UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

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

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

 

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 001-34187

 

Matson, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

1411 Sand Island Parkway

Honolulu, HI 96819

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(808) 848-1211

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

 

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

None

 

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at February 20, 2018:

42,650,152

 

Aggregate market value of Common Stock held by non-affiliates at June 30, 2017:

$1,277,726,300

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ☒  No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File  required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes ☒  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 a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ☐  No ☒

 

Documents Incorporated By Reference

 

The following document is incorporated by reference in Part III of the Annual Report on Form 10-K to the extent described therein: Proxy statement for the annual meeting of shareholders of Matson, Inc. to be held April 26, 2018.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

MATSON, INC.

 

FORM 10-K

 

Annual Report for the Fiscal Year

Ended December 31, 2017

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

 

 

Matson, Inc., a holding company incorporated in January 2012 in the State of Hawaii, and its subsidiaries (“Matson” or the “Company”), is a leading provider of ocean transportation and logistics services.  The Company consists of two segments, Ocean Transportation and Logistics.  For financial information by segment for the three years ended December 31, 2017, see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of Part II below.

 

Ocean Transportation:  Matson’s Ocean Transportation business is conducted through Matson Navigation Company, Inc. (“MatNav”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Matson, Inc.  Founded in 1882, MatNav provides a vital lifeline of ocean freight transportation services to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia.  MatNav also operates a premium, expedited service from China to Long Beach, California, and also provides services to Okinawa, Japan and various islands in the South Pacific.  In addition, subsidiaries of MatNav provide container stevedoring, refrigerated cargo services, inland transportation and other terminal services for MatNav and other ocean carriers on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai, and in the Alaska locations of Anchorage, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor. 

 

Matson has a 35 percent ownership interest in SSA Terminals, LLC (“SSAT”), a joint venture between Matson Ventures, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MatNav, and SSA Ventures, Inc. (“SSA”), a subsidiary of Carrix, Inc.  SSAT provides terminal and stevedoring services to various carriers at seven terminal facilities on the U.S. West Coast, including four facilities which are used by MatNav (“Terminal Joint Venture”).  Matson records its share of income in the Terminal Joint Venture in operating costs in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, and within the Ocean Transportation segment due to the nature of SSAT’s operations.

 

Logistics:  Matson’s Logistics business is conducted through Matson Logistics, Inc. (“Matson Logistics”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MatNav.  Established in 1987, Matson Logistics is an asset-light business that provides a variety of logistics services to its customers including: (i) multimodal transportation brokerage of domestic and international rail intermodal services, long-haul and regional highway trucking services, specialized hauling, flat-bed and project services, less-than-truckload services, and expedited freight services (collectively “Transportation Brokerage Services”); (ii) less-than-container load (“LCL”) consolidation and freight forwarding services (collectively “Freight Forwarding Services”); (iii) warehousing and distribution services; and (iv) supply chain management, non-vessel operating common carrier (“NVOCC”) freight forwarding and other services.

 

Recent Acquisitions:

 

On August 4, 2016, Matson Logistics completed its acquisition of Span Intermediate, LLC (“Span Alaska”), a market leading provider of LCL consolidation and freight forwarding services to Alaska.  On May 29, 2015, Matson completed its acquisition of Horizon Lines, Inc. (“Horizon”).  As a result, Matson acquired Horizon’s Alaska operations and assumed all of Horizon’s non-Hawaii assets and liabilities (the “Horizon Acquisition”).  For additional information on Acquisitions, see Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of Part II below.

 

Our Mission and Vision:

 

Our mission is to move freight better than anyone.  Our vision is to create value for our shareholders by:

 

 

 

(1)OCEAN TRANSPORTATION SEGMENT

 

Ocean Freight Services:

 

Matson’s Ocean Transportation segment provides the following services:

 

Ocean Transportation Services:

 

Hawaii Service: Matson’s Hawaii service provides ocean freight services (lift-on/lift-off, roll-on/roll-off and conventional services) between the ports of Long Beach and Oakland, California; Seattle, Washington; and Honolulu, Hawaii.  Matson also operates a network of inter-island barges that provide connecting services from Honolulu, Hawaii to other major ports on the Hawaiian islands of Kauai, Maui and Hawaii.  Matson is the largest carrier of ocean cargo between the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii.

 

Westbound cargo carried by Matson to Hawaii includes dry containers of mixed commodities, refrigerated commodities, packaged foods and beverages, retail merchandise, building materials, automobiles and household goods.  Matson’s eastbound cargo from Hawaii includes automobiles, household goods, dry containers of mixed commodities and livestock.  The majority of Matson’s Hawaii service revenue is derived from the westbound carriage of containerized freight and automobiles.

 

Alaska Service:  Matson’s Alaska service provides ocean freight services (lift-on/lift-off and conventional services) between the port of Tacoma, Washington, and the ports of Anchorage, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor in Alaska.  Matson also provides a barge service between Dutch Harbor and Akutan in Alaska, and other transportation services to smaller locations in Alaska.

 

Matson’s northbound cargo to Alaska includes dry containers of mixed commodities, refrigerated commodities, packaged foods and beverages, retail merchandise, household goods and automobiles.  Matson’s southbound cargo from Alaska primarily consists of household goods, automobiles and seafood.

 

China Service:  Matson’s expedited China-Long Beach Express (“CLX”) service is part of an integrated service that carries cargo from Long Beach, California to Honolulu, Hawaii, to Guam, and then to Okinawa, Japan.  The vessels continue to the ports of Ningbo and Shanghai in China, where they are loaded with cargo to be discharged primarily in Long Beach, California.  These vessels also carry cargo destined to Hawaii, and originating from the Guam, Micronesia, Japan and China services.    Matson provides container transshipment services between the CLX ports and many locations in Asia including, Hong Kong and Xiamen, China.  Westbound cargo consists mainly of recycled materials, while eastbound cargo consists mainly of garments, footwear and other retail merchandise.

 

Guam Service:  Matson’s Guam service provides weekly services between the U.S West Coast and Guam, as part of its expedited CLX service.  Matson also provides weekly connecting service from Guam to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  These services carry cargo similar to the Hawaii service described above.

 

Micronesia Service:  Matson’s Micronesia service provides services between the U.S. West Coast and the islands of Kwajalein, Ebeye and Majuro in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the islands of Yap, Pohnpei, Chuuk and Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.  Cargo destined for these locations is transshipped

through Guam and consists of mainly general sustenance cargo.  Commencing in 2018, Matson plans to begin a direct service between Honolulu, Hawaii and the Marshall Islands with a U.S. flagged vessel.

 

Japan Service:  In September 2017, Matson commenced services to the port of Naha in Okinawa, Japan, as part of its expedited CLX service.  This service carries mainly general sustenance cargo and household goods supporting the U.S. military.

 

South Pacific Service:  Matson’s South Pacific service provides services carrying general sustenance cargo between Auckland, New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands, including Fiji (Suva and Lautoka), Samoa, American Samoa, the Cook Islands (Rarotonga and Aitutaki), Tonga (Nukualofa and Vava’u), and Niue.  Matson also provides transshipment services to the islands of Tahiti, Vanuatu, Nauru and the Solomon Islands (Honiara).  Additionally, Matson also provides slotting arrangements for the transportation of cargo from major ports on the east coast of Australia to ports in the South Pacific Islands.  Matson’s South Pacific service also distributes and sells domestic bulk fuel to a variety of these islands.

