10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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 May 31, 2003

 

OR

 

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

 

       For the transition period from                                  to                                 

 

Commission File Number: 0-32113

 


 

RESOURCES CONNECTION, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 


 

Delaware   33-0832424

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

  (I.R.S. Employer

Incorporation or Organization)

  Identification No.)

 

695 Town Center Drive, Suite 600, Costa Mesa, California 92626

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code:  (714) 430-6400

 

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

None.

 

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

 

Title of each class

Common Stock, $0.01 par value

 


 

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 this Form 10-K.  ¨

 

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

 

As of November 22, 2002, the approximate aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was $360,175,000 (based upon the closing price for shares of the Registrant’s common stock as reported by The Nasdaq National Market). As of August 22, 2003, there were approximately 22,409,304 shares of common stock, $.01 par value, outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

The Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, is incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K to the extent stated herein.

 



RESOURCES CONNECTION, INC.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
No.


     PART I     

ITEM 1.

   BUSINESS    1

ITEM 2.

   PROPERTIES    11

ITEM 3.

   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS    11

ITEM 4.

   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS    11
     PART II     

ITEM 5.

   MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS    12

ITEM 6.

   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA    13

ITEM 7.

   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS    15

ITEM 7A.

   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK    31

ITEM 8.

   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA    32

ITEM 9.

   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH AUDITORS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE    54

ITEM 9A.

   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES    54
     PART III     

ITEM 10.

   DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT    55

ITEM 11.

   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION    55

ITEM 12.

   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS    55

ITEM 13.

   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS    55

ITEM 14.

   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES    55
     PART IV     

ITEM 15.

   EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K    56

 

In this Report on Form 10-K, “Resources Connection,” “company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to the business of Resources Connection LLC for all periods prior to the sale of Resources Connection LLC by Deloitte & Touche LLP, and to Resources Connection, Inc. and its subsidiaries for all periods after the sale. References to “Deloitte & Touche” refer to Deloitte & Touche LLP. References in this Report on Form 10-K to “fiscal,” “year” or “fiscal year” refer to our fiscal years that consist of the 52- or 53-week period ending on the Saturday in May closest to May 31.

 

This Report on Form 10-K, including information incorporated herein by reference, contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to expectations concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by words

 

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such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should,” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements and all phases of our operations are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are identified herein. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements and those of our industry may be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update the forward-looking statements in this filing.

 

Available Information

 

The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 695 Town Center Drive, Suite 600, Costa Mesa, California 92626. The Company’s telephone number is (714) 430-6400 and its web site address is http://www.resourcesconnection.com. The information set forth in the web site does not constitute part of this Report on Form 10-K. We file our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) electronically. The public may read or copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov.

 

A free copy of our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports may be obtained as soon as reasonably practicable after we file such reports with the SEC on our website at http://www.resourcesconnection.com.

 

 

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

 

Overview

 

Resources Connection is an international professional services firm that provides experienced accounting and finance, risk management and internal audit, information technology, human resources and procurement (supply chain) management professionals to clients on a project basis. We assist our clients with discrete projects requiring specialized professional expertise in accounting and finance, such as mergers and acquisitions due diligence, financial analyses (e.g., product costing and margin analyses), corporate reorganizations and tax-related projects. In addition, we provide human resources management services, such as compensation program design and implementation, information technology services, such as transitions of management information systems, and internal audit services, such as documenting internal controls. We also assist our clients with periodic needs such as budgeting and forecasting, audit preparation, public reporting and assisting clients with their compliance efforts under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes”).

 

We were founded in June 1996 by a team at Deloitte & Touche, led by our current chief executive officer, Donald B. Murray, who was then a senior partner with Deloitte & Touche. Additional founding members include our current chief financial officer, Stephen J. Giusto, then also a Deloitte & Touche partner, and Karen M. Ferguson, the current regional managing director of our Northeast practice offices. Our founders created Resources Connection to capitalize on the increasing demand for high quality outsourced professional services. We operated as a division of Deloitte & Touche from our inception in June 1996 until January 1997. From January 1997 until April 1999, we operated as a subsidiary of Deloitte & Touche. During these periods, due to regulatory constraints applicable to us as part of a Big Four accounting firm, we were unable to provide certain accounting services to audit clients of Deloitte & Touche. In April 1999, we completed a management-led buyout. Subsequent to the management-led buyout, we were able to expand the scope of services we provide to our clients.

 

Our business model combines the client service orientation and commitment to quality of a Big Four accounting firm with the entrepreneurial culture of an innovative, high-growth company. We are positioned to take advantage of what we believe are two converging trends in the outsourced professional services industry: increasing demand for outsourced professional services by corporate clients and increasing supply of professionals interested in working on an outsourced basis. We believe our business model allows us to offer challenging yet flexible career opportunities, attract highly qualified, experienced professionals and, in turn, attract clients with varying professional needs.

 

As of May 31, 2003, we employed more than 1,175 professional service associates on assignment. Our associates have professional experience in a wide range of industries and functional areas. Based upon an internal, annual survey conducted in late calendar year 2002, to which approximately 56% of all active associates responded, 51% of respondents were CPAs, 40% had Masters degrees, and the average years of professional experience was about 17. We offer our associates careers that combine the flexibility of project-based work with many of the advantages of working for a traditional professional services firm.

 

We have established a diverse client base of over 1,200 clients, ranging from large corporations to mid-sized companies to small entrepreneurial entities, in a broad range of industries. For example, our clients include approximately half of the Fortune 100, which accounted for approximately 14.5% and 15.2% of our revenues in fiscal 2002 and 2003, respectively, and all of the Big Four accounting firms. As of May 31, 2003, we served our clients through 50 offices in the United States and five offices abroad. We have grown revenues internally from $29.7 million in fiscal 1998 to $202.0 million in fiscal 2003, a five-year compounded annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 46.8% and our income from operations over the same period has increased from $3.7 million to $20.2 million, a five-year CAGR of 40.4%. We have been profitable every year since our inception.

 

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We believe our distinctive culture is a valuable asset and is in large part due to our management team, which has extensive experience in the professional services industry. Many of our senior management and office managing directors have Big Four experience and an equity interest in our company. This team has created a culture of professionalism that we believe fosters in our associates a feeling of personal responsibility for, and pride in, client projects and enables us to deliver high-quality service to our clients.

 

Subsequent to our fiscal year-end of May 31, 2003, we completed three transactions to enhance our international presence as well as our ability to deliver internal audit services. The largest of the three was the all cash acquisition for $29.4 million of the outstanding capital shares of Ernst & Young’s subsidiary, Executive Temporary Management BV (“ETM”) in the Netherlands on July 15, 2003. ETM is considered a market leader in the interim management industry in the Netherlands. This acquisition provides a foundation in continental Europe and will allow us to market to our current and prospective multinational clients seeking an alternative to Big Four audit firms, particularly in light of current concerns about auditor independence. ETM has seven offices in the Netherlands and contracted with, or employed, over 300 professional service associates on assignment as of March 31, 2003. ETM reported revenues for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 of $45.4 million and revenues of $72 million for the year ended June 30, 2002. Upon completion of this transaction, we renamed ETM Resources Connection. NL B.V.

 

In addition to the international expansion driven by the acquisition in the Netherlands, we also acquired the assets of Deloitte Re:sources Pty Ltd. from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in Australia in an all cash deal for $1 million on June 1, 2003. The subsidiary, now renamed Resources Connection Australia Pty. Ltd., was originally launched in 1998 by us on behalf of the Deloitte Australia firm. The acquisition presented the opportunity to expand our Asia Pacific presence.

 

Finally, on July 30, 2003, we announced the acquisition of the company that developed policyIQTM, a web-based solution for internal controls documentation and content management. The purchase includes cash of $2 million and a provision for contingent payments based on sales volume. policyIQTM is a tool that clients of our subsidiary, Resources Audit Solutions (“RAS”), can use to assist in complying with Sarbanes. RAS specializes in conducting internal audits, assisting clients in establishing and documenting efficient internal controls, assessing risk management practices and complying with the myriad of new regulations associated with Sarbanes.

 

Industry Background

 

Demand for Project Professional Services

 

Resources Connection’s services address a range of professional areas, with a substantial majority of revenues derived from accounting and finance services. The market for professional services is broad, and independent data on the size of the market is fragmented. For instance, past studies in 2002 by Staffing Industry Analysts, Inc. put the size of the professional sector of the staffing industry at $58.6 billion in 2002, but this is just a measure of the staffing component of professional services. Other components include, but are not limited to, CPA services and consulting services, each of which address multibillion dollar markets. Because of the corporate scandals documented in the media over the last few years, we believe the market for professional services is changing rapidly and that companies may be willing to choose alternatives to traditional professional service providers. We believe Resources Connection is a viable alternative to traditional accounting and consulting firms in numerous instances because, by using project professionals, companies can:

 

    strategically access specialized skills and expertise;

 

    effectively supplement internal resources;

 

    increase labor flexibility; and

 

    reduce their overall hiring and training costs.

 

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Typically, companies use a variety of alternatives to fill their project professional services needs. Companies outsource entire projects to consulting firms; this provides them access to the expertise of the firm but often entails significant cost and less management control of the project. Companies also supplement their internal resources with employees from the Big Four accounting firms; however, these arrangements are on an ad hoc basis and have been increasingly limited by regulatory concerns. Companies use temporary employees from traditional and Internet-based staffing firms, who may be less experienced or less qualified than employees of professional services firms. Finally, some companies rely solely on their own employees who may lack the requisite time, experience or skills.

 

Supply of Project Professionals

 

Concurrent with the growth in demand for outsourced professional services, we believe, based on discussions with our associates, that the number of professionals seeking to work on a project basis has increased due to a desire for:

 

    more flexible hours and work arrangements, coupled with competitive wages and benefits and a professional culture;

 

    challenging engagements that advance their careers, develop their skills and add to their experience base; and

 

    a work environment that provides a diversity of, and more control over, client engagements.

 

The employment alternatives historically available to professionals may fulfill some, but not all, of an individual’s career objectives. A professional working for a Big Four accounting firm or a consulting firm may receive challenging assignments and training, but may encounter a career path with less flexible hours and limited control over work engagements. Alternatively, a professional who works as an independent contractor faces the ongoing task of sourcing assignments and significant administrative burdens.

