PAGE ONE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ----------------------- FORM 10-Q (X) QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 ( ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to -------- -------- Commission file number 1-8339 NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Virginia 52-1188014 - ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------- (State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) Three Commercial Place Norfolk, Virginia 23510-2191 - ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) Zip Code Registrant's telephone number, including area code (804) 629-2680 ---------------------- No Change - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.) 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. (X) Yes ( ) No The number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of Common Stock, as of the last practicable date: Class Outstanding as of October 31, 1996 ----- ---------------------------------- Common Stock (par value $1.00) 125,088,459 shares (excluding 7,252,634 shares held by registrant's consolidated subsidiaries)
PAGE 2 NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (NS) INDEX Page ---- Part I. Financial Information: Item 1. Consolidated Statements of Income Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 3 Consolidated Balance Sheets September 30, 1996, and December 31, 1995 4 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 5 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 6-9 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 10-18 Part II. Other Information: Item 1. Legal Proceedings 19-20 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 20 Signatures 21 Index to Exhibits 22
PAGE 3 PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION ------------------------------ Item 1. Financial Statements. - ------ -------------------- <TABLE> NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Income (In millions of dollars except per share amounts) (Unaudited) <CAPTION> Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 1996 1995 1996 1995 -------- -------- -------- -------- <S> <C> <C> <C> <C> TRANSPORTATION OPERATING REVENUES: Railway (Note 6): Coal $ 327.5 $ 325.7 $ 979.8 $ 950.6 Merchandise 570.3 553.7 1,737.5 1,710.0 Intermodal 122.3 116.6 357.5 351.0 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total railway 1,020.1 996.0 3,074.8 3,011.6 Motor carrier 191.2 187.9 515.3 501.2 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total operating revenues 1,211.3 1,183.9 3,590.1 3,512.8 -------- -------- -------- -------- TRANSPORTATION OPERATING EXPENSES: Railway: Compensation and benefits 341.3 359.7 1,069.9 1,091.6 Materials, services and rents 154.7 146.7 465.0 472.5 Depreciation 102.2 98.3 304.1 289.4 Diesel fuel 53.7 45.2 165.8 140.9 Casualties and other claims 28.2 30.7 93.8 91.7 Other 39.6 37.7 113.9 114.1 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total railway 719.7 718.3 2,212.5 2,200.2 Motor carrier 175.9 173.5 490.4 481.3 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total operating expenses 895.6 891.8 2,702.9 2,681.5 -------- -------- -------- -------- Income from operations 315.7 292.1 887.2 831.3 Other income (expense): Interest income 4.4 6.9 15.3 21.7 Interest expense on debt (28.3) (28.8) (83.9) (85.7) Other - net 21.6 16.9 68.0 87.4 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total other income (2.3) (5.0) (0.6) 23.4 -------- -------- -------- -------- Income before income taxes 313.4 287.1 886.6 854.7 Provision for income taxes 111.1 103.2 316.7 318.9 -------- -------- -------- -------- NET INCOME $ 202.3 $ 183.9 $ 569.9 $ 535.8 ======== ======== ======== ======== <S> <C> <C> <C> <C> Per share amounts (Note 5): Net income $ 1.61 $ 1.40 $ 4.49 $ 4.07 Dividends 0.56 0.52 1.68 1.56 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. </TABLE>
PAGE 4 Item 1. Financial Statements. (continued) - ------ -------------------- <TABLE> NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Balance Sheets (In millions of dollars) (Unaudited) <CAPTION> September 30, December 31, 1996 1995 ------------ ----------- <S> <C> <C> ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 187.6 $ 67.7 Short-term investments 173.9 261.3 Accounts receivable - net 775.5 703.5 Materials and supplies 58.1 61.7 Deferred income taxes 151.8 144.7 Other current assets 109.7 103.9 --------- --------- Total current assets 1,456.6 1,342.8 Investments 273.0 231.7 Properties less accumulated depreciation 9,460.2 9,258.8 Other assets 71.7 71.5 --------- --------- TOTAL ASSETS $11,261.5 $10,904.8 ========= ========= LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Short-term debt $ 45.1 $ 45.2 Accounts payable 746.7 732.8 Income and other taxes 204.1 190.8 Other current liabilities 133.7 151.3 Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 3) 78.8 85.7 --------- --------- Total current liabilities 1,208.4 1,205.8 Long-term debt (Note 3) 1,811.2 1,553.3 Other liabilities 986.8 965.5 Minority interests 49.5 52.2 Deferred income taxes 2,351.0 2,299.0 --------- --------- TOTAL LIABILITIES 6,406.9 6,075.8 --------- --------- Stockholders' equity: Common stock $1.00 per share par value 132.4 136.3 Other capital 459.1 430.9 Retained income 4,283.7 4,282.4 Less treasury stock at cost, 7,252,634 shares (20.6) (20.6) --------- --------- TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 4,854.6 4,829.0 --------- --------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $11,261.5 $10,904.8 ========= ========= See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. </TABLE>
PAGE 5 Item 1. Financial Statements. (continued) - ------ -------------------- <TABLE> NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In millions of dollars) (Unaudited) <CAPTION> Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 1995 -------- -------- <S> <C> <C> CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 569.9 $ 535.8 Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Special charge payments (12.6) (9.6) Depreciation 320.5 308.1 Deferred income taxes 44.3 44.7 Nonoperating gains and losses on properties and investments (38.9) (56.8) Changes in assets and liabilities affecting operations: Accounts receivable (72.0) (42.2) Materials and supplies 3.6 (1.2) Other current assets 24.6 27.5 Current liabilities other than debt 34.8 91.5 Other - net 9.5 16.4 ------- ------- Net cash provided by operating activities 883.7 914.2 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Property additions (Note 3) (500.2) (497.6) Property sales and other transactions 88.8 80.8 Investments and loans (57.0) (54.5) Investment sales and other transactions 25.5 24.6 Short-term investments - net 85.4 38.6 ------- ------- Net cash used for investing activities (357.5) (408.1) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Dividends (213.7) (205.9) Common stock issued - net 25.8 10.6 Purchase and retirement of common stock (Note 4) (370.5) (238.6) Proceeds from long-term borrowings (Note 3) 209.6 7.6 Debt repayments (57.5) (63.6) ------- ------- Net cash used for financing activities (406.3) (489.9) ------- ------- Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 119.9 16.2 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:* At beginning of year 67.7 57.0 ------- ------- At end of period $ 187.6 $ 73.2 ======= ======= - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION Cash paid during the period for: Interest (net of amounts capitalized) $ 108.8 $ 100.7 Income taxes $ 232.7 $ 219.3 * Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments purchased three months or less from maturity. See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. </TABLE>
PAGE 6 Item 1. Financial Statements. (continued) - ------ -------------------- NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 1. In the opinion of Management, the accompanying unaudited interim financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position as of September 30, 1996, and the results of operations and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 1996, and 1995. While Management believes that the disclosures presented are adequate to make the information not misleading, these consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in the Corporation's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. 2. Contingencies There have been no significant changes since year-end 1995 in the matters as discussed in NOTE 17, CONTINGENCIES, appearing in the NS Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1995, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, beginning on page 74. 3. Long-Term Debt MEDIUM-TERM NOTES ----------------- During September 1996, NS issued and sold $200 million principal amount of Medium-Term Notes due September 15, 2006, under its $750 million shelf registration statement filed in 1991. Of these notes, $100 million has an interest rate of 7.4 percent and the other $100 million, an interest rate of 7.22 percent. The notes are not redeemable prior to maturity and are not entitled to any sinking fund. Including the notes issued in September, $700 million principal amount of debt has been issued and sold under the 1991 shelf registration. CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS ------------------------- During the first nine months of 1996 and 1995, an NS rail subsidiary entered into capital leases covering new locomotives. The related capital lease obligations totaling $107.8 million in 1996 and $104.5 million in 1995 were reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as debt and, because they were non-cash transactions, were excluded from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The lease obligations carry stated interest rates between 6.20 percent and 6.75 percent for those entered into in 1996, and between 8.23 percent and 8.60 percent for those entered into in 1995. All were converted to variable rate obligations using interest rate swap agreements. The interest rates on these obligations are based on the six-month London Interbank Offered
PAGE 7 Item 1. Financial Statements. (continued) - ------ -------------------- NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 3. Long-Term Debt (continued) Rate and are reset every six months with realized gains or losses accounted for as an adjustment of interest expense over the terms of the leases. As a result, NS is exposed to the market risk associated with fluctuations in interest rates. To date, the effects of the rate fluctuations have been favorable. Counterparties to the interest rate swap agreements are major financial institutions believed by Management to be credit-worthy. NS' use of interest rate swaps has been limited to those discussed above. 4. Stock Purchase Programs In January 1996, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase and retirement of up to 30 million shares of common stock. NS completed its purchases (45 million shares) under a 1989 authorization on March 8, 1996, and completed in 1989 an initial program for 20 million shares which began in 1987. Since the first purchases in December 1987 through September 30, 1996, NS has purchased and retired 68,416,000 shares of its common stock at a cost of $3.2 billion (see also Note 8). 5. Earnings Per Share <TABLE> "Earnings per share" is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding as follows: <CAPTION> Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 1996 1995 1996 1995 ---- ---- ---- ---- (In thousands) <S> <C> <C> <C> <C> Average number of shares outstanding 125,605 130,578 126,912 131,532 </TABLE> Recent decreases in the average number of outstanding shares of NS common stock are the result of the stock purchase program described in Note 4. 6. Reclassification of Railway Revenues Beginning in 1996, revenues previously reported as "Other railway revenues" (principally switching and demurrage) are included in each of the respective commodity groups. 1995 revenues have been reclassified to conform with the current presentation.
PAGE 8 Item 1. Financial Statements. (continued) - ------ -------------------- NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 7. Lease Commitments On July 29, 1996, implementation of the Lease Extension Agreement between Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NS Rail) and North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) was enjoined by a federal court, which ruled that a quorum of private stockholders was not present at the NCRR stockholders' meeting at which the Agreement was approved. In light of the Federal Court's injunction of NCRR from entering into the lease extension agreement which had been negotiated between NCRR and NS Rail, NCRR has elected to file, against NS Rail and affiliated companies, a lawsuit in state court to resolve contractual and environmental issues and an action in the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to determine appropriate compensation for NS Rail's continued use of the line. Pending resolution of the STB proceedings, NS Rail will continue to discharge its common carrier obligations by operating over the lines of NCRR. Final resolution of these matters is not expected to have a material effect on NS' consolidated financial position or results of operations. 8. Subsequent Events PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF CONRAIL INC. ------------------------------------ On October 23, 1996, NS announced its intention to commence an all-cash tender offer for Conrail Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (Conrail). On October 24, 1996, Atlantic Acquisition Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of NS, offered to purchase all outstanding shares of (i) common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and (ii) Series A ESOP Convertible Junior Preferred Stock, without par value (collectively, the Shares), of Conrail including, in each case, the associated Common Stock Purchase Rights, at a price of $100 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, or approximately $9.1 billion in the aggregate. NS intends ultimately to effect a merger in which all remaining Conrail shareholders also will receive the same cash price paid in the tender offer. Shares tendered in the offer or acquired in any subsequent merger would be held in a voting trust pending regulatory approval by the STB. The offer followed the October 15 announcement that Conrail had entered into a merger agreement with CSX Corporation (CSX), whereby Conrail stockholders would receive $92.50 cash per share for up to 40 percent of their Shares and receive CSX common stock for the balance of their Shares. Based on the October 15, 1996, closing price of CSX common stock in NYSE composite trading (the Closing Price), the aggregate value of the CSX transaction was approximately $8.1 billion. On November 5, 1996, Conrail's Board of Directors unanimously reaffirmed its conclusion that the merger with CSX is in Conrail's best interest and rejected NS' offer. On November 6, 1996, CSX and Conrail announced that they had amended the terms of their merger agreement. Under the revised terms, CSX raised the cash portion of its offer to $110 per Share and left unchanged the ratio pursuant to which certain Conrail stockholders would receive shares of CSX common
PAGE 9 Item 1. Financial Statements. (continued) - ------ -------------------- NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 8. Subsequent Events (continued) PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF CONRAIL INC. (continued) ------------------------------------ stock - an offer valued at approximately $8.4 billion in the aggregate based on the November 6, 1996, Closing Price of CSX common stock. On November 8, 1996, NS announced that it had increased to $110 per share, or approximately $10.0 billion in the aggregate, its all-cash offer. On November 13, Conrail reaffirmed its commitment to the merger with CSX and recommended that its stockholders not tender into the increased NS offer. NS' tender offer is conditioned upon, among other things, the receipt by NS of an informal written opinion from the staff of the STB that the use of the voting trust is consistent with the policies of the STB, NS having obtained sufficient financing for the tender offer and subsequent merger, the valid tender of a majority of Conrail's shares on a fully diluted basis, Subchapter 25F of Pennsylvania's Business Corporation Law not being applicable to the offer, Conrail's Rights Agreement (or poison pill) having been redeemed or otherwise made inapplicable to NS' tender offer, the merger agreement between CSX and Conrail having been terminated in accordance with its terms or otherwise, and other conditions. The full terms and conditions of the tender offer and certain other disclosures, to all of which the foregoing summary is subject, are set forth in documents filed on October 24 and November 8 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See also Part II, Item 1, "Legal Proceedings" on page 19. STOCK PURCHASE PROGRAM ---------------------- On October 23, 1996, NS announced that the share purchase program authorized by the Board of Directors in January 1996 had been suspended.
PAGE 10 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition - ------ ----------------------------------------------------------- and Results of Operations. ------------------------- NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Net Income - ---------- "Net income" for the third quarter of 1996 was a record $202.3 million, up $18.4 million, or 10 percent, compared with $183.9 million in last year's third quarter. "Net income" for the nine months ended September 30, 1996, was a record $569.9 million, a $34.1 million, or 6 percent, increase. Increased "Income from operations," up 8 percent for the third quarter and 7 percent for the first nine months, was principally responsible for both improvements. A lower effective income tax rate (see "Income Taxes") also contributed to the year-to- date improvement. <TABLE> Railway Operating Revenues - -------------------------- Third-quarter "Railway operating revenues" were a record $1.02 billion, a $24.1 million, or 2 percent, increase over the same period last year. "Railway operating revenues" for the first nine months were $3.07 billion, also a record, up $63.2 million, or 2 percent, compared with the same period last year. The increases in operating revenues were due to: <CAPTION> Third Quarter First Nine Months 1996 vs. 1995 1996 vs. 1995 Increase (Decrease) Increase (Decrease) ------------------ ------------------ (In millions of dollars) <S> <C> <C> Traffic volume (carloads) $ 40.6 $ 40.5 Revenue per unit (16.5) 22.7 ------ ------ $ 24.1 $ 63.2 ====== ====== </TABLE>
PAGE 11 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition - ------ ----------------------------------------------------------- and Results of Operations. (continued) ------------------------- <TABLE> Revenues and carloads for the commodity groups were as follows (see Note 6 on page 7 for a discussion of revenue reclassifications): <CAPTION> Revenues ------------------------------------------- Third Quarter Nine Months 1996 1995 1996 1995 --------- --------- --------- --------- ($ in millions) <S> <C> <C> <C> <C> Coal $ 327.5 $ 325.7 $ 979.8 $ 950.6 Chemicals 140.0 127.9 419.3 402.5 Paper/forest 130.1 137.3 388.5 409.1 Automotive 112.2 99.1 364.2 337.6 Agriculture 94.4 98.7 293.1 293.4 Metals/construction 93.6 90.7 272.4 267.4 -------- -------- -------- -------- General merchandise 570.3 553.7 1,737.5 1,710.0 Intermodal 122.3 116.6 357.5 351.0 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total $1,020.1 $ 996.0 $3,074.8 $3,011.6 ======== ======== ======== ======== </TABLE> <TABLE> <CAPTION> Carloads ------------------------------------------- Third Quarter Nine Months 1996 1995 1996 1995 --------- --------- --------- --------- (in thousands) <S> <C> <C> <C> <C> Coal 333.4 319.9 987.5 951.9 Chemicals 95.6 87.5 282.5 274.8 Paper/forest 111.6 116.0 329.8 349.9 Automotive 83.5 70.9 263.1 245.3 Agriculture 91.6 96.9 275.5 292.0 Metals/construction 96.3 95.5 277.8 283.2 -------- -------- -------- -------- General merchandise 478.6 466.8 1,428.7 1,445.2 Intermodal 334.1 313.9 976.5 938.1 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total 1,146.1 1,100.6 3,392.7 3,335.2 ======== ======== ======== ======== </TABLE>
PAGE 12 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition - ------ ----------------------------------------------------------- and Results of Operations. (continued) ------------------------- Coal - ---- Third-quarter coal revenues were $1.8 million, or 1 percent, above third-quarter 1995, and were $29.2 million, or 3 percent, higher for the first nine months. Increased traffic volume was responsible for these improvements, as carloads were 4 percent ahead of both last year's third quarter and first nine months. Lower average revenue per car, largely the result of an increased proportion of utility traffic, offset most of the revenue increase generated by the improved third- quarter traffic volume. Domestic utility coal led the volume gains, a result of downtime at certain nuclear power plants and increased generation at several NS-served utilities. Third-quarter export coal traffic volumes declined compared with a strong third quarter last year, partly due to vessel timing. Domestic utility coal traffic is projected to remain strong in the fourth quarter due to expected continued downtime at nuclear power plants and increased winter demand. Fourth-quarter export coal volume is expected to benefit as the vessel timing, which unfavorably affected the third quarter, reverses in the fourth quarter. General Merchandise - ------------------- Third-quarter general merchandise revenues increased $16.6 million, or 3 percent, over last year, and were $27.5 million, or 2 percent, above the first nine months of 1995. Increased automotive and chemicals traffic volume was principally responsible for both improvements. Automotive led the growth, climbing $13.1 million, or 13 percent, for the quarter, and $26.6 million, or 8 percent, for the first nine months. NS' automotive revenues continued to benefit from a combination of increased production at selected plants that produce popular cars and trucks; production at the GM assembly plant in Wentzville, Mo., which was down two years for retooling; and BMW production at the new Greer, S.C., plant. Fourth-quarter automotive revenues are expected to continue to benefit from these factors. Revenues in the chemicals group were up $12.1 million, or 9 percent, for the quarter and $16.8 million, or 4 percent, for the first nine months, largely a result of increased traffic volume in fertilizers and plastics. Chemical revenues are expected to remain ahead of last year, benefiting from increased demand. Revenues from metals/construction traffic were up $2.9 million, or 3 percent, for the quarter, and $5.0 million, or 2 percent, for the first nine months. Higher average revenue per car was principally responsible for the improvements in both periods.
PAGE 13 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition - ------ ----------------------------------------------------------- and Results of Operations. (continued) ------------------------- Paper/forest revenues decreased $7.2 million, or 5 percent, for the quarter, and were $20.6 million, or 5 percent, lower for the first nine months. Declines in NS' paper/forest traffic continue to reflect the overall softness in the U.S. paper industry. Revenues in the agriculture group were down $4.3 million, or 4 percent, in the third quarter, and were roughly flat for the first nine months. The third-quarter decline was the result of lower traffic volume due to very low supplies of grain following last year's poor harvest. Fourth-quarter agriculture revenues are projected to be ahead of last year, a result of an improvement in this year's harvest. Intermodal - ---------- Third-quarter intermodal revenues increased $5.7 million, or 5 percent, compared with last year, and were $6.5 million, or 2 percent, higher for the first nine months. Traffic volume was up 6 percent and 4 percent for the quarter and nine months, respectively, due to the continued conversion of domestic freight from trailers to efficient double-stack containers. NS' intermodal traffic is expected to continue this positive growth trend in the fourth quarter. Railway Operating Expenses - -------------------------- "Railway operating expenses" increased $1.4 million in the third quarter of 1996, and $12.3 million, or 1 percent, for the first nine months, compared with the same periods last year. The largest increase was in "Diesel fuel," which was up $8.5 million, or 19 percent, for the quarter, and $24.9 million, or 18 percent, for the first nine months. The increases were primarily due to increased price per gallon, up 15 percent and 14 percent for the quarter and nine months, respectively. "Materials, services and rents" increased $8.0 million, or 5 percent, for the third quarter, but decreased $7.5 million, or 2 percent, for the first nine months. The third-quarter increase was primarily due to higher equipment rents related largely to growth in intermodal traffic and the absence of rental income on locomotives leased to UP in 1995. Hurricane Fran, which disrupted some operations during September, also contributed to the increase. The decrease for the first nine months was principally the result of lower locomotive and freight car maintenance costs. "Depreciation" increased $3.9 million, or 4 percent, for the quarter, and $14.7 million, or 5 percent, for the first nine months due to additional investment in depreciable assets.
PAGE 14 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition - ------ ----------------------------------------------------------- and Results of Operations. (continued) ------------------------- The largest decrease was in "Compensation and benefits," which was $18.4 million, or 5 percent, and $21.7 million, or 2 percent, below last year's third quarter and first nine months, respectively. The reductions were primarily attributable to lower fringe benefit costs, principally medical benefits, and an adjustment to capitalized labor costs, chiefly associated with wages payable in connection with the recently ratified labor agreements. "Compensation and benefits" also continues to reflect the positive effects of last year's early retirement program and reduced employment. "Casualties and other claims" decreased $2.5 million, or 8 percent, in the third quarter, but increased $2.1 million, or 2 percent, for the first nine months. The third-quarter decrease was largely the result of a nonrecurring liability insurance refund, somewhat offset by higher accruals for environmental remediation. The year-to-date increase was due to the higher environmental expenses, which more than offset the insurance refund and favorable personal injury experience. Motor Carrier Operating Revenues - -------------------------------- "Motor carrier operating revenues" of $191.2 million for the third quarter and $515.3 million for the first nine months were $3.3 million, or 2 percent, and $14.1 million, or 3 percent, respectively, ahead of the same periods last year. The High Value Products (HVP) Division was responsible for these improvements, as increased revenues were recorded in the Division's logistics, European and trucking operations. Motor Carrier Operating Expenses - -------------------------------- "Motor carrier operating expenses" were $2.4 million, or 1 percent, higher for the third quarter, and were $9.1 million, or 2 percent, higher for the nine months. Both variances were principally a result of increased volume, with lower claims costs in both HVP and the Relocation Services (RS) Division mitigating the volume-related increases. Other Income (Expense) - ---------------------- "Interest income" was $2.5 million, or 36 percent, lower for the quarter and $6.4 million, or 29 percent, lower for the first nine months. The declines were due to a combination of lower interest rates and lower invested balances in 1996. "Other-net" increased $4.7 million, or 28 percent, for the quarter, but decreased $19.4 million, or 22 percent, for the first nine months. The favorable comparison for the quarter was largely attributable to higher gains from dispositions of properties and investments, including NS' investment in a captive insurance company, while the unfavorable first nine months' variance was due to a $30.5 million ($18.8 million after- tax) gain recorded in first-quarter 1995, resulting from the partial redemption of an interest in a real estate partnership.
PAGE 15 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition - ------ ----------------------------------------------------------- and Results of Operations. (continued) ------------------------- Income Taxes - ------------ The effective income tax rate for the third quarter was 35.4 percent, compared with third-quarter 1995's effective rate of 35.9 percent. Both years reflect favorable adjustments related to the filing of the prior year's tax return. For the first nine months, the effective rate was 35.7 percent versus 37.3 percent for 1995. The lower effective rate in 1996 resulted from favorable adjustments for settlement of federal income tax years 1990 through 1992 and continued benefits from Section 29 income tax credits attributable to investments in certain gas properties. <TABLE> FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY <CAPTION> September 30, December 31, 1996 1995 ------------ ----------- (Dollars in millions) <S> <C> <C> Cash and short-term investments $361.5 $329.0 Working capital $248.2 $137.0 Current assets to current liabilities 1.2 1.1 Debt to total capitalization 28.5% 25.9% </TABLE> CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES is NS' principal source of liquidity and was sufficient to cover cash outflows for dividends, debt repayments and capital spending (see Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows on page 5). The decline in cash provided by operations, compared with the first nine months of 1995, was attributable to tax and interest payments made as a result of the federal income tax settlement in 1996 (see "Income Taxes"). Accounts receivable increased $72 million, primarily as a result of higher rail freight receivables. CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES was affected principally by capital spending for property additions, which included $33 million and $30 million in 1996 and 1995, respectively, related to locomotives under capital leases (see Note 3). "Investments and loans" consisted primarily of premium payments related to corporate-owned life insurance (COLI), while "Investment sales and other transactions" principally reflected borrowing on COLI. CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES primarily reflected uses of cash with the largest amount having been spent on the stock purchase program (see Notes 4 and 8). "Common stock issued" in the first nine months of 1996 reflected substantially higher proceeds from stock option exercises. The higher "Proceeds from long-term borrowings" resulted from amounts received in connection with the issuance and sale of $200 million principal amount of Medium-Term Notes due September 15, 2006 (see Note 3).
PAGE 16 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition - ------ ----------------------------------------------------------- and Results of Operations. (continued) ------------------------- NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS Effective January 1, 1996, NS adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long- Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of" (SFAS 121). This standard establishes the accounting and reporting requirements for recognizing and measuring impairment of long-lived assets to be either held and used or held for disposal. SFAS 121 did not have a material effect on NS' financial statements. On October 10, 1996, the AICPA issued Statement of Position 96-1, "Environmental Remediation Liabilities" (SOP 96-1), which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1996. SOP 96-1 provides guidance with respect to recognition and measurement of environmental remediation liabilities and disclosure of such liabilities in financial statements. The impact to NS of adopting SOP 96-1 is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation's financial position or results of operations. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS During 1995, the EPA alleged that The Alabama Great Southern Railroad Company ("AGS"), a subsidiary of NS' rail subsidiary, