Management’s Discussion and Analysis

BAX Global

   
Years Ended December 31,
% change
(In millions)   2003 2002 2001 2003 2002
Revenues
Americas(a) $ 976.0 989.9 1,008.1 (1) (2)
International(b)   1,098.3 951.7 845.0 15 13
Eliminations   (75.1) (70.1) (63.0) (7) (11)
  $ 1,999.2 1,871.5 1,790.1 7 5
Operating Profit (Loss)
Americas(a) $ (30.9) (15.1) (46.0) (105) 67
International(b)   41.2 43.8 35.6 (6) 23
Corporate and other   (7.3) (11.1) (17.2) 34 35
  $ 3.0 17.6 (27.6) (83) NM
Cash Flow Information
Depreciation and amortization, excluding goodwill amortization $ 47.0 44.4 49.4 6 (10)
Goodwill amortization   N/A N/A 7.4 N/A NM
Capital expenditures   23.6 27.1 33.1 (13) (18)
Operating Statistics
Intra-America revenue $ 464.6 468.6 457.3 (1) (2)
Worldwide expedited freight services:
Revenues $ 1,501.0 1,452.4 1,427.2 3 2
Weight in pounds   1,575.8 1,530.3 1,424.4 3 7

(a) U.S., Mexico, Latin America and Canada.
(b) Europe-Middle East-Africa (“EMEA”) and Asia-Pacific.

Profits are shared among the origin and destination subsidiaries on most export volumes. Performance in BAX Global’s U.S. business, the region with the largest domestic and export volume, significantly affects the results of worldwide expedited freight services. Eliminations revenues primarily reflect intercompany revenue eliminations on shared services.

BAX Global’s Products

Expedited Freight Services  
Region offered
Overnight delivery  
Worldwide
Second-day delivery  
Worldwide
Wholesale freight forwarding  
Americas
Air import and export delivery  
Worldwide
     
Nonexpedited Freight Services  
Region offered
BAXSaver Suite of delivery products (various, deferred delivery terms)  
Americas
Customs brokerage services  
Worldwide
Supply chain management services  
Worldwide
Aircraft charter services  
Worldwide
Ocean delivery  
Worldwide

2003

Overview

BAX Global’s operating profit in 2003 was $14.6 million below last year despite a 7% increase in revenues (3% increase in revenues on a constant currency basis). Revenue was lower in the Americas, higher in Asia-Pacific, and higher in Europe, where it would have been lower except for the effect of currency changes. Operating profit was lower as a result of lower volumes in the Intra-America network. Volumes and revenue were lower in the Intra-America network because of the effects of a weak U.S. economy and a shift from expedited to deferred products. Partially offsetting this were the effects on revenue and earnings of increased air export volumes and supply chain management activity in Asia-Pacific.

Americas

BAX Global’s 2003 operating loss in the Americas region was $15.8 million higher than 2002 on a 1% decrease in revenues. A decrease in operating profit due to lower Intra-America volumes of higher-yielding overnight and second-day products, more than offset an increase in operating profit due to higher volumes for deferred products and volumes related to BAX Global’s new wholesale freight forwarding product. Although volumes, in total, were lower in 2003 compared to 2002, volumes in the fourth quarter of 2003 were above the prior-year quarter and the year-over-year improvement has continued in early 2004. Management believes that much of the shift from expedited to deferred products is likely to continue; however, in an improving economy the absolute weight of expedited freight is likely to increase.

U.S. air export revenues reflect the benefit of being able to pass through to customers a portion of the surcharges charged by airlines for high fuel costs, security and other reasons. U.S. air export volumes were slightly higher in 2003 over 2002, while revenue per pound, excluding surcharges, declined in 2003 as compared to 2002. Growth in the U.S. supply chain management business increased revenues by $14.4 million in 2003 as compared to 2002 due to the addition of new customers as well as increased activity with existing customers. BAX Global’s revenues and operating results in 2003 were adversely affected by lower third-party aircraft charter activity compared to the prior year period.

The 2003 operating loss in the Americas includes higher expense from the Company’s primary U.S. pension plan as well as higher health care costs in the 2003 periods. Heavy maintenance expense was $9.3 million lower in 2003 compared to 2002 primarily due to a reduction in flight hours as a result of a decrease in third-party aircraft charter activity. Adjustments made in the first half of 2003 in conjunction with the renegotiation of certain return provisions of its aircraft lease agreements and the completion of a study of the lease agreements also reduced heavy maintenance expense.

International

International operating profits decreased 6% in 2003 compared to 2002 on a 15% increase in revenues (7% increase in revenues on a constant currency basis). A decrease in operating profits in the EMEA region was partially offset by improved profits in Asia-Pacific. Reduced demand and competitive market pressures in the EMEA region continue with the effects of the strengthening currencies and the weak European economy resulting in lower export volumes and flat import volumes compared with 2002. The effects of the weak European economy are expected to continue. Revenues and operating profit for 2003 benefited from an increase in air export volumes within the Asia-Pacific region and from Asia-Pacific to the U.S. In addition, Asia-Pacific’s results benefited from growth in supply chain management operations, including the effects of an expansion of operations in China during 2003, as well as increased activity from existing customers.

BAX Global Corporate and Other

BAX Global’s corporate and other expense decreased $3.8 million in 2003 versus the prior-year period due to foreign currency exchange transaction gains and lower administrative costs.

2002

Overview

The 5% increase in BAX Global’s worldwide operating revenues in 2002 as compared to 2001 was attributable to the addition of new business and economic recovery in Asia-Pacific. Worldwide operating profit in 2002 improved $45.2 million, primarily reflecting the benefit of ongoing efforts in the Americas to better align transportation costs and operating expenses with market demands and economic conditions, and the volume improvement in Asia-Pacific.

Americas

Americas revenues decreased 2% in 2002 as compared to 2001 due to a lower volume of domestic and outbound international expedited airfreight services associated with the continuing weak economies in the U.S. and Europe. Americas 2002 revenues from charter activity were $15 million higher than 2001 primarily as a result of more flights for the U.S. government.

Despite the reduction in revenues, the operating loss in the Americas was 67% lower in 2002 as compared to 2001. The improvement was primarily due to reductions in Americas transportation costs. Costs per pound shipped in 2002 decreased as compared to 2001 as a result of fleet reductions undertaken during 2001 and an increased use of ground transportation.

International

In 2002, International revenues increased 13% and operating profit increased 23% as compared to 2001. The increases were primarily due to improved economic conditions and new business in several Asia-Pacific countries, which resulted in increased air export volumes to the U.S., primarily associated with the high technology industry. In addition, a port dispute on the West Coast of the U.S. resulted in a higher volume of air export freight from Asia-Pacific during the fourth quarter of 2002. Margins on these shipments were lower due to higher airline transportation costs, not all of which were able to be passed on to customers. In the EMEA region, low export and import air-freight volumes and lower prices caused by the continuing weak European economy resulted in a decrease in revenues and operating profit for 2002 as compared to 2001.

BAX Global Corporate and Other

The decrease in BAX Global’s corporate and other expense in 2002 as compared to 2001 was primarily due to $7.4 million of amortization of goodwill in 2001.

MD&A Quicklinks