 

During the past two years of turmoil in the economy and the accounting profession, particularly, we have experienced an increase in the supply of qualified finance and accounting professionals.

 

Resources Connection Solution

 

We believe that Resources Connection is positioned to capitalize on the confluence of these industry trends. We believe, based on discussions with our clients, that Resources Connection provides clients seeking project professionals with high-quality services because we are able to combine all of the following:

 

    a relationship-oriented approach to assess our clients’ project needs;

 

    highly qualified professionals with the requisite skills and experience;

 

    competitive rates on an hourly, instead of a per project, basis; and

 

    significant client control of their projects.

 

Resources Connection Strategy

 

Our Business Strategy

 

We are dedicated to providing highly qualified and experienced accounting and finance, risk management, human resources management, procurement and information technology professionals to meet our clients’ project and interim professional services needs. Our objective is to be the leading provider of these project-based professional services. We have developed the following business strategies to achieve this objective:

 

   

Hire and retain highly qualified, experienced associates. We believe our highly qualified, experienced associates provide us with a distinct competitive advantage. Therefore, one of our priorities is to continue to attract and retain high-caliber associates. We believe we have been successful in attracting

 

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and retaining qualified professionals by providing challenging work assignments, competitive compensation and benefits, and continuing education and training opportunities, while offering flexible work schedules and more control over choosing client engagements.

 

    Maintain our distinctive culture. Our corporate culture is central to our business strategy and we believe has been a significant component of our success. Our senior management, virtually all of whom are Big Four alumni, has created a culture that combines the commitment to quality and the client service focus of a Big Four accounting firm with the entrepreneurial energy of an innovative, high-growth company. We seek associates and management with talent, integrity, enthusiasm and loyalty to strengthen our team and support our ability to provide clients with high-quality services. We believe that our culture has been instrumental to our success in hiring and retaining highly qualified associates and, in turn, attracting clients.

 

    Build consultative relationships with clients. We emphasize a relationship-oriented approach to business rather than a transaction-oriented or assignment-oriented approach. We believe the professional services experience of our management and associates enables us to understand the needs of our clients and to deliver an integrated, relationship-oriented approach to meeting their professional services needs. We regularly meet with our existing and prospective clients to understand their businesses and help them define their project needs. Once a project is defined, we identify associates with the appropriate skills and experience to meet the client’s needs. We believe that by partnering with our clients to solve their professional services needs, we can generate new opportunities to serve them. The strength of our client relationships is demonstrated by the fact that 49 of our largest 50 clients in fiscal 2002 remained clients in fiscal 2003.

 

    Build the Resources Connection brand. Our objective is to establish Resources Connection as the premier provider of project-based professional services. Our primary means of building our brand is by consistently providing high-quality, value-added services to our clients. We have also focused on building a significant referral network through our 1,175 associates on assignment and approximately 300 management employees, most of whom have established relationships with a number of potential clients. In addition, we have ongoing national and local marketing efforts that reinforce the Resources Connection brand. These efforts include continuing the advertising campaign commenced in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002 in targeted business publications.

 

Our Growth Strategy

 

Virtually all of our growth since inception has been internal. We believe we have significant opportunity for continued strong internal growth in our core business and have completed a few strategic acquisitions. In both our core and acquired businesses, key elements of our growth strategy include:

 

    Expanding work from existing clients. A principal component of our strategy is to secure additional project work from the more than 1,200 clients we served in fiscal 2003. We believe, based on discussions with our clients, that the amount of revenue we currently receive from most of our clients represents a relatively small percentage of the amount they spend on professional services, and that, consistent with industry trends, they will continue to increase the amount they spend on these services. We believe that by continuing to deliver high-quality services and by further developing our relationships with our clients, we will capture a significantly larger share of our clients’ expenditures for professional services.

 

    Growing our client base. We will continue to focus on attracting new clients. We plan to develop new client relationships primarily by leveraging the significant contact networks of our management and associates and through referrals from existing clients. In addition, we believe we will attract new clients by building our brand name and reputation and through our national and local marketing efforts. During this past year, we have seen more growth within key, existing clients, as opposed to growing through the addition of new middle market clients. We anticipate that our growth efforts this year will continue to focus on identifying strategic target accounts that tend to be large companies.

 

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    Expanding geographically. We plan to expand geographically to meet the demand for project professional services. We expect to add to our existing domestic office network with new offices strategically located to meet the needs of our existing clients and to create additional new client opportunities. We believe that there are also significant opportunities to grow our business internationally and, consequently, we intend to continue to expand our international presence on a strategic and opportunistic basis.

 

    Providing additional professional services lines. We will continue to explore, and consider entry into, new professional services lines. Since fiscal 1999, we have diversified our professional services lines by entering into human resources management, (including executive compensation and corporate governance consulting), the information technology segments, internal audit services and procurement (supply chain) management. Our considerations when evaluating new professional services lines include growth potential, profitability, cross-marketing opportunities and competition.

 

Associates

 

We believe that an important component of our success over the past six years has been our highly qualified and experienced associates. As of May 31, 2003, we employed 1,175 associates on assignment. Our associates have professional experience in a wide range of industries and functional areas. We provide our associates with challenging work assignments, competitive compensation and benefits, and continuing education and training opportunities, while offering flexible work schedules and more control over choosing client engagements.

 

Our associates are primarily employees of Resources Connection. We typically pay each associate an hourly rate, overtime premiums as required by law, and offer benefits, including paid vacation and holidays; referral bonus programs; group medical, dental and vision programs, each with an approximate 50% contribution by the associate; a basic term life insurance program; a matching 401(k) retirement plan; and professional development and career training. Typically, an associate must work a threshold number of hours to be eligible for all of the benefits. We also have a long-term incentive plan for our associates, which affords them the opportunity to earn an annual cash bonus vesting over time. In addition, we offer our associates the ability to participate in the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. We intend to maintain competitive compensation and benefit programs.

 

Clients

 

We provide our services to a diverse client base in a broad range of industries. In fiscal 2003, we served over 1,200 clients. Our revenues are not concentrated with any particular client or clients, or within any particular industry. In fiscal 2003, no single client accounted for more than 4% of our revenue and our 10 largest clients accounted for approximately 19% of our revenues.

 

The clients listed below represent the geographic and industry diversity of our client base in fiscal 2003.

 

Allied Waste    Laidlaw Education Services
Blue Shield of California    PepsiCo Inc.
CB Richard Ellis    Pharmacia Corporation
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation    Siemens Corporation
El Paso Corporation    Southwest Airlines
Exelon Corporation    Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.
Great West Life and Annuity Life Insurance Company    Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.

 

Services

 

Our current professional services capabilities include accounting and finance, risk management and internal audit, information technology, human resources and procurement (supply chain) management. In fiscal 2003, our revenue from providing accounting and finance services accounted for a substantial majority of our revenue. Our engagements are project-based and often last three months or longer.

 

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Accounting and Finance

 

Our accounting and finance services include:

 

Special Projects:    Our accounting and finance associates work on a variety of special projects including:

 

    financial analyses, such as product costing and margin analyses;

 

    tax-related projects, such as tax compliance and analysis of tax liabilities resulting from acquisitions; and

 

    resolving complex accounting problems, such as large out-of-balance accounts and unreconciled balances.

 

Sample Engagement:    We provided 36 associates over an 18-month period to assist the transition team of a large utility in their efforts to emerge from bankruptcy. Our associates were responsible for:

 

    performing special projects related to the bankruptcy;

 

    assisting with establishing proper cut-off related to the bankruptcy;

 

    assisting with the proof of claims process; and

 

    assisting with the integration of the proposed Plan of Reorganization.

 

Mergers and Acquisitions:    Our accounting and finance associates have assisted with the following functions for clients involved in mergers and acquisitions:

 

    due diligence work;

 

    integration of financial reporting and accounting systems; and

 

    public reporting filings associated with the transaction.

 

Sample Engagement:    We have provided more than 50 associates to assist with the post-acquisition integration of a multi-billion dollar solid waste management company. Our services were delivered through 19 of our offices with coordination provided by one of our offices. We assigned a specially designated project manager to oversee the delivery of our services, thereby facilitating project management and client control. Our associates were responsible for:

 

    performing controller responsibilities at various sites, including preparing internal financial statements, closing the general ledger and managing the accounting staff;

 

    restructuring the fixed asset reporting system;

 

    assisting with the transition of financial functions during the divestiture of solid waste facilities and closing of other facilities;

 

    assisting with converting the newly acquired facilities’ systems to the parent’s systems; and

 

    preparing fuel tax returns and related tax schedules.

 

Finance and Accounting System Implementation and Conversion:    When a company implements a new system, the conversion often entails additional work that burdens management’s time. To address this problem, we provide associates that:

 

    assist with the finance and accounting issues of system implementations; and

 

    maintain daily operations during the implementation and conversion process in order to minimize disruption to the organization.

 

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Sample Engagement:    We provided 15 associates over a 14-month period to assist one of the world’s largest energy production companies in converting to a new proprietary accounting software system through operations worldwide, developing the relevant required software documentation and relocating its accounting and commercial services departments between two metropolitan areas. Our associates were responsible for:

 

    documenting and preparing a flowchart of the accounting system and existing business processes, practices and workflows;

 

    reviewing internal controls and developing an operations manual;

 

    documenting the new accounting system processes and procedures;

 

    performing pre- and post-conversion testing;

 

    hiring and training new employees; and

 

    designing training programs.

 

Periodic Accounting and Finance Needs:    Our associates help clients with periodic needs such as:

 

    interim senior financial management, including controller or accounting manager tasks;

 

    monthly/quarterly/year-end closings;

 

    audit preparation;

 

    public reporting; and

 

    budgeting and forecasting.

 

Sample Engagement:    We provided 40 associates over a 19-month period to assist a multi-unit medical company with a comprehensive review and clean-up of the company’s consolidated balance sheet in preparation for its year-end audit. Our associates were responsible for:

 

    designing a work program and package format to be used by 23 associates in teams across six states;

 

    completing a detailed review of approximately 180 entities’ balance sheets, compiling documentation, and obtaining support for the entire trial balance; and

 

    proposing adjusting entries and recommending subsequent internal accounting control system and procedure changes.

 

Human Resources Management

 

Our human resources management professional services group was formed in June 1999. Our human resources management services include:

 

    development of human resources management procedures, training and policies;

 

    compensation program design and implementation;

 

    interim senior human resources management; and

 

    assistance in complying with governmental employment regulations.

 

Sample Engagement:    We provided an associate over a seven-month period to assist a global entertainment conglomerate with a number of projects. Our associate was responsible for:

 

    evaluating existing health and welfare plans;

 

    designing a plan of integration for employee benefit programs of various subsidiaries;

 

    developing a plan for early retirement programs associated with a merger; and

 

    researching ERISA compliance in various employer health and welfare plans.

 

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Sample Engagement:    We have provided three associates over a three-month period to assist a leading provider of business information and related products and services with a number of projects. Our associates were responsible for:

 

    evaluating the existing human resources information system, or HRIS;

 

    reviewing vendors and implementing a new HRIS system;

 

    updating human resources policies and procedures to reflect consistent corporate policies across numerous acquired companies; and

 

    evaluating the various retirement benefits for each of the multiple subsidiaries and acquired companies.

 

Information Technology

 

Our information technology professional services group was formed in June 1998. Our information technology services include:

 

    financial system/enterprise resource planning implementation and post implementation optimization;

 

    HRIS implementation and integration; and

 

    supporting analytical systems such as consolidation and budgeting and planning tools.

 

Sample Engagement:    We provided four associates over a six-month period to redesign the reporting process and re-implement Hyperion Enterprise for a diversified international manufacturing corporation. The challenge included managing the complexities of balancing United States financial accounting reporting, international financial accounting reporting and internal operational reporting while creating as little disruption as possible to the users. Our team included a project manager, a technical Enterprise expert and report writing specialists. Our associates were responsible for:

 

    creating new reports to satisfy statutory and operational requirements and streamlining and rationalizing 400 existing reports;

 

    re-implementing a chart of accounts to support reporting requirements of diverse operational segments;

 

    executing a communication plan to educate and create buy-in with the users; and

 

    completing other special projects such as legal entity rationalization.

 

Internal Audit Services

 

Our internal audit services subsidiary, RAS, was formed in June 2002 and provides the following services:

 

    implementing efficient internal controls policies and procedures;

 

    assessing risk management practices; and

 

    complying with regulations of Sarbanes.

 

Sample Engagement:    We provided 45 associates to assist with a Sarbanes Section 404 compliance project for a multi-billion dollar solid waste management company. Our associates visited 15 client locations and utilized the content management tool, policyIQTM, to assist management with gathering support for their assessment of the internal control environment. Our associates were responsible for:

 

    documenting the existing business processes, practices, and workflows; and

 

    identifying any control weaknesses within those processes.

 

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Procurement Management

 

We purchased The Procurement Centre (“TPC”) in October 2002. Our procurement services include:

 

    providing qualified supply chain professionals with a variety of skill-sets and backgrounds including: working as sourcing team members, leading strategic sourcing efforts, negotiating contracts, serving as commodity/category experts, developing strategies, and performing tactical purchasing;

 

    offering a variety of supply chain management solutions, including: strategic sourcing, inventory rationalization, supplier diversity assistance, ERP implementations, and procurement card programs; and

 

    presenting a variety of onsite training and education seminars to keep customers updated on the latest trends in purchasing and supply chain management.

 

Sample Engagements:    We provided seven associates over an eight-month period to assist a Fortune 500 company’s procurement organization on a variety of projects. Our associates were responsible for:

 

    leading the development of a multi-year strategic plan for the entire purchasing organization;

 

    assisting with the formulation and implementation of an IT procurement strategy to address an annual spend in excess of $100 million;

 

    conducting a current State Assessment, the scope of which includes a review of the “as-is state”, gap analysis, process mapping, personnel assessment, focus interviews, definition of “to-be” state and delivery of an implementation plan to achieve the defined desirable outcome;

 

    serving as a commodity manager for a critical spend category;

 

    reviewing, managing, and negotiating supplier contracts;

 

    assisting in the creation of standard corporate contract terms and conditions;

 

    providing in-house procurement training and education courses; and

 

    acting as a strategic adviser for the new procurement executive.

 

Operations

 

We generally provide our professional services to clients at a local level through our 50 domestic offices and five international offices, with the oversight and consultation of our corporate management team located in our corporate service center and our regional managing directors. The managing director and client service director(s) in each office are responsible for initiating client relationships, identifying associates specifically skilled to perform client projects, ensuring client satisfaction throughout engagements and maintaining client relationships post-engagement. Throughout this process, the corporate management team and regional managing directors are available to consult with the managing director with respect to client services.

 

Our offices are operated in a decentralized, entrepreneurial manner. The managing directors of our offices are given significant autonomy in the daily operations of their respective offices, and with respect to such offices, are responsible for overall guidance and supervision, budgeting and forecasting, sales and marketing, pricing and hiring. We believe that a substantial portion of the buying decisions made by our clients are made on a local or regional basis and that our offices most often compete with other professional services providers on a local or regional basis. Because our managing directors are in the best position to understand the local and regional outsourced professional services market and because clients often prefer local providers, we believe that a decentralized operating environment maximizes operating performance and contributes to employee and client satisfaction.

 

9


We believe that our ability to successfully deliver professional services to clients is dependent on our managing directors working together as a collegial and collaborative team, at times working jointly on client projects. To build a sense of team effort and increase camaraderie among our managing directors, we have an incentive program for our office management that awards annual bonuses based on both the performance of the company and the performance of the director’s particular office. In addition, many members of our office management own equity in our company. We also have a mentor program whereby each new managing director is trained by an experienced managing director, who is responsible for providing support to the new managing director on an ongoing basis.

 

From our corporate headquarters in Costa Mesa, California, we provide our offices with centralized administrative, marketing, finance and legal support. Our financial reporting is centralized in our corporate service center. This center also handles billing, accounts payable and accounts receivable, and administers human resources including employee compensation and benefits. In addition, we have a corporate networked information technology platform with centralized financial reporting capabilities and a front office client management system. These centralized functions minimize the administrative burdens on our office management and allow them to spend more time focused on client development.

 

Business Development

 

Our business development initiatives are composed of:

 

    local sales initiatives focused on existing clients and target companies;

 

    brand marketing activities; and

 

    national and local direct mail programs.

 

Our business development efforts are driven by the networking and sales efforts of our management. The managing directors and client service directors in our offices develop a list of targeted potential clients and key existing clients. In addition, the directors are assisted by a few management professionals focused on business development efforts on a national basis. These business development professionals, teamed with the managing directors and client service group, are responsible for initiating and fostering relationships with the senior management of our targeted client companies. These local efforts are supplemented with national marketing assistance. We have a national business development director who, with our top executives, assists with major client opportunities. We believe that these efforts have been effective in generating incremental revenues from existing clients and developing new client relationships.

 

Our brand marketing initiatives help develop Resources Connection’s image in the markets we serve. Our brand is reinforced by our professionally designed website, brochures and pamphlets, direct mail, public relations efforts and advertising materials. We believe that our branding initiatives coupled with our high-quality client service differentiate us from our competitors and establish Resources Connection as a credible and reputable professional services firm.

 

Our national marketing group develops our direct mail campaigns to focus on our targeted client and associate populations. These campaigns are intended to support our branding, sales and marketing, and associate hiring initiatives.

 

Competition

 

We operate in a competitive, fragmented market and compete for clients and associates with a variety of organizations that offer similar services. Our principal competitors include:

 

    consulting firms;

 

    loaned employees of the Big Four accounting firms;

 

10


    traditional and Internet-based staffing firms and their specialized divisions; and

 

    the in-house resources of our clients.

 

We compete for clients on the basis of the quality of professionals, the timely availability of professionals with requisite skills, the scope and price of services, and the geographic reach of services. We believe that our attractive value proposition, consisting of our highly qualified associates, relationship-oriented approach and professional culture, enables us to differentiate ourselves from our competitors. Although we believe we compete favorably with our competitors, many of our competitors have significantly greater financial resources, generate greater revenues and have greater name recognition than our company.

 

Employees

 

As of May 31, 2003, we had a total of 1,519 employees, including 344 corporate and office-level employees and 1,175 professional services associates. None of our employees is covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

 

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

 

As of May 31, 2003, we maintain a total of 50 domestic offices, a few with multiple office locations in the same city, which are located in the following metropolitan areas:

 

Phoenix, Arizona   Boise, Idaho   Cincinnati, Ohio
Costa Mesa, California   Chicago, Illinois   Cleveland, Ohio
Los Angeles, California   Indianapolis, Indiana   Columbus, Ohio
Sacramento, California   Kansas City, Kansas   Portland, Oregon
Santa Clara, California   Baltimore, Maryland   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
San Diego, California   Boston, Massachusetts   Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
San Francisco, California   Detroit, Michigan   Nashville, Tennessee
Denver, Colorado   Minneapolis, Minnesota   Austin, Texas
Hartford, Connecticut   St. Louis, Missouri   Dallas, Texas
Stamford, Connecticut   Las Vegas, Nevada   Fort Worth, Texas
Jacksonville, Florida   Parsippany, New Jersey   Houston, Texas
Orlando, Florida   Princeton, New Jersey   San Antonio, Texas
Tampa, Florida   New York, New York   Seattle, Washington
Atlanta, Georgia   Syracuse, New York   Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Honolulu, Hawaii   Charlotte, North Carolina   Washington, D.C.

 

Our corporate offices are located in the Costa Mesa, California office in a 19,048 square foot facility under a lease expiring in June 2007. We maintain five international offices: Toronto, Canada; Birmingham, England; London, England; Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China; and Taipei, Taiwan.

 

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We are not currently subject to any material legal proceedings; however, we are a party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business.

 

ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003.

 

11


PART II

 

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Price Range of Common Stock

 

Our common stock has traded on The Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “RECN” since December 15, 2000. Prior to that time, there was no public market for our common stock. The approximate number of holders of record of our common stock as of May 31, 2003 was 314.

 

The following table sets forth the range of high and low closing sales prices reported on The Nasdaq National Market for our common stock for the periods indicated.

 

    

Price Range of

Common Stock


     High

   Low

Fiscal 2001:

             

Third Quarter (December 15, 2000 through February 24, 2001)

   $ 24.75    $ 16.00

Fourth Quarter

   $ 33.30    $ 17.13

Fiscal 2002:

             

First Quarter

   $ 31.88    $ 19.50

Second Quarter

   $ 23.56    $ 17.66

Third Quarter

   $ 27.90    $ 20.64

Fourth Quarter

   $ 30.06    $ 24.55

Fiscal 2003:

             

First Quarter

   $ 27.30    $ 16.50

Second Quarter

   $ 19.00    $ 11.57

Third Quarter

   $ 23.21    $ 16.54

Fourth Quarter

   $ 23.54    $ 17.81

Fiscal 2004:

             

First Quarter (June 2, 2003 through August 22, 2003)

   $ 28.30    $ 20.35

 

Dividend Policy

 

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the growth and development of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Our credit agreement currently prohibits us from declaring or paying any dividends or other distributions on any shares of our capital stock other than dividends payable solely in shares of capital or the stock of our subsidiaries. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, general business condition, contractual restrictions contained in our credit agreement and other agreements, and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.

 

Issuances of Unregistered Securities

 

On October 11, 2002, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”), with RC Transaction Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“RC”), The Procurement Centre, LLC (the “Seller”), and certain members of the Seller, pursuant to which RC acquired certain assets and liabilities of the Seller. As part of the consideration, on October 11, 2002, the Company issued 116,000 shares of its common stock to the Seller. The Agreement valued such shares at approximately $1,504,000.

 

12


The issuance of the common stock by the Company to the Seller was a transaction not involving a public offering, and is exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The facts relied on to make this exemption available include, without limitation, the following: (i) the offering did not involve any general solicitation or advertising; (ii) the offering was made to the Seller solely in connection with the acquisition of the assets of the Seller; (iii) the Company obtained representations from the members of the Seller regarding, among other things, investment intent, status as accredited investors, and access to information.

 

ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

You should read the following selected historical consolidated financial data in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes beginning on page 32 and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” appearing on page 15. The statements of income data for the period from June 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999, were derived from the financial statements of Resources Connection LLC that have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, and are not included in this Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated statements of income data for the period from November 16, 1998 to May 31, 2000 and the consolidated balance sheet data at May 31, 1999, 2000 and 2001 were derived from our consolidated financial statements that have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and are not included in this Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated statements of income data for the years ended May 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 and the consolidated balance sheet data at May 31, 2002 and 2003 were derived from our consolidated financial statements that have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and are included elsewhere in this Report on Form 10-K. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any future periods.

 

13


    Resources
Connection LLC


  Resources Connection, Inc.

 
    Period from
June 1, 1998 to
March 31, 1999


  Period from
November 16, 1998
to May 31, 1999


  Year Ended
May 31, 2000


  Year Ended
May 31, 2001


    Year Ended
May 31, 2002


    Year Ended
May 31, 2003


 
    (dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)  

Consolidated Statements of Income Data:

                                         

Revenue

  $ 55,897   $ 15,511   $ 127,459   $ 191,496     $ 181,677     $ 202,022  

Direct cost of services

    31,712     8,745     74,668     112,555       108,715       121,648  
   

 

 

 


 


 


Gross profit

    24,185     6,766     52,791     78,941       72,962       80,374  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    17,071     4,274     34,648     49,964       50,688       58,248  

Amortization of intangible assets

    —       371     2,231     2,273       125       655  

Depreciation expense

    118     30     285     866       1,180       1,290  
   

 

 

 


 


 


Income from operations

    6,996     2,091     15,627     25,838       20,969       20,181  

Interest income

    —       —       —       (633 )     (1,183 )     (1,077 )

Interest expense

    —       734     4,717     3,629       —         —    
   

 

 

 


 


 


Income before provision for income taxes

    6,996     1,357     10,910     22,842       22,152       21,258  

Provision for income taxes

    —       565     4,364     9,137       8,861       8,716  
   

 

 

 


 


 


Net income

  $ 6,996   $ 792   $ 6,546   $ 13,705     $ 13,291     $ 12,542  
   

 

 

 


 


 


Net income per common share:

                                         

Basic

        $ 0.09   $ 0.42   $ 0.77     $ 0.63     $ 0.57  
         

 

 


 


 


Diluted

        $ 0.09   $ 0.42   $ 0.71     $ 0.58     $ 0.55  
         

 

 


 


 


Number of shares used in computing net income per share (in thousands):

                                         

Basic

          8,691     15,630     17,864       21,241       21,849  
         

 

 


 


 


Diluted

          8,691     15,714     19,421       22,862       22,896  
         

 

 


 


 


Other Data:

                                         

Number of offices open at end of period

    27     28     35     44       47       55  

Total number of associates on assignment at end of period

    675     697     1,056     1,283       1,060       1,175  

Pro Forma Data (1):

                                         

Income before provision for income taxes

  $ 6,996                                    

Pro forma provision for income taxes

    2,798                                    
   

                                   

Pro forma net income

  $ 4,198                                    
   

                                   

 

    Resources Connection, Inc.

    May 31,

    1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

                             

Cash, cash equivalents and long-term marketable securities

  $ 876   $ 4,490   $ 34,503   $ 55,745   $ 68,078

Working capital

    7,150     7,664     42,965     43,135     60,177

Total assets

    58,954     70,106     105,345     130,588     155,937

Long-term debt, including current portion

    42,531     41,771     —       —       —  

Stockholders’ equity

    10,610     17,185     86,032     113,471     133,531

(1)   Because Resources Connection LLC is a limited liability company, income taxes on any income realized by Resources Connection LLC are the obligation of its members and, accordingly, Resources Connection LLC records no provision for income taxes. The pro forma net income for Resources Connection LLC for the period from June 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999 has been computed as if Resources Connection LLC had been fully subject to federal and state income taxes as a C corporation.

 

14


ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors including, but not limited to, those discussed in “Risk Factors” starting on page 26 and elsewhere in this Report on Form 10-K.

 

Overview

 

Resources Connection is an international professional services firm that provides experienced accounting and finance, risk management and internal audit, information technology, human resources and procurement (supply chain) management professionals to clients on a project basis. We assist our clients with discrete projects requiring specialized expertise in accounting and finance, such as mergers and acquisitions due diligence, financial analyses (e.g., product costing and margin analyses), corporate reorganizations and tax-related projects. In addition, we provide human resources management services, such as compensation program design and implementation, information technology services, such as transitions of management information systems, and internal audit services, such as documenting internal controls. We also assist our clients with periodic needs such as budgeting and forecasting, audit preparation, public reporting and assisting clients with their compliance efforts under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes”).

 

We began operations in June 1996 as a division of Deloitte & Touche and operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Deloitte & Touche from January 1997 until April 1999. In November 1998, our management formed RC Transaction Corp., renamed Resources Connection, Inc., to raise capital for an intended management-led buyout. In April 1999, we completed the management-led buyout in partnership with, among others, an investor, Evercore Partners, Inc. In December 2000, we completed our initial public offering of common stock and began trading on the Nasdaq National Market.

 

Growth in revenue, to date, has generally been the result of establishing offices in major markets. We established nine offices during fiscal 1997, our initial fiscal year, all in the Western United States. In fiscal 1998, we established nine additional offices, which extended our geographic reach to the Midwest and Eastern United States. For the year ended May 31, 1999, we opened ten more offices and established a new service line in information technology. In fiscal 2000, we established four more domestic offices, established a new service line in human resources management and also began operations in Toronto, Canada; Taipei, Taiwan; and Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China. In fiscal 2001, we established nine additional domestic offices. In fiscal 2002, we began operations in London, England and opened two more domestic offices. In addition, we purchased an operating division of one of the Big Four accounting firms in the United Kingdom, specializing in the selection and recruitment of senior management teams and interim management capability. The information technology and human resources management service lines have been introduced in a limited number of our offices. At the end of fiscal 2002, we established two new operating entities that focus primarily on providing internal audit services (Resources Audit Solutions, LLC (“RAS”)) and executive compensation and corporate governance consulting (Resources Consulting Group, LP).

 

On October 11, 2002, we completed the acquisition of The Procurement Centre, LLC (“TPC”), a Texas based provider of supply chain management services to companies on a project basis. In addition to TPC’s office in Houston, Texas, we have also opened six offices domestically during fiscal 2003 and an office in Birmingham, England.

 

As of May 31, 2003, we served our clients through 50 offices in the United States and five offices abroad.

 

Subsequent to the end of our fiscal year, we completed three transactions to enhance our international presence as well as our ability to deliver services through RAS. The largest of the three was the all cash

 

15


acquisition for $29.4 million of the outstanding capital shares of Ernst & Young’s subsidiary, Executive Temporary Management BV (“ETM”) in the Netherlands on July 15, 2003. ETM is considered a market leader in the interim management industry in the Netherlands. We believe this acquisition will provide a foundation in continental Europe and will allow us to market to our current and prospective multinational clients seeking an alternative to Big Four audit firms, particularly in light of current concerns about auditor independence. ETM has seven offices in the Netherlands and contracted with, or employed, over 300 professional service associates on assignment as of March 31, 2003. ETM reported revenues for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 of $45.4 million and revenues of $72 million for the year ended June 30, 2002.

 

In addition to the international expansion driven by the acquisition of ETM, we also acquired the assets of Deloitte Re:sources Pty Ltd. from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in Australia in an all cash deal for $1 million on June 1, 2003. The subsidiary, now renamed Resources Connection Australia Pty. Ltd., was originally launched in 1998 by us on behalf of the Deloitte Australia firm. The acquisition presented the opportunity to expand our Asia Pacific presence.

 

Finally, on July 30, 2003, we announced the acquisition of the company that developed policyIQTM, a web-based solution for internal controls documentation and content management. The purchase price was $2 million and a provision for contingent payments based on sales volume. policyIQTM is a tool that clients of our subsidiary, RAS, can use to assist in complying with Sarbanes. RAS specializes in conducting internal audits, assisting clients in establishing and documenting efficient internal controls, assessing risk management practices and complying with the myriad of new regulations associated with Sarbanes.

 

We earn revenue primarily by charging our clients on an hourly basis for the professional services of our associates. We recognize revenue once services have been rendered and typically invoice our clients on a weekly basis. Our clients are contractually obligated to pay us for all hours billed. To a much lesser extent, we also earn revenue if a client hires an associate onto its permanent payroll. This type of contractually non-refundable revenue is recognized at the time our client completes the hiring process and represented less than 3%, 2% and 1% of our revenue for the years ended May 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively. We periodically review our outstanding accounts receivable balance and determine an estimate of the amount of those receivables we believe may prove uncollectible. Our provision for bad debts is included in our selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

The costs to pay our professional associates and all related benefit and incentive costs, including provisions for paid time off and other employee benefits, are included in direct cost of services. We pay our associates on an hourly basis for all hours worked on client engagements and, therefore, direct cost of services tends to vary directly with the volume of revenue we earn. We expense the benefits we pay to our associates as they are earned. These benefits include paid vacation and holidays; a bonus incentive plan; referral bonus programs; group health, dental and life insurance programs; a matching 401(k) retirement plan; the ability to participate in the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan; and professional development and career training. In addition, we pay the related costs of employment, including state and federal payroll taxes, workers’ compensation insurance, unemployment insurance and other costs. Typically, an associate must work a threshold number of hours to be eligible for all of the benefits. We recognize direct cost of services when incurred.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses include the payroll and related costs of our internal management as well as general and administrative, marketing and recruiting costs. Our sales and marketing efforts are led by our management team who are salaried employees and earn bonuses based on operating results for our company as a whole and within each manager’s geographic market.

 

The Company’s fiscal year consists of 52 or 53 weeks, ending on the last Saturday in May. For fiscal years of 53 weeks, such as fiscal 2003, the first three quarters consist of 13 weeks each and the fourth quarter consists of 14 weeks. The actual quarter end dates for fiscal 2003 and 2002 were as follows: for fiscal 2003, August 24, 2002 (first quarter); November 23, 2002 (second quarter); February 22, 2003 (third quarter); and May 31, 2003 (fourth quarter); and for fiscal 2002, August 25, 2001 (first quarter); November 24, 2001 (second quarter);

 

16


February 23, 2002 (third quarter); and May 25, 2002 (fourth quarter). For convenience, all references herein to years or periods are to years or periods ended May 31.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

 

The following represents a summary of our critical accounting policies, defined as those policies that we believe: (a) are the most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and (b) involve inherently uncertain issues that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

 

    Valuation of long-lived assets—We assess the potential impairment of long-lived tangible and intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Under the new accounting standard effective June 1, 2001, our goodwill and certain other intangible assets are no longer subject to periodic amortization over their estimated useful lives. These assets are now considered to have an indefinite life and their carrying values are required to be assessed by us for impairment at least annually. Depending on future market values, our operating performance and other factors, these assessments could potentially result in impairment reductions of these intangible assets in the future.

 

    Allowance for doubtful accounts—We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our clients to make required payments for services rendered. We estimate this allowance based upon our knowledge of the financial condition of our clients, review of historical receivable and reserve trends and other pertinent information. If the financial condition of our clients deteriorates or we note an unfavorable trend in aggregate receivable collections, additional allowances may be required.

 

    Income taxes—In order to prepare our consolidated financial statements, we are required to make estimates of income taxes, if applicable, in each jurisdiction in which we operate. The process incorporates an assessment of any current tax exposure together with temporary differences resulting from different treatment of transactions for tax and financial statement purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities that are included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The recovery of deferred tax assets from future taxable income must be assessed and, to the extent recovery is not likely, we will establish a valuation allowance. An increase in the valuation allowance results in recording additional tax expense. If the ultimate tax liability differs from the amount of tax expense we have reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income, additional tax expense may need to be recorded.

 

We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

17


Results of Operations

 

The following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, our consolidated statements of income data. These historical results are not necessarily indicative of future results.

 

     Resources Connection, Inc.

 
    

Year Ended

May 31, 2001


 

Year Ended

May 31, 2002


   

Year Ended

May 31, 2003


 
     (amounts in thousands)  

Revenue

   $ 191,496   $ 181,677     $ 202,022  

Direct cost of services

     112,555     108,715       121,648  
    

 


 


Gross profit

     78,941     72,962       80,374  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     49,964     50,688       58,248  

Amortization of intangible assets

     2,273     125       655  

Depreciation expense

     866     1,180       1,290  
    

 


 


Income from operations

     25,838     20,969       20,181  

Interest expense (income), net

     2,996     (1,183 )     (1,077 )
    

 


 


Income before provision for income taxes

     22,842     22,152       21,258  

Provision for income taxes

     9,137     8,861       8,716  
    

 


 


Net income

   $ 13,705   $ 13,291     $ 12,542  
    

 


 


 

Our operating results for the periods indicated are expressed as a percentage of revenue below.

 

     Resources Connection, Inc.

 
    

Year Ended

May 31, 2001


 

Year Ended

May 31, 2002


   

Year Ended

May 31, 2003


 

Revenue

     100.0%     100.0%       100.0%  

Direct cost of services

       58.8       59.8         60.2  
    

 


 


Gross profit

       41.2       40.2         39.8  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

       26.1       27.9         28.8  

Amortization of intangible assets

         1.2         0.1           0.3  

Depreciation expense

         0.4         0.7           0.7  
    

 


 


Income from operations

       13.5       11.5         10.0  

Interest expense (income), net

         1.6       (0.7)         (0.5)  
    

 


 


Income before provision for income taxes

       11.9       12.2         10.5  

Provision for income taxes

         4.7         4.9           4.3  
    

 


 


Net income

         7.2%         7.3%           6.2%  
    

 


 


 

Year Ended May 31, 2003 Compared to Year Ended May 31, 2002

 

Revenue.    Revenue increased $20.3 million or 11.2% to $202.0 million for the year ended May 31, 2003 from $181.7 million for the year ended May 31, 2002. Growth in revenues resulted primarily from continued expansion of our scope of services resulting in more billable hours for our associates and an improvement in rate per hour. Our scope of services expanded by increasing marketing awareness of our ability to do information technology, human capital and internal audit-related engagements. We also added TPC operations. These measures partially offset the effects of the negative economy. To a lesser extent, revenue benefited from the fifty-third week of activity in fiscal 2003. Overall bill rates improved by 4.9% compared to the prior year average bill rate. The increase in revenue for the year is also reflected by the increase in the number of associates on assignment from 1,060 at the end of fiscal 2002 to 1,175 at the end of fiscal 2003. We operated 55 offices during the final quarter of fiscal 2003, compared to 47 offices in the last quarter of fiscal 2002.

 

18


Direct Cost of Services.    Direct cost of services increased $12.9 million or 11.9% to $121.6 million for the year ended May 31, 2003 from $108.7 million for the year ended May 31, 2002. The increase in direct cost of services was attributable to the previously described expansion of the scope of services resulting in more chargeable hours for our associates at higher average pay rates. Overall, the average pay rate per hour increased by 6.8% year-over-year. The number of associates on assignment increased from 1,060 at the end of fiscal 2002 to 1,175 at the end of fiscal 2003. The direct cost of services increased as a percentage of revenue from 59.8% for fiscal year 2002 to 60.2% for fiscal year 2003. The net increase primarily reflects the incremental increase in pay rate per hour compared to bill rate per hour and the decrease in conversion fees in the current year compared to the prior year.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $7.6 million or 14.9% to $58.2 million for the year ended May 31, 2003 from $50.7 million for the year ended May 31, 2002. This increase was primarily attributable to the increase in management and administrative headcount from 312 at the end of fiscal 2002 to 344 at the end of fiscal 2003, causing an increase in compensation and related benefits expense. The increase in headcount arose from the addition of internal personnel of TPC, the incremental hiring for the seven additional offices opened during fiscal 2003, as well as the full year of operation for those offices opened in fiscal 2002. The Company also continued throughout fiscal 2003 the advertising campaign in targeted business publications begun in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002. The increase was also attributable to an increase in occupancy costs from the addition of the new offices, an increase in bonus expense from the Company’s improved revenue results and an increase in insurance costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of revenue from 27.9% for the year ended May 31, 2002 to 28.8% for the year ended May 31, 2003. This percentage increase resulted from the aforementioned increase in salary expense and related benefits, occupancy expenses and national advertising expenses.

 

Amortization and Depreciation Expenses.    Amortization of intangible assets increased from $125,000 for the year ended May 31, 2002 to $655,000 for the year ended May 31, 2003. The increase is attributable to the amortization of intangible assets in the current year related to the Company’s acquisition of TPC, as well as the purchase of a United Kingdom (“UK”) practice in fiscal 2002. The Company recognized approximately $356,000 in amortization expense on non-compete agreements and candidate, prospect and client databases related to the TPC acquisition and $193,000 related to the UK practice. In the prior year, amortization expense related only to the amortization of the non-compete agreement entered into when the Company acquired Resources Connection LLC (“LLC”) on April 1, 1999. The balance of $106,000 remaining for that non-compete agreement at the end of fiscal 2002 was fully amortized in fiscal 2003.

 

Depreciation expense increased from $1.2 million for the year ended May 31, 2002 to $1.3 million for the year ended May 31, 2003. This increase reflects the investment in our UK offices as well as the TPC acquisition, the other offices opened since the beginning of fiscal 2003, a full year of depreciation of assets acquired during fiscal 2002 and our investment in information technology.

 

Interest Income.    The Company has invested available cash in money market and commercial paper investments that have been classified as cash equivalents due to the short maturities of these investments. As of May 31, 2003, the Company has $20 million of government-agency bonds with remaining maturity dates in excess of one year from the balance sheet date. The bonds mature through 2005 and have coupon rates ranging from 1.8% to 3.0%. These investments have been classified in the May 31, 2003 consolidated balance sheet as “held-to-maturity” securities.

 

During fiscal 2003, the Company generated interest income of $1.1 million compared to interest income of $1.2 million in the year ended May 31, 2002. Although the average cash balance for investment increased from fiscal 2002 to fiscal 2003, the lower interest rates year-over-year more than offset the cash balance increase. The Company earned approximately 1.7%, annualized, on its money market, commercial paper and other marketable securities investments during the year.

 

19


Income Taxes.    The provision for income taxes decreased from $8.9 million for the year ended May 31, 2002 to $8.7 million for the year ended May 31, 2003 due to the decrease in income from operations in fiscal 2003. The decrease in income from operations was offset by the increase in the effective tax rate in fiscal 2003 to 41.0% from approximately 40.0% in fiscal 2002. The increase is primarily due to an increase in the federal statutory rate of 1.0%, which resulted from applying a 35.0% federal tax rate in fiscal 2003 as opposed to a 34.0% tax rate as in prior years. Periodically, the Company reviews the components of both book and taxable income to analyze the adequacy of the provision. The Company is implementing tax-planning strategies aimed at reducing its tax burden. However, there can be no assurance that the Company’s effective tax rate will not increase in the future.

 

Year Ended May 31, 2002 Compared to Year Ended May 31, 2001

 

Revenue.    Revenue decreased $9.8 million or 5.1% to $181.7 million for the year ended May 31, 2002 from $191.5 million for the year ended May 31, 2001. The decrease in revenues resulted from the decline in the total billable hours charged to our clients as compared to the prior year, reflected in the decrease in the number of associates on assignment from 1,283 at the end of fiscal 2001 to 1,060 at the end of fiscal 2002. The decrease in billable hours is primarily attributable to the impact of the recession on our clients, as clients opted to truncate certain assignments as compared to the prior year and have taken greater amounts of time to begin follow-on projects. The decrease is also attributable to the loss of middle market clients served during fiscal 2001 and the truncation of services by other middle market clients during fiscal 2002. The decrease in total revenue was offset by an increase in the proportion of hours generated by associates in the IT service line (with a higher average billing rate per hour) and a 4.5% increase in the overall average billing rate per hour. We operated 47 offices during the final quarter of fiscal 2002, compared to 44 offices in the last quarter of fiscal 2001.

 

Direct Cost of Services.    Direct cost of services decreased $3.8 million or 3.4% to $108.7 million for the year ended May 31, 2002 from $112.6 million for the year ended May 31, 2001. The decrease in direct cost of services was attributable to the decrease in total billable hours charged to our clients as compared to the prior year. The number of associates on assignment declined from 1,283 at the end of fiscal 2001 to 1,060 at the end of fiscal 2002. The decrease in direct cost of services occurred despite a 2.7% increase in the average pay rate per hour between the two years. Direct cost of services increased as a percentage of revenue from 58.8% for fiscal year 2001 to 59.8% for fiscal year 2002. The net increase reflects the incremental increase in billing rate per hour compared to pay rate per hour, offset by the impact of our enriched benefit programs for associates and the decrease in conversion fees in the current year compared to the prior year.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $724,000 or 1.4% to $50.7 million for the year ended May 31, 2002 from $50.0 million for the year ended May 31, 2001. This increase reflects the cost of operating and staffing the three new offices opened during fiscal 2002 as well as a full year of operation for those offices opened in fiscal 2001. Management and administrative headcount increased from 290 at the end of fiscal 2001 to 312 at the end of fiscal 2002, causing an increase in compensation and related benefits expense. The Company also embarked in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002 on an advertising campaign in targeted business publications. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of revenue from 26.1% for the year ended May 31, 2001 to 27.9% for the year ended May 31, 2002. This percentage increase resulted primarily from the lower revenue base in fiscal 2002 over which to spread selling, general and administrative expenses, including fixed operating costs, such as rent expense.

 

Amortization and Depreciation Expenses.    Amortization of intangible assets decreased from $2.3 million for the year ended May 31, 2001 to $125,000 for the year ended May 31, 2002. Effective June 1, 2001, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” which establishes new standards for goodwill acquired in a business combination and other intangible assets, eliminates amortization of existing goodwill balances, and requires annual evaluation of goodwill for impairment. The Company is required to evaluate goodwill for impairment by 1) determining the individual reporting units giving rise to the existing goodwill; 2) allocating a fair value to each of the individual

 

20


reporting units via such measures as market capitalization and analysis of future cash flows; and 3) comparing such fair value amounts to the carrying values of the reporting units. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value. The Company does not believe that an impairment of goodwill has occurred.

 

The amortization expense in the current year is related to the amortization of the remaining balance paid for a non-compete agreement entered into when the Company acquired LLC.

 

Depreciation expense increased from $866,000 for the year ended May 31, 2001 to $1.2 million for the year ended May 31, 2002. This increase reflects the addition of offices since the prior year, a full year of depreciation of assets acquired during fiscal 2001 and our investment in information technology.

 

Interest (Income) Expense, Net.    The repayment of the term loan and subordinated notes on December 20, 2000, effectively ended the Company’s interest expense obligations. The Company has invested available cash in money market and commercial paper investments that have been classified as cash equivalents due to the short maturities of these investments. During fiscal 2002, the Company purchased $24 million of government-agency bonds with remaining maturity dates in excess of one year from the balance sheet date. The bonds mature through May 2004 and have coupon rates ranging from 3.0% to 4.0%. These investments have been classified in the May 31, 2002 consolidated balance sheet as “held-to-maturity” securities.

 

During fiscal 2002, the Company generated interest income of $1.2 million compared to net interest expense of $3.0 million in the year ended May 31, 2001. The Company earned approximately 2.6%, annualized, on its money market, commercial paper and other marketable securities investments during the year.

 

Income Taxes.    The provision for income taxes decreased from $9.1 million for the year ended May 31, 2001 to $8.9 million for the year ended May 31, 2002 due to the decrease in income from operations in fiscal 2002. The effective tax rate was approximately 40.0% for both years, which differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to state taxes, net of federal benefit. Periodically, the Company reviews the components of both book and taxable income to analyze the adequacy of the provision. There can be no assurance that the Company’s effective tax rate will not increase in the future.

 

 

21


Quarterly Results

 

The following table sets forth our unaudited quarterly consolidated statements of income data for each of the eight quarters in the two-year period ended May 31, 2003. In the opinion of management, this data has been prepared on a basis substantially consistent with our audited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this document, and reflect and include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the data. The quarterly data should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this document. The operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in any future period.

 

    

Resources Connection, Inc.

Quarter Ended


 
    

Aug. 31,

2001


   

Nov. 30,

2001


   

Feb. 28,

2002


   

May 31,

2002


   

Aug. 31,

2002


   

Nov. 30,

2002


   

Feb. 28,

2003


   

May 31,

2003


 
     (in thousands)  

Consolidated Statements of Income Data:

                                                                

Revenue

   $ 49,340     $ 46,099     $ 42,988     $ 43,250     $ 43,528     $ 50,209     $ 49,237     $ 59,048  

Direct cost of services

     29,257       27,716       26,150       25,592       26,301       29,909       30,153       35,285  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Gross profit

     20,083       18,383       16,838       17,658       17,227       20,300       19,084       23,763  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     12,875       12,348       12,301       13,164       13,018       14,526       14,170       16,534  

Amortization of intangible assets

     31       31       31       32       31       126       298       200  

Depreciation expense

     257       287       316       320       315       312       328       335  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income from operations

     6,920       5,717       4,190       4,142       3,863       5,336       4,288       6,694  

Interest income

     (282 )     (309 )     (265 )     (327 )     (338 )     (270 )     (231 )     (238 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income before provision for income taxes

     7,202       6,026       4,455       4,469       4,201       5,606       4,519       6,932  

Provision for income taxes

     2,881       2,410       1,782       1,788       1,722       2,298       1,853       2,843  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 4,321     $ 3,616     $ 2,673     $ 2,681     $ 2,479     $ 3,308     $ 2,666     $ 4,089  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net income per common share(1):

                                                                

Basic

   $ 0.21     $ 0.17     $ 0.13     $ 0.13     $ 0.11     $ 0.15     $ 0.12     $ 0.19  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Diluted

   $ 0.19     $ 0.16     $ 0.12     $ 0.12     $ 0.11     $ 0.15     $ 0.12     $ 0.18  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 



(1)   Net income per common share calculations for each of the quarters were based upon the weighted average number of shares outstanding for each period, and the sum of the quarters may not necessarily be equal to the full year net income per common share amount.

 

Our quarterly results have fluctuated in the past and we believe they will continue to do so in the future. Certain factors that could affect our quarterly operating results are described below in the section of this report entitled “Risks Related to Our Business.” Due to these and other factors, we believe that quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our results of operations are not meaningful indicators of future performance.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary source of liquidity is cash provided by our operations and, to the extent necessary, available commitments under our revolving line of credit. We have generated positive cash flows from operations since inception, and we continued to do so during the year ended May 31, 2003.

 

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At May 31, 2003, the Company had operating leases, primarily for office premises, expiring at various dates. At May 31, 2003, the Company had no capital leases. Future minimum rental commitments under operating leases are as follows:

 

Years Ending May 31:


    

2004

   $ 5,040,000

2005

     4,369,000

2006

     2,958,000

2007

     2,272,000

2008

     1,584,000

Thereafter

     4,761,000
    

Total

   $ 20,984,000
    

 

On August 22, 2001, we entered into a $10.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility with Bank of America (the “Credit Agreement”). The credit agreement allows the Company to choose the interest rate applicable to advances. The interest rate options are Bank of America’s prime rate, a London Inter-Bank Offered (“LIBOR”) rate plus 1.5% or Bank of America’s Grand Cayman Banking Center (“IBOR”) rate plus 1.5%. Interest is payable on the Credit Agreement at various intervals no less frequently than quarterly. There is an annual facility fee of 0.25% payable on the unutilized portion of the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement, originally set to expire on September 1, 2003, has been extended to December 1, 2003 and the Company is negotiating to extend the agreement for an additional two years. As of May 31, 2003, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $17.0 million in fiscal 2003 compared to $15.3 million in fiscal 2002. Cash provided by operations resulted primarily from the net earnings of the Company partially offset by growth in working capital. One of the primary components of the net increase in cash provided by operations was the increase in the accrual for management incentive bonus as well as the profit sharing plan for associates as of May 31, 2003 compared to May 31, 2002, as the Company’s revenue increased. In addition, accruals for salaries were up over 150% as of May 31, 2003 compared to May 31, 2002. This was the result of two weeks of accrued salary owed to associates as of May 31, 2003 compared to one week at the end of May 31, 2002 and, to a lesser extent, the higher number of associates on active assignment at the end of fiscal 2003 compared to fiscal 2002. In the current year, the Company was also able to utilize some of the prepayments of income taxes triggered by the Company’s change in tax year-end from December 31 to May 31 in calendar 2001. These favorable operating cash flow activities were offset by the increase in the Company’s accounts receivable balance in fiscal 2003, triggered by the Company’s higher revenue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003 as compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002. The Company’s had $48.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and $20 million of long-term marketable securities at May 31, 2003.

 

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $4.7 million for fiscal 2003 compared to $27.7 million for fiscal 2002. During fiscal 2002, the Company purchased $24 million of marketable securities and classified them as “held-to-maturity” securities since their remaining maturity dates are in excess of one year from the balance sheet date. These securities have coupon interest rates ranging from 1.8% to 3.0% as of May 31, 2003.

 

Subsequent to May 31, 2003, the Company completed three separate acquisitions using a total of $32.4 million in cash. After these transactions and anticipated sources and uses of cash during the quarter, the Company expects cash balances available for operating purposes to exceed $30 million as of the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2004.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $4.2 million for the year ended May 31, 2003 compared to $9.6 million for the year ended May 31, 2002. The net cash provided by financing activities in fiscal 2002 reflects the net proceeds received from our secondary offering of common stock in addition to stock option

 

23


exercises and purchases by employees through the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. There was no secondary offering of common stock and the volume of stock option exercises declined in fiscal 2003.

 

Our ongoing operations and anticipated growth in the geographic markets we currently serve will require us to continue to make investments in capital equipment, primarily technology hardware and software. In addition, we may consider making additional strategic acquisitions. We anticipate that our current cash, existing availability under our revolving line of credit and the ongoing cash flows from our operations will be adequate to meet our working capital and capital expenditure needs for at least the next 12 months. If we require additional capital resources to grow our business, either internally or through acquisition, we may seek to sell additional equity securities or to secure additional debt financing. The sale of additional equity securities or the addition of new debt financing could result in additional dilution to our stockholders. We may not be able to obtain financing arrangements in amounts or on terms acceptable to us in the future. In the event we are unable to obtain additional financing when needed, we may be compelled to delay or curtail our plans to develop our business, which could have a material adverse affect on our operations, market position and competitiveness.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145, “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment of SFAS No. 13, and Technical Corrections”. Among other matters, SFAS No. 145 rescinds SFAS No. 4, “Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt” thereby eliminating the requirement that gains and losses from the extinguishment of debt be aggregated and, if material, classified as an extraordinary item, net of the related income tax effect. As a result, the criteria in Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 30, “Reporting Results of Operations Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions” will be used to classify those gains and losses. The Company adopted SFAS No. 145 effective June 1, 2002 and has reclassified the costs incurred in connection with the early extinguishment of debt in fiscal 2001 as interest expense with the related income tax benefit included as a component of the provision for income taxes. Refer to the “Interest Expense” accounting policy in Note 2 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in this Report on Form 10-K with respect to such reclassification.

 

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities”. This statement addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies EITF Issue No. 94-3 “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)”, which had required a liability for an exit cost be recognized at the date of a company’s commitment to an exit plan. SFAS No. 146 is effective for exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002, and requires that a liability for an exit cost be recognized when incurred. This statement also requires that the initial measurement of this liability be at fair value. Should we have a restructuring activity in the future, this statement would primarily impact the timing of the recognition of the expense. The Company adopted SFAS No. 146 effective January 1, 2003. The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

 

In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others”. This interpretation provides for additional disclosures to be made by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about obligations that it has. This interpretation is effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002. The Company adopted the disclosure provision of this interpretation effective March 1, 2003. The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure”. This statement amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, to provide alternative methods of transition for an entity that voluntarily changes to the fair

 

24


value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. It also amends the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123 and APB Opinion No. 28, “Interim Financial Reporting,” to require prominent disclosure in both the annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting and the effect on reported net income of an entity s accounting policy decisions with respect to stock-based employee compensation. The Company adopted the disclosure provisions of this statement effective March 1, 2003. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations, as it will continue to account for stock-based compensation under APB No. 25.

 

In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”. SFAS No. 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”. This statement is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003. The Company does not believe the adoption of this statement will have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

 

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity”. SFAS 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures in its statement of financial position certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability (or an asset in some circumstances) because that financial instrument embodies an obligation of the issuer. SFAS 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise shall be effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company does not believe that the adoption of SFAS 150 will have a material impact to its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

25


RISK FACTORS

 

You should carefully consider the risks described below before making a decision to buy shares of our common stock. The order of the risks is not an indication of their relative weight or importance. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those risks set forth in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, may also adversely impact and impair our business. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business could be harmed. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. When determining whether to buy our common stock, you should also refer to the other information in this Report on Form 10-K, including our financial statements and the related notes.

 

This Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements based on the current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about our industry and us. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, as more fully described in this section and elsewhere in this Report on Form 10-K. We do not undertake to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

 

We must provide our clients with highly qualified and experienced associates, and the loss of a significant number of our associates, or an inability to attract and retain new associates, could adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

Our business involves the delivery of professional services, and our success depends on our ability to provide our clients with highly qualified and experienced associates who possess the skills and experience necessary to satisfy their needs. Such professionals are in great demand, particularly in certain geographic areas, and are likely to remain a limited resource for the foreseeable future. Our ability to attract and retain associates with the requisite experience and skills depends on several factors including, but not limited to, our ability to:

 

    provide our associates with full-time employment;

 

    obtain the type of challenging and high-quality projects that our associates seek;

 

    pay competitive compensation and provide competitive benefits; and

 

    provide our associates with flexibility as to hours worked and assignment of client engagements.

 

We cannot assure you that we will be successful in accomplishing each of these items and, even if we are, that we will be successful in attracting and retaining the number of highly qualified and experienced associates necessary to maintain and grow our business.

 

The market for professional services is highly competitive, and if we are unable to compete effectively against our competitors our business and operating results could be adversely affected.

 

We operate in a competitive, fragmented market, and we compete for clients and associates with a variety of organizations that offer similar services. The competition is likely to increase in the future due to the expected growth of the market and the relatively few barriers to entry. Our principal competitors include:

 

    consulting firms;

 

    employees loaned by the Big Four accounting firms;

 

    traditional and Internet-based staffing firms; and

 

    the in-house resources of our clients.

 

We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete effectively against existing or future competitors. Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial resources, greater revenues and greater name recognition, which may afford them an advantage in attracting and retaining clients and associates. In addition, our competitors may be able to respond more quickly to changes in companies’ needs and developments in the professional services industry.

 

26


An economic downturn or change in the use of outsourced professional services associates may adversely affect our business.

 

The U.S. economy has experienced an economic downturn and our business has been significantly affected by the economic downturn. During a general level of economic slowing, our clients have delayed or cancelled plans that involve professional services, particularly outsourced professional services. Consequently, the demand for our associates has declined, resulting in a loss of revenues. In addition, the use of professional services associates on a project basis could decline for non-economic reasons. In the event of a non-economic reduction in the demand for our associates, our financial results could suffer.

 

Our business depends upon our ability to secure new projects from clients and, therefore, we could be adversely affected if we fail to do so.

 

We do not have long-term agreements with our clients for the provision of services. The success of our business is dependent on our ability to secure new projects from clients. For example, if we are unable to secure new client projects because of improvements in our competitors’ service offerings or because of an economic downturn decreasing the demand for outsourced professional services, our business is likely to be materially adversely affected.

 

We may be legally liable for damages resulting from the performance of projects by our associates or for our clients’ mistreatment of our associates.

 

Many of our engagements with our clients involve projects that are critical to our clients’ businesses. If we fail to meet our contractual obligations, we could be subject to legal liability or damage to our reputation, which could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition. It is likely, because of the nature of our business, that we will be sued in the future. Claims brought against us could have a serious negative effect on our reputation and on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Because we are in the business of placing our associates in the workplaces of other companies, we are subject to possible claims by our associates alleging discrimination, sexual harassment, negligence and other similar activities by our clients. We may also be subject to similar claims from our clients based on activities by our associates. The cost of defending such claims, even if groundless, could be substantial and the associated negative publicity could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain associates and clients.

 

We may not be able to grow our business, manage our growth or sustain our current business.

 

We grew rapidly from our inception in 1996 until 2001 by opening new offices and by increasing the volume of services we provide through existing offices. In 2002, our revenue declined by 5%. Although revenue has increased in fiscal 2003 as compared to fiscal 2002 by 11%, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain or expand our market presence in our current locations or to successfully enter other markets or locations. Our ability to successfully grow our business will depend upon a number of factors, including our ability to:

 

    grow our client base;

 

    expand profitably into new cities;

 

    provide additional professional services lines;

 

    maintain margins in the face of pricing pressures; and

 

    manage costs.

 

Even if we are able to continue our growth, the growth will result in new and increased responsibilities for our management as well as increased demands on our internal systems, procedures and controls, and our

 

27


administrative, financial, marketing and other resources. Failure to adequately respond to these new responsibilities and demands may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operation.

 

The increase in our international activities will expose us to additional operational challenges that we might not otherwise face.

 

As we increase our international activities, we will have to confront and manage a number of risks and expenses that we would not otherwise face if we conducted our operations solely in the United States. If any of these risks or expenses occurs, there could be a material negative effect on our operating results. These risks and expenses include:

 

    difficulties in staffing and managing foreign offices as a result of, among other things, distance, language and cultural differences;

 

    expenses associated with customizing our professional services for clients in foreign countries;

 

    foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, when we sell our professional services in denominations other than U.S. dollars;

 

    protectionist laws and business practices that favor local companies;

 

    political and economic instability in some international markets;

 

    multiple, conflicting and changing government laws and regulations;

 

    trade barriers;

 

    reduced protection for intellectual property rights in some countries; and

 

    potentially adverse tax consequences.

 

We have acquired, and may continue to acquire companies in the future, and these acquisitions could disrupt our business.

 

We may acquire companies in the future. Entering into an acquisition entails many risks, any of which could harm our business, including:

 

    diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns;

 

    failure to integrate the acquired company with our existing business;

 

    failure to motivate, or loss of, key employees from either our existing business or the acquired business;

 

    potential impairment of relationships with our employees and clients;

 

    additional operating expenses not offset by additional revenue;

 

    incurrence of significant non-recurring charges;

 

    incurrence of additional debt with restrictive covenants or other limitations;

 

    dilution of our stock as a result of issuing equity securities; and

 

    assumption of liabilities of the acquired company.

 

Our business could suffer if we lose the services of one or more key members of our management.

 

Our future success depends upon the continued employment of Donald B. Murray, our chief executive officer, and Stephen J. Giusto, our chief financial officer. The departure of Mr. Murray, Mr. Giusto or any of the other key members of our senior management team could significantly disrupt our operations. Key members of our senior management team include Karen M. Ferguson, an executive vice president, John D. Bower, our vice president, finance, and Kate W. Duchene, our chief legal officer and executive vice president of human relations. We do not have employment agreements with Mr. Bower or Ms. Duchene.

 

28


Our quarterly financial results may be subject to significant fluctuations that may increase the volatility of our stock price.

 

Our results of operations could vary significantly from quarter to quarter. Factors that could affect our quarterly operating results include:

 

    our ability to attract new clients and retain current clients;

 

    the mix of client projects;

 

    the announcement or introduction of new services by us or any of our competitors;

 

    the expansion of the professional services offered by us or any of our competitors into new locations both nationally and internationally;

 

    changes in the demand for our services by our clients;

 

    the entry of new competitors into any of our markets;

 

    the number of associates eligible for our offered benefits as the average length of employment with Resources increases;

 

    the number of holidays in a quarter, particularly the day of the week on which they occur;

 

    changes in the pricing of our professional services or those of our competitors;

 

    the amount and timing of operating costs and capital expenditures relating to management and expansion of our business;

 

    the timing of acquisitions and related costs, such as compensation charges that fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock; and

 

    the periodic fourth quarter consisting of 14 weeks.

 

Due to these factors, we believe that quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our results of operations are not meaningful indicators of future performance. It is possible that in some future periods, our results of operations may be below the expectations of investors. If this occurs, the price of our common stock could decline.

 

We may be subject to laws and regulations that impose difficult and costly compliance requirements and subject us to potential liability and the loss of clients.

 

In connection with providing services to clients in certain regulated industries, such as the gaming and energy industries, we are subject to industry-specific regulations, including licensing and reporting requirements. Complying with these requirements is costly and, if we fail to comply, we could be prevented from rendering services to clients in those industries in the future.

 

It may be difficult for a third party to acquire our company, and this could depress our stock price.

 

Delaware corporate law and our second restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could delay, defer or prevent a change of control of our company or our management. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it difficult for you and other stockholders to elect directors and take other corporate actions. As a result, these provisions could limit the price that future investors are willing to pay for your shares. These provisions:

 

    authorize our board of directors to establish one or more series of undesignated preferred stock, the terms of which can be determined by the board of directors at the time of issuance;

 

    divide our board of directors into three classes of directors, with each class serving a staggered three-year term. Because the classification of the board of directors generally increases the difficulty of replacing a majority of the directors, it may tend to discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us and may make it difficult to change the composition of the board of directors;

 

29


    prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors which, if not prohibited, could allow a minority stockholder holding a sufficient percentage of a class of shares to ensure the election of one or more directors;

 

    require that any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by any consent in writing;

 

    state that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the chairman of the board of directors, our chief executive officer, by the board of directors after a resolution is adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors, or by the holders of not less than 10% of our outstanding voting stock;

 

    establish advance notice requirements for submitting nominations for election to the board of directors and for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at a meeting;

 

    provide that certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation can be amended only by supermajority vote of the outstanding shares and that our bylaws can be amended only by supermajority vote of the outstanding shares of our board of directors;

 

    allow our directors, not our stockholders, to fill vacancies on our board of directors; and

 

    provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors.

 

The Company’s board of directors has adopted a stockholder rights plan, which is described further in Note 10 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in this Report on Form 10-K. The existence of this rights plan may also have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of our company or our management by deterring acquisitions of our stock not approved by our board of directors.

 

We may be unable to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, including our brand name. If we fail to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, the value of such rights may diminish and our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

 

We believe that establishing, maintaining and enhancing the Resources Connection brand name is essential to our business. We have obtained U.S. registrations on our service mark and logo, Registration No. 2,516,522 registered December 11, 2001, and No. 2,524,226 registered January 1, 2002 and No. 2,613,873, registered September 3, 2002. We have been aware from time to time of other companies using the name “Resources Connection” or some variation thereof. There could be potential trade name or service mark infringement claims brought against us by the users of these similar names and marks and those users may have service mark rights that are senior to ours. If these claims were successful, we could be forced to cease using the service mark “Resources Connection” even if an infringement claim is not brought against us. It is also possible that our competitors or others will adopt service names similar to ours or that our clients will be confused by another company using a name, service mark or trademark similar to ours, thereby impeding our ability to build brand identity. We cannot assure you that our business would not be adversely affected if confusion did occur or if we are required to change our name.

 

Our clients may be confused by the presence of competitors and other companies that have names similar to our name.

 

We are aware of other companies using the name “Resources Connection” or some variation thereof. The existence of these companies may confuse our clients, thereby impeding our ability to build our brand identity.

 

30


ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Interest Rate Risk.    At the end of fiscal 2003, we had approximately $68.1 million of cash, highly liquid short-term investments and long-term marketable securities. These investments are subject to changes in interest rates, and to the extent interest rates were to decline, it would reduce our interest income.

 

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk.    To date, our foreign operations have not been significant to our overall operations, and our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk has been low. However, as our strategy to continue expanding foreign operations progresses, and with our recent acquisitions discussed elsewhere in this document, we expect more of our revenues will be derived from foreign operations denominated in the currency of the applicable markets. As a result, our operating results could become subject to fluctuations based upon changes in the exchange rates of foreign currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. Although we intend to monitor our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations, including the use of financial hedging techniques when we deem it appropriate, we cannot assure you that exchange rate fluctuations will not adversely affect our financial results in the future.

 

31


ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

RESOURCES CONNECTION, INC.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page

Report of Independent Auditors

   33

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of May 31, 2002 and 2003

   34

Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the three years in the period ended May 31, 2003

   35

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for each of the three years in the period ended May 31, 2003

   36

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 31, 2003

   37

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   38
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE     

Report of Independent Auditors on Financial Statement Schedule

   60

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for each of the three years in the period ended May 31, 2003

   61

 

32


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

 

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of

Resources Connection, Inc.

 

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Resources Connection, Inc. and its subsidiaries at May 31, 2002 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 31, 2003 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/    PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

Orange County, California

July 14, 2003

 

33


RESOURCES CONNECTION, INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

     May 31,

 
     2002

    2003

 
ASSETS                 

Current assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 31,745,000     $ 48,078,000  

Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,157,000 and $2,388,000 as of May 31, 2002 and 2003, respectively

     19,961,000       26,635,000  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1,607,000       2,035,000  

Prepaid income taxes

     3,505,000       1,774,000  

Deferred income taxes

     2,560,000       2,596,000  
    


 


Total current assets

     59,378,000       81,118,000  

Investments in marketable securities

     24,000,000       20,000,000  

Intangible assets, net

     41,372,000       49,079,000  

Property and equipment, net

     4,885,000       4,341,000  

Other assets

     953,000       1,399,000  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 130,588,000     $ 155,937,000  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                 

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

   $ 2,401,000     $ 2,784,000  

Accrued salaries and related obligations

     13,152,000       17,899,000  

Other liabilities

     690,000       258,000  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     16,243,000       20,941,000  

Deferred income taxes

     874,000       1,465,000  
    


 


Total liabilities

     17,117,000       22,406,000  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)

                

Stockholders’ equity:

                

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued and outstanding

                

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 35,000,000 shares authorized; 21,661,000 and 22,251,000 shares issued and outstanding as of May 31, 2002 and 2003, respectively

     216,000       222,000  

Additional paid-in capital

     79,991,000       86,676,000  

Deferred stock compensation

     (909,000 )     (480,000 )

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) gain

     (51,000 )     293,000  

Notes receivable from stockholders

     (109,000 )     (55,000 )

Retained earnings

     34,334,000       46,876,000  

Treasury stock, at cost, 101,000 and 141,000 shares at May 31, 2002 and 2003, respectively

     (1,000 )     (1,000 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     113,471,000       133,531,000  
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 130,588,000     $ 155,937,000  
    


 


 

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

 

34


RESOURCES CONNECTION, INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

     For The Year Ended

 
     May 31, 2001

    May 31, 2002

    May 31, 2003

 

Revenue

   $ 191,496,000     $ 181,677,000     $ 202,022,000  

Direct cost of services, primarily payroll and related taxes for professional services employees

     112,555,000       108,715,000       121,648,000  
    


 


 


Gross profit

     78,941,000       72,962,000       80,374,000  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     49,964,000       50,688,000       58,248,000  

Amortization of intangible assets

     2,273,000       125,000       655,000  

Depreciation expense

     866,000       1,180,000       1,290,000  
    


 


 


Income from operations

     25,838,000       20,969,000       20,181,000  

Interest income

     (633,000 )     (1,183,000 )     (1,077,000 )

Interest expense

     3,629,000                  
    


 


 


Income before provision for income taxes

     22,842,000       22,152,000       21,258,000  

Provision for income taxes

     9,137,000       8,861,000       8,716,000  
    


 


 


Net income

   $ 13,705,000     $ 13,291,000     $ 12,542,000  
    


 


 


Net income per common share:

                        

Basic

   $ 0.77     $ 0.63     $ 0.57  
    


 


 


Diluted

   $ 0.71     $ 0.58     $ 0.55  
    


 


 


Weighted average common shares outstanding:

                        

Basic

     17,864,000       21,241,000       21,849,000  
    


 


 


Diluted

     19,421,000       22,862,000       22,896,000  
    


 


 


 

 

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

 

35


RESOURCES CONNECTION, INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY