C H ROBINSON WORLDWIDE INC - 10-K - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(Edgar Glimpses Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following table illustrates our net revenue margins by services and products: For the years ended December 31, 2012 2011 2010 Transportation 15.8 % 16.5 % 16.8 % Sourcing 8.4 8.4 8.5 Payment Services 99.0 100.0 100.0 Total 15.1 % 15.8 % 15.8 % The following table summarizes our net revenues by service line: For the years ended December 31, (Dollars in thousands) 2012 2011 Change 2010 Change Net revenues: Transportation Truck $ 1,284,280 $ 1,236,611 3.9 % $ 1,076,247 14.9 % Intermodal 38,815 41,189 (5.8 ) 36,550 12.7 Ocean 84,924 66,873 27.0 60,763 10.1 Air 44,444 39,371 12.9 42,315 (7.0 ) Other Logistics Services 75,674 59,872 26.4 57,254 4.6 Total Transportation 1,528,137 1,443,916 5.8 1,273,129 13.4 Sourcing 136,438 128,448 6.2 139,377 (7.8 ) Payment Services 52,996 60,294 (12.1 ) 55,472 8.7 Total $ 1,717,571 $ 1,632,658 5.2 % $ 1,467,978 11.2 % The following table represents certain statements of operations data, shown as percentages of our net revenues: For the years ended December 31, 2012 2011 2010 Net revenues 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % Operating expenses: Personnel expenses 44.6 42.6 43.1 Other selling, general, and administrative expenses 16.1 14.9 14.5 Total operating expenses 60.7 57.6 57.6 Income from operations 39.3 42.4 42.4 Investment and other income 16.5 0.1 0.1 Income before provision for income taxes 55.8 42.6 42.5 Provision for income taxes 21.2 16.1 16.1 Net income 34.6 % 26.4 % 26.4 % OVERVIEW Our company. We are a global provider of transportation services and logistics solutions, operating through a network of branch offices in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. As a third party logistics provider, we cultivate contractual relationships with a wide variety of transportation companies, and utilize those relationships to efficiently and cost effectively transport our customers' freight. We have contractual relationships with approximately 56,000 transportation companies, including motor carriers, railroads (primarily intermodal service providers), air freight, and ocean carriers. Depending on the needs of our customer and their supply chain requirements, we select and hire the appropriate transportation 23-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents for each shipment. Our model enables us to be flexible, provide solutions that optimize service for our customers, and minimize our asset utilization risk.

In addition to transportation and logistics services, we also offer fresh produce sourcing and fee-based payment services. Our Sourcing business is the buying, selling, and marketing of fresh produce. We purchase fresh produce through our network of produce suppliers and sell it to retail grocers and restaurant chains, produce wholesalers and foodservice providers. In some cases, we also arrange the transportation of the produce we sell through our relationships with specialized transportation companies. Those revenues are reported as Transportation revenues. Historically, our Payment Services business consisted primarily of our subsidiary T-Chek, which provided a variety of management and business intelligence services to motor carrier companies and to fuel distributors. On October 16, 2012, we sold substantially all of the assets and transferred certain liabilities of T-Chek to EFS. We expect to continue to generate Payment Services revenues of approximately $3 million per quarter from the T-Chek cash advance option we offer our contracted carriers.

Our business model. We are primarily a service company. We add value and expertise in the procurement and execution of transportation and logistics, including sourcing of produce products for our customers. Our total revenues represent the total dollar value of services and goods we sell to our customers.

Our net revenues are our total revenues less purchased transportation and related services, including contracted motor carrier, rail, ocean, air, and other costs, and the purchase price and services related to the products we source. Our net revenues are the primary indicator of our ability to source, add value, and sell services and products that are provided by third parties, and we consider them to be our primary performance measurement. Accordingly, the discussion of our results of operations below focuses on the changes in our net revenues.

We keep our business model as variable as possible to allow us to be flexible and adapt to changing economic and industry conditions. We sell transportation services and produce to our customers with varied pricing arrangements. Some prices are committed to for a period of time, subject to certain terms and conditions, and some prices are set on a spot market basis. We buy most of our truckload transportation capacity and produce on a spot market basis. Because of this, our net revenue per transaction tends to increase in times when there is excess supply and decrease in times when demand is strong relative to supply. We also keep our personnel and other operating expenses as variable as possible.

Compensation is performance-oriented and, for most employees in the branch network, based on the profitability of their individual branch office.

In addition, we do not have pre-committed targets for headcount. Our personnel decisions are decentralized. Our branch managers determine the appropriate number of employees for their offices, within productivity guidelines, based on their branch's volume of business. This helps keep our personnel expense as variable as possible with the business.

Our branch network. Our branch network is a competitive advantage. Building local customer and contract carrier relationships has been an important part of our success, and our worldwide network of offices supports our core strategy of serving customers locally, nationally, and globally. Our branch offices help us penetrate local markets, provide face-to-face service when needed, and recruit contract carriers. Our branch network also gives us knowledge of local market conditions, which is important in the transportation industry because it is market driven and very dynamic.

In October 2012, we acquired all of the outstanding stock of the operating subsidiaries of Apreo Logistics S.A. ("Apreo"), a leading freight forwarder based in Warsaw, Poland. This acquisition enhances our truckload capabilities in Europe. In November 2012, we acquired all of the outstanding stock of Phoenix International Freight Services, Ltd, ("Phoenix"), an international freight forwarder based in Chicago, Illinois. Phoenix has a strong track record and diverse customer base in the international freight forwarding industry. This acquisition expanded our global forwarding network.

Our branches work together to complete transactions and collectively meet the needs of our customers. For large multi-location customers, we often coordinate our efforts in one branch and rely on multiple branch locations to deliver specific geographic or modal needs. As an example, approximately 43 percent of our truckload shipments are shared transactions between branches. Our methodology of providing services is very similar across all branches. The majority of our global network operates on a common technology platform that is used to match customer needs with supplier capabilities, to collaborate with other branch locations, and to utilize centralized support resources to complete all facets of the transaction.

Our people. Because we are a service company, our continued success is dependent on our ability to continue to hire and retain talented, productive people, and to properly align our headcount and personnel expense with our business. Our headcount grew by 2,576 employees during 2012. This was primarily due to the acquisitions of Phoenix and Apreo during the fourth quarter of 2012. Branch employees act as a team in their sales efforts, customer service, and operations. A significant portion of many of our branch employees' compensation is performance-oriented, based on individual performance and the profitability of their branch. We believe this makes our employees more service-oriented and focused on driving growth and maximizing office productivity. All of our managers and certain other employees who have significant responsibilities are eligible to receive equity awards because we believe these awards are an effective tool for creating long-term ownership and alignment between 24-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents employees and our shareholders. Generally, these awards vest over five-year periods and also include performance-based requirements. In 2012, we also issued restricted equity awards that vest evenly over five years, starting on December 31, 2013.

Our customers. In 2012, we worked with more than 42,000 active customers, up from approximately 37,000 in 2011. We work with a wide variety of companies, ranging in size from Fortune 100 companies to small family businesses, in many different industries. Our customer base is very diverse and unconcentrated. Our top 100 customers represented approximately 34 percent of our total revenues and approximately 29 percent of our net revenues. Our largest customer was approximately 3.4 percent of our total revenues and approximately 2.2 percent of our total net revenues.

Our contracted carriers. Our contracted carrier base includes motor carriers, railroads (primarily intermodal service providers), air freight, and ocean carriers. In 2012, our carrier base was approximately 56,000, up from approximately 53,000 in 2011. Motor carriers that had fewer than 100 tractors transported approximately 82 percent of our truckload shipments in 2012. In our Transportation business, no single contracted carrier represents more than approximately two percent of our contracted carrier capacity.

Our goals. Since we became a publicly-traded company in 1997, our long-term compounded annual growth goal has been 15 percent for net revenues, income from operations, and earnings per share. Although there have been periods where we have not achieved these goals, over the period since 1997 we have exceeded this compounded growth goal in all three categories. Our expectation is that over time, we will continue to achieve our long-term goal of 15 percent growth, but that we will have periods in which we exceed that goal and periods in which we fall short. We expect to reach our long-term growth primarily through internal growth but acquisitions that fit our growth criteria and culture may also augment our growth.

2012 COMPARED TO 2011 Total revenues and direct costs. Our consolidated total revenues increased 9.9 percent in 2012 compared to 2011. Total Transportation revenues increased 10.8 percent to $9.69 billion in 2012 from $8.74 billion in 2011. This increase was driven by higher volumes in all of our transportation modes and increased pricing to our customers, including the impacts of higher fuel costs. Total purchased transportation and related services increased 11.8 percent in 2012 to $8.16 billion from $7.30 billion in 2011. This increase was due to higher volumes in all of our transportation modes and higher transportation costs, including the impacts of higher fuel costs. Our Sourcing revenue increased 5.5 percent to $1.62 billion in 2012 from $1.54 billion in 2011. Purchased products sourced for resale increased 5.4 percent in 2012 to $1.48 billion from $1.41 billion in 2011. These increases were primarily due to higher case volumes. Our Payment Services revenue decreased 11.2 percent to $53.5 million in 2012 from $60.3 million in 2011. The decrease was due to the sale of substantially all of our Payment Services business, T-Chek, to Electronic Funds Source, LLC on October 16, 2012.

Net revenues. Total Transportation net revenues increased 5.8 percent to $1.53 billion in 2012 from $1.44 billion in 2011. Our Transportation net revenue margin decreased to 15.8 percent in 2012 from 16.5 percent in 2011 largely driven by higher transportation costs and higher fuel costs, partially offset by an increase in transportation rates charged to our customers. While our different pricing arrangements with customers and contract carriers make it very difficult to measure the precise impact, we believe that fuel costs essentially act as a pass-through in our truckload business. Therefore, in times of higher fuel prices, our net revenue margin percentage decreases, as it did in 2012.

Truck net revenues, which consist of truckload and LTL services, comprise approximately 75 percent of our total net revenues. Our truck net revenues increased 3.9 percent to $1.28 billion in 2012 from $1.24 billion in 2011.

Truckload volumes increased approximately ten percent in 2012. Truckload net revenue margin decreased in 2012 due to increased cost of capacity and an increase in fuel prices, partially offset by increased rates charged to our customers. Excluding the estimated impact of the change in fuel, on average, our truckload rates increased approximately one percent in 2012. Our truckload transportation costs increased approximately two percent, excluding the estimated impacts of the change in fuel.

During 2012, our LTL net revenues increased approximately 13 percent. The increase was driven primarily by an increase in shipment volumes and increased pricing to our customers, partially offset by increased cost of capacity. Our LTL volumes increased approximately 16 percent compared to 2011.

Our intermodal net revenue decrease of 5.8 percent to $38.8 million in 2012 from $41.2 million in 2011 was driven largely by increased cost of capacity.

Our ocean transportation net revenues increased 27.0 percent to $84.9 million in 2012 from $66.9 million in 2011. This increase was primarily due to our acquisition of Phoenix on November 1, 2012.

Our air transportation net revenues increase of 12.9 percent in 2012 was driven by our acquisition of Phoenix.

25-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents Other logistics services net revenues, which include transportation management services, customs, warehousing, and small parcel, increased 26.4 percent to $75.7 million in 2012 from $59.9 million in 2011. This increase was primarily due to transaction increases in our transportation management and customs services. We estimate that Phoenix contributed approximately 6 percent to the growth in other logistics services net revenues during 2012.

Sourcing net revenues increased 6.2 percent to $136.4 million in 2012 from $128.4 million in 2011. This increase was primarily due to increased volumes and a slight increase in net revenue per case. Our net revenue margin remained at 8.4 percent in 2012 compared to 2011.

Payment Services was comprised primarily of revenue related to our subsidiary, T-Chek. Payment Services net revenues decreased 12.1 percent to $53.0 million in 2012 from $60.3 million in 2011. The decrease was due to the T-Chek divestiture on October 16, 2012. We have recorded a gain of $281.6 million related to this divestiture in 2012. We expect to continue to generate Payment Services revenues of approximately $3 million per quarter from the T-Chek cash advance option we offer our contracted carriers.

Operating expenses. Operating expenses increased 10.9 percent to $1.04 billion in 2012 from $939.9 million in 2011. This was due to an increase of 10.0 percent in personnel expenses and an increase of 13.4 percent in other selling, general, and administrative expenses. As a percentage of net revenues, operating expenses increased to 60.7 percent in 2012 from 57.6 percent in 2011. This increase was primarily due to increased personnel and other selling, general, and administrative expenses incurred because of our acquisitions and divestitures in 2012.

Our personnel expenses are driven by headcount and earnings growth. In 2012, personnel expenses increased to $766.0 million from $696.2 million in 2011. Our personnel expenses as a percentage of net revenue increased in 2012 to 44.6 percent from 42.6 percent in 2011. These increases were primarily due to an increase in vesting expense of $33.0 million of our equity awards triggered by the gain on the divestiture of T-Chek. In 2012, our average headcount increased approximately 13.6 percent, due primarily to the acquisitions of Apreo and Phoenix. Personnel expenses related to our various incentive plans are designed to keep expenses variable with changes in net revenues and profitability.

Other selling, general, and administrative expenses increased 13.4 percent to $276.2 million in 2012 from $243.7 million in 2011. Approximately $10.6 million of this increase is related to investment banking and other external legal and accounting fees paid for the acquisitions and divestitures in 2012. The remaining increase in our selling, general, and administrative expenses is primarily related to an increase in travel, amortization of intangible assets acquired, temporary services, and warehouse expenses, partially offset by a reduction in claims.

Income from operations. Income from operations decreased 2.5 percent to $675.3 million in 2012 from $692.7 million in 2011. Income from operations as a percentage of net revenues decreased to 39.3 percent in 2012 from 42.4 percent in 2011. These decreases were primarily related to the increases in operating expenses, offset partially by an increase in net revenues.

Investment and other income. Investment and other income increased to $283.1 million in 2012 compared to $2.0 million in 2011. In 2012, we recorded a gain of $281.6 million on the divestiture of substantially all of our T-Chek business.

Provision for income taxes. Our effective income tax rate was 38.0 percent for 2012 and 37.9 percent for 2011. The effective income tax rate for both periods is greater than the statutory federal income tax rate primarily due to state income taxes, net of federal benefit.

Net income. Net income increased 37.6 percent to $593.8 million in 2012 from $431.6 million in 2011. Basic net income per share increased 39.9 percent to $3.68. Diluted net income per share increased 40.1 percent to $3.67.

26-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents 2011 COMPARED TO 2010 Total revenues and direct costs. Our consolidated total revenues increased 11.5 percent in 2011 compared to 2010. Total Transportation revenues increased 15.4 percent to $8.74 billion in 2011 from $7.58 billion in 2010. This increase was driven by higher volumes in many of our transportation modes and increased pricing to our customers, including the impacts of higher fuel costs. Total purchased transportation services increased 15.8 percent in 2011 to $7.30 billion from $6.30 billion in 2010. This increase was due to higher volumes in many of our transportation modes and higher transportation costs, including the impacts of higher fuel costs. Our Sourcing revenue decreased 6.6 percent to $1.54 billion in 2011 from $1.64 billion in 2010. Purchased products sourced for resale decreased 6.4 percent in 2011 to $1.41 billion from $1.50 billion in 2010. These decreases were primarily due to decreased volumes with a large customer that, due to a change in their sourcing strategy, has eliminated some of our business with them. Our Payment Services revenue increased 8.7 percent to $60.3 million in 2011 from $55.5 million in 2010. The increase was primarily due to an increase in in MasterCard® services, and increases in some fees that are impacted by fuel prices.

Net revenues. Total Transportation net revenues increased 13.4 percent to $1.44 billion in 2011 from $1.27 billion in 2010. Our Transportation net revenue margin decreased to 16.5 percent in 2011 from 16.8 percent in 2010 largely driven by higher transportation costs and higher fuel costs, partially offset by an increase in transportation pricing to our customers. While our different pricing arrangements with customers and contract carriers make it very difficult to measure the precise impact, we believe that fuel costs essentially act as a pass-through in our truckload business. Therefore, in times of higher fuel prices, our net revenue margin percentage decreases as it did in 2011.

Truck net revenues, which consist of truckload and LTL services, comprise approximately 76 percent of our total net revenues. Our truck net revenues increased 14.9 percent to $1.24 billion in 2011 from $1.08 billion in 2010.

Truckload volumes increased approximately five percent in 2011. Truckload net revenue margin decreased in 2011 due to an increase in fuel prices and increased cost of capacity, offset partially by increased pricing to our customers.

Excluding the estimated impact of the change in fuel, on average, our truckload rates increased approximately five percent in 2011. Our truckload transportation costs increased approximately four percent, excluding the estimated impacts of the change in fuel.

During 2011, our LTL net revenues increased approximately 27 percent. The increase was driven primarily by an increase in shipment volumes and increased pricing to our customers. Our LTL volumes increased approximately 15 percent compared to 2010.

Our intermodal net revenue increase of 12.7 percent to $41.2 million in 2011 from $36.6 million in 2010 was driven largely by volume and pricing increases, partially offset by lower margins. Our intermodal net revenue margin declined in 2011 compared to 2010 due to higher transportation costs.

Our ocean transportation net revenues increased 10.1 percent to $66.9 million in 2011 from $60.8 million in 2010 due primarily to volume increases. We experienced a net revenue margin increase due to decreased cost of capacity.

Our air transportation net revenues decrease of 7.0 percent in 2011 was driven by decreased volumes and decreased pricing. Our air net revenue margins decreased in 2011 due to increased cost of capacity, partially offset by increased pricing to our customers.

Other logistics services net revenues consist primarily of transportation management fees and custom brokerage fees. The increase of 4.6 percent to $59.9 million in 2011 was driven primarily by increases in the transportation management business.

Sourcing net revenues decreased 7.8 percent to $128.4 million in 2011. This decrease was primarily due to decreased volumes with a large customer that, due to a change in their sourcing strategy, has eliminated some of our business with them. Our net revenue margin decreased to 8.4 percent in 2011 from 8.5 percent in 2010.

Payment Services is comprised primarily of revenue related to our subsidiary, T-Chek. For 2011, Payment Services net revenues increased 8.7 percent to $60.3 million in 2011 from $55.5 million in 2010. The increase was primarily due to an increase in in MasterCard® services, and increases in some fees that are impacted by fuel prices.

Operating expenses. Operating expenses increased 11.2 percent to $939.9 million in 2011 from $845.1 million in 2010. This was due to an increase of 10.2 percent in personnel expenses and an increase of 14.4 percent in other selling, general, and administrative expenses. As a percentage of net revenues, operating expenses remained at 57.6 percent in 2011.

Our personnel expenses are driven by headcount and earnings growth. In 2011, personnel expenses increased to $696.2 million from $632.1 million in 2010. Our personnel expenses as a percentage of net revenue declined slightly in 2011 to 42.6 percent 27-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents from 43.1 percent in 2010. In 2011, our average headcount increased approximately 7 percent. Personnel expenses related to our various incentive plans are designed to keep expenses variable with changes in net revenues and profitability.

Other selling, general, and administrative expenses increased 14.4 percent to $243.7 million in 2011 from $213.1 million in 2010. The increase in our selling, general, and administrative expenses is primarily related to an increase in claims, travel, temporary services, and depreciation, partially offset by a reduction in the provision for doubtful accounts.

Income from operations. Income from operations increased 11.2 percent to $692.7 million in 2011. Income from operations as a percentage of net revenues remained at 42.4 percent in 2011.

Investment and other income. Investment and other income increased 58.9 percent to $2.0 million in 2011 compared to $1.2 million in 2010. In 2011, we received a $1.2 million distribution from a previously impaired cost-method investment.

Provision for income taxes. Our effective income tax rate was 37.9 percent for 2011 and 38.0 percent for 2010. The effective income tax rate for both periods is greater than the statutory federal income tax rate primarily due to state income taxes, net of federal benefit.

Net income. Net income increased 11.5 percent to $431.6 million in 2011 from $387.0 million in 2010. Basic net income per share increased 11.9 percent to $2.63. Diluted net income per share increased 12.4 percent to $2.62.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES We have historically generated substantial cash from operations, which has enabled us to fund our growth while paying cash dividends and repurchasing stock. In 2012, we entered into a senior unsecured revolving credit facility to partially fund the acquisition of Phoenix and it will allow us to continue to fund working capital, capital expenditures, dividends, and share repurchases.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $210.0 million and $373.7 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011. Cash and cash equivalents held outside the United States totaled $103.3 million and $61.8 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011. Working capital at December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $440.1 million and $734.9 million.

We prioritize our investments to grow the business, as we require some working capital and a relatively small amount of capital expenditures to grow. We are continually looking for acquisitions to redeploy our cash, but those acquisitions must fit our culture and enhance our growth opportunities. We continue to invest our cash with a focus on principal preservation. Our current interest-bearing cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of cash holdings and municipal money market funds. Our investment income related to cash and cash equivalents is down compared to last year due to the changes in the overall market yields of high-quality, short-term investments.

Cash flow from operating activities. We generated $460.3 million, $429.7 million, and $344.8 million of cash flow from operations in 2012, 2011, and 2010. During 2012, our cash flow from operations increased 7.1 percent compared to a 37.6 percent increase in net income. The increase in our net income was primarily a result of the gain recognized, net of tax, on the divestiture of T-Chek.

Cash used for investing activities. We used $359.1 million of cash in 2012, $38.3 million of cash in 2011, and generated $8.6 million of cash in 2010 for investing activities. Our investing activities consist primarily of cash paid for acquisitions, cash received for the divestiture of T-Chek, and capital expenditures. Cash received for the divestiture, net of the cash we sold, was $274.8 million.

We used $50.7 million, $52.8 million, and $28.7 million of cash for capital expenditures in 2012, 2011, and 2010. We spent $42.0 million, $39.8 million, and $28.7 million in 2012, 2011, and 2010 primarily for annual investments in information technology equipment to support our operating systems, including the purchase and development of software. These information technology investments are intended to improve efficiencies and help grow the business.

In 2012 we purchased 500 intermodal containers for $5.2 million and funded the balance of the 2011 container purchases. In 2011 we also purchased a new corporate aircraft for $7.3 million and 500 intermodal containers for $4.8 million.

We anticipate capital expenditures in 2013 to be approximately $55 million to $60 million.

We used cash of $583.6 million for acquisitions in 2012. On October 1, 2012 we acquired Apreo for $22.8 million, net of cash acquired. On November 1, 2012, we paid $560.8 million in cash for Phoenix, net of cash acquired.

In 2011, we sold our remaining available-for-sale securities which generated $9.3 million of cash from investing activities. During 2010, we sold nearly all of our available-for-sale securities and invested in cash and cash equivalents which generated $42.4 million of cash from investing activities.

28-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents Cash used for financing activities. We used $264.3 million, $415.1 million, and $289.1 million of cash flow for financing activities in 2012, 2011, and 2010.

In 2012, we had net borrowings of $253.6 million. On October 29, 2012, we entered into a senior unsecured revolving credit facility for up to $500 million with a $500 million accordion feature, which expires on October 29, 2017. The purpose of this facility was to partially fund the acquisition of Phoenix and will allow us to continue to fund working capital, capital expenditures, dividends, and share repurchases. Advances under the facility carry an interest rate based on our total funded debt to total capitalization, as measured at the end of each quarter, and are based on a spread over LIBOR for outstanding balances. In addition, there is a commitment fee on the average daily undrawn stated amount under each letter of credit issued under the facility. We were in compliance with all of the credit facility's debt covenants as of December 31, 2012.

We used $275.4 million, $194.7 million, and $168.9 million to pay cash dividends in 2012, 2011, and 2010. The increase in 2012 was due primarily to a fifth quarterly dividend paid at $0.35 per share. In December 2012, the Board of Directors modified the dividend payment date to be the last day of the quarter in which it is declared. This is a change from the previous policy which was to pay the cash dividend on the first day of the following quarter from which the cash dividend was declared. Going forward in 2013, we expect to continue to pay quarterly cash dividends on the last day of the quarter for which they were declared by the Board of Directors. Additionally, the rate for our first four quarterly dividends increased to $0.33 per share in 2012 from $0.29 per share in 2011.

We also used $245.1 million, $240.9 million, and $151.1 million on share repurchases in 2012, 2011, and 2010. The increase in 2012 was due to a 20 percent increase from the number of shares repurchased in 2011, partially offset by a 13 percent decrease in the average price per share repurchased. The increase in 2011 was due primarily to a 41 percent increase from the number of shares repurchased in 2010. We are currently purchasing shares under the 2009 authorization of 10,000,000 shares. As of December 31, 2012, there were 827,443 shares remaining under this authorization. During the third quarter of 2012, the Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase an additional 10,000,000 shares of our common stock. The number of shares we repurchase, if any, during future periods will vary based on our cash position, potential uses of our cash, and market conditions.

Assuming no change in our current business plan, management believes that our available cash, together with expected future cash generated from operations, and the amount available under our credit facility will be sufficient to satisfy our anticipated needs for working capital, capital expenditures, and cash dividends in future periods. We also believe we could obtain funds under lines of credit on short notice, if needed.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES Our consolidated financial statements include accounts of the company and all majority-owned subsidiaries. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions. In certain circumstances, those estimates and assumptions can affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related footnotes. In preparing our financial statements, we have made our best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. We do not believe there is a great likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported related to the accounting policies described below. However, application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates. Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements includes a summary of the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. The following is a brief discussion of our critical accounting policies and estimates.

Revenue recognition. Total revenues consist of the total dollar value of goods and services purchased from us by customers. Net revenues are total revenues less the direct costs of transportation, products, and handling. We act principally as the service provider for these transactions and recognize revenue as these services are rendered or goods are delivered. At that time, our obligations to the transactions are completed and collection of receivables is reasonably assured. Most transactions in our Transportation and Sourcing businesses are recorded at the gross amount we charge our customers for the service we provide and goods we sell. In these transactions, we are the primary obligor, we have credit risk, we have discretion to select the supplier, and we have latitude in pricing decisions.

Additionally, in our Sourcing business, we take loss of inventory risk during shipment and have general inventory risk. Certain transactions in customs brokerage and transportation management are recorded at the net amount we charge our customers for the service we provide because many of the factors stated above are not present.

29-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents Valuations for accounts receivable. Our allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated based upon the aging of our receivables, our historical experience of uncollectible accounts, and any specific customer collection issues that we have identified. The allowance of $34.6 million as of December 31, 2012 increased compared to the allowance of $31.3 million as of December 31, 2011. This increase was due to growth in our accounts receivable balance. We believe that the recorded allowance is sufficient and appropriate based on our customer aging trends, the exposures we have identified, and our historical loss experience.

Goodwill. We manage and report our operations as one operating segment. Our branches represent a series of components that are aggregated for the purpose of evaluating goodwill for impairment on an enterprise-wide basis. The fair value of the enterprise-wide reporting unit substantially exceeds the book value; therefore we have determined that there is no indication of goodwill impairment as of December 31, 2012.

Stock-based compensation. The fair value of each share-based payment award is established on the date of grant. For grants of restricted shares and restricted units, the fair value is established based on the market price on the date of the grant, discounted for post-vesting holding restrictions. The discounts have varied from 12 percent to 22 percent and are calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Changes in the measured stock price volatility and interest rates are the primary reason for changes in the discount. For grants of options, we use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards. The determination of the fair value of share-based awards is affected by our stock price and a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends.

DISCLOSURES ABOUT CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMERCIAL CONTINGENCIES The following table aggregates all contractual commitments and commercial obligations, due by period, that affect our financial condition and liquidity position as of December 31, 2012 (dollars in thousands): 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Thereafter Total Borrowings under credit agreements $ 253,646 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 253,646 Operating Leases(1) 45,592 38,301 30,576 22,523 15,366 22,702 175,060 Purchase Obligations(2) 69,805 15,088 9,097 - - - 93,990 Total $ 369,043 $ 53,389 $ 39,673 $ 22,523 $ 15,366 $ 22,702 $ 522,696 _______________________ (1) We have certain facilities and equipment under operating leases.

(2) Purchase obligations include agreements for services that are enforceable and legally binding and that specify all significant terms. As of December 31, 2012, such obligations include ocean and air freight capacity, telecommunications services, maintenance contracts, and commodities seeds used in our Sourcing business.

We have no capital lease obligations. Long-term liabilities consist of noncurrent income taxes payable, and the obligation under our non-qualified deferred compensation plan. Due to the uncertainty with respect to the timing of future cash flows associated with our unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2012, we are unable to make reasonably reliable estimates of the period of cash settlement with the respective taxing authority. Therefore, $20.6 million of unrecognized tax benefits have been excluded from the contractual obligations table above. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion on income taxes. The obligation under our non-qualified deferred compensation plan has also been excluded from the above table as the timing of cash payment is uncertain. As of December 31, 2012, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303 (a)(4)(ii) of SEC Regulation S-K.

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