

Long-term debt, including current portion

     12,826      5,401      1,361      —        1,545

Deferred tax liabilities, net

     83,503      6,803      40,377      1,483      13,397

Other long-term liabilities

     5,043      —        345      —        19

Minority interest

     —        —        —        —        814
                                  

Total liabilities

     106,189      13,222      49,002      3,415      21,100
                                  

Net assets

   $ 219,910    $ 17,058    $ 107,189    $ 23,577    $ 30,654
                                  

Intangible Assets:

              

Customer contracts and relationships

     —        —        —        4,874      —  

Track access agreements

     32,490      —        74,240      —        —  

Proprietary software

     —        —        —        314      —  

Non-Amortizable Intangible Assets:

              

Operating license

     —        —        —        157      —  

Intangible Asset Amortization Period:

              

Customer contracts and relationships

     —        —        —        20 Years      —  

Track access agreements

     46 Years      —        43 Years      —        —  

Proprietary software

     —        —        —        2 Years      —  

The allocation of purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was finalized during the fourth quarter of 2008 for CAGY, RRF and Maryland Midland as a result of the finalization of non-current asset valuations. The following significant adjustments were made subsequent to December 31, 2007, to the Maryland Midland purchase price allocation: a decrease in property and equipment of $12.5 million, an increase in goodwill of $8.1 million and a decrease in deferred tax liabilities of $4.1 million. Allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed has not been finalized for OCR or Georgia Southwestern. The purchase price allocation for these acquisitions will be finalized in 2009 upon the completion of working capital adjustments and fair value analyses. The deferred tax liabilities in the purchase price allocations are primarily driven by temporary differences between values assigned to non-current assets and the acquired tax basis in those assets.

 

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Results of Operations

When comparing the Company’s results of operations from one reporting period to another, consider that the Company has historically experienced fluctuations in revenues and expenses due to one-time freight moves, hurricanes, droughts, heavy snowfall, freezing and flooding, customer plant expansions and shut-downs, sales of land and equipment and derailments. In periods when these events occur, results of operations are not easily comparable to other periods. Also, the Company has completed or entered into a number of transactions recently which have changed and will change its results of operations. Because of variations in the structure, timing and size of these transactions, the Company’s operating results in any reporting period may not be directly comparable to its operating results in other reporting periods.

Certain of the Company’s railroads have commodity shipments which are sensitive to general economic conditions, including steel products, paper products and lumber and forest products. 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 (grain in South Australia).

Pro Forma Financial Results (unaudited)

The following table summarizes the Company’s unaudited pro forma operating results for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, as if the CAGY and OCR acquisitions were consummated at the beginning of the years 2008 and 2007, and the Australian Transactions had occurred at the beginning of 2006. The following pro forma combined financial statements do not include adjustments for any potential operating efficiencies, cost savings from expected synergies, the impact of conforming to the Company’s accounting policies or the impact of derivative instruments that the Company may elect to use to mitigate interest rate risk with the incremental borrowings used to fund the acquisitions (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     2008    2007    2006

Operating revenues

   $ 660,462    $ 585,658    $ 480,808

Net income

   $ 63,564    $ 55,649    $ 18,098

Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ 2.01    $ 2.01    $ 1.51

Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ 1.76    $ 1.78    $ 1.34

The unaudited pro forma operating results include the acquisition of OCR adjusted, net of tax, for depreciation and amortization expense resulting from the property and equipment and intangible assets based on preliminary assigned values and the inclusion of interest expense related to borrowings used to fund the acquisition. OCR’s results for the year ended December 31, 2008, reflected in these pro forma operating results, include $5.3 million, net of tax, of discretionary bonuses that the Company does not believe would have continued as an ongoing expense but do not qualify for elimination under the treatment and presentation of pro forma financial results.

In addition, the unaudited pro forma operating results include the acquisition of CAGY adjusted, net of tax, for depreciation and amortization expense resulting from the property and equipment and intangible assets based on assigned values and the inclusion of interest expense related to borrowings used to fund the acquisition. CAGY’s results for the year ended December 31, 2008, reflected in these pro forma operating results, include $3.5 million, net of tax, of discretionary senior management compensation that the Company does not believe would have continued as an ongoing expense but do not qualify for elimination under the treatment and presentation of pro forma financial results.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

In 2006, the unaudited pro forma operating results include the Australian Transactions, net of tax, adjusted 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 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 transactions been completed as of the assumed dates and for the periods presented and are not intended to be a projection of future results or trends.

4. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS:

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses on existing accounts receivable. Management determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience within each of the Company’s regions. Management reviews material past due balances on a monthly basis. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when management determines it is probable that the receivable will not be recovered.

Receivables consisted of the following at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):

 

     2008     2007     2006  

Accounts Receivable—Trade

   $ 114,631     $ 116,671     $ 114,274  

Accounts Receivable—Government Grants

     9,150       11,320       5,732  
                        

Total Accounts Receivable

   $ 123,781     $ 127,991     $ 120,006  
                        

Activity in the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts was as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     2008     2007     2006  

Balance, beginning of year

   $ 2,057     $ 2,907     $ 1,890  

Provisions

     2,111       1,574       3,013  

Discontinued operations

     —         (924 )     —    

Charges

     (1,261 )     (1,500 )     (1,996 )
                        

Balance, end of year

   $ 2,907     $ 2,057     $ 2,907  
                        

The Company’s business is subject to credit risk. There is a risk that a customer or counterparty will fail to meet its obligations when due. Customers and counterparties that owe the Company money have defaulted and may continue to default on their obligations to the Company due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, operational failure or other reasons. Although the Company has procedures for reviewing its receivables and credit exposures to specific customers and counterparties, default risk may arise from events or circumstances that are difficult to detect or foresee. Some of the Company’s risk management methods depend upon the evaluation of information regarding markets, customers or other matters that are not publicly available or otherwise accessible by the Company and this information may not, in all cases, be accurate, complete, up-to-date or properly evaluated. As a result, unexpected credit exposures could adversely affect the Company’s operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

5. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT AND LEASES:

Property and Equipment

Major classifications of property and equipment were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     2008     2007  

Property:

    

Land and Land Improvements

   $ 144,124     $ 69,813  

Buildings and Leasehold Improvements

     37,837       24,164  

Bridges/Tunnels/Culverts

     143,839       90,521  

Track Property

     668,671       501,295  
                

Total Property

     994,471       685,793  

Equipment:

    

Computer Equipment

     4,836       4,427  

Locomotives & Freight Cars

     121,314       96,865  

Vehicles and Mobile Equipment

     22,895       20,966  

Signals and Crossing Equipment

     15,393       10,307  

Track Equipment

     7,969       5,513  

Other Equipment

     12,729       8,801  
                

Total Equipment

     185,136       146,879  

Construction-in-Process

     20,948       37,642  
                

Total Property and Equipment

     1,200,555       870,314  

Less Accumulated Depreciation

     (201,560 )     (173,324 )
                

Property and Equipment, net

   $ 998,995     $ 696,990  
                

Construction-in-process as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, totaled $20.9 million and $37.6 million, respectively, and consisted primarily of costs associated with track and equipment rehabilitation projects. Depreciation expense for 2008, 2007 and 2006 totaled $35.3 million, $28.2 million and $24.5 million, respectively.

Leases

The Company enters into operating leases for freight cars, locomotives and other equipment. Related operating lease expense for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, was approximately $15.5 million, $17.7 million and $18.4 million, respectively. The Company leases certain real property, which resulted in additional operating lease expense for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, of approximately $4.4 million, $4.0 million and $2.9 million, respectively.

The Company is a party to several cancelable leases for rolling stock that have automatic renewal provisions. Typically, the Company has the option, at various dates, to terminate the leases or purchase the underlying assets. Penalties for non-renewal are not considered material. During 2008, the Company exercised its option to purchase certain leased rolling stock for $2.6 million. Since these assets were the subject of a previous sale-leaseback transaction, the remaining balance of pre-tax unamortized deferred gains of approximately $1.8 million was included as an offset to the recorded value of the rolling stock acquired.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Company is a party to several lease agreements with Class I carriers to operate over various rail lines in North America. Certain of these lease agreements have annual lease payments, which are included in the non-cancelable section of the schedule of future minimum lease payments shown below. Under certain other of these leases, no payments to the lessors are required as long as certain operating conditions are met. Through December 31, 2008, no payments were required under these lease arrangements.

The following is a summary of future minimum lease payments under capital leases, non-cancelable operating leases and cancelable operating leases (dollars in thousands):

 

Year

   Capital    Non-cancelable
Operating
   Cancelable
Operating
   Total

2009

   $ 60    $ 18,801    $ 419    $ 19,280

2010

     16      16,188      294      16,498

2011

     18      13,046      294      13,358

2012

     18      10,455      123      10,596

2013

     18      7,050      —        7,068

Thereafter

     267      114,321      —        114,588
                           

Total minimum payments

   $ 397    $ 179,861    $ 1,130    $ 181,388
                           

6. INTANGIBLE AND OTHER ASSETS, NET AND GOODWILL:

Intangible and other assets were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2008    Weighted-
Average
Amortization
Period
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net Assets   

INTANGIBLE ASSETS:

           

Amortizable intangible assets:

           

Service Agreements

   $ 37,622    $ 6,881    $ 30,741    28 years

Customer Contracts and Relationships

     59,174      7,898      51,276    27 years

Track Access Agreements

     106,730      1,509      105,221    44 years

Proprietary Software

     278      104      174    2 years

Non-amortizable intangible assets:

           

Perpetual Track Access Agreements

     35,891      —        35,891    —  

Operating License

     139      —        139    —  
                       

Total Intangible Assets

   $ 239,834    $ 16,392    $ 223,442    36 years
                       

OTHER ASSETS:

           

Deferred financing costs

     8,719      2,901      5,818    6 years

Other assets

     10,766      6      10,760    —  
                       

Total Other Assets

   $ 19,485    $ 2,907    $ 16,578   
                       

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

     December 31, 2007    Weighted-
Average
Amortization
Period
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net Assets   

INTANGIBLE ASSETS:

           

Amortizable intangible assets:

           

Service Agreements

   $ 37,622    $ 5,547    $ 32,075    28 years

Customer Contracts and Relationships

     54,859      5,719      49,140    27 years

Non-amortizable intangible assets:

           

Perpetual Track Access Agreements

     35,891      —        35,891    —  
                       

Total Intangible Assets

   $ 128,372    $ 11,266    $ 117,106    28 years
                       

OTHER ASSETS:

           

Deferred financing costs

     4,446      1,993      2,453    7 years

Other assets

     7,823      —        7,823    —  
                       

Total Other Assets

   $ 12,269    $ 1,993    $ 10,276   
                       

In the purchase price allocation of RRF, the Company allocated $4.3 million to amortizable Customer Contracts and Relationships and $0.3 million to amortizable Proprietary Software as of December 31, 2008. Based on the Company’s estimate of their expected economic life, these intangible assets are being amortized on a straight line basis over a weighted average life of 19 years.

In the purchase price allocation of the CAGY acquisition, the Company allocated $74.2 million to amortizable Track Access Agreements as of December 31, 2008. Based on the Company’s estimate of their expected economic life, these intangible assets are being amortized on a straight line basis over a weighted average of 43 years, which began on May 31, 2008. In the preliminary purchase price of the OCR acquisition, the Company allocated $32.5 million to amortizable Track Access Agreements as of December 31, 2008. Based on the Company’s estimate of their expected economic life, these intangible assets are being amortized on a straight line basis over a weighted average of 46 years, which began on October 1, 2008.

The Perpetual Track Access Agreements on one of the Company’s railroads, have been determined to have an indefinite useful life and, therefore, are not subject to amortization under SFAS 142. However, these assets are tested for impairment annually or in interim periods if events indicate possible impairment.

In 2008, 2007 and 2006, the aggregate amortization expense associated with intangible assets was approximately $5.2 million, $3.6 million and $3.4 million, respectively. The Company estimates the future aggregate amortization expense related to intangible assets as of December 31, 2008, will be as follows for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

 

2009

   $ 6,253

2010

     6,148

2011

     6,114

2012

     6,114

2013

     6,018

Thereafter

     156,765
      

Total

   $ 187,412
      

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Deferred financing costs are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense over the terms of the related debt using the effective-interest method for the term debt and using the straight-line method for the revolving loan portion of debt. In 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company amortized $1.0 million, $0.7 million, and $0.7 million of deferred financing costs annually as an adjustment to interest expense. The 2008 amortization amount includes a $0.1 million write-off of financing costs as a result of the October 1, 2008 refinancing of our senior credit facility.

In accordance with SFAS 142, goodwill is not amortized. The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     Year Ended December 31,
     2008     2007

Goodwill:

    

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 39,352     $ 37,788

Goodwill additions

     115,424       —  

Currency translation adjustment

     (3,818 )     1,564
              

Balance at end of period

   $ 150,958     $ 39,352
              

In the purchase price allocations of the MMID, RRF and CAGY acquisitions, the Company allocated $8.1 million, $18.2 million and $25.2 million to goodwill as of December 31, 2008, respectively. In the preliminary purchase price allocations of the OCR and Georgia Southwestern acquisitions, the Company allocated $59.2 million and $4.7 million to goodwill as of December 31, 2008, respectively. The $115.4 million of goodwill additions will not be deductible for tax purposes.

Under SFAS 142, goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibles must be tested for impairment annually or in interim periods if events indicate possible impairment.

7. INVESTMENTS:

Australian Railroad Group

The Company and its 50% partner, Wesfarmers, sold the Western Australia operations and certain other assets of ARG on June 1, 2006. Simultaneously, the Company purchased Wesfarmers’ 50% ownership of the remaining ARG operations, which are principally located in South Australia. Accordingly, the following are United States GAAP condensed consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the five-month period ended May 31, 2006, immediately prior to the sale and purchase transactions (in thousands of United States dollars). The periods presented represent those for which the Company accounted for its investment in ARG under the equity method of accounting.

For the dates and periods indicated below, one Australian dollar could be exchanged into the following amounts of United States dollars:

 

Average for the five months ended May 31, 2006

   $ 0.743

As a result of the GWA Purchase, 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 Company’s previously held 50% share of the impairment loss recorded by ARG. Accordingly, the ARG condensed consolidated statement of operations included below reflects 100% of the non-cash loss or $32.3 million ($22.6 million, net of tax), resulting from the write-downs of an investment, property and equipment and other long-term assets, net.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

     Five Months
Ended May 31,
2006
 

Operating Revenues

   $ 147,044  

Operating expenses

     151,715  
        

(Loss) income from operations

     (4,671 )

Investment loss—APTC

     (5,823 )

Interest expense

     (11,477 )

Other income, net

     218  
        

(Loss) income before income taxes

     (21,753 )

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes

     (6,503 )
        

Net (loss) income

   $ (15,250 )
        

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

     Five Months
Ended
May 31,

2006
 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

  

Net (loss) income

   $ (15,250 )

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:

  

Depreciation and amortization

     14,584  

Deferred income taxes

     (5,889 )

Investment loss—APTC

     5,823  

Net loss (gain) on sale and impairment of assets

     25,732  

Changes in assets and liabilities

     10,391  
        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     35,391  
        

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

  

Purchases of property and equipment

     (35,430 )

Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment

     710  
        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (34,720 )
        

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

  

Proceeds from borrowings

     7,272  
        

Net cash provided by financing activities

     7,272  
        

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE DIFFERENCES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     432  
        

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     8,375  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

     12,515  
        

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period

   $ 20,890  
        

South America

The Company has a 22.89% indirect ownership interest in Oriental, which is located in eastern Bolivia. The Company determined during the second quarter of 2006 that its $8.9 million equity investment, including the portion held though GWC, had suffered an other-than-temporary decline in value. Since then, the Company has accounted for its remaining $3.0 million investment under the cost method. Historically, Oriental’s results of operations have not had a material impact on the Company’s results of operations.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

8. LONG-TERM DEBT:

Long-term debt consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

     As of December 31,
     2008    2007

Senior Credit Facilities with variable interest rates (weighted average of 3.51% and 5.68% before impact of interest rate swaps at December 31, 2008) due 2013

   $ 354,458    $ 69,119

Senior Notes Series A with fixed interest rate of 4.85% due 2011

     75,000      75,000

Senior Notes Series B with fixed interest rate of 5.36% due 2015

     100,000      100,000

Senior Notes Series C with variable interest rate (4.22% at December 31, 2008)
due 2012

     25,000      25,000

Other debt and capital leases with interest rates up to 8.00% and maturing at various dates up to 2024

     6,807      3,647
             

Long-term debt

     561,265      272,766

Less: current portion

     26,034      2,247
             

Long-term debt, less current portion

   $ 535,231    $ 270,519
             

Credit Facilities

On August 8, 2008, the Company entered into the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement (the Credit Agreement). The Company closed the Credit Agreement on October 1, 2008, concurrent with the closing of the OCR and Georgia Southwestern acquisitions. The Credit Agreement expanded the size of its senior credit facility from $256.0 million to $570.0 million and extended the maturity date of the Credit Agreement to October 1, 2013. The new credit facilities include a $300.0 million revolving loan, a $240.0 million United States term loan and a C$31.2 million ($25.5 million at the December, 31, 2008 exchange rate) Canadian term loan, as well as borrowing capacity available for letters of credit and for borrowings on same-day notice referred to as swingline loans. As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s $300.0 million revolving credit facility consisted of $89.0 million of outstanding debt, subsidiary letter of credit guarantees of $0.1 million and $210.9 million of unused borrowing capacity. Initial borrowings were priced at LIBOR plus 2.0%. As of December 31, 2008, the revolving credit facility, United States term loan and the Canadian term loan had interest rates of 3.43%, 3.43% and 4.46%, respectively. The proceeds under the Credit Agreement can be used for general corporate purposes, working capital, to refinance existing indebtedness, as well as capital expenditures, acquisitions and investments permitted under the Credit Agreement.

The Credit Agreement provides lending under the revolving credit facility in United States dollars, Euros, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Interest rates for the revolving loans are based on a base rate plus applicable margin or the LIBOR rate plus applicable margin. The base rate margin varies from 0.25% to 1.25% depending on leverage and the LIBOR margin varies from 1.25% to 2.25% depending on leverage. The minimum margin through March 31, 2009 is 2.0%. The credit facilities and revolving loan are guaranteed by substantially all of the Company’s United States subsidiaries for the United States guaranteed obligations and by substantially all of its foreign subsidiaries for the foreign guaranteed obligations.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Financial covenants, which are measured on a trailing twelve month basis and calculated quarterly, are as follows:

a. Maximum leverage of 3.5 times, measured as Funded Debt (indebtedness plus guarantees and letters of credit by any of the borrowers, plus certain contingent acquisition purchase price amounts, plus the present value of all operating leases and non-cash compensation expense) to EBITDAR (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, rental payments on operating leases), except for the period October 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009, where the maximum leverage is 3.75 times.

b. Minimum interest coverage of 3.5 times, measured as EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) divided by interest expense.

The financial covenant that is tested and reported annually is as follows:

c. Capital expenditures: Restricted subsidiaries will not make capital expenditures in any fiscal year that exceed, in the aggregate, 20% of the net revenues of the parties of the loan for the preceding fiscal year. The 20% of net revenues limitation on capital expenditures may be increased under certain conditions.

The credit facilities contain a number of covenants restricting the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, create certain liens, make certain investments, sell assets, enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions, enter into certain consolidations or mergers unless under permitted acquisitions, issue subsidiary stock, enter into certain transactions with affiliates, enter into certain modifications to certain documents such as the senior notes and make other restricted payments consisting of stock repurchases and cash dividends. The credit facilities allow the Company to repurchase stock and pay dividends provided that the ratio of Funded Debt to EBITDAR, including any borrowings made to fund the dividend or distribution, is less than 3.0 to 1.0 but subject to certain limitations if the ratio is greater than 2.25 to 1.0.

The Company was in compliance with the provisions of the covenants of its Credit Agreements as of December 31, 2008.

Senior Notes

In 2005, the Company completed a private placement of $100.0 million of Series B senior notes and $25.0 million of Series C senior notes. The Series B senior notes bear interest at 5.36% and are due August 2015. The Series C senior notes have a borrowing rate of LIBOR plus 0.70% and are due August 2012. As of December 31, 2008, the Series C senior notes had an interest rate of 4.22%.

In 2004, the Company completed a $75.0 million private placement of the Series A senior notes. The Series A senior notes bear interest at 4.85% and are due in November 2011.

The senior notes are unsecured but are guaranteed by substantially all of the Company’s United States and Canadian subsidiaries. The senior notes contain a number of covenants limiting the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, sell assets, create certain liens, enter into certain consolidations or mergers and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. Financial covenants, which must be satisfied quarterly, include (a) maximum debt to capitalization of 65% and (b) minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.75 times (measured as EBITDAR for the preceding twelve months divided by interest expense plus operating lease payments for the preceding twelve months). The Company was in compliance with the provisions of these covenants as of December 31, 2008.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Limited Recourse Promissory Notes—Mexico

See Note 20, Discontinued Operations, for a discussion of the Company’s payment of the Mexico limited recourse promissory notes.

Schedule of Future Payments Including Capital Leases

The following is a summary of the maturities of long-term debt, including capital leases, as of December 31, 2008 (dollars in thousands):

 

Future minimum payments

  

2009

   $ 26,034

2010

     27,305

2011

     101,976

2012

     51,918

2013

     249,578

Thereafter

     104,454
      
   $ 561,265
      

9. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

The Company actively monitors its exposure to interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate risks and uses derivative financial instruments to manage the impact of certain of these risks. The Company uses derivatives only for purposes of managing risk associated with underlying exposures. The Company does not trade or use instruments with the objective of earning financial gains on the interest rate or exchange rate fluctuations alone, nor does the Company use derivative instruments where there are not underlying exposures. Complex instruments involving leverage or multipliers are not used. The Company manages its hedging position and monitors the credit ratings of counterparties and does not anticipate losses due to counterparty nonperformance. Management believes that its use of derivative instruments to manage risk is in the Company’s best interest. However, the Company’s use of derivative financial instruments may result in short-term gains or losses and increased earnings volatility.

The Company designates derivatives as a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of the cash flows to be received or paid in the future related to a recognized asset or liability (cash flow hedge). The portion of the changes in the fair value of the derivative that is designated as a cash flow hedge that is offset by changes in the expected cash flows related to a recognized asset or liability (the effective portion) is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. As the hedged item is realized, the gain or loss included in accumulated other comprehensive income is reported in the consolidated statements of operations on the same line as the hedged item. In addition, the portion of the changes in fair value of derivatives used as cash flow hedges that is not offset by changes in the expected cash flows related to a recognized asset or liability (the ineffective portion) is immediately recognized in earnings.

The Company formally documents its hedge relationships, including identifying the hedge instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for entering into the hedge transaction. Derivatives are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value in prepaid expenses and other assets, net, accrued expenses or other long-term liabilities. This process includes matching the hedge instrument to the underlying hedged item (assets, liabilities, firm commitments or forecasted transactions). At hedge inception and at least quarterly thereafter, the Company assesses whether the derivatives used to hedge transactions are highly

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

effective in offsetting changes in either the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. When it is determined that a derivative ceases to be a highly effective hedge, the Company discontinues hedge accounting, and any gains or losses on the derivative instrument are recognized in earnings during the period it no longer qualifies as a hedge. Summarized below are the specific accounting policies by market risk category.

Interest Rate Risk Management

The Company uses interest rate swap agreements to manage its exposure to changes in interest rates of the Company’s variable rate debt. These agreements are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. Changes in the fair value of the agreements are recorded in net income or other comprehensive (loss) income, based on whether the agreements are designated as part of a hedge transaction and whether the agreements are effective in offsetting the change in the value of the interest payments attributable to the Company’s variable rate debt.

On October 2, 2008, the Company entered into two interest rate swap agreements to manage its exposure to interest rates on a portion of its outstanding borrowings. The first swap has a notional amount of $120.0 million and requires the Company to pay 3.88% and allows it to receive 1-month LIBOR. This swap expires on September 30, 2013. The second swap has a notional amount of $100.0 million and requires the Company to pay 3.07% on the notional amount and allows it to receive 1-month LIBOR. This swap expires on December 31, 2009. The fair value of the interest rate swap agreements were estimated based on Level 2 inputs. The fair values of the swaps represented liabilities of $10.6 million and $2.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2008. The 1-month LIBOR was set at 0.46% at December 31, 2008.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

The Company purchases options to manage foreign currency exchange rate risk related to certain projected cash flows related to foreign operations. Foreign currency exchange rate options are accounted for as cash flow hedges. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had no foreign currency exchange rate options.

Foreign Currency Hedge

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 on June 1, 2006, protected the hedged portion of the Company’s net investment from exposure to large fluctuations in the United States Dollar/Australian Dollar exchange rate. At expiration, excluding the effects of fluctuations in the exchange rate on the Company’s 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.

10. COMMON STOCK:

The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of two classes of common stock designated as Class A common stock and Class B common stock. The holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are entitled to one vote and ten votes per share, respectively. Each share of Class B common stock is convertible into one share of Class A common stock at any time at the option of the holder. In addition, pursuant to the Class B Stockholders’ Agreement dated as of May 20, 1996, certain transfers of the Class B common stock, including transfers to persons other than our executive officers, will result in automatic conversion of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock. Holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock shall have identical rights in the event of liquidation.

 

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Dividends declared by the Company’s Board of Directors are payable on the outstanding shares of Class A common stock or both Class A common stock and Class B common stock, as determined by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors declares a dividend on both classes of stock, then the holder of each share of Class A common stock is entitled to receive a dividend that is 10% more than the dividend declared on each Class B common stock. Stock dividends declared can only be paid in shares of Class A common stock. The Company currently intends to retain all earnings to support its operations and future growth and, therefore, does not anticipate the declaration or payment of cash dividends on the common stock in the foreseeable future.

During the fourth quarter of 2008, 1,390,026 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock were converted into 1,390,026 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock in connection with a planned sale by a Class B shareholder in compliance with Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1.

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 Company’s Class A common stock, which was in addition to 538,500 shares available for repurchase under a previous authorization in November 2004. The Board granted management the authority to make purchases in any amount and manner legally permissible.

During the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company repurchased the following shares:

 

     Number of Shares
Repurchased
   Average Cost
Per Share

December 31, 2007

   6,538,500    $ 26.81

December 31, 2006

   450,000    $ 24.33

The aggregate cost of these shares is reflected as treasury stock in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had fully exhausted all of its existing authorizations to repurchase shares.

11. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAMS:

Employee Bonus Programs

The Company has performance-based bonus programs that include a majority of non-union employees. Approximately $8.2 million, $8.2 million and $4.5 million were awarded under the various performance-based bonus plans in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. In addition, the Company awarded $3.3 million of cash bonuses in connection with the ARG Sale in 2006.

Defined Contribution Plans

Under the Genesee & Wyoming Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan, the Company matches participants’ contributions up to 4% of the participants’ salary on a before-tax basis. The Company’s contributions to the plan in 2008, 2007 and 2006 were approximately $1.5 million, $1.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

The Company’s Canadian subsidiaries administer two different retirement benefit plans. Both plans qualify under Section 146 of the federal and provincial income tax law and are Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP). Under each plan employees may elect to contribute a certain percentage of their salary on a pre-tax basis. Under the first plan, the Company matches 5% of gross salary up to a maximum of $1,792 per year for transportation employees and $1,699 for all other employees. Under the second plan, the Company matches 50%

 

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of the employee’s contribution up to a maximum of 3% of gross salary. Company contributions were approximately $0.4 million, $0.4 million and $0.3 million for the years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The Company’s Australian subsidiary administers a statutory retirement benefit plan. The Company is required to contribute the equivalent of 9% of an employee’s base salary into a registered superannuation fund. Employees may elect to make additional contributions either before or after tax. Company contributions were approximately $1.7 million, $1.4 million and $0.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Defined Benefit Plans

The Company administers two noncontributory defined benefit plans for union and non-union employees of two United States subsidiaries. Benefits are determined based on a fixed amount per year of credited service. The Company’s funding policy requires contributions for pension benefits based on actuarial computations which reflect the long-term nature of the plans. The Company has met the minimum funding requirements according to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

On December 31, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132R” (SFAS 158). The standard, among other things, requires companies to:

 

   

Recognize the funded status of the Company’s defined benefit plans in its consolidated financial statements.

 

   

Recognize as a component of other comprehensive income the previously unrecognized prior service costs/credits, gains/losses, and transition assets/obligations that arise during the year and are not recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost.

During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company froze the pension benefits of substantially all remaining eligible employees (Frozen Participants). As a result, new employees will not be eligible to participate in the plan. Future earnings of the Frozen Participants will not be considered in the computation of benefits. As of December 31, 2008, the total recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet consisted of a $1.3 million pension liability and $0.8 million accumulated other comprehensive loss.

The Company provides health care and life insurance benefits for certain retired employees, including union employees of one of the Company’s United States subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2008, twenty-six employees were participating and thirteen current employees may become eligible for these benefits upon retirement if certain combinations of age and years of service are met. The Company funds the plan on a pay-as-you-go basis. As of December 31, 2008, the total recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet consisted of a $3.4 million postretirement benefit liability and less than $0.1 million accumulated other comprehensive loss.

12. INCOME TAXES:

The components of income before income taxes are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     2008    2007    2006

United States

   $ 72,495    $ 67,627    $ 49,471

Foreign

     25,147      23,168      226,485
                    

Total

   $ 97,642    $ 90,795    $ 275,956
                    

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Company files a consolidated United States federal income tax return that includes all of its United States subsidiaries. Each of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries files appropriate income tax returns in their respective countries. No provision is made for the United States income taxes applicable to the undistributed earnings of controlled foreign subsidiaries as it is the intention of management to fully utilize those earnings in the operations of foreign subsidiaries. If the earnings were to be distributed in the future, those distributions may be subject to United States income taxes (appropriately reduced by available foreign tax credits) and withholding taxes payable to various foreign countries, however, the amount of the tax and credits is not practically determinable. The amount of undistributed earnings of the Company’s controlled foreign subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008, was $47.0 million.

The components of the provision for income taxes are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     2008    2007    2006  

United States:

        

Current

        

Federal

   $ 5,010    $ 5,524    $ 10,099  

State

     2,588      1,455      1,119  

Deferred

        

Federal

     6,630      6,045      3,707  

State

     868      2,151      2,553  
                      
     15,097      15,175      17,478  

Foreign:

        

Current

     3,361      6,051      88,222  

Deferred

     6,452      322      (2,391 )
                      
     9,813      6,373      85,831  
                      

Total

   $ 24,909    $ 21,548    $ 103,309  
                      

The provision for income taxes differs from that which would be computed by applying the statutory United States federal income tax rate to income before taxes. The following is a summary of the effective tax rate reconciliation:

 

       2008     2007     2006  

Tax provision at statutory rate

     35.0 %   35.0 %   35.0 %

Effect of ARG Sale

     0.0 %   -4.1 %   4.5 %

Effect of foreign impairment charges

     0.0 %   0.0 %   0.8 %

Effect of foreign operations

     1.0 %   -1.9 %   -0.2 %

State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit

     1.7 %   2.2 %   0.7 %

Benefit of track maintenance credit

     -14.0 %   -8.6 %   -4.2 %

Other, net

     1.8 %   1.1 %   0.8 %
                    

Effective income tax rate

     25.5 %   23.7 %   37.4 %
                    

The track maintenance credit represents 50% of qualified spending during each year, subject to limitation based upon the number of track miles owned or leased at the end of the year, inclusive of those miles acquired during the year. Historically, the Company has incurred sufficient spending to meet the limitation.

 

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Deferred income taxes reflect the effect of temporary differences between the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities as well as available income tax credit and capital and net operating loss carryforwards. The components of net deferred income taxes are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     2008     2007  

Deferred tax assets:

    

Accruals and reserves not deducted for tax purposes until paid

   $ 3,766     $ 3,803  

Net operating loss carryforwards

     2,288       2,004  

Capital loss carryforward

     9,204       8,684  

Interest rate swaps

     4,671       —    

Nonshareholder contributions

     1,575       —    

Deferred compensation

     1,782       1,027  

Postretirement benefits

     1,281       965  

Share-based compensation

     3,345       2,417  

Track maintenance credit

     34,325       22,385  

Other

     750       1,196  
                
     62,987       42,481  

Valuation allowance

     (10,199 )     (8,089 )

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Property basis difference

     (269,858 )     (118,946 )
                

Net deferred tax liabilities

   $ (217,070 )   $ (84,554 )
                

In the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, these deferred benefits and deferred obligations are classified as current or non-current based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred tax obligation or benefit that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred tax assets related to carryforwards, are classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary difference as of the end of the year.

The Company generated $0.9 million and $11.8 million of state net operating loss carryforwards from its United States operations during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. It is anticipated that the Company will be able to fully utilize these losses prior to expiration. These state net operating losses were generated in multiple states and expire between 2022 and 2028.

As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company had track maintenance credit carryforwards of $34.3 million and $22.4 million, respectively. These tax credit carryforwards will expire between 2026 and 2028.

In 2008, the Company recorded valuation allowances of $1.2 million and $0.9 million in Australia and Canada, respectively, as a result of its assessment that it is more likely than not the underlying tax benefits will not be realized.

In 2007, the Company recorded a valuation allowance of $8.1 million, which represents amounts reserved for a capital loss carryforward of $23.1 million realized as a result of the worthless stock deduction incurred in connection with the liquidation of the Mexican operations. Due to the uncertainty of realizing future capital gains, we have reduced the related deferred tax benefit with a valuation allowance. As of December 31, 2008, $8.1 million of the related deferred tax benefit was subject to a full valuation allowance. The capital loss carryforward will expire in 2012.

 

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On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation (FIN) 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 a tax return. After considering the Company’s preexisting reserves for uncertain tax positions, the adoption of FIN 48 did not result in any material adjustments to the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the Company’s liability for uncertain tax positions is as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     2008     2007  

Balance at January 1

   $ 817     $ 1,030  

Increase for tax provisions related to prior years

     2,560       —    

Reductions for expiration of statute of limitations

     (377 )     (85 )

Increase for tax provisions related to the current year

     64       —    

Settlements

     (31 )     —    

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     (112 )     (128 )
                

Balance at December 31

   $ 2,921     $ 817  
                

At December 31, 2008, the Company’s liability for uncertain tax positions was $2.9 million, $0.8 million of which would reduce its effective tax rate if recognized. The Company anticipates the liability for uncertain tax positions will decrease by $2.7 million over the next twelve months.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in its provision for income taxes. During the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company recognized $1.0 million and less than $0.1 million, respectively, in interest and penalties. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company had $1.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of accrued interest related to such uncertain tax positions.

As of December 31, 2008, 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

   2005 – 2008

Australia

   2006 – 2008

Canada

   2003 – 2008

Mexico

   2003 – 2008

Netherlands

                2008

13. GRANTS FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES:

The Company periodically receives grants for the upgrade and construction of rail lines from federal, state and local agencies in the United States and Australia and provinces in Canada in which the Company operates. These grants typically reimburse the Company for 70% to 100% of the actual cost of specific projects. In total, the Company received $28.6 million, $34.3 million and $4.9 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, from such grant programs.

None of the Company’s grants represent a future liability of the Company unless the Company abandons the rehabilitated or new track structure within a specified period of time or fails to maintain the upgraded or new

track to certain standards and to make certain minimum capital improvements, as defined in the respective

 

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agreements. As the Company intends to comply with these agreements, the Company has recorded additions to road property and has deferred the amount of the grants. The amortization of deferred grants is a non-cash offset to depreciation expense over the useful lives of the related assets. During the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company recorded offsets to depreciation expense from grant amortization of $3.6 million, $2.6 million and $2.5 million, respectively.

14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

Litigation

Mexico

On June 25, 2007, FCCM formally notified the SCT of its intent to exercise its right to resign its 30-year concession from the Mexican government and to cease its rail operations. 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 amount of the sanctions has not been specified. 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 FCCM’s 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 SCT’s July 24, 2007 official letter and recognition of FCCM’s right to resign its concession. As a result of SCT’s answer in this proceeding, on June 26, 2008, FCCM filed a brief with new arguments. The SCT has also seized substantially all of FCCM’s operating assets in response to FCCM’s resignation of the concession. On September 19, 2007, FCCM filed a proceeding in the Second District Court in Merida (District Court) challenging the SCT’s seizure of its operating assets as unconstitutional. The District Court admitted the proceeding on October 11, 2007, and a hearing on the constitutional grounds for the seizure and the legality of the SCT’s actions took place on February 1, 2008. On April 30, 2008, the District Court issued a decision upholding the seizure without analyzing the merits of the case. On May 21, 2008, FCCM appealed the decision issued by the District Court, before the Circuit Court in Merida. The Circuit Court has not yet issued a decision. In addition to the allegations made by the SCT, FCCM is subject to claims and lawsuits from aggrieved customers as a result of its cessation of rail operations and the initiation of formal liquidation proceedings. The Company believes the SCT and customer actions are without merit and unlawful and the Company will continue to pursue appropriate legal remedies to support FCCM’s resignation of the concession and to recover FCCM’s operating assets. As of December 31, 2008, there was a net asset of $0.6 million remaining on the Company’s balance sheet associated with its Mexican operations.

M&B Arbitration

Meridian & Bigbee Railroad LLC (M&B), the Company’s subsidiary, CSX and Kansas City Southern (KCS) were parties to a Haulage Agreement governing the movement of traffic between Meridian, Mississippi and Burkeville, Alabama. On November 17, 2007, M&B initiated arbitration with the American Arbitration Association against CSX in an effort to collect on outstanding claims under the Haulage Agreement and on March 26, 2008, M&B filed an amended demand for arbitration to add KCS. To date, the Company’s total claims against CSX and KCS under the Haulage Agreement are approximately $6.8 million, which amount could change pending receipt of additional information and resolution of pending legal actions. On April 21, 2008, CSX filed an amended arbitration response, answering statement and counterclaim. On May 5, 2008, KCS filed an answering statement and counterclaims. On August 25, 2008, CSX and KCS alleged that they have suffered damages in an amount exceeding $3.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively, but yet to be finally determined. Arbitration is scheduled for June 2009. The Company plans to vigorously defend itself against the CSX and KCS

 

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claims, which it believes to be without merit, and will pursue insurance recovery as appropriate. Although the Company believes it is entitled to payment for its claims, and that it has meritorious defenses against the counter claims, arbitration is inherently uncertain, and it is possible that an unfavorable ruling could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity as of and for the period in which the determination occurs.

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 there are adequate provisions in the financial statements for any expected liabilities that may result from disposition of the pending lawsuits. Nevertheless, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. Were an unfavorable ruling to occur, there would exist the possibility of a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity as of and for the period in which the ruling occurs.

15. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS:

The Compensation Committee has discretion to determine grantees, grant dates, amounts of grants, vesting and expiration dates for the issuance of Class A common stock-based awards to the Company’s employees through the Company’s Amended and Restated 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Plan). The Plan allows for the issuance of up to 3,687,500 Class A common shares for awards, which include stock options, restricted stock, and restricted stock units and any other form of award established by the Compensation Committee, in each case consistent with the Plan’s purpose. Under the terms of the awards, equity grants for employees generally vest based on three years of continuous service and equity grants for directors vest over their respective remaining term as of the date of grant. Stock-based awards generally have 5-year contractual terms. Restricted stock units constitute a commitment to deliver stock at some future date as defined by the terms of the awards.

Any shares of Common Stock that were available for issuance under the predecessor plans (Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan, Stock Option Plan for Directors and Deferred Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors) as of May 12, 2004, plus any shares which expire, are terminated or cancelled, are deemed available for issuance or reissuance under the Plan. As of December 31, 2008, the Plan had a total of 4,786,304 shares authorized for issuance, including 1,098,804 shares under predecessor plans and 3,687,500 shares pursuant to the most recent Plan amendment. At December 31, 2008, there remained 1,999,978 Class A shares available for future issuance under the Plan.

A summary of option activity under the Plan as of December 31, 2008, and changes during the year then ended is presented below:

 

     Shares     Wtd. Avg.
Exercise
Price
   Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value (in
thousands)

Outstanding at beginning of year

   2,276,851     $ 22.93      

Granted

   398,239       38.84      

Exercised

   (611,764 )     14.20      

Expired

   (3,456 )     18.02      

Forfeited

   (36,966 )     33.81      
              

Outstanding at end of year

   2,022,904       28.52    2.7 Years    $ 8,036
                    

Exercisable at end of year

   1,203,909       24.22    2.0 Years    $ 7,832
                    

Weighted average fair value of options outstanding

     $ 8.26      

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the years 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $11.10, $8.62 and $8.67, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, was $14.5 million, $4.6 million and $15.9 million, respectively.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2008:

 

   

Options Outstanding

 

Options Exercisable

Exercise Price

 

Number of Options

 

Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Life

 

Weighted Average
Exercise Price

 

Number of Options

 

Weighted Average
Exercise Price

$       0   – $ 8.60

  15,189   1.1 Years   $2.75   15,189   $2.75

    8.60  –  12.90

  20,250   4.5 Years   9.73   20,250   9.73

  12.90  –  17.20

  424,974   1 Year    16.24   424,974   16.24

  17.20  –  21.50

  49,576   1 Year    19.15   49,576   19.15

  21.50  –  25.80

  1,500   1.9 Years   22.41   1,500   22.41

  25.80  –  30.09

  397,879   2.5 Years   29.19   255,708   29.26

  30.09  –  34.39

  728,624   3.0 Years   31.56   436,712   31.02

  34.39  –  38.69

  24,604   4.1 Years   34.89   —     —  

  38.69  –  42.99

  360,308   4.4 Years   39.12   —     —  
             

         0  –  42.99

  2,022,904   2.7 Years   $28.52   1,203,909   $24.22
             

The Company determines the fair value of each option award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. There are six input variables to the Black-Scholes model: stock price, strike price, volatility, term, risk free interest rate and dividend yield. Both the stock price and strike price inputs are the closing stock price on the date of grant. The assumption for expected future volatility is based on an analysis of historical volatility of the Company’s Class A common stock and adjusted to reflect future expectations. The expected term of options is derived from the vesting period of the award, as well as historical exercise data, and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The expected risk-free rate is calculated using the United States Treasury yield curve over the expected term of the option. The expected dividend yield is 0% for all periods presented, based upon the Company’s historical practice of not paying cash dividends on its common stock. The Company uses historical data, as well as management’s current expectations, to estimate forfeitures.

The following weighted-average assumptions were used to estimate the grant date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model:

 

       2008     2007     2006  

Risk-Free interest rate

     2.52 %   4.82 %   4.95 %

Expected dividend yield

     0 %   0 %   0 %

Expected term (in years)

     3.40     3.30     3.00  

Expected volatility

     35 %   28 %   34 %

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested stock options as of December 31, 2008, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2008, is presented below:

 

Non-vested Shares

   Shares     Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair value

Non-vested at January 1, 2008

   913,930     $ 8.01

Granted

   398,239       11.10

Vested

   (456,208 )     7.43

Forfeited

   (36,966 )     9.49
        

Non-vested at December 31, 2008

   818,995     $ 9.77
        

During the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company voluntarily initiated and completed a comprehensive internal review of its historical stock option practices for stock option grants made during the period from its initial public offering on June 24, 1996, through the third quarter of 2006. The review found no evidence of any intentional wrongdoing by the Company’s executive officers, members of the Company’s Board of Directors or any other employees. The internal review identified certain administrative and procedural deficiencies that resulted in unintentional accounting errors. These errors principally related to situations where, as of the grant date approved by the Compensation Committee, an aggregate number of stock options to be granted were approved and the exercise price for the stock options was established, but the allocation of those stock options to certain individual employee recipients was not finalized until a later date. As a result, the Company determined that later measurement dates for accounting purposes for those individuals’ grants should have been used. As a result, the Company recorded non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $1.2 million ($0.5 million after-tax) in the fourth quarter of 2006, with $1.1 million related to grants to the general population of employees, none of whom were executive officers at the time of grant. Under the direction of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, the results of the internal review were evaluated by outside counsel, who concurred with the findings.

The Company determines fair value of its restricted stock and restricted stock units based on the closing stock price on the date of grant. The following table summarizes the Company’s restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2008:

 

     Number of
Shares
    Weighted-Average
Fair Value Granted
During Year

Non-vested at January 1, 2008

   120,834     $ 28.84

Granted

   49,769       39.14

Vested

   (62,992 )     26.77

Forfeited

   (3,332 )     33.30
        

Non-vested at December 31, 2008

   104,279     $ 34.86
        

The weighted-average grant date fair value of restricted stock and restricted stock units during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $39.14, $32.07 and $29.80, respectively. The total intrinsic value of restricted stock that vested during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, was $2.5 million, $1.8 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, compensation cost from equity awards was $5.7 million. The total compensation cost related to non-vested awards not yet recognized was $7.8 million as of December 31, 2008, which will be recognized over the next three years with a weighted-average period of one year. The total income

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

tax benefit recognized in the consolidated income statement for equity awards was $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

For the year ended December 31, 2007, compensation cost from equity awards was $5.4 million. The total income tax benefit recognized in the consolidated income statement for equity awards was $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

For the year ended December 31, 2006, compensation cost from equity awards was $8.5 million. Of the $8.5 million compensation cost, $2.7 million was attributable to stock option awards that were part of the transaction bonuses related to the ARG Sale in the quarter ended June 30, 2006, and $1.2 million was attributable to the unintentional accounting errors associated with the use of incorrect measurement dates for certain grants, as discussed above. The total income tax benefit recognized in the consolidated income statement from equity awards was $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2006.

The total tax benefit realized from the exercise of equity awards was $3.1 million, $1.9 million and $4.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The Company has reserved 1,265,625 shares of Class A common stock that the Company may sell to its full-time employees under its Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) at 90% of the stock’s market price at date of purchase. At December 31, 2008, 125,244 shares had been purchased under this plan. In accordance with SFAS 123R, the Company recorded compensation expense for the 10% purchase discount of less than $0.1 million in each if the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.

16. GEOGRAPHIC AREA INFORMATION:

The Company has various operating regions that manage its various railroad lines. However, each region has similar characteristics so they have been aggregated into one segment. Long-lived assets include property and equipment, intangible assets and other assets and are attributed to countries based on physical location. Summarized financial information for each geographic area is as follows (dollars in thousands):

Geographic Data

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2008     2007     2006  

Operating revenues:

               

United States

   $ 422,883    70.2 %   $ 364,413    70.6 %   $ 348,608    77.4 %

Australia

     114,161    19.0 %     93,287    18.1 %     46,520    10.3 %

Canada

     54,835    9.1 %     58,467    11.3 %     55,555    12.3 %

Netherlands

     10,105    1.7 %     —      0.0 %     —      0.0 %
                                       

Total operating revenues

   $ 601,984    100.0 %   $ 516,167    100.0 %   $ 450,683    100.0 %
                                       

 

     December 31,  
     2008     2007  

Long-lived assets located in:

          

United States

   $ 1,094,376    88.3 %   $ 684,171    83.0 %

Canada

     73,086    5.9 %     86,800    10.5 %

Australia

     61,714    5.0 %     53,402    6.5 %

Netherlands

     9,839    0.8 %     —      0.0 %
                          

Total long-lived assets

   $ 1,239,015    100.0 %   $ 824,373    100.0 %
                          

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

17. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited):

Quarterly Results

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     First
Quarter
    Second
Quarter
    Third
Quarter
    Fourth
Quarter
 

2008

        

Operating revenues

   $ 140,681     $ 152,715     $ 159,432     $ 149,156  

Income from operations

     21,306       29,675       34,566       30,384  

Income from continuing operations

     11,236       16,126       20,067       25,303  

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (839 )     (735 )     1,087       (14 )

Net income

     10,397       15,391       21,154       25,289  

Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ 0.31     $ 0.44     $ 0.55     $ 0.70  

Diluted (loss) income per common share from discontinued operations

     (0.02 )     (0.02 )     0.03       —    
                                

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.29     $ 0.42     $ 0.58     $ 0.70  

2007

        

Operating revenues

   $ 125,107     $ 125,294     $ 131,224     $ 134,542  

Income from operations

     23,386       21,314       29,661       22,467  

Income from continuing operations

     16,083       15,601       23,039       14,524  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (1,763 )     (4,858 )     (6,873 )     (578 )

Net income

     14,320       10,743       16,166       13,946  

Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ 0.38     $ 0.39     $ 0.60     $ 0.40  

Diluted loss per common share from discontinued operations

     (0.04 )     (0.12 )     (0.18 )     (0.02 )
                                

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.34     $ 0.27     $ 0.42     $ 0.39  

The first quarter of 2008 included: (i) $1.8 million after-tax loss as a result of severe winter weather in Canada and Illinois, (ii) $0.6 million after-tax impact from acquisition-related expenses, (iii) $0.5 million after-tax legal settlement expense from a claim in the 1990s, and (iv) $0.3 million after-tax gains from the sale of assets.

The second quarter of 2008 included: (i) $1.3 million after-tax gains from the sale of assets and (ii) $0.3 million after tax gain from an insurance recovery.

The third quarter of 2008 included: (i) $0.8 million after-tax gains from the sale of assets and (ii) $0.5 million net tax benefit associated with the filing of the Company’s 2007 United States federal income tax return.

The fourth quarter of 2008 included: (i) $2.7 million after-tax gains from the sale of assets, (ii) $1.3 million after-tax charge from acquisition-related expenses, (iii) $6.5 million tax benefit for the retroactive impact of the extension of the United States short line tax credit, and (iv) $2.8 million additional net tax benefit, with $4.8 million benefit related to the impact of acquisitions on the Company’s consolidated deferred tax position, partially offset by deferred tax valuation allowances of $2.0 million in Canada and Australia.

The first quarter of 2007 included a $0.4 million after-tax expense as a result of a tunnel fire in Oregon.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The second quarter of 2007 included: (i) $0.2 million after-tax gains from the sale of assets and (ii) $0.5 million net tax benefit associated with the ARG Sale.

The third quarter of 2007 included: (i) $3.3 million after-tax gains from the sale of assets and (ii) $3.2 million net tax benefit associated with the ARG Sale.

The fourth quarter of 2007 included: (i) $0.6 million net tax benefit due to a Canadian tax rate change, (ii) $0.5 million after-tax gains from the sale of assets, and (iii) $0.4 million after-tax impact from acquisition-related expenses.

18. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:

Comprehensive income is the total of net income and all other non-owner changes in equity. The following table sets forth the Company’s comprehensive income, net of tax, for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):

 

    2008     2007   2006  

Net Income

  $ 72,231     $ 55,175   $ 134,003  

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

     

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    (31,091 )     15,178     1,503  

Sale of ARG investment (recognized gain from foreign currency translation)

    —         —       (22,755 )

Impairment of Mexico investment (recognized loss from foreign currency translation)

    —         5,426     —    

Net unrealized (loss) income on qualifying cash flow hedges, net of tax (benefit) provision of ($4,671), $19 and $60, respectively

    (8,214 )     43     120  

Net unrealized income on qualifying cash flow hedges of Australian Railroad Group, net of tax provision of $710

    —         —       1,656  

Changes in pension and other postretirement benefit, net of tax (benefit) provision of ($221), $324 and ($28), respectively

    (388 )     602     (52 )
                     

Comprehensive income

  $ 32,538     $ 76,424   $ 114,475  
                     

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, included in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively (dollars in thousands):

 

     Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustment
    Defined Benefit
Plans
    Net
Unrealized
Losses on
Cash Flow
Hedges
    Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income
 

Balances, December 31, 2007

   $ 25,741     $ (81 )   $ —       $ 25,660  

Current period change

     (31,091 )     (388 )     (8,214 )     (39,693 )
                                

Balances, December 31, 2008

   $ (5,350 )   $ (469 )   $ (8,214 )   $ (14,033 )
                                

The change in the foreign currency translation adjustment for the year ended December 31, 2008, related to the Company’s operations with a functional currency in Australian dollars, Canadian dollars and Euros.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

19. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

Interest and Taxes Paid

 

     2008    2007    2006

Cash paid during the year for (dollars in thousands):

        

Interest paid, net

   $ 20,680    $ 15,142    $ 17,397

Income taxes

   $ 11,256    $ 104,491    $ 6,012

Income taxes paid in 2007 included Australian taxes for the ARG Sale totaling $95.6 million.

Significant Non-Cash Investing Activities

The Company had outstanding grant receivables from governmental agencies for capital expenditures of $9.2 million and $11.3 million as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. At December 31, 2008, approximately $12.5 million of purchases of property and equipment had not been paid and, accordingly, were accrued in accounts payable in the normal course of business.

20. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

In October 2005, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, 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 Tonala 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 exercise its right to resign its 30-year concession from the Mexican government and to cease its rail operations. The decision to cease FCCM’s operations was made on June 22, 2007, and was due to the failure of the Mexican government to fulfill their obligation to fund the Chiapas reconstruction. Without reconstruction of the hurricane-damaged line, FCCM was not a viable business. During the third quarter of 2007, FCCM ceased its operations and initiated formal liquidation proceedings. 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 FCCM’s operating assets in response to the resignation.

As a result of these and other actions, the Company recorded a pre-tax loss in the year-ended December 31, 2007, of $25.4 million, including non-cash charges of $15.0 million. The non-cash charges included $8.9 million related to the write-down of FCCM’s operating assets and a $5.5 million loss from the cumulative foreign currency translation into United States dollars of the original investment in Mexico and FCCM’s reported earnings since 1999. This pre-tax loss was partially offset by a United States tax benefit of $11.3 million, primarily related to worthless stock and bad debt deductions to be claimed in the Company’s consolidated income tax return in the United States. The Company believes the SCT’s actions were unlawful and is pursuing appropriate legal remedies to recover its operating assets. See Note 14 for additional information regarding these actions and legal remedies. As of December 31, 2008, there was a net asset of $0.6 million remaining on the Company’s balance sheet associated with its Mexican operations.

In November 2008, the Company entered into an amended agreement to sell 100% of the share capital of FCCM to Viablis, S.A. de C.V. (Viablis) for a sale price of approximately $2.4 million. At that time, Viablis paid a deposit of $0.5 million on the purchase price of FCCM subject to certain conditions of the sale contract. Completion of the sale transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, as well as the final negotiation with Viablis and the SCT of a mutually acceptable transfer of the concession granted by the Mexican government to Viablis and related undertakings. It is not yet possible to determine when or if these closing conditions will be satisfied.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Company’s Mexican operations described above are presented as discontinued operations and its operations are, therefore, excluded from continuing operations in accordance with 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):

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2008     2007     2006  

Operating Revenues

   $ —       $ 14,621     $ 28,163  
                        

Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes

     (1,638 )     (25,406 )     (37,587 )

Tax (benefit) provision

     (1,137 )     (11,334 )     1,057  
                        

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ (501 )   $ (14,072 )   $ (38,644 )
                        

The benefit for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2008, was primarily due to tax deductions identified in conjunction with the filing of the Company’s 2007 United States federal income tax return. These tax deductions represented $0.9 million in deferred income tax assets, which were previously fully offset by a valuation allowance. Accordingly, the Company reduced the related valuation allowance during the period.

As a result of ceasing its Mexican rail operations and initiating formal liquidation proceedings during 2007, the Company recorded a net United States tax benefit of $11.3 million within loss from discontinued operations in the year ended December 31, 2007. As of December 31, 2008, $8.1 million of the related deferred tax benefit was subject to a full valuation allowance.

For the year ended December 31, 2007, in connection with the shut down of FCCM’s rail operations, the Company recorded $5.8 million of restructuring and other related charges within loss from discontinued operations. These restructuring and other related charges consisted of $1.2 million related to early lease termination fees, $3.2 million for severance and termination benefits in accordance with SFAS No. 112 “Employers Accounting for Postemployment Benefits” (SFAS 112), and $1.4 million of other expenses directly related to the liquidation. The loss from discontinued operations in the year ended December 31, 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.

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Having met the criteria outlined in SFAS 144, the assets and liabilities of FCCM and the Company’s Mexican subsidiary, GW Servicios S.A. (Servicios), were classified as discontinued operations on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 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):

 

     December 31,
2008
   December 31,
2007

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 641    $ 217

Accounts receivable, net

     —        815

Prepaid expenses and other

     994      1,053

Property and equipment, net

     41      128
             

Current assets of discontinued operations

   $ 1,676    $ 2,213
             

Accounts payable

   $ 227    $ 651

Accrued expenses

     894      3,223

Other liabilities

     —        45
             

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

   $ 1,121    $ 3,919
             

On June 8, 2007, the Company entered into an assignment agreement with International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Nederlandse Financierings–Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (FMO), pursuant to which, among other things, (i) IFC and FMO demanded payment of, and the Company paid, approximately $7.0 million due under a guarantee agreement related to certain amended loan agreements and promissory notes of the Company’s 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 year ended December 31, 2007.

Also on June 8, 2007, the Company, IFC and 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. 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 Company’s outstanding debt obligations.

21. 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. On February 12, 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 157-2 which delayed the effective date of SFAS 157 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). This FSP partially defers the effective date of SFAS 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands the related disclosure requirements. The Company adopted SFAS 157 on January 1, 2008, and it did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. However, the Company has not applied the provisions

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

of the standard to its property and equipment, goodwill and certain other assets, which are measured at fair value for impairment assessment, nor to any business combinations. The Company will apply the provisions of the standard to these assets and liabilities beginning January 1, 2009, as required by FSP FAS 157-2. The adoption of SFAS 157 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations” (SFAS 141R). SFAS 141R retains the fundamental requirements of the original pronouncement requiring that the acquisition method be used for all business combinations. SFAS 141R defines the acquirer, establishes the acquisition date and requires the acquirer to recognize the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest at their fair values as of the acquisition date. SFAS 141R also requires acquisition-related costs to be expensed as incurred and changes in the amount of acquired tax attributes to be included in the Company’s results of operations. SFAS 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption of SFAS 141R is prohibited. The provisions of SFAS 141R are effective for the Company for all business combinations with an acquisition date on or after January 1, 2009.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements (an amendment of ARB No. 51)” (SFAS 160). SFAS 160 requires that noncontrolling (minority) interests are reported as a component of equity, that net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest is separately identified in the income statement, that changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling interest are accounted for as equity transactions, and that any retained noncontrolling equity investment upon the deconsolidation of a subsidiary is initially measured at fair value. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and shall be applied prospectively. However, the presentation and disclosure requirements of SFAS 160 shall be applied retrospectively for all periods presented. The Company will apply the provisions of the standard to its minority interest prospectively beginning January 1, 2009, and apply the presentation and disclosure requirements retrospective as of that date. The Company does not expect the application of the retrospective requirements of this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment to FASB Statement No. 133” (SFAS 161). SFAS 161 expands disclosure about an entity’s derivative instruments and hedging activities, but does not change the scope of SFAS 133. SFAS 161 requires increased qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies of using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk related contingent features in derivative agreements. SFAS 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early adoption permitted. Entities are encouraged, but not required, to provide comparative disclosures for earlier periods. The adoption of SFAS 161 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP SFAS No. 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets” (FSP SFAS 142-3). FSP SFAS 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS 142. FSP SFAS 142-3 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of FSP SFAS 142-3 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (SFAS 162), which has been established by the FASB as a framework for entities to identify the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the preparation of

 

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GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with United States GAAP. SFAS 162 is not expected to result in a change in current practices. SFAS 162 is effective January 15, 2009. The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 162 to impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2008, the FASB issued FSP EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities” (FSP EITF 03-6-1), which addresses whether unvested instruments granted in share-based payment transactions that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents are participating securities subject to the two-class method of computing earnings per share under SFAS No. 128, “Earnings Per Share.” FSP EITF 03-6-1 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those years.

In September 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-5, “Disclosures about Credit Derivatives and Certain Guarantees: An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 and FASB Interpretation No. 45; and Clarification of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 161” (FSP 133-1 and FIN 45-5), which is effective for reporting periods ending after November 15, 2008. This FSP amends FASB Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, to require disclosures by sellers of credit derivatives, including credit derivatives embedded in a hybrid instrument. This FSP also amends FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, to require an additional disclosure about the current status of the payment/performance risk of a guarantee. Further, this FSP clarifies the Board’s intent about the effective date of FASB Statement No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. The Company adopted FSP 133-1 and FIN 45-5 on December 31, 2008, and it did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 132R-1, “Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets” (FAS 132R-1), which is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. Upon initial application, the provisions of this FSP are not required for earlier periods that are presented for comparative purposes. This FSP provides guidance on an employer’s disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan. The Company does not expect the adoption of FSP 132R-1 to have a material impact our consolidated financial statements.

 

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Australian Railroad Group

Pty Ltd

(Incorporated in Australia)

ABN 68 080 579 308

Financial Report

for the five month period ended May 31, 2006 and the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004

 

 

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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page

Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd and Subsidiaries:

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-49

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of May 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005

   F-50

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Five Month Period Ended May  31, 2006 and for the Years Ended December 31, 2005 and 2004

   F-51

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the Five Month Period Ended May 31, 2006 and for the Years Ended December 31, 2005 and 2004

   F-52

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Five Month Period Ended May  31, 2006 and for the Years Ended December 31, 2005 and 2004

   F-53

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-54

 

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LOGO

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd and subsidiaries as of May 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive (loss) income and cash flows for the five month period ended May 31, 2006, and the two years ended December 31, 2005, and 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd and subsidiaries at May 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for the five month period ended May 31, 2006, and the two years ended December 31, 2005, and 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Ernst & Young

Perth, Western Australia

25 January 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liability limited by the Accountants Scheme, approved

under the Professional Standards Act 1994 (NSW).       

 

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AUSTRALIAN RAILROAD GROUP PTY LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AT MAY 31, 2006 and DECEMBER 31, 2005

 

     May 31,
2006
   December 31,
2005
     $000 USD    $000 USD

ASSETS

     

Current assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 20,890    $ 12,515

Accounts receivable, net

     45,769      54,257

Materials and supplies

     13,901      11,226

Prepaid expenses and other

     1,235      2,323

Deferred income tax assets

     4,847      4,918
             

Total current assets

     86,642      85,239
             

Investments

     —        5,768

Property and equipment, net

     560,670      551,849

Deferred income tax assets

     60,827      62,916

Other assets, net

     1,574      2,031
             

Total assets

   $ 709,713    $ 707,803
             

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     

Current liabilities

     

Accounts payable

   $ 28,733    $ 25,473

Accrued expenses

     23,263      25,651

Provision for employee entitlements

     8,194      7,239

Current income tax liabilities

     —        10

Deferred income tax liabilities

     1,769      2,523
             

Total current liabilities

     61,959      60,896
             

Long-term debt

     376,300      359,415

Other long-term liabilities

     13,237      11,121

Deferred income tax liabilities

     13,549      22,076

Fair value of interest rate swaps

     2,447      4,735

Commitments and contingencies

     —        —  
             

Total non-current liabilities

     405,533      397,347
             

Redeemable preferred stock of the stockholders, 11,704,462 shares authorized, issued and outstanding at May 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005

     16,251      15,838
             

Stockholders’ equity

     

Common stock, no par value, 92,000,002 shares authorized, issued and outstanding at May 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005

     79,029      79,029

Retained earnings

     97,557      112,807

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     49,384      41,886
             

Total stockholders’ equity

     225,970      233,722
             

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 709,713    $ 707,803
             

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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AUSTRALIAN RAILROAD GROUP PTY LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FIVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED MAY 31, 2006 and YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005 and 2004

 

     May 31,
2006
    December 31,
2005
    December 31,
2004
 
     $000 USD     $000 USD     $000 USD  

Operating Revenues

   $ 147,044     $ 344,546     $ 333,647  

Operating Expenses

      

Transportation

     56,914       136,002       125,279  

Maintenance of ways and structures

     17,691       41,230       39,097  

Maintenance of equipment

     11,700       29,312       32,849  

General and administrative

     25,094       50,046       41,467  

Net loss (gain) on sale and impairment of assets

     25,732       (229 )     (336 )

Depreciation and amortization

     14,584       32,127       27,346  
                        

Total operating expenses

     151,715       288,488       265,702  
                        

(Loss) Income from Operations

     (4,671 )     56,058       67,945  

Investment loss—APTC

     (5,823 )     —         —    

Interest income

     218       600       1,227  

Interest expense

     (11,477 )     (29,430 )     (28,438 )
                        

(Loss) Income before Income Taxes

     (21,753 )     27,228       40,734  

Benefit from (provision) for income taxes

     6,503       (8,292 )     (12,264 )
                        

Net (Loss) Income

   $ (15,250 )   $ 18,936     $ 28,470  
                        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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AUSTRALIAN RAILROAD GROUP PTY LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

$000 USD

 

     Common
Stock
   Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 

Balance, December 31, 2003

   $ 79,029    $ 65,401     $ 44,120     $ 188,550  

Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

         

Net income

     —        28,470       —         28,470  

Currency translation adjustment

     —        —         10,014       10,014  

Fair market value adjustments of cash flow hedges

     —        —         (459 )     (459 )
               

Comprehensive income

            38,025  
                               

Balance, December 31, 2004

   $ 79,029    $ 93,871     $ 53,675     $ 226,575  

Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

         

Net income

     —        18,936       —         18,936  

Currency translation adjustment

     —        —         (15,326 )     (15,326 )

Fair market value adjustments of cash flow hedges

     —        —         3,537       3,537  
               

Comprehensive income

            7,147  
                               

Balance, December 31, 2005

   $ 79,029    $ 112,807     $ 41,886     $ 233,722  

Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

         

Net loss

     —        (15,250 )     —         (15,250 )

Currency translation adjustment

     —        —         5,897       5,897  

Fair market value adjustments of cash flow hedges

     —        —         1,601       1,601  
               

Comprehensive loss

            (7,752 )
                               

Balance, May 31, 2006

   $ 79,029    $ 97,557     $ 49,384     $ 225,970  
                               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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AUSTRALIAN RAILROAD GROUP PTY LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FIVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED MAY 31, 2006 and YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005 and 2004

 

     May 31,
2006
    December 31,
2005
    December 31,
2004
 
     $000 USD     $000 USD     $000 USD  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

      

Net (loss) income

   $ (15,250 )   $ 18,936     $ 28,470  

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     14,584       32,127       27,346  

Net loss (gain) on sale and impairment of assets

     25,732       (229 )     (336 )

Investment loss—APTC

     5,823       —         —    

Deferred income taxes

     (5,889 )     9,726       11,847  

Amortization and write off of deferred finance charges

     39       197       451  

Changes in assets and liabilities

      

Accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other

     11,316       (8,004 )     (2,310 )

Materials and supplies

     (2,340 )     (386 )     (1,057 )

Accounts payable, provisions, accrued expenses and other

     1,376       17,868       7,745  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     35,391       70,235       72,156  
                        

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

      

Purchase of property and equipment

     (35,430 )     (80,038 )     (69,519 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

     710       2,147       2,570  
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (34,720 )     (77,891 )     (66,949 )
                        

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

      

Repayment of subordinated stockholders’ loans

     —         —         (10,710 )

Proceeds from debt

     7,272       7,665       —    

Repayments of debt

     —         (7,424 )     —    
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     7,272       241       (10,710 )
                        

Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     7,943       (7,415 )     (5,503 )

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     432       (1,287 )     102  

Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of year

     12,515       21,217       26,618  
                        

Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of year

   $ 20,890     $ 12,515     $ 21,217  
                        

Cash paid (received) during year for:

      

Interest

   $ 11,260     $ 28,834     $ 29,512  
                        

Income taxes

     86       (2,315 )     (4,275 )
                        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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AUSTRALIAN RAILROAD GROUP PTY LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1 Principal activities

Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd (the Company) was jointly owned by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) and Wesfarmers Ltd (Wesfarmers) with each partner holding a 50% interest. Effective June 1, 2006, GWI and Wesfarmers completed the sale of the Western Australia operations and certain other assets of the Company to Queensland Rail and Babcock & Brown Limited (Western ARG Sale). Simultaneous with the Western ARG Sale, GWI purchased Wesfarmers’ 50-percent ownership of the remaining ARG operations, which are principally located in South Australia. This business, which is based in Adelaide, South Australia, was renamed Genesee & Wyoming Australia Pty Ltd (GWA), and is a 100-percent owned subsidiary of GWI.

The principal activity of the Company during the period was to provide rail freight transport and ancillary logistics services to the mining and agricultural industries and to the general freight market within Western Australia and South Australia. There was no significant change in the nature of these activities during the five month period ended May 31, 2006 and the two years ended December 31, 2005 other than the sales transactions discussed above.

 

2 Summary of significant accounting policies

Basis of Preparation

The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.

Revenue Recognition

Due to the relatively short length of haul, revenues are estimated and recognized as shipments initially move onto the tracks. Other service revenues are recognized as such services are provided.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Materials and Supplies

Materials and supplies consist of purchased items for improvement and maintenance of railroad property and equipment, and are stated at the lower of cost or market value, computed on a first-in-first-out basis.

Investments

Investments comprise the Company’s interest in Asia Pacific Transport Consortium (APTC). The Company has a 2% investment in this privately-held consortium that owns a concession to operate the Tarcoola to Darwin rail line in South Australia and the Northern Territory. This investment totalled $5.8 million as of May 31, 2006. In March 2006, Freightlink Pty Ltd (Freightlink), the operating company for the consortium, advised the Company that it did not have sufficient cash flows to meet its current operating needs and was pursuing

 

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AUSTRALIAN RAILROAD GROUP PTY LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

additional financing. On May 3, 2006, Freightlink announced it was seeking a strategic equity partner; however, Freightlink was not successful in attaining the needed financing as of May 31, 2006. Accordingly, the Company determined during the second quarter of 2006 that the $5.8 million investment had suffered an other than temporary decline in value. Based on the Company’s assessment of the fair value of the investment as of May 31, 2006, the Company recorded a non-cash investment loss of $5.8 million ($4.1 million net of tax). See Note 11 for additional information regarding this investment.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are carried at historical cost. Acquired railroad property is recorded at the purchased cost. Major renewals or betterments are capitalized while routine maintenance and repairs are charged to expenses when incurred. Gains or losses on sales or other dispositions are credited or charged to operating expenses upon disposition. Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the useful lives of the railroad property (20-40 years), equipment (3-20 years) and lease premium (49 years). The Company continually evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate that its long-lived assets may not be recoverable. When factors indicate that assets should be evaluated for possible impairment, the Company uses an estimate of the related undiscounted future cash flows over the remaining lives of assets in measuring whether or not impairment has occurred.

As described in Note 1, simultaneous with the Western ARG Sale, GWI purchased Wesfarmers’ 50-percent ownership of the remaining ARG operations, which are principally located in South Australia, for approximately $15.1 million. The negotiated purchase price for Wesfarmers’ 50-percent share was lower than 50-percent of the historical book value of these assets. As a result of these negotiations, the Company had an indication that these assets were impaired. Therefore, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment loss of $25.6 million ($18.0 million net of tax) on these assets as of May 31, 2006.

Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument held by the Company:

Current assets and current liabilities: The carrying value approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these items.

Long-term debt: The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is based on secondary market indicators. Since the Company’s debt is not quoted, estimates are based on each obligation’s characteristics, including remaining maturities, interest rate, credit rating, collateral, amortization schedule and liquidity. The carrying amount approximates fair value.

Interest rate swaps: The Company uses derivative financial instruments in the form of interest rate swaps to hedge its risks associated with interest rate fluctuations. The carrying amount approximates fair value. The fair value of the interest rate swap contracts is the estimated amount the Company would pay to terminate the swaps at the balance sheet date, taking into account current interest rate and the creditworthiness of the swap counterparties.

Income Taxes

Current tax assets and liabilities for the current and prior periods are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities. The tax rates and tax laws used to compute the amounts are those in effect at the balance sheet date.

 

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AUSTRALIAN RAILROAD GROUP PTY LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Deferred income taxes reflect the net income tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. In our consolidated balance sheets, these deferred benefits and deferred obligations are classified as current or non-current based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred tax obligation or benefit not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred tax assets related to carry-forwards, are classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary difference as of the end of the year.

Employee Benefits

The Company provides for benefits accruing to employees in respect of wages and salaries, annual leave and long service leave when it is probable that payment will be required and the amounts can be reliably estimated.

Contributions to the defined contribution employee benefit plans are expensed when incurred.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivatives Instruments and Hedging Activities” requires all contracts that meet the definition of a derivative to be recognized on the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities and recorded at fair value. Gains or losses arising from remeasuring derivatives to fair value each period are to be accounted for either in the consolidated statement of operations or in other comprehensive income, depending on the use of the derivative and whether it qualifies for hedge accounting. The key criterion that must be met in order to qualify for hedge accounting is that the derivative must be highly effective in offsetting the change in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. See footnote 6 to the consolidated financial statements for a full description of ARG’s hedging activities and related accounting policies.

Management Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates using management judgement are made in the areas of recoverability and useful lives of assets, as well as liabilities for casualty claims and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of the Company is the Australian dollar. Foreign currency transactions are translated at the applicable rates of exchange prevailing at the transaction dates. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are translated at the applicable rates of exchange prevailing at that date. All exchange gains and losses are reflected in the consolidated statement of operations. Cumulative translation gains or losses arising from translating the Australian dollar denominated financial statements into US dollars are reported in other comprehensive income as a component of stockholders’ equity.

Leased Assets

Leases are classified at their inception as either operating or capital leases based on the economic substance of the agreement so as to reflect the risks and benefits of ownership. Operating leased assets are not capitalized and rental payments are charged against operating profits in the period in which they are incurred.

 

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AUSTRALIAN RAILROAD GROUP PTY LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

3 Property and Equipment

 

     May 31,
2006
    December 31,
2005
 
     $000 USD     $000 USD  

Major classifications of property and equipment are as follows:

    

Land and buildings

   $ 36,201     $ 30,996  

Track improvements

     257,741       237,771  

Equipment and other

     237,534       246,800  

Lease premium

     153,893       149,983  
                
     685,369       665,550  

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (124,699 )     (113,701 )
                
   $ 560,670     $ 551,849  
                

The lease premium represents the cost paid to the Government of Western Australia as part of the purchase price for Westrail Freight, for access to the track infrastructure network for a period of 49 years.

 

4 Other Assets

 

     May 31,
2006
    December 31,
2005
 
     $000 USD     $000 USD  

Major classifications of other assets are as follows:

    

Loan receivable from joint venture entity

   $ —       $ 296  

Deferred finance costs

     2,802       2,731  

Less: Accumulated amortization

     (1,228 )     (996 )
                
   $ 1,574     $ 2,031  
                

Deferred financing costs are amortized over terms of the related debt using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. In connection with the write-down of the investment in APTC (see footnote 2), the loan of $463 thousand ($324 thousand net of tax) receivable from the joint venture was written off.

 

5 Long-Term Debt

 

     May 31,
2006
   December 31,
2005
     $000 USD    $000 USD

Current—interest bearing

   $ —      $ —  

Non-current—interest bearing

     376,300      359,415
             

Total long-term debt

   $ 376,300    $ 359,415
             

Credit facilities

Total facility commenced in December 2003 and comprises a 5 year tranche of $90.3 million, a 5 year revolver tranche of $150.5 million, a 7 year tranche of $150.5 million and a $7.5 million working capital tranche. Unused facilities at May 31, 2006 amount to $22.6 million. The loans are non amortizing but prepayable at the

 

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AUSTRALIAN RAILROAD GROUP PTY LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

discretion of Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd. The minimum future repayments are set out in the schedule below. Loan covenants require the company to adhere to minimum interest cover and debt ratios. All loan covenants have been complied with.

The interest rate is derived from the bank bill bid rate. The weighted average interest rate on secured loans during the five months ended May 31, 2006 and year ended December 31, 2005 was 6.61% and excludes any interest hedging adjustments. Including the effect of the interest rate swaps the effective interest rate was 7.48% for the five months ended May 31, 2006 and 7.82% for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Schedule of Future Minimum Payments

The following is a summary of the scheduled maturities of long-term debt:

 

2007

   $ —      $ —  

2008

     225,780      212,715

2009

     —        —  

2010

     150,520      146,700

2011

     —        —  

Thereafter

     —        —  
             
   $ 376,300    $ 359,415
             

 

6 Financial Risk Management

(a) Interest rate risk

The Company uses derivative financial instruments principally to manage the risk that changes in interest rates will affect the amount of its future interest payments. Interest rate swap contracts are used to adjust the proportion of total debt that is subject to variable interest rates. Under an interest rate swap contract, the Company agrees to pay an amount equal to a specified fixed-rate of interest times a notional principal amount, and to receive in return an amount equal to a specified variable-rate of interest times the same notional amount.

For interest rate swap contracts under which the Company agrees to pay fixed-rates of interest, these contracts are considered to be a cash flow hedge against changes in the amount of future cash flows associated with the Company’s interest payments of variable-rate debt obligations. Accordingly, the interest rate swap contracts are reflected at fair value in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and the related gains or losses on these contracts are deferred in stockholders’ equity (as a component of comprehensive income). However, to the extent that any of these contracts are not considered to be perfectly effective in offsetting the change in the value of the interest payments being hedged, any changes in fair value relating to the ineffective portion of these contracts are immediately recognized as an interest expense in the consolidated statement of operations. The accounting for hedge effectiveness is measured at least quarterly based on the relative change in fair value between the derivative contract and the hedged item over time. The net effect of this accounting in the Company’s operating results is that interest expense on the portion of variable-rate debt being hedged is recorded based on fixed interest rates. Hedge ineffectiveness for cash flow hedges were not material for the five month period ended May 31, 2006 and the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004.

The Company entered into interest rate swap agreements on its $225.8 million variable rate debt due December 18, 2008 and its $150.5 million variable rate debt due December 18, 2010. These interest rate swap contracts were entered for interest rate exposure management purposes and mature on December 18, 2007. At

 

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AUSTRALIAN RAILROAD GROUP PTY LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

May 31, 2006, the Company had interest rate swap contracts to pay a weighted average fixed rate of 6.61% and receive a weighted average variable rate of interest of 5.66% on $280.3 million notional amount of indebtedness.

(b) Fair value

The carrying amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities at May 31, 2006, approximate the aggregate fair value of the financial instruments.

(c) Credit risk exposures

The Company’s maximum exposures to credit risk at May 31, 2006, in relation to each class of recognized financial asset is the carrying amount of those assets as indicated in the balance sheet.

In relation to derivative financial instruments, credit risk arises from the potential failure of counterparties to meet their obligations under the contract or arrangements. The Company’s maximum credit risk exposure in relation to interest rate swap contracts is limited to the net amounts to be received on contracts that are favourable to the Company, which were none at May 31, 2006.

Concentration of credit risk

For the period ending May 31, 2006, the Company’s primary location of business was within the south west corner of Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales, which therefore represents the location of the Company’s credit risk. Trade payables/receivables are normally payable/collectable within 30 days.

Except for securities held to ensure the performance of contractor guarantees or warrantees, amounts due from major receivables are not normally secured by collateral, however the creditworthiness of receivables is regularly monitored. Securities held to ensure the performance of contractor guarantees or warrantees include Bank Guarantees, Personal (Directors) Guarantees or cash. The value of securities held is dependent on the nature, including the complexity and risk of the contract.

 

7 Income Taxes

 

      May 31,
2006
    December 31,
2005
   December 31,
2004
     $000 USD     $000 USD    $000 USD

The prima facie tax on income before income taxes differs from the income tax provided in the financial statements as follows:

       

Prima facie tax at 30% on income before income taxes

   $ (6,526 )   $ 8,168    $ 12,220

Tax effect of permanent differences:

       

Non-allowable items

     43       80      17

Other items

     (20 )     44      27
                     

Total income tax (benefit) expense

   $ (6,503 )   $ 8,292    $ 12,264
                     

 

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AUSTRALIAN RAILROAD GROUP PTY LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Company is governed by the taxation laws of the Commonwealth Government of Australia, which has a statutory tax rate of 30%.

 

     May 31,
2006
    December 31,
2005
    December 31,
2004
     $000 USD     $000 USD     $000 USD

Total income tax expense includes:

      

Current

   $ 0     $ 11     $ 342

Deferred

     (6,503 )     8,281       11,922
                      
   $ (6,503 )   $ 8,292     $ 12,264
                      
     May 31,
2006
    December 31,
2005
     
     $000 USD     $000 USD      

The deferred income tax balance comprises:

      

Current deferred income tax assets

      

Materials and supplies

   $ —       $ 108    

Income accruals

     632       313    

Expense accruals

     4,215       1,718    

Employee leave provisions

     —         2,779    
                  
   $ 4,847     $ 4,918    
                  

Non-current deferred income tax assets

      

Tax vs. book values of property and equipment

     50,357       51,534    

Income tax losses carried forward

     9,736       9,961    

Unrealised losses on interest rate swaps

     734       1,421    

Valuation allowance

     (—   )     (—   )  
                  
   $ 60,827     $ 62,916    
                  

Current deferred income tax liabilities:

      

Materials and supplies

   $ (1,769 )   $ (840 )  

Prepayments

     —         (327 )  

Income accruals

     —         (1,356 )  
                  
   $ (1,769 )   $ (2,523 )  
                  

Non-current deferred income tax liability

      

Equity investment

     1,259       (568 )  

Tax vs. book values of property and equipment

     (14,808 )     (21,508 )  
                  
   $ (13,549 )   $ (22,076 )  
                  

Operating loss carry forward have no expiry date and the Company expects to recover all operating losses. Consequently, no valuation allowance is provided for the deferred tax assets for 2006 and 2005.

 

8 Preferred Stock

Redeemable preferred shares are fully paid and earn a dividend at the declaration of the Directors from time to time. The shares are redeemable at the option of the Directors of the Company. Upon redemption the shareholder is entitled to receive the paid up amount of the preferred shares. In the event of the winding up of the Company, the holders of redeemable preferred shares are entitled in priority to the holders of any other classes of

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

shares to payment of the paid up amount of the shares and the amount of any declared but unpaid dividends at that date, but shall not otherwise have any rights to participate in surplus assets. Preferred shares carry no voting rights.

 

9 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

     May 31,
2006
    December 31,
2005
    December 31,
2004
 
     $000 USD     $000 USD     $000 USD  

The components of other comprehensive income, net of income tax, included in the consolidated balance sheet are as follows:

      

Net foreign currency translation adjustments

   $ 51,097     $ 45,201     $ 60,527  

Unrealised losses on interest rate swaps

     (2,447 )     (4,735 )     (9,788 )

Less Income taxes

     734       1,420       2,936  
                        

Net unrealised losses on interest rate swaps

     (1,713 )     (3,315 )     (6,852 )
                        

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

   $ 49,384     $ 41,886     $ 53,675  
                        

 

10 Expenditure Commitments

 

     May 31,
2006
   December 31,
2005
     $000 USD    $000 USD

(a)    Future minimum lease payments under all non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

     

2006

   $ —      $ 885

2007

     868      —  

2008

     1,233      —  

2009

     —        —  

2010

     —        —  

Thereafter

     —        —  
             
   $ 2,101    $ 885
             

(b)    Other capital expenditures:

     

Not later than one year

   $ 9,235    $ 23,104

Later than one year, but not later than five years

     4,864      4,401

Later than five years

     —        —  
             
   $ 14,099    $ 27,505
             

Operating leases are entered into for rollingstock and office equipment. Rental payments are fixed for the life of the lease for all types of operating leases. Purchase options and renewal terms exist at the Company’s discretion and no operating lease contains restrictions on financing or other leasing activities. Operating lease expense was $0.6 million for the five months ended May 31, 2006, and $1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, and 2004.

Under the agreement for the acquisition of the Westrail Freight business, there was an obligation to upgrade the Katanning to Nyabing, and Yilliminning to Bruce Rock lines by July 1, 2004. This obligation has been extended until July 2008 and is subject to additional conditions which allow for renegotiation.

 

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11 Contingent Liabilities

GWA Northern Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the due and punctual payment of the secured debt of the Asia Pacific Transport Joint Venture, severally in accordance with its participating interest, which was 0.88% as of May 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, amounting to $3.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively.

ARG Sell Down No 1 Pty Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the due and punctual payment of the secured debt of the Asia Pacific Transport Joint Venture, severally in accordance with its participating interest, which was 1.11% as of May 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 periods, amounting to $4.3 million and $4.4 million, respectively.

The Company and all of its subsidiaries have entered into a deed of cross guarantee pursuant to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Class Orders, whereby they covenant with a trustee for the benefit of each creditor, that they guarantee to each creditor payment in full of any debt on the event of any entity, including the Company, being wound up.

 

12 Employee Benefit Plans

The following Employee Benefit Plans have been established:

 

Plan

  

Benefit Type

Australian Railroad Group Superannuation Plan    Accumulated lump sum / defined contribution plan
Westscheme Plan    Accumulated lump sum / defined contribution plan
West Super Plus Plan    Accumulated lump sum / defined contribution plan

Employees contribute to the funds at various percentages of their remuneration. The consolidated entity’s contributions are not legally enforceable other than those payable in terms of notified award and superannuation guarantee levy obligations. The related expense for the year charged to the consolidated statement of operations was $2.1 million for the five months ended May 31, 2006 and $4.9 million and $4.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

13 Economic Dependency

Approximately 30.6%, 17.2%, and 24.5% of the Company’s revenue for the five month period ended May 31, 2006 and the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, were generated from freight services rendered to Australian Wheat Board Ltd, respectively.

 

14 Segment Information

Industry Segment

The group operates in only one industry, being rail transport.

 

15 Related Party Disclosures

Services to the group by Wesfarmers Ltd of $0.9 million and $1.4 million and Genesee & Wyoming Inc of $0.1 million and $0.6 million for the five months ended May 31, 2006 and the year ended December 31, 2006, respectively, are recovered at cost. At May 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the balance owing to Wesfarmers Ltd was $0.1 million and $0.4 million and to Genesee and Wyoming Inc $32,000 and $0.1 million, respectively.

 

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16 Subsequent Events

The joint shareholders of the Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd, Genesee & Wyoming Inc ( a company incorporated in the United States of America) and Wesfarmers Limited, have announced finalisation of an agreement to sell their shareholding in the Australian Railroad Group to Queensland Rail and Babcock & Brown.

The sale is made up of three parts as follows:

1. Queensland Rail will acquire the above rail operations in Western Australia, New South Wales and some specific services in South Australia and Victoria,

2. Babcock & Brown will acquire the below rail business and assume responsibility for the rail infrastructure leases in Western Australia; and

3. Genesee & Wyoming Inc will acquire the Wesfarmers share in the South Australian business.

The sale process satisfied all conditions and took effect from midnight on 31 May 2006.

 

17 Recently Issued Accounting Standards

The Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) recently issued Statements of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) were reviewed and none are applicable to Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd.

 

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