 

Matson also provides a bi-weekly South Pacific Express (“SPX”) service that connects the U.S. West Coast to the ports in the South Pacific Islands with cargo transshipped from the U.S. West Coast on Matson’s Hawaii and CLX services to a Matson SPX vessel in Honolulu, Hawaii.  The SPX vessel then transports the cargo to the ports in American Samoa and Samoa, with cargo destined for other ports transshipped to Matson’s South Pacific service at the port of Apia, Samoa.  SPX cargo destined for Hawaii or other locations on the U.S. West Coast is shipped to Honolulu, Hawaii, and then transshipped on Matson’ vessels to the U.S. West Coast.

 

Terminal and Other Related Services:

 

Matson provides container stevedoring, refrigerated cargo services, inland transportation, container equipment maintenance and other terminal services (collectively “terminal services”) for MatNav at terminals located on the Hawaiian Islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai; and in the Alaska terminal locations of Anchorage, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor.  Matson also provides terminal services for other ocean carriers at the Alaska terminal locations of Kodiak and Dutch Harbor.

 

Matson’s Terminal Joint Venture SSAT provides terminal and stevedoring services to various carriers at seven terminal facilities on the U.S. West Coast and to MatNav at four of those facilities, which are Long Beach and Oakland, California; and Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. 

 

Matson utilizes the services of other third-party terminal operators at all of the other ports at which its vessels call.

 

Ship Management Services: 

 

Matson contracts with the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide ship management services to manage and maintain three Ready Reserve Force vessels on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration.

 

Matson’s Vessel and Equipment Information:

 

Vessels:

 

Matson’s fleet includes both owned and chartered vessels.  Matson’s owned vessels represent an investment of approximately $1.4 billion (see Critical Accounting Estimates in Item 7 of Part II below for additional information about vessel costs and net book values).  The majority of Matson’s owned vessels are U.S. flagged vessels, and have been acquired with the assistance of withdrawals from a Capital Construction Fund (“CCF”) established under Section 607 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 (see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of Part II below for additional information).  Matson’s U.S. flagged vessels operate in the Hawaii, Guam, Japan, China and Alaska services.  Matson’s non-U.S. flagged vessels operate in the Micronesia and South Pacific services. 

 

Active and reserve vessels both owned and chartered by Matson as of December 31, 2017 are as follows:

 

 

Hawaii Fleet Renewal Program:    

 

Matson has a number of owned steamships that are either actively deployed or used as reserve vessels in its Hawaii service.  All of these steamships are near the end of their useful life.  Beginning January 1, 2020, steamships will no longer comply with established U.S. and international emission regulations without substantial modifications.  In order to renew its Hawaii fleet and prepare for the phase-out of these steamships, Matson is constructing four new vessels to be used in the Hawaii service with the following specifications and expected delivery dates:

 

 

Actual and expected annual contractual construction progress payments based on signed agreements and change orders, excluding owners’ items and capitalized interest are as follows:

 

 

Upon delivery, the four new vessels will replace the steamships currently deployed in Matson’s Hawaii service.  By the end of 2019, Matson expects to have retired all of its steamships as they will no longer comply, subject to substantial modifications, with environmental regulations that are effective as of January 1, 2020.

 

When complete, the new Aloha Class containerships and Kanaloa Class Con-Ro vessels are expected to have among the lowest operating cost per TEU of any vessel in the U.S. domestic trades.  The cost efficiencies are expected to be driven by increased vessel utilization and by significantly lower operating costs including fuel consumption, maintenance and repair, and dry-docking costs.  Matson also expects to return to an optimal nine vessel Hawaii fleet deployment.

 

Hawaii Terminal Expansion and Modernization Program:

 

Matson is in the process of renovating its terminal facility at Sand Island, Honolulu, Hawaii.  In August 2017, Matson signed a contract for the purchase of three new 65 long-ton capacity cranes and modifications to upgrade three existing cranes at its Sand Island Terminal in Honolulu, Hawaii.  The crane investments are part of a broader terminal expansion and modernization program that Matson is undertaking to prepare its Sand Island terminal facility for the arrival of the four new vessels.  Installation of the three new cranes is expected to be complete by the second quarter in 2019.

 

Equipment:

 

As a complement to its fleet of vessels, Matson has a variety of equipment including cranes, containers, and chassis which represents an investment of approximately $0.5 billion as of December 31, 2017.  Matson also leases containers, chassis and other equipment under various operating lease agreements.

 

Additional information of Matson’s fleet equipment is as follows:

 

Operating Costs:

 

Major components of Ocean Transportation operating costs are as follows:

 

Direct Cargo Expense includes terminal handling costs, purchased outside transportation and other related costs. 

 

Vessel Operating Expense includes crew wages and related costs; fuel consumption, pilot, tugs and line related costs; vessel charter expenses and other vessel related expenses.  Matson purchases fuel oil, lubricants and gasoline for its operations; and also pays fuel surcharges to other third party transportation providers.

 

Operating Overhead includes equipment repair costs, equipment operating lease and repositioning expenses, vessel repair and maintenance costs, dry-docking amortization, insurance, port engineers and other maintenance costs, and other vessel and shoreside related overhead.

 

Matson’s U.S. flagged vessels must meet specified seaworthiness standards established by U.S. Coast Guard rules and classification society requirements.  These standards require that our vessels undergo two dry-docking inspections within a five-year period.  The majority of Matson’s U.S. flagged vessels used in the Hawaii service are enrolled in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Underwater Survey in Lieu of Dry-docking (“UWILD”) program.  The UWILD program allows eligible vessels to meet their intermediate dry-docking requirement with a less costly underwater inspection.

 

Matson is responsible for ensuring that its non-U.S flagged owned and bareboat chartered vessels meet international standards for seaworthiness, which among other requirements generally mandate that Matson perform two dry-docking inspections every five years.  The dry-dockings of Matson’s time chartered vessels are the responsibility of the vessel owners.

 

Competition:

 

The following is a summary of major competitors in Matson’s Ocean Transportation service:

 

Hawaii Service:  Matson’s Hawaii service has one major U.S. flag Jones Act ocean carrier competitor, Pasha Hawaii (“Pasha”), which operates container and roll-on/roll-off services between the ports of Long Beach, Oakland and San Diego, California to Hawaii.  There also are two U.S. flag Jones Act barge operators, Aloha Marine Lines and Sause Brothers, which offer barge service between the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii.

 

Foreign-flag vessels carrying cargo to Hawaii from non-U.S. locations also provide alternatives for companies shipping to Hawaii.  Other competitors in the Hawaii service include proprietary operators and contract carriers of bulk cargo.  Air freight competition for time-sensitive and perishable cargo exists; however, inroads by such competition in terms of cargo volume are limited by the amount of cargo space available in passenger aircrafts and by the cost of air freight transportation.

 

Matson vessels are operated on schedules that provide customers, shippers and consignees fixed day-of-the-week sailings from the U.S. West Coast as well as fixed day-of-the-week arrivals in Hawaii.  Matson offers four westbound sailings per week, though this amount may be adjusted according to seasonal demand and market conditions.  One of Matson’s westbound sailings each week continues on to Guam, Japan and China, so the number of eastbound sailings direct from Hawaii to the U.S. Mainland is three per week.  This service is attractive to customers because more frequent sailings permit customers to reduce inventory carrying costs.  Matson also competes by offering a more comprehensive

service to customers, including: service to and from the three largest U.S. West Coast ports; the most efficient terminal network on the U.S. West Coast provided by Matson’s Terminal Joint Venture partner SSAT; a dedicated inter-island barge network; an award winning customer service team; and its efficiency and experience in handling cargo of all types.

 

Alaska Service:  Matson’s Alaska service has one major U.S. flag Jones Act competitor, Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc., which operates a roll-on/roll off service between Tacoma, Washington and Anchorage, Alaska.  There are also two U.S flag Jones Act barge operators, Alaska Marine Lines which mainly provides services from Seattle, Washington to the main ports of Anchorage and Dutch Harbor, and other locations in Alaska, and Samson Tug & Barge which mainly serves Western Alaska and other locations.  The barge operators have historically shipped lower value commodities that can accommodate a longer transit time, as well as construction materials and other cargo that are not conducive to movement in containers.    Foreign-flag vessels provide alternatives for companies shipping cargo (mainly seafood) from the Alaska ports of Kodiak and Dutch Harbor.

 

Matson offers customers twice weekly scheduled services from Tacoma, Washington to Anchorage and Kodiak, Alaska and weekly service to Dutch Harbor, Alaska.  The Company also provides a weekly barge service between Dutch Harbor and Akutan in Alaska. Matson is the only Jones Act containership operator providing service to Kodiak and Dutch Harbor in Alaska, which are the primary loading ports for southbound seafood.   Matson offers dedicated terminal services at the Alaska ports of Anchorage, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor performed by MatNav, and at the port of Tacoma, Washington performed by Matson’s Terminal Joint Venture partner SSAT.

 

China Service:  Major competitors to Matson’s China service include large international carriers such as Maersk, MSC, APL, CMA CGM, Evergreen, China COSCO, “K” Line, OOCL, Hyundai, SM Line and NYK Line.

 

Matson competes by offering a fast and reliable service from the ports of Ningbo and Shanghai in China to Long Beach, California, providing fixed day arrivals and next-day cargo availability.  Matson’s service is further differentiated by offering a dedicated marine terminal in Long Beach, California provided by Matson’s Terminal Joint Venture partner SSAT, an off-dock container yard providing fast truck turn times, one-stop intermodal connections, and providing state-of-the-art technology and world-class customer service.  Matson has offices in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Ningbo and Shanghai, and has contracted with terminal operators in Ningbo and Shanghai.

 

Guam Service:  Matson’s Guam service has one major competitor, APL, which operates a weekly U.S. flagged container feeder service connecting the U.S. West Coast to Guam and Saipan, via transshipments over Yokohama, Japan and Busan, South Korea.  Waterman operates a roll-on/roll-off service which periodically calls at Guam.  There are also several foreign carriers that call at Guam from foreign origin ports.

 

Japan Service: Matson’s Japan service competes primarily with APL, which operates a weekly U.S. flagged containership service from the U.S. West Coast to the Port of Naha, Okinawa, Japan.

 

Micronesia and the South Pacific Services:  Matson’s Micronesia and South Pacific services have competition from a variety of local and international carriers that provide freight services to the area.

 

Customer Concentration: 

 

Matson serves customers in numerous industries and carries a wide variety of cargo, mitigating its dependence upon any single customer or single type of cargo.  In 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company’s 10 largest Ocean Transportation customers accounted for approximately 23 percent, 24 percent and 23 percent of the Company’s Ocean Transportation revenue, respectively.  None of these customers accounted for more than 10 percent of Matson’s Ocean Transportation operating revenues.  For additional information on Ocean Transportation revenues for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of Part II below.

 

Seasonality:

 

Matson’s Ocean Transportation services typically experience seasonality in volume, generally following a pattern of increasing volumes starting in the second quarter of each year, culminating in a peak season throughout the third quarter, with subsequent decline in demand during the fourth and first quarters.  This seasonality trend is amplified in the Alaska service primarily due to winter weather and the timing of southbound seafood trade.  As a result, earnings tend to follow a similar pattern, offset by periodic vessel dry-docking and other episodic cost factors, which can lead to earnings

variability.  In addition, in the China trade, volume is driven primarily by U.S. consumer demand for goods during key retail selling seasons while freight rates are impacted mainly by macro supply and demand variables.

 

Maritime Laws and the Jones Act:

 

Maritime Laws:  All interstate and intrastate marine commerce within the U.S. falls under the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (commonly referred to as the Jones Act).

 

The Jones Act is a long-standing cornerstone of U.S. maritime policy.  Under the Jones Act, all vessels transporting cargo between covered U.S. ports must, subject to limited exceptions, be built in the U.S., registered under the U.S. flag, be manned predominantly by U.S. crews, and owned and operated by U.S.-organized companies that are controlled and 75 percent owned by U.S. citizens.  U.S. flagged vessels are generally required to be maintained at higher standards than foreign flagged vessels and are subject to rigorous supervision and inspections by, or on behalf of, the U.S. Coast Guard, which requires appropriate certifications and background checks of the crew members.  Under Section 27 of the Jones Act, the carriage of cargo between the U.S. West Coast, Hawaii and Alaska on foreign-built or foreign-documented vessels is prohibited.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, approximately 72 percent and 71 percent of Matson’s ocean transportation revenues, respectively, came from the Hawaii and Alaska trades that were subject to the Jones Act.  Matson’s Hawaii and Alaska trade routes are included within the non-contiguous Jones Act market.  Hawaii, as an island economy, and Alaska due to its geographical location, are both dependent on ocean transportation.  The Jones Act ensures frequent, reliable, roundtrip service to these locations.  Matson’s vessels operating in these trade routes are Jones Act qualified.

 

Matson is a member of the American Maritime Partnership (“AMP”), which supports the retention of the Jones Act and similar cabotage laws.  The Jones Act has broad support from both houses of Congress.  Matson also believes that the ongoing war on terrorism has further solidified political support for U.S. flagged vessels because a vital and dedicated U.S. merchant marine is a cornerstone for a strong homeland defense, as well as a critical source of trained U.S. mariners for wartime support.  AMP seeks to inform elected officials and the public about the economic, national security, commercial, safety and environmental benefits of the Jones Act and similar cabotage laws.  Repeal of the Jones Act would allow foreign-flag vessel operators that do not have to abide by all U.S. laws and regulations to sail between U.S. ports in direct competition with Matson and other U.S. domestic operators that must comply with all such laws and regulations.

 

Other U.S. maritime laws require vessels operating between Guam, a U.S. territory, and U.S. ports to be U.S. flagged and predominantly U.S. crewed, but not U.S. built.

 

Cabotage laws are not unique to the United States, and similar laws exist around the world in over 50 countries, including regions in which Matson provides ocean transportation services.  Any changes in such laws may have an impact on the services provided by Matson in those regions.

 

Rate Regulations and Fuel Related Surcharge:    

 

Matson is subject to the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board with respect to its domestic ocean rates.  A rate in the non-contiguous domestic trade is presumed reasonable and will not be subject to investigation if the aggregate of increases and decreases is not more than 7.5 percent above, or more than 10 percent below, the rate in effect one year before the effective date of the proposed rate, subject to increase or decrease by the percentage change in the U.S. Producer Price Index.  Matson generally provides a 30-day notice to customers of any increases in general rates and terminal handling charges, and passes along decreases as soon as possible.

 

Matson’s Ocean Transportation services engaged in U.S. foreign commerce are subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Maritime Commission (“FMC”).  The FMC is an independent regulatory agency that is responsible for the regulation of ocean-borne international transportation of the U.S.  Conducting business in foreign shipping markets subjects the Company to certain risks (see Item 1A of Part I below for additional information about such risks).

 

Matson applies a fuel surcharge rate to its ocean transportation customers.  Changes in the fuel surcharge levels are correlated to prevailing market rates for bunker fuel prices along with other fuel related cost factors. 

 

Emission Regulations: 

 

Matson is focused on reducing transportation emissions, including carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide, through improvements in vessel fuel consumption and truck efficiency; and the development of more fuel-efficient transportation solutions.

 

The global sulfur emissions cap was reduced to 3.5 percent effective January 1, 2012, and is scheduled to be further reduced to 0.5 percent beginning January 1, 2020.  With respect to North America, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) received approval from the International Maritime Organization, in coordination with Environment Canada, to designate all waters, with certain limited exceptions, within 200 nautical miles of U.S. and Canadian coast lines as designated emission control areas (“ECAs”).  Most of Matson’s vessels operate a portion of their voyages in ECAs while Matson’s Alaska vessels operate a substantial portion of their voyages in ECAs.  The North American ECA went into effect on August 1, 2012, limiting the sulfur emissions to 1.0 percent, with scheduled reductions in future years.  Beginning January 1, 2015, maximum sulfur emissions permitted in designated ECA’s were reduced to 0.1 percent.

 

In December 2017, Matson received an ECA Permit that is effective through December 31, 2019, for three diesel-powered vessels used in the Hawaii service.  Beginning January 1, 2018, the ECA Permit allows for the use of fuel with 0.9 percent or less of sulfur content, with subsequent target reductions in fuel sulfur content to occur in increments of not less that  0.05 percent on a semiannual basis.  The ECA Permit is subject to the development of technologies that monitor main engine performance and promote full power operations on fuels with a sulfur content of less than 0.1 percent.  The Company continues to develop solutions and other operating strategies to comply with the requirements of the ECA Permit for these three vessels.

 

(2)LOGISTICS SEGMENT

 

Logistics Services:    

 

Matson’s Logistics segment provides the following services:

 

Transportation Brokerage Services:  Matson Logistics’ transportation brokerage services provide intermodal rail, highway, and other third-party logistics services for North American customers and international ocean carrier customers, including MatNav.  Matson Logistics is able to reduce transportation costs for its customers through volume purchases of rail, motor carrier and ocean transportation services, augmented by such services as shipment tracking and tracing, and single-vendor invoicing.  Matson Logistics operates customer service centers and has sales offices throughout North America.

 

Freight Forwarding Services:  Matson Logistics provides LCL consolidation and freight forwarding services primarily to the Alaska market through its wholly owned subsidiary, Span Alaska.  Span Alaska’s business aggregates LCL freight at its main terminal in Auburn, Washington for consolidation and shipment to a network of terminals in Alaska.  Span Alaska also provides trucking services to its Auburn terminal and from its Alaska based terminals to final customer destinations in Alaska.

 

Warehousing and Distribution Services:  Matson Logistics operates two warehouses in Georgia and two warehouses in Northern California providing warehousing, value-added packaging, and distribution services.

 

Supply Chain Management and Other Services:  Matson Logistics’ supply chain management provides customers with a variety of logistics services including purchase order management, customs brokerage, LCL and full container load non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) freight forwarding services. 

 

Operating Costs:

 

Logistics operating costs primarily include the costs of purchased transportation, leased warehouse and other facilities operating costs, salaries and benefits, and other operating overhead.

 

Competition:

 

Matson Logistics competes with hundreds of local, regional, national and international companies that provide transportation and third-party logistics services.  The industry is highly fragmented and, therefore, competition varies by geography and areas of service.

 

Matson Logistics’ transportation brokerage services competes most directly with C.H. Robinson Worldwide, the Hub Group, and other freight brokers and intermodal marketing companies, and asset-invested market leaders such as J.B. Hunt.  Competition is differentiated by the depth, scale and scope of customer relationships; vendor relationships and rates; network capacity; and real-time visibility into the movement of customers’ goods and other technology solutions.  Additionally, while Matson Logistics primarily provides surface transportation brokerage, it also competes to a lesser degree with other forms of transportation for the movement of cargo.

 

Matson Logistics’ freight forwarding services compete most directly with a variety of freight forwarding companies that operate within Alaska including Carlile, Lynden, American Fast Freight and Alaska Traffic Company.

 

Customer Concentration:

 

Matson Logistics serves customers in numerous industries and geographical locations.  In 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company’s 10 largest logistics customers accounted for approximately 19 percent, 22 percent and 23 percent of Matson’s Logistics revenue, respectively.  None of these customers accounted for more than 10 percent of Matson Logistics’ operating revenues.  For additional information on Logistics revenues for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of Part II below.

 

Seasonality:

 

Matson’s Logistics services are generally not significantly impacted by seasonality factors, except for its freight forwarding service to Alaska which is affected by the winter weather, the cyclical nature of the oil, construction and fishing industries, and the seasonal nature of the tourism industry.

 

 

Employees:

 

As of December 31, 2017, Matson and its subsidiaries had 1,947 employees, of which 748 employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements with shoreside and offshore unions.  These numbers do not include billets on vessels discussed below, employees of SSAT, or other non-employees, such as agents, temporary workers and contractors.

 

Matson’s active fleet employed seagoing personnel in 328 billets at December 31, 2017.  Each billet corresponds to a position on a vessel that typically is filled by two or more employees because seagoing personnel rotate between active sea-duty and time ashore.  Matson’s ship management services also employed personnel in 28 billets at December 31, 2017.

 

Bargaining Agreements:

 

Matson and SSAT are members of the Pacific Maritime Association (“PMA”), which on behalf of its members negotiates collective bargaining agreements with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (“ILWU”) on the U.S. Pacific Coast.  The PMA/ILWU collective bargaining agreements cover substantially all U.S. West Coast longshore labor.  In August 2017, the ILWU agreed to extend its contract with the PMA to July 1, 2022.  Matson also has collective bargaining agreements with other unions that expire at various dates in the future.

 

Matson’s seagoing employees are represented by unions for both unlicensed and licensed crew members. 

Matson also has collective bargaining agreements with these unions that expire at various dates in the future.

 

Certain collective bargaining agreements expire during 2018.  While Matson believes that it will be able to renegotiate these collective bargaining agreements with its various unions as they expire without any significant impact on its

operations, no assurance can be given that such agreements will be reached without slow-downs, strikes, lock-out or other disruptions that may adversely impact Matson’s operations.

 

Multi-employer Pension and Post-retirement Plans:

 

Matson contributes to a number of multi-employer pension and post-retirement plans.  Matson has no present intention of withdrawing from, and does not anticipate the termination of any of the multi-employer pension plans that it contributes to except for the ILA-PRSSA pension fund in Puerto Rico from which Horizon withdrew in 2015 (see Notes 11 and 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of Part II below for a discussion of withdrawal liabilities under certain multi-employer pension plans).

 

 

Matson makes available, free of charge on or through its Internet website, Matson’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after it electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  The address of Matson’s Internet website is www.matson.com.  The contents of our website are not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K.

 

The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding Matson and other issuers that file electronically with the SEC.  The public may read and copy any materials Matson files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, 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 address of the SEC’s Internet website is www.sec.gov.

 

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

 

The Company’s business faces the risks set forth below, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.  All forward-looking statements made by the Company or on the Company’s behalf are qualified by the risks described below.

 

Risks Relating To Operations

 

Changes in U.S., global, regional economic conditions or governmental policies that result in a decrease in consumer confidence or market demand for the Company’s services and products in Hawaii and Alaska, the U.S. Mainland, Guam, Asia or the South Pacific may adversely affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations, liquidity, or cash flows.

 

A weakening of domestic or global economies may adversely impact the level of freight volumes and freight rates.  Within the U.S., a weakening of economic drivers in Hawaii and Alaska, which include tourism, military spending, construction starts, personal income growth and employment, or the weakening of consumer confidence, market demand, the economy in the U.S. Mainland, or the effect of a change in the strength of the U.S. dollar against other foreign currencies, may further reduce the demand for goods to and from Asia, Hawaii and Alaska, adversely affecting inland and ocean transportation volumes or rates.  In addition, overcapacity in the global or transpacific ocean transportation markets, a change in the cost of goods or currency exchange rates, imposition of tariffs, or a change in international trade policies may adversely affect freight volumes and rates in the Company’s China service.

 

The Company may face new or increased competition.

 

The Company may face new competition by established or start-up shipping operators that enter the Company’s markets.  The entry of a new competitor or the addition of new vessels or capacity by existing competition on any of the Company’s routes could result in a significant increase in available shipping capacity that could have an adverse effect on volumes and rates.  For example, in August 2017, TOTE announced its intent to establish a new domestic shipping service to Hawaii but subsequently announced in January 2018 that its plans are on hold as a result of its Phase 1 technical review of Piers 1 and 2 in Honolulu Harbor.  In addition in December 2016, the Company’s major competitor in the Guam service upgraded its U.S. flagged feeder containership from a bi‑weekly service to a weekly service

connecting the U.S. West Coast to Guam and Saipan via transshipments over Yokohama, Japan and Busan, South Korea.  As a result of these and other potential competitor actions, the Company could experience a reduction in profitability.

 

The loss of or damage to key vendor, agent and customer relationships may adversely affect the Company’s business.

 

The Company’s businesses are dependent on their relationships with key vendors, agents and customers, and derive a significant portion of their revenues from the Company’s largest customers.  The Company could be adversely affected by any changes in the services provided, or changes to the costs of services provided by key vendors and agents.  Relationships with railroads and shipping companies and agents are important in the Company’s intermodal business as well as in the Guam, Micronesia, Japan and South Pacific services. 

 

The Company’s business also relies on its relationships with the military, freight forwarders, large retailers and consumer goods and automobile manufacturers, as well as other larger customers.  In 2017, the Company’s Ocean Transportation segment’s 10 largest customers accounted for approximately 23 percent of the business’ revenue.  In 2017, the Company’s Logistics segment’s 10 largest customers accounted for approximately 19 percent of the business’ revenue.  The loss of or damage to any of these key relationships may adversely affect the Company’s business and revenue.

 

An increase in fuel prices, or changes in the Company’s ability to collect fuel surcharges, may adversely affect the Company’s profits.

 

Fuel is a significant operating expense for the Company’s Ocean Transportation business.  The price and supply of fuel are unpredictable and fluctuate based on events beyond the Company’s control.  Increases in the price of fuel may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.  Increases in fuel costs also can lead to increases in other expenses, for example: increased energy costs, and the costs of purchased outside transportation services.  In the Company’s Ocean Transportation and Logistics services segments, the Company utilizes fuel related surcharges, although increases in the fuel surcharge may adversely affect the Company’s competitive position and may not correspond exactly with the timing of increases in fuel expense.  Changes in the Company’s ability to collect fuel surcharges also may adversely affect its results of operations.

 

Work stoppages or other labor disruptions caused by unionized workers of the Company, other workers or their unions in related industries may adversely affect the Company’s operations.

 

As of December 31, 2017, Matson and its subsidiaries had 1,947 regular employees, of which 748 employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements with unions.  In addition, at December 31, 2016, the active Matson fleet employed seagoing personnel in 328 billets, and vessel management services employed personnel in 28 billets.  Each billet corresponds to a position on a vessel that typically is filled by two or more employees, because seagoing personnel rotate between active sea-duty and time ashore.  Such employees are also subject to collective bargaining agreements.  Furthermore, the Company relies on the services of third-parties including SSAT that employ persons covered by collective bargaining agreements.  For additional information on collective bargaining agreements with unions, see Item1.  C. Employees and Labor Relations of Part I above.

 

The Company could be adversely affected by actions taken by employees of the Company or other companies in related industries against efforts by management to control labor costs, restrain wage or benefit increases or modify work practices.  Strikes and disruptions may occur as a result of the failure of Matson or other companies in its industry to negotiate collective bargaining agreements with such unions successfully.

 

In addition, any slow-downs, strikes, lock-outs or other disruptions, including limits to availability of labor through trade union hiring halts could have an adverse impact on Matson’s or SSAT’s operations.

 

The Company is susceptible to weather, natural disasters and other operating risks.

 

The Company’s operations are vulnerable to disruption as a result of weather and natural disasters, such as bad weather at sea, hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, floods and earthquakes.  Such events will interfere with the Company’s ability to provide on-time scheduled service, resulting in increased expenses and potential loss of business associated with such events.  In addition, severe weather and natural disasters can result in interference with the Company’s terminal

operations, and may cause serious damage to its vessels and cranes, loss or damage to containers, cargo and other equipment, and loss of life or physical injury to its employees, all of which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business.

 

The Company’s vessels and their cargoes are also subject to operating risks such as mechanical failure, collisions and human error. The occurrence of any of these events may result in damage to or loss of vessels or other property, or injury or death of people.  If any of these events were to occur, the Company could be exposed to liability for resulting damages and possible penalties that, pursuant to typical maritime industry policies, it must pay and then seek reimbursement from its insurer.  Affected vessels may also be removed from service and thus would be unavailable for income-generating activity. 

 

The Company maintains casualty and liability insurance policies, which are generally subject to large retentions and deductibles.  Some types of losses, such as losses resulting from a port blockage, generally, are not insured.  In some cases the Company retains the entire risk of loss because it is not economically prudent to purchase insurance coverage or because of the perceived remoteness of the risk.  Other risks are uninsured because insurance coverage may not be commercially available.  Finally, the Company retains all risk of loss that exceeds the limits of its insurance.

 

The Company’s significant operating agreements and leases could be replaced on less favorable terms or may not be replaced. 

 

The significant operating agreements and leases of the Company in its various businesses expire at various points in the future and may not be replaced or could be replaced on less favorable terms, thereby adversely affecting the Company’s future financial position, results of operations and cash flows. 

 

The Company may face unexpected drydock or repair costs for its vessels.

 

We routinely engage shipyards to drydock our vessels for regulatory compliance and to provide repair and maintenance.  Vessels may also have to be drydocked or repaired at sea in the event of accidents or other unforeseen damage.  The cost of repairs are difficult to predict with certainty and can be substantial.  Large drydocking and other repair expenses could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and cash flows.  In addition, the time when a vessel is out of service for maintenance is determined by a number of factors, including regulatory deadlines, market conditions, shipyard availability and customer requirements, and accordingly, the length of time that a vessel may be out of service may be longer than anticipated, which could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

If we are not able to use our information technology and communications systems effectively, our ability to conduct business might be negatively impacted.

 

The Company is highly dependent on the proper functioning of our information technology systems to enable operations and compete effectively.  Our information technology systems rely on third-party service providers for access to the Internet, satellite-based communications systems, the electric grid, database storage facilities and telecommunications providers.  We have no control over the operations of these third-party service providers.  If our information technology and communications systems experience reliability issues, integration or compatibility concerns or if our third-party providers are unable to perform effectively or experience disruptions or failures, there could be an adverse impact on the availability and functioning of our information technology and communications systems, which could lead to business disruption or inefficiencies, reputational harm or loss of customers that could have an adverse effect on our business.

 

Our information technology systems may be exposed to cybersecurity risks and other disruptions that could impair the Company’s ability to operate and adversely affect its business.

 

The Company relies extensively on its information technology systems and third-party service providers including cloud services for accounting, billing, disbursement, cargo booking and tracking, vessel scheduling and stowage, equipment tracking, customer service, banking, payroll and employee communication systems.  The Company also collects, stores and transmits sensitive data, including its proprietary business information and that of its customers, and personally identifiable information of its customers and employees.  Despite our continuous efforts to make investments in our information technology systems and system-wide data security program, the implementation of security measures to protect our data and infrastructure against breaches and other cyber threats, and our use of internal processes and

controls designed to protect the security and availability of our systems, our information technology and communication systems may be vulnerable to cybersecurity risks such as computer viruses, hacking, malware, denial of service attacks, cyber terrorism, circumvention of security systems, malfeasance, breaches due to employee error, natural disasters, telecommunications failure, or other catastrophic events at the Company’s facilities, aboard its vessels or at third-party locations.

 

Any failure, breach or unauthorized access to the Company’s or third-party systems could result in the loss of confidential, sensitive or proprietary information, interruptions in its service or production or otherwise impact our ability to conduct business operations, and could result in potential reductions in revenue and profits, damage to its reputation or liability.

 

Loss of the Company’s key personnel could adversely affect its business.

 

The Company’s future success will depend, in significant part, upon the continued services of its key personnel, including its senior management and skilled employees.  The loss of the services of key personnel could adversely affect the Company’s future operating results because of such employees’ experience and knowledge of the Company’s business and customer relationships.  If key employees depart, the Company may incur significant costs to replace them.  Additionally, the Company’s ability to execute its business model could be impaired if it cannot replace them in a timely manner.  The Company does not maintain key person insurance on any of its key personnel.

 

The Company is involved in a joint venture and is subject to risks associated with joint venture relationships.

 

The Company is involved in a terminal joint venture, SSAT (and through SSAT, other joint ventures at U.S. West Coast terminals), and may initiate future joint venture projects.  A joint venture involves certain risks such as:

 

 

In addition, the Company relies on the terminal joint venture, SSAT, and SSA for its stevedoring services at the ports of Long Beach and Oakland, California, and Seattle and Tacoma, Washington on the U.S. West Coast.  The Company could be adversely affected by any changes in the services provided, or to the costs of such services provided by the Company’s terminal joint venture, SSAT, and SSA.

 

The Company is subject to risks associated with conducting business in foreign shipping markets.

 

Matson’s China, Micronesia, Japan and South Pacific services are subject to risks associated with conducting business in a foreign shipping market, which include:

 

 

Any of these risks has the potential to adversely affect the Company’s operating results.

 

The Company’s Logistics segment is dependent upon third-parties for equipment, capacity and services essential to operate its business, and if the Company fails to secure sufficient third-party services, its business could be adversely affected.

 

The Company’s Logistics segment is dependent upon rail, truck and ocean transportation services provided by independent third-parties.  If the Company cannot secure sufficient transportation equipment, capacity or services from these third-parties at reasonable rates to meet its customers’ needs and schedules, customers may seek to have their transportation and logistics needs met by other third-parties on a temporary or permanent basis.  As a result, the Company’s business, consolidated results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

 

The Company is subject to risks related to a marine accident or spill event.

 

The Company’s vessel and terminal operations could be faced with a maritime accident, oil or other spill, or other environmental mishap.  Such event may lead to personal injury, loss of life, damage of property, pollution and suspension of operations.  As a result, such event could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business.

 

The Company’s Shipbuilding Agreements with Philly Shipyard and NASSCO are subject to risks.

 

On November 6, 2013, MatNav and Philly Shipyard entered into definitive agreements pursuant to which Philly Shipyard will construct two new 3,600-TEU Aloha Class dual-fuel capable containerships, with expected delivery dates during the third quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019.  On August 25, 2016, MatNav and NASSCO entered into definitive agreements pursuant to which NASSCO will construct two new 3,500-TEU Kanaloa Class dual-fuel capable container and roll-on/roll-off vessels, with expected delivery dates at the end of 2019 and mid-2020.  Failure of any party to the shipbuilding agreements to fulfill its obligations under the agreements could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.  Such a failure could happen for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to (i) delivery delays, (ii) delivery of vessels that fail to meet any of the required operating specifications (for example, capacity, fuel efficiency or speed), (iii) events in Korea which prevent one or more significant subcontractors to each of, Philly Shipyard or NASSCO from performing, or (iv) the insolvency of, or the refusal or inability to perform for any reason, by Philly Shipyard, NASSCO, or any of their respective subcontractors.  Significant delays in the delivery of the new vessels could limit our ability to replace aging steamships without substantial modifications, which could also have an adverse impact on our business plans, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Company’s terminals in Hawaii and Alaska require modernization.

 

We have purchased three new gantry cranes and are upgrading three existing cranes as part of a broader project to expand and improve the Company’s Sand Island terminal in Honolulu Harbor.  We have also begun discussions with state and local authorities in Anchorage, Alaska regarding upgrades to those terminal and port facilities.  Regulatory, construction or other delays or cost overruns related to the modernization of the terminals could have an adverse impact on our business plans, financial condition and results of operations. 

 

Heightened security measures, war, actual or threatened terrorist attacks, efforts to combat terrorism and other acts of violence may adversely impact the Company’s operations and profitability.

 

War, terrorist attacks and other acts of violence may cause consumer confidence and spending to decrease, or may affect the ability or willingness of tourists to travel to Hawaii, Guam or Alaska, thereby adversely affecting those economies and the Company.  Additionally, future terrorist attacks could increase volatility in the U.S. and worldwide financial markets.  Acts of war or terrorism may be directed at the Company’s shipping operations, or may cause the U.S. government to take control of Matson’s vessels for military operation.  Heightened security measures potentially slow the movement and increase the cost of freight through U.S. or foreign ports, across borders or on U.S. or foreign railroads or highways and could adversely affect the Company’s business and results of operations.

 

Acquisitions may have an adverse effect on the Company’s business.

 

The Company’s growth strategy includes expansion through acquisitions.  Acquisitions may result in difficulties in assimilating acquired assets or companies, and may result in the diversion of the Company’s capital and its management attention from other business issues and opportunities.  The Company may not be able to integrate companies that it acquires successfully, including their personnel, financial systems, distribution, operations and general operating procedures.  The Company may also encounter challenges in achieving appropriate internal control over financial reporting in connection with the integration of an acquired company.  The Company may pay a premium for an acquisition, resulting in goodwill that may later be determined to be impaired, adversely affecting the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Horizon and Span Alaska Acquisitions may expose us to unknown liabilities.

 

We acquired Horizon subject to all of the liabilities and obligations of its non-Hawaii business, including any remaining liabilities and obligations associated with its Puerto Rico operations, which Horizon ceased during the first quarter of 2015.  Similarly, in August 2016, we acquired Span Alaska subject to all of its liabilities and obligations.  The disposition of these liabilities, and any other obligations that are unknown to the Company, including contingent liabilities, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

We may continue to be exposed to risks and liabilities related to Horizon’s former Hawaii business.

 

Pasha acquired Horizon’s former Hawaii business immediately before we acquired Horizon, and Pasha assumed substantially all liabilities and obligations related to Horizon’s Hawaii business and agreed to perform various covenants.  In some cases however, Horizon, as the original contracting party, may remain primarily responsible for such assumed Hawaii liabilities and obligations.  The Company may incur losses related to such assumed Hawaii liabilities and obligations.

 

We may be required to record a significant charge to earnings if recorded intangible assets associated with the Horizon and Span Alaska Acquisitions became impaired.

 

We recorded significant intangible assets related to goodwill and customer relationships arising from the Horizon and Span Alaska acquisitions.  We are required to test goodwill for impairment annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount.  Factors that could lead to an impairment of goodwill or intangible customer relationships include any significant adverse changes affecting the reporting unit’s financial condition, results of operations, and future cash flows.

 

Risks Relating to Financial Matters

 

A deterioration of the Company’s credit profile or disruptions of the credit markets could restrict its ability to access the debt capital markets or increase the cost of debt.    

 

Deterioration in the Company’s credit profile may have an adverse effect on the Company’s ability to access the private or public debt markets and also may increase its borrowing costs.  If the Company’s credit profile deteriorates significantly, its access to the debt capital markets or its ability to renew its committed lines of credit may become restricted, or the Company may not be able to refinance debt at the same levels or on the same terms.  Because the Company relies on its ability to draw on its revolving credit facilities to support its operations, when required, any

volatility in the credit and financial markets that prevents the Company from accessing funds (for example, a lender that does not fulfill its lending obligation) could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and cash flows.  Additionally, the Company’s credit agreements generally include an increase in borrowing rates if the Company’s credit profile deteriorates.  Furthermore, the Company incurs interest under its revolving credit facilities based on floating rates.  Floating rate debt creates higher debt service requirements if market interest rates increase, which would adversely affect the Company’s cash flow and results of operations.

 

Failure to comply with certain restrictive financial covenants contained in the Company’s credit facilities could preclude the payment of dividends, impose restrictions on the Company’s business segments, capital resources or other activities or otherwise adversely affect the Company. 

 

The Company’s credit facilities contain certain restrictive financial covenants, the most restrictive of which include a maximum ratio of debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), a minimum ratio of EBITDA to interest expense, the maintenance of no more than a maximum amount of priority debt as a percentage of consolidated tangible assets, and the maintenance of minimum shareholders’ equity.  If the Company does not maintain these and other required covenants, and a breach of such covenants is not cured timely or waived by the lenders resulting in a default, the Company’s access to credit may be limited or terminated, dividends may be suspended, and the lenders could declare any outstanding amounts due and payable.  The Company’s continued ability to borrow under its credit facilities is subject to compliance with these financial and other non-financial covenants.

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate may vary. 

 

Various internal and external factors may have favorable or unfavorable, material or immaterial effects on the Company’s effective income tax rate and, therefore, impact the Company’s net income and earnings per share.  These factors include, but are not limited to changes in tax rates; changes in tax laws including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted on December 22, 2017 (the “Tax Act”), regulations, and rulings; changes in interpretations of existing tax laws, regulations and rulings; changes in the evaluation of the Company’s ability to realize deferred tax assets, and changes in uncertain tax positions; changes in accounting principles; changes in current pre-tax income as well as changes in forecasted pre-tax income; changes in the level of CCF deductions, non-deductible expenses, and expenses eligible for tax credits; changes in the mix of earnings among countries with varying tax rates; and acquisitions and changes in the Company’s corporate structure.  These factors may result in periodic revisions to our effective income tax rate, which could affect the Company’s cash flow and results of operations.

 

Changes in the value of pension assets, or a change in pension law or key assumptions, may adversely affect the Company’s financial performance.

 

The amount of the Company’s employee pension and post-retirement benefit costs and obligations are calculated on assumptions used in the relevant actuarial calculations.  Adverse changes in any of these assumptions due to economic or other factors, changes in discount rates, higher health care costs, or lower actual or expected returns on plan assets, may adversely affect the Company’s operating results, cash flows, and financial condition.  In addition, a change in federal law, including changes to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premiums, may adversely affect the Company’s single-employer and multi-employer pension plans and plan funding.  These factors, as well as a decline in the fair value of pension plan assets, may put upward pressure on the cost of providing pension and medical benefits and may increase future pension expense and required funding contributions.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in limiting future cost and expense increases, and continued upward pressure in costs and expenses could further reduce the profitability of the Company’s businesses.

 

The Company may have exposure under its multi-employer pension and post-retirement plans in which it participates that extends beyond its funding obligation with respect to the Company’s employees.

 

The Company contributes to various multi-employer pension plans.  In the event of a partial or complete withdrawal by the Company from any plan that is underfunded, the Company would be liable for a proportionate share of such plan’s unfunded vested benefits (See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of Part II below).  Based on the limited information available from plan administrators, which the Company cannot independently validate, the Company believes that its portion of the contingent liability in the case of a full withdrawal or termination may be material to its financial position and results of operations.  If any other contributing employer withdraws from any plan that is underfunded, and such employer (or any member of its controlled group) cannot satisfy its obligations under the

plan at the time of withdrawal, then the Company, along with the other remaining contributing employers, would be liable for its proportionate share of such plan’s unfunded vested benefits.  In addition, if a multi-employer plan fails to satisfy the minimum funding requirements, the Internal Revenue Service will impose certain penalties and taxes.

 

Risks Relating to Legal and Legislative Matters

 

Compliance with safety and environmental protection and other governmental requirements may adversely affect our operations.

 

The shipping industry in general, our business and the operation of our vessels and terminals in particular are affected by extensive and changing safety, environmental protection and other international, national, State and local governmental laws and regulations, including the following: laws pertaining to air emissions; wastewater discharges; the transportation, handling and disposal of solid and hazardous materials, oil and oil-related products, hazardous substances and wastes; the investigation and remediation of contamination; and health, safety and the protection of the environment and natural resources.  For example, our U.S. flagged vessels generally must be maintained “in class” and are subject to periodic inspections by the American Bureau of Shipping or similar classification societies, and must be periodically inspected by, or on behalf of, the United States Coast Guard.  Federal environmental laws and certain State laws require us, as a vessel operator, to comply with numerous environmental regulations and to obtain certificates of financial responsibility and to adopt procedures for oil and hazardous substance spill prevention, response and clean up.

 

In complying with these laws, we have incurred expenses and may incur future expenses for vessel modifications, changes in operating procedures and undergoing additional oversight inspections.  Changes in enforcement policies for existing requirements and additional laws and regulations adopted in the future could limit our ability to do business or further increase the cost of our doing business.  Our vessels’ operating certificates and licenses are renewed periodically during the required annual surveys of the vessels.  However, there can be no assurance that such certificates and licenses will be renewed, even though Matson maintains extensive programs and policies to ensure such renewal.  Also, in the future, we may have to alter existing equipment, add new equipment, or change operating procedures for our vessels to comply with changes in governmental regulations, safety or other equipment standards to meet our customers’ changing needs.  If any such costs are material, they could adversely affect our financial condition.

 

We are subject to regulation and liability under environmental laws that could result in substantial fines and penalties that may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

The U.S. Act to Prevent Pollution from vessels, which implements the International Maritime Pollution (MARPOL) treaty, and the Oil Pollution Action of 1990 (OPA-90), among many other laws, treaties and regulations, provides for severe civil and criminal penalties related to vessel-generated pollution for incidents in U.S. waters within three nautical miles and in some cases within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone.  The EPA requires vessels to obtain coverage under a general permit and to comply with inspection, monitoring, discharge, recordkeeping and reporting requirements.  Matson’s vessels operate within sulfur emission control areas (SECAs) or emission control areas (ECAs).  If our vessels are not operated in accordance with these requirements, including waivers, permits or record keeping and other reporting requirements, such violations could result in substantial fines or penalties that could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and our business.

 

The Company is subject to, and may in the future be subject to disputes, legal or other proceedings, and government inquiries or investigations that could have an adverse effect on the Company.

 

The nature of the Company’s business exposes it to the potential for disputes, legal or other proceedings, and government inquiries or investigations, relating to antitrust matters, labor and employment matters, personal injury and property damage, environmental and other matters, as discussed in the other risk factors disclosed in this section or in other Company filings with the SEC.  For example, Matson is a common carrier, whose tariffs, rates, rules and practices in dealing with its customers are governed by extensive and complex foreign, federal, state and local regulations, which may be the subject of disputes or administrative or judicial proceedings.  If these disputes develop into proceedings, these proceedings, individually or collectively, could involve or result in significant expenditures or losses by the Company, or result in significant changes to Matson’s tariffs, rates, rules and practices in dealing with its customers, all of which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s future operating results, including profitability, cash flows, and financial condition.

 

Repeal, substantial amendment, or waiver of the Jones Act or its application would have an adverse effect on the Company’s business.

 

If the Jones Act was to be repealed, substantially amended, or waived and, as a consequence, competitors were to enter the Hawaii or Alaska markets with lower operating costs by utilizing their ability to acquire and operate foreign-flag and foreign-built vessels, the Company’s business would be adversely affected.  In addition, the Company’s advantage as a U.S. citizen operator of Jones Act vessels could be eroded by periodic efforts and attempts by foreign interests to circumvent certain aspects of the Jones Act.  If maritime cabotage services were included in the General Agreement on Trade in Services, the North American Free Trade Agreement or other international trade agreements, or if the restrictions contained in the Jones Act were otherwise altered, the shipping of cargo between covered U.S. ports could be opened to foreign-flag or foreign-built vessels.

 

Non-compliance with, or changes to, federal, state or local law or regulations, including passage of climate change legislation or regulation, may adversely affect the Company’s business.

 

The Company is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations, including cabotage laws, government rate regulations, and environmental regulations including those relating to air quality initiatives at port locations, including but not limited to, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation & Liability Act of 1980, the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, the Clean Water Act, the Invasive Species Act and the Clean Air Act.  Continued compliance with these laws and regulations may result in additional costs and changes in operating procedures that may adversely affect the Company’s business.  Non-compliance with, or changes to, the laws and regulations governing the Company’s business could impose significant additional costs on the Company and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, changes in environmental laws impacting the business, including passage of climate change legislation or other regulatory initiatives that restrict emissions of greenhouse gasses such as a “cap and trade” system of allowances and credits, if enacted, may require costly vessel modifications, the use of higher-priced fuel and changes in operating practices that may not be recoverable through increased payments from customers.  Further changes to these laws and regulations could adversely affect the Company.

 

Risks Related to Capital Structure

 

The Company’s business could be adversely affected if the Company were determined not to be a U.S. citizen under the Jones Act.

 

Certain provisions of the Company’s articles of incorporation protect the Company’s ability to maintain its status as a U.S. citizen under the Jones Act.  Although the Company is a U.S. citizen under the Jones Act, if non-U.S. citizens were able to defeat such articles of incorporation restrictions and own in the aggregate more than 25 percent of the Company’s common stock, the Company would no longer be considered as a U.S. citizen under the Jones Act.  Such an event could result in the Company’s ineligibility to engage in coastwise trade and the imposition of substantial penalties against it, including seizure or forfeiture of its vessels, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operation.

 

ITEM 1B.  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

 

Matson leases terminal facilities including office and storage space at the following locations:

 

 

The Company is currently renewing certain terminal leases which expire during 2018.  The Company expects to be able to renew these leases as they expire on similar terms to those that currently exist within these lease agreements.  The Company’s other primary terminal facilities located at the Ports of Oakland and Long Beach, California, and the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma, Washington are leased by the Company’s Terminal Joint Venture, SSAT.

 

The Company’s other significant office locations, warehouses and storage facilities are as follows:

 

 

 

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Environmental Matters: The Company’s Ocean Transportation segment has certain risks that could result in expenditures for environmental remediation.  The Company believes that based on all information available to it, the Company is currently in compliance, in all material respects, with applicable environmental laws and regulations.

 

Other Matters: The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to, or may be contingently liable in connection with other legal actions arising in the normal course of their businesses, the outcomes of which, in the opinion of management after consultation with counsel, would not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

 

ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not Applicable.

PART II

 

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

General Information: Matson’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “MATX”.  As of February 20, 2018, there were 2,297 shareholders of record of Matson common stock.  In addition, Cede & Co., which appears as a single record holder, represents the holdings of thousands of beneficial owners of Matson common stock.

 

Stockholder Return Performance Graph and Other Information:  The following information in this Item 5 shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

The cumulative total return listed below assumed an initial investment of $100 and reinvestment of dividends at each fiscal end and measures the performance of this investment as of the last trading day in the month of December for each of the five years ended December 31, 2017.  The graph is a historical representation of past performance only and is not necessarily indicative of future performance.

*$100 invested on December 31, 2012 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.

 

Trading volume averaged 241,338 shares a day in 2017, compared with 279,852 shares a day in 2016 and 240,996 shares a day in 2015, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.

 

The quarterly intra-day high and low sales prices and end of quarter closing prices, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange for each fiscal quarter during 2017 and 2016, were as follows:

 

Dividends:  Dividends declared and paid per share of common stock by the Company for each fiscal quarter during 2017 and 2016, were as follows:

 

Matson’s Board of Directors also declared a cash dividend of $0.20 per share for the first quarter 2018, payable on March 1, 2018 to shareholders of record on February 8, 2018.  Although Matson expects to continue paying quarterly cash dividends on its common stock, the declaration and payment of dividends are subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon Matson’s financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements and other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors.

 

Share Repurchases:  On November 4, 2015, the Company announced that Matson’s Board of Directors had approved a share repurchase program of up to 3.0 million shares of common stock through November 2, 2018.  Shares can be repurchased in the open market from time to time, and may be made pursuant to a trading plan in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  During the quarter ended December 31, 2017, no shares were repurchased, excluding shares withheld for employee taxes upon vesting of share-based awards.  The maximum number of remaining shares that may be purchased under the share repurchase program was 1,151,288 as of December 31, 2017.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information:  The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2017, certain information regarding Matson’s equity compensation plan: