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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM              TO             

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-9533

 


 

WORLD FUEL SERVICES CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Florida   59-2459427

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

9800 Northwest 41st Street, Suite 400

Miami, Florida

  33178
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including area code: (305) 428-8000

 


 

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

 

Title of each class:


 

Name of each exchange

on which registered:


Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 


 

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.    Yes  x    No  ¨.

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K 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 the Form 10-K.  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.)    Yes  x    No  ¨.

 

The aggregate market value of the voting stock (which consists solely of shares of common stock) held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $572.0 million (computed by reference to the closing sale price as of March 24, 2005).

 

The registrant had 22,867,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, net of treasury stock, issued and outstanding as of March 24, 2005.

 

Documents incorporated by reference:

 

Part III – Specified Portions of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 



Table of Contents

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This Form 10-K reflects the restatement of our previously reported financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, the nine months ended December 31, 2002, and the year ended March 31, 2002. The restatement reflects the correction of the cutoff procedures used by the Company for recognizing sales and sales related costs. The restatement is described in more detail in Note 2 to “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                Page

PART I.     
   

Item 1.

     Business    1
   

Item 2.

     Properties    8
   

Item 3.

     Legal Proceedings    11
   

Item 4.

     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    11
PART II.     
   

Item 5.

    

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

   12
   

Item 6.

     Selected Financial Data    13
   

Item 7.

     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    17
   

Item 7A.

     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    28
   

Item 8.

     Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    30
   

Item 9.

     Changes in and Disagreements with Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    30
   

Item 9A.

     Controls and Procedures    30
   

Item 9B.

     Other Information    31
PART III.     
   

Item 10.

     Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant    31
   

Item 11.

     Executive Compensation    31
   

Item 12.

     Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    31
   

Item 13.

     Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    31
   

Item 14.

     Principal Accountant Fees and Services    31
PART IV.     
   

Item 15.

     Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    32


Table of Contents

PART I

 

Item 1. Business

 

Overview

 

World Fuel Services Corporation (the “Company”) was incorporated in Florida in July 1984 and along with its consolidated subsidiaries is referred to collectively in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as “World Fuel,” “we,” “our” and “us.” We market fuel and related services to marine and aviation customers throughout the world. In our marine fuel services business, we offer marine fuel and related services to a broad base of customers, including international container and tanker fleets, and time-charter operators, as well as to the United States and foreign governments. In our aviation fuel services business, we offer aviation fuel and related services to passenger, cargo and charter airlines, as well as corporate customers and the United States and foreign governments. We provide competitive prices, credit terms, fuel management and price risk management services, and single-supplier convenience. We also offer flight plans and weather reports to our corporate aviation customers.

 

In August 2002, we changed our fiscal year-end from March 31st to a calendar year-end of December 31st. We initiated this change so we could be more directly comparable to other public companies that use a calendar year for their fiscal year. This change was first effective with respect to the nine months ended December 31, 2002. The results for the calendar year ended December 31, 2002, presented in this Form 10-K for comparison, are unaudited. The 2002 calendar year results combined the audited results for the nine months ended December 31, 2002 and the unaudited results for the three months ended March 31, 2002.

 

The Company corrected its cutoff procedures to recognize revenues and sales related costs at the time fuel deliveries are made and related services are performed. The Company had historically recorded revenue and sales related costs when supporting documentation relating to fuel deliveries and related services had been received from third parties utilized by the Company to provide fuel and related services. As a result, we have restated our previously reported financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the nine months ended December 31, 2002. The restatement is described in more detail in Note 2 to “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

Our executive offices are located at 9800 Northwest 41st Street, Suite 400, Miami, Florida 33178 and our telephone number at this address is (305) 428-8000. Our website is located at www.wfscorp.com. Our website and information contained on our website are not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are not incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. A copy of our latest Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and other SEC filings can be obtained, free of charge, on our website. These SEC filings are added to the website as soon as reasonably practicable. In addition, our Code of Corporate Conduct and Ethics, Board of Directors’ committee charters, and Corporate Governance Principles are available on our website.

 

The public may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information about the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an internet site at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information related to issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

 

Our marine fuel services business is conducted from offices located in the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Russia, Germany, Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Greece, Turkey, South Africa, China, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, The Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates. Our aviation fuel services business is conducted from offices located in the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica. See “Item 2 - Properties” for a list of principal offices by business segment and “Exhibit 21.1 - Subsidiaries of the Registrant” included in this Form 10-K for a list of our subsidiaries.

 

Financial information with respect to our business segments and the geographic areas of our business is provided in Note 9 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K.

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Form 10-K and the information incorporated by reference in it include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. In addition, we, or our executive officers on our behalf, may from time to time make forward-looking statements in reports and other documents we file with the SEC or in oral statements made to the press, potential investors or others. All statements that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” The words “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expected financial position, business, financing plans, business strategy, business prospects, revenues, working capital, liquidity, capital needs, interest costs and income, in each case relating to subsidiaries or business segments within our company or to our company as a whole, as well as statements regarding acquisitions, potential acquisitions and the benefits of acquisitions.

 

Forward-looking statements are estimates and projections reflecting our best judgment and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions, which in turn are based on currently available information. Examples of forward looking statements in this report include but are not limited to our expectations regarding our ability to generate operating cash flows and to fund our working capital and capital expenditure requirements. Important assumptions relating to the forward-looking statements include, among others, assumptions regarding demand for our products, the cost and availability of fuel from suppliers, pricing levels, the timing and cost of capital expenditures, outcomes of pending litigation, competitive conditions, general economic conditions and synergies relating to acquisitions, joint ventures and alliances. These assumptions could prove inaccurate. Although we believe that the estimates and projections reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, our expectations may prove to be incorrect. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results and events anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements include:

 

    our ability to collect accounts receivable;

 

    changes in the political, economic or regulatory conditions in the markets in which we operate;

 

    currency exchange fluctuations;

 

    non-performance of third party service providers;

 

    our failure to hedge certain financial risks associated with our business and our price risk management services;

 

    non-performance by counterparties to derivatives contracts;

 

    uninsured losses;

 

    our ability to retain and attract senior management and other key employees;

 

    our ability to manage growth;

 

    our ability to integrate acquired businesses;

 

    the outcome of legal or regulatory proceedings to which we are or may become a party;

 

    adverse conditions in the shipping and aviation industries;

 

    material disruptions in the availability or supply of oil;

 

    changes in the market price of petroleum;

 

    increased levels of competition;

 

    compliance or lack of compliance with various environmental and other applicable laws and regulations;

 

    our failure to comply with restrictions in our credit agreements;

 

    increases in interest rates;

 

    other risks, described below in “— Risk Factors” and from time to time in our other SEC filings.

 

We believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable. However, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. Further, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events.

 

For these statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

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Description of Business

 

Our principal business consists of providing marine fuel services to a broad base of international shipping companies and to the United States and foreign governments, and aviation fuel services to passenger, cargo and charter airlines, as well as corporate customers and the United States and foreign governments. We currently employ 606 people worldwide, of which 218 are employed in our marine fuel services business, 267 are employed in our aviation fuel services business, and 121 are employed in corporate.

 

Marine Fuel Services

 

We market marine fuel and related services to a broad base of customers, including international container and tanker fleets, and time charter operators, as well as to the United States and foreign governments. Marine fuel and related services are provided throughout most of the world under the following trade names: World Fuel, Trans-Tec, Bunkerfuels, Oil Shipping, Marine Energy, Norse Bunker, Casa Petro, and Tramp Oil.

 

Through our extensive network of strategically located sales offices, we provide our customers global market intelligence and rapid access to quality and competitively priced marine fuel, 24-hours a day, every day of the year. Our marine related services include management services for the procurement of fuel, cost control through the use of price hedging instruments, quality control and claims management. Our customers need cost effective and professional fuel services because the cost of fuel is a major component of a vessel’s operating overhead.

 

As an increasing number of ship owners, time charter operators, and suppliers continue to outsource their marine fuel purchasing and/or marketing needs, our value added services have become an integral part of the oil and transportation industries’ push to shed non-core functions and reduce costs. Suppliers use our global sales, marketing and financial infrastructure to sell a spot or ratable volume of product to a diverse, international purchasing community. End customers use our real time analysis of the availability, quality, and price of marine fuels in ports worldwide to maximize their competitive position.

 

In our marine operations, we primarily act as a reseller. When acting as a reseller, we purchase fuel from a supplier, mark it up, and resell the fuel to a customer. We extend unsecured credit to most of our customers. We also act as a broker and as a source of market information for the end user, negotiate the transaction by arranging the fuel purchase contract between the supplier and the end user, and expedite the arrangements for the delivery of fuel. For this service, we are paid a commission from the supplier.

 

We purchase our marine fuel from suppliers worldwide. Our cost of fuel is generally tied to spot pricing, market-based formulas or is governmentally controlled. We are usually extended unsecured trade credit from our suppliers for our fuel purchases. However, certain suppliers require us to provide a letter of credit. We may prepay our fuel purchases to take advantage of financial discounts, when limited by amount of credit extended to us by suppliers or as required to transact business in certain countries.

 

Because we arrange to have fuel delivered by our suppliers directly to our customers, inventory is maintained only for competitive reasons and at minimum operating levels. Currently, inventory is maintained at two seaport locations in the United Kingdom. We have arrangements with our suppliers and other third parties for the storage and delivery of fuel.

 

We utilize subcontractors to provide various services to customers, including fueling of vessels in port and at sea, and transportation of fuel and fuel products.

 

During each of the periods presented in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, none of our marine customers accounted for more than 10% of total consolidated revenue.

 

Aviation Fuel Services

 

We market aviation fuel and related services to passenger, cargo and charter airlines, as well as corporate customers and the United States and foreign governments. Our aviation related services include fuel management, price risk management, flight plans, weather reports, ground handling, and flight permits. We have developed an extensive network that enables us to provide aviation fuel and related services throughout most of the world under the following trade names: World Fuel, Baseops, Airdata, PetroServicios de Mexico, and PetroServicios de Costa Rica.

 

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In general, the aviation industry is capital intensive and highly leveraged. Recognizing the financial risks of the airline industry, fuel suppliers generally refrain from extending unsecured lines of credit to airlines and avoid doing business with airlines directly. Consequently, most carriers are required to post a cash collateralized letter of credit or prepay for fuel purchases. This impacts the airlines’ working capital. We recognize that the extension of credit is a risk, but also a significant area of opportunity. Accordingly, we extend unsecured credit to most of our customers.

 

We purchase our aviation fuel from suppliers worldwide. Our cost of fuel is generally tied to market-based formulas or is government controlled. We are usually extended unsecured trade credit from our suppliers for our fuel purchases. However, certain suppliers require us to provide a letter of credit. We may prepay our fuel purchases to take advantage of financial discounts, or as required to transact business in certain countries.

 

Outside of the United States, we do not maintain fuel inventory since we arrange to have the fuel delivered into our customers’ aircraft directly from our suppliers. In the United States, fuel is delivered into our customers’ aircraft or designated storage directly from our suppliers or from our fuel inventory. Inventory is held at multiple airport locations in the United States for competitive reasons and inventory levels are kept at an operating minimum. Inventory is purchased at airport locations or shipped via pipelines. Inventory in pipelines is fully hedged against price risks. We have arrangements with our suppliers and other third parties for the storage and delivery of fuel.

 

We utilize subcontractors to provide various services to customers, including into-plane fueling at airports, and transportation and storage of fuel and fuel products.

 

During each of the periods presented in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, none of our aviation customers accounted for more than 10% of total consolidated revenue.

 

Risk Factors

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

We extend unsecured credit to most of our customers and our business will be adversely affected if we are unable to collect accounts receivable.

 

We extend unsecured credit to most of our marine and aviation fuel customers. Our success in attracting business has been due, in part, to our willingness to extend credit on an unsecured basis to customers that exhibit a high credit risk profile and would otherwise be required to prepay or post letters of credit with their suppliers of fuel and related services. We do not insure our receivables. Diversification of credit risk is limited because we sell primarily within the marine and aviation industries. In our marine fuel services segment, we have extended individual lines of credit of at least $6.0 million to 20 non-governmental customers, and seven of these customers have lines of credit ranging from $15.0 to $28.0 million (currently, our largest credit lines). In our aviation fuel services segment, we have extended lines of credit of at least $4.0 million to five non-governmental customers, and one of these customers has a credit line of $14.0 million.

 

Credit losses may be influenced by other factors, including deteriorating conditions in the world economy or in the shipping or aviation industries, political instability, terrorist activities and military action in our market areas. Any credit losses, if significant, would have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

 

Business conducted outside of the United States subjects us to legal, monetary and political risks, as well as currency exchange risks, and may cause unpredictability in a significant source of our cash flows.

 

We conduct business in many foreign countries which subjects us to various political and other risks that are different from and in addition to those relating to conducting business in the United States, including:

 

  enactment of laws prohibiting or restricting foreign business;

 

  laws restricting us from repatriating profits earned from activities within the foreign country, including the payment of distributions;

 

  exchange rate fluctuations;

 

  terrorism, war or civil unrest.

 

Unfavorable legal, regulatory, economic or political changes such as those described above could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Our business and our customers’ businesses are subject to currency exchange risks.

 

The majority of our business transactions are denominated in U.S. dollars. However, in certain markets, primarily in Mexico, Colombia and the United Kingdom, payments to our fuel suppliers and from some of our customers are denominated in local currency. This subjects us to foreign currency exchange risk. Although we use hedging strategies to manage and minimize the impact of foreign currency exchange risk, at any given time, only a portion of such risk may be hedged. As a result, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates could adversely affect our profitability.

 

In addition, many of our customers are foreign customers and may be required to purchase U.S. dollars to pay for our products and services. A rapid depreciation or devaluation in currency affecting our customers could have an adverse effect on our customers’ operations and their ability to convert local currency to U.S. dollars to make the required payments to us. This would in turn result in higher credit losses for us which would adversely affect our business.

 

Third parties who fail to provide services to us and our customers as agreed could harm our business

 

We use third parties to provide various services to our customers, including into-plane fueling at airports and fueling of vessels in port and at sea. The failure of these third parties to perform these services in accordance with the terms we have agreed with them and our customers could affect our relationships with our customers and subject us to claims and other liabilities which might have a material adverse effect on our business or our financial results.

 

We also use third parties to store our fuel inventory and to transport fuel. If these third parties become bankrupt or otherwise fail to meet their commitments to creditors, our fuel could be seized and applied against amounts owed to such creditors. This could cause both disruptions in our business and financial losses.

 

Fuel sold to our customers is purchased by us from various suppliers. If the fuel we purchase from our suppliers fails to meet the specifications we have agreed to supply to our customers, our relationship with our customers could be adversely affected and we could be subject to claims and other liabilities which could have a material adverse effect on our business or our financial results.

 

We are exposed to various risks in connection with the price risk management services we offer to our customers.

 

As part of our price risk management services, we offer our customers various pricing structures on future purchases of fuel, as well as derivatives products designed to assist our customers in hedging their exposure to fluctuations in fuel prices. In connection with offering our customers these services, we are exposed to financial risk associated with fluctuations in fuel prices. We typically hedge this risk by entering into a commodity based derivative instrument with a counterparty on substantially the same terms and conditions as those entered into with our customer. Should we fail to adequately hedge the risks associated with offering these services, or should a customer or counterparty to a derivative instrument fail to honor its obligations under our agreements with them, we could sustain significant losses which could have a material adverse effect on our profitability and financial position. Also, the failure of our employees to comply with our policies and procedures concerning the administration of our price risk management services, for example by failing to hedge a specific financial risk, could subject us to significant financial losses which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

 

Insurance coverage for some of our operations may be insufficient to cover losses.

 

We lack insurance coverage for various risks, including environmental claims. Although we generally require our subcontractors to carry liability insurance, not all subcontractors carry adequate insurance. Our marine business does not have liability insurance to cover the acts or omissions of our subcontractors. None of our liability insurance covers acts of war and terrorism. A significant uninsured claim would have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

 

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If we are unable to retain our senior management and key employees, our business and results of operations could be harmed.

 

Our ability to maintain our competitive position is dependent largely on the services of our senior management and professional team. If we are unable to retain the existing senior management and professional personnel, or to attract other qualified senior management and professional personnel, our businesses will be adversely affected.

 

The failure to effectively manage our rapid growth could have an adverse effect on our business.

 

We have rapidly expanded our operations in recent years and we intend to continue to pursue existing and potential market opportunities. This rapid growth places a significant demand on our management and operational resources. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, our business, financial condition, and results of operations will be adversely affected.

 

The integration of an acquired company may have an adverse effect on our operations.

 

Our business has grown, in part, as a result of our acquisition of other companies. On April 2, 2004, we acquired Tramp Oil and, since that time, we have been integrating this business with our existing operations. The integration of an acquisition typically involves a number of risks that may adversely affect our operations. These risks include diversion of management’s attention, difficulties in the integration of acquired operations and retention of personnel, entry into unfamiliar markets, unanticipated problems or legal liabilities, and tax and accounting issues. Furthermore, once we have integrated an acquired company, the business may not achieve the same levels of revenue or profitability as our other operations, or otherwise perform as expected.

 

We are involved from time to time in legal proceedings and commercial or contractual disputes, which could have an adverse impact on our profitability and consolidated financial position.

 

We are involved in legal proceedings and commercial or contractual disputes that, from time to time, are significant. These are typically commercial or contractual claims that arise in the normal course of business including, without limitation, disputes with our suppliers and customers. Such proceedings and claims could have a material adverse effect on our profitability and consolidated financial position if decided adversely.

 

Risks Related to Our Industry

 

Adverse conditions in the shipping and aviation industries may have an adverse effect on our business.

 

Our business is focused on the marketing of fuel and fuel-related services to the shipping and aviation industries. Therefore, any adverse economic conditions in these industries may have an adverse effect on our business. In addition, any political instability, terrorist activity or military action that disrupts shipping or flight operations will adversely affect our customers and may reduce the demand for our products and services. Our business could also be adversely affected by increased merger activity in the airline and shipping industries, which may reduce the number of customers that purchase our products and services, as well as the prices we are able to charge for such products and services.

 

Material disruptions in the availability or supply of oil may adversely affect our business.

 

The success of our business depends on our ability to purchase, sell and deliver fuel and fuel-related services to our customers. Our business would be adversely affected to the extent that political instability, natural disasters, terrorist activity, military action or other conditions disrupt the availability or supply of oil.

 

Changes in the market price of petroleum may have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Increases in fuel prices can adversely affect our customers’ businesses, and consequently increase our credit losses. Increases in fuel prices could also affect the credit limits extended to us by our suppliers, potentially affecting our liquidity and profitability. In addition, increases in oil prices will make it more difficult for our clients to operate and could reduce demand for our services. Conversely, a rapid decline in fuel prices could adversely affect our profitability because inventory purchased by us when fuel prices were high may have to be sold at lower prices.

 

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Our business is subject to aggressive competition.

 

We are subject to aggressive competition in all areas of our business. Our competitors are numerous, ranging from large multinational corporations, which have significantly greater capital resources, to relatively small and specialized firms. In addition to competing with fuel resellers, we also compete with the major oil producers that market fuel directly to the large commercial airlines and shipping companies. Our business could be adversely affected because of increased competition from the larger oil companies who may choose to directly market to smaller airlines and shipping companies, or to provide less advantageous price and credit terms to us.

 

Our operations are subject to various environmental laws and regulations, the violation of which could result in liability, fines or penalties.

 

We are subject to various environmental laws and regulations dealing with the handling of fuel and fuel products. We also maintain fuel inventories at several locations. Our operations involve the risks of fuel spillage or seepage, environmental damage, and hazardous waste disposal, among others. If we are involved in a spill or other accident involving hazardous substances, if there are releases of fuel and fuel products we own, or if we are found to be in violation of environmental laws or regulations, we could be subject to liabilities that could have a materially adverse effect on our business and operating results. We are also subject to possible claims by customers, employees and others who may be injured by a fuel spill, exposure to fuel, or other accidents. If we should fail to comply with applicable environmental regulations, we could be subject to substantial fines or penalties and to civil and criminal liability.

 

We have exited several businesses that handled hazardous and non-hazardous waste. We treated and/or transported this waste to various disposal facilities. We may be held liable as a potentially responsible party for the clean-up of such disposal facilities, or be required to clean-up facilities previously operated by us, pursuant to current U.S. federal and state laws and regulations

 

Risks Related to our Credit Facility.

 

Our failure to comply with the restrictions of our credit facility could adversely affect our operations.

 

We borrow money pursuant to a credit agreement that imposes certain operating and financial restrictions on us, including restrictions on the payment of dividends in excess of specified amounts. Our failure to comply with obligations under the credit agreement, including meeting certain financial ratios, could result in an event of default. An event of default, if not cured or waived, would permit acceleration of any outstanding indebtedness under the credit agreement, and impair our ability to receive working capital advances and issue letters of credit, which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to operate our business.

 

Increases in interest rates and/or the failure of our interest rate protection arrangements to reduce our interest rate volatility may increase our interest expense and adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to service our indebtedness.

 

Almost all of our credit facility debt is subject to variable interest rates. On March 9, 2005, we entered into interest rate protection arrangements that, in effect, fix the rate of interest on $20.0 million of our debt at a weighted average interest rate of 5.45% per annum. The amount of debt covered by these arrangements may change depending on our working capital needs. An increase in interest rates and/or our failure to maintain adequate interest rate protection arrangements would increase our interest expense and adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to service our indebtedness. At December 31, 2004, we had a total of $50.0 million of debt bearing a weighted average interest rate of approximately 4.27% per annum.

 

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Regulation

 

The principal laws and regulations affecting our businesses are as follows:

 

Environmental Regulations. Our activities, including discontinued operations, are subject to substantial regulation by federal, state and local government agencies, inside and outside the United States, which enforce laws and regulations governing the transportation, sale, storage and disposal of fuel and the collection, transportation, processing, storage, use and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, including waste oil and petroleum products. For example, United States Federal and state environmental laws applicable to us include statutes that: (i) allocate the cost of remedying contamination among specifically identified parties, and prevent future contamination; (ii) impose national ambient standards and, in some cases, emission standards, for air pollutants which present a risk to public health or welfare; (iii) govern the management, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes; and (iv) regulate the discharge of pollutants into waterways. International treaties also prohibit the discharge of petroleum products at sea. The penalties for violations of environmental laws include injunctive relief, recovery of damages for injury to air, water or property, and fines for non-compliance. See “Risk Factors,” above, and “Item 3 – Legal Proceedings.”

 

Taxes on Fuel. Our marine and aviation segments are affected by various taxes imposed on the purchase and sale of marine and aviation fuel products. These taxes include sales, excise, goods and services taxes (“GST”), value added taxes (“VAT”) and other taxes, and are collectively referred to as “transaction taxes.” The transaction taxes imposed on marine and aviation fuel purchasers and sellers are also subject to various full and partial exemptions. Subject to exemptions available at the time of the transaction, in general, we pay the appropriate transaction tax to the supplier or charge the appropriate transaction tax to the customer. We continuously review our compliance with U.S. and foreign laws that impose transaction taxes on our operations. However, in certain cases, we may be responsible for additional transaction taxes if the customer or we do not qualify for an exemption believed to be available at the time of purchase and/or sale.

 

Item 2. Properties

 

The following pages set forth our principal leased properties by segment as of March 24, 2005. We consider our properties and facilities to be suitable and adequate for our present needs.

 

WORLD FUEL SERVICES CORPORATION and SUBSIDIARIES

PROPERTIES

 

Location


  

Principal Use


   Lease Expiration

Corporate          

9800 Northwest 41st Street, Suite 400

Miami, FL 33178, USA

   Executive and administrative office    March 2013
Marine Fuel Services          

9800 Northwest 41st Street, Suite 400

Miami, FL 33178, USA

   Executive and administrative office    March 2013

Raritan Plaza III

101 Fieldcrest Avenue Suite 2B

Edison, NJ 08837, USA

   Administrative, operations and sales office    January 2010

2 Greenwich Office Park

Greenwich, CT 06830, USA

   Administrative, operations and sales office    December 2006

1101 Fifth Avenue, Suite 280

San Rafeal, CA 94901, USA

   Administrative, operations and sales office    July 2008

238A Thompson Road #17-08

Novena Square Tower A, Singapore 307684

   Administrative, operations and sales office    December 2006

9 F/L., Dongwon-Bldg., 128-27

Dangju - Dong, Chongno - Ku

Seoul, 110-759 South Korea

   Sales office    October 2007

 

(Continued)

 

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WORLD FUEL SERVICES CORPORATION and SUBSIDIARIES

PROPERTIES

(Continued)

 

Location


  

Principal Use


   Lease Expiration

Marine Fuel Services          

4th floor, Tozan Building, 4-4-2

Nihonbashi Hon-Cho, Chuo-Ku

Tokyo 103-0023, Japan

   Sales office    March 2006

Yam Tze Commercial Building, Unit A, 18th Floor

23 Thompson Road

Wanchai, Hong Kong

   Administrative, operations and sales office    March 2006

Poseidonos 60 Av., Third Floor

Glyfada 166-75 Athens, Greece

   Sales office    Month-to-month

The Foundry, 4th Floor, Unit 1, Cardiff Road

Green Point, South Africa 8001

   Sales office    August 2007

Al Mossa Tower 2, Suite 904

Sheikh Zayed Road, P.O. Box 24676

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

   Sales office    March 2006

Westminster Tower

3 Albert Embankment

London SE1 75P, United Kingdom

   Administrative, operations and sales office    March 2010

Gammelbyved 2

Karise, Denmark 4653

   Sales office    Month-to-month

Vasteland 6

3011 BK Rotterdam, Netherlands

   Administrative, operations and sales office    Month-to-month

Niels Juels gate 11 B

0272 Oslo, Norway

   Administrative, operations and sales office    February 2006

Oficentro Ejécutivo La Sabana Sur, Edificio #7, Piso 2

San José, Costa Rica

   Administrative, operations and sales office    May 2009

Avenida Libertad 798, Suite 301

Vina del Mar, Chile

   Sales office    September 2005

Tucuman 373 Pis 3, 1049 CF

Buenos Aires, Argentina

   Sales office    August 2005

No. 1 Pudong Avenue, Marine Tower, Room 1206

Shanghai, China 200120

   Sales office    Month-to-month

Yener Sok, Ayaz Apr No. 123, D-3

Erenkoy, Istanbul Turkey

   Sales office    Month-to-month

70 Shenton Way, #17-01A

Marina House, Singapore 79118

   Administrative, operations and sales office    November 2006

34 ap.3, Georgiy Dimitrov Str 236000

Kaliningrad, Russia

   Sales office    December 2005

 

(Continued)

 

Page 9 of 72


Table of Contents

WORLD FUEL SERVICES CORPORATION and SUBSIDIARIES

PROPERTIES

(Continued)

 

Location


  

Principal Use


   Lease Expiration

Marine Fuel Services          

Bremer, 2, D-28816 Stuhr

Bremen, Germany

   Sales office    May 2008

7 Priory Tech Park, Saxon Park, Saxon Way, Hessle, Hull

East Yorkshire HU13 9PB, United Kingdom

   Sales office    July 2015

15-17 Elmfield Road

Bromley, Kent BR1 1LT, United Kingdom

   Administrative, operations and sales office    March 2011

Av. Rio Branco 181/3004

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 20040 007

   Sales office    Month-to-month
Aviation Fuel Services          

9800 Northwest 41st Street, Suite 400

Miami, FL 33178, USA

   Executive, administrative, operations, and sales office    March 2013

333 Cypress Run #200

Houston, Texas 77094, USA

   Administrative, operations and sales office    January 2006

4995 East Anderson Avenue

Fresno, CA 93727, USA

   Administrative, operations and sales office    Month-to-month

238A Thompson Road #17-08

Novena Square Tower A, Singapore 307684

   Administrative, operations and sales office    December 2006

Kingfisher House, Northwood Park, Gatwick Road

Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 2XN, United Kingdom

   Administrative, operations and sales office    December 2007

Oficentro Ejécutivo La Sabana Sur, Edificio #7, Piso 2

San José, Costa Rica

   Administrative, operations and sales office    May 2009

Av. Rio Branco 181/3004

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 20040 007

   Sales office    Month-to-month

Avenida Fuerza Aérea Mexicana No. 465

Colonia Federal, 15700 México, D.F.

   Administrative, operations and sales office    Month-to-month

Slavjanskaya Business Center, 8th Floor

Europe Square 2, Moscow 121059, Russian Federation

   Administrative, operations and sales office    January 2006

Calle 93B No. 11A-33, oficina 303

Bogota, Colombia

   Administrative, operations and sales office    Month-to-month

Room 906, Building 113 Shaoyaojubeili, Chao Yang District

Beijing, China

   Administrative, operations and sales office    Month-to-month

 

Page 10 of 72


Table of Contents

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

In April 2001, Miami-Dade County, Florida (the “County”) filed suit (the “County Suit”) against 17 defendants to seek reimbursement for the cost of remediating environmental contamination at Miami International Airport (the “Airport”). Page Avjet Fuel Corporation, now known as PAFCO LLC (“PAFCO”), is a defendant. We acquired a 50% interest in PAFCO from Signature Flight Support Corporation (“Signature”) in December 2000. Pursuant to the PAFCO acquisition agreement, Signature agreed to indemnify us for all PAFCO liabilities arising prior to the closing date (“Closing”). Because the Airport contamination occurred prior to Closing, we believe that the County Suit is covered by Signature’s indemnification obligation. We have notified Signature of the County Suit, as stipulated in the acquisition agreement. We expect Signature to defend this claim on behalf of PAFCO and at Signature’s expense.

 

Also in April 2001, the County sent a letter to approximately 250 potentially responsible parties (“PRP’s”), including World Fuel Services Corporation and one of our subsidiaries, advising them of their potential liability for the clean-up costs of the contamination that is subject of the County Suit. The County has threatened to add the PRP’s as defendants in the County Suit, unless they agree to share in the cost of the environmental clean-up at the Airport. In May 2001, we advised the County that: (1) neither we nor any of our subsidiaries were responsible for any environmental contamination at the Airport, and (2) to the extent that we or any of our subsidiaries were so responsible, our liability was subject to indemnification by the County pursuant to the indemnity provisions contained in our lease agreement with the County.

 

The claims asserted by the County relating to environmental contamination at the Airport remain pending; however, no significant developments occurred during the year ended December 31, 2004. We intend to vigorously defend these claims, and we believe our liability in these matters (if any) should be adequately covered by the indemnification obligations of Signature as to PAFCO, and the County as to World Fuel Services Corporation and our other subsidiaries.

 

In November 2004, World Fuel was served with process in a lawsuit titled Action Manufacturing Co., Inc. et al. v. Simon Wrecking Company, et al. This action, pending in U.S. Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, relates to the environmental clean up of the Malvern TCE Superfund site in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The plaintiffs are a group of private corporations that entered into a consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency in 1999, under the terms of which the plaintiffs agreed to pay for remediation of the site. In the action, the Plaintiffs are seeking contribution from the various Defendants toward the costs of remediating the site. Plaintiffs have alleged that World Fuel is a “successor” to Resource Technology Services, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation that arranged for disposal of wastes at the site. In 1988, Resource Recovery Atlantic, Inc., a Delaware corporation that was then an indirect subsidiary of World Fuel, purchased selected assets from Resource Technology Services, Inc. The plaintiffs claim that this transaction gives rise to our successor liability pursuant to the Pennsylvania Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act. The plaintiffs have alleged that Resource Technology Services Inc.’s share of the clean-up costs is $1.0 million.

 

World Fuel’s subsidiary, Resource Recovery Atlantic, Inc., acquired only selected assets of Resource Technology Services, Inc., and did not assume any of its liabilities, except for four vehicle leases. We believe that neither World Fuel, nor any of our subsidiaries, is a “successor” to Resource Technology Services, Inc. and that we are not responsible for any liabilities of that company. We intend to vigorously defend all claims asserted against us arising from liabilities of Resource Technology Services, Inc.

 

We may not prevail in the legal proceedings described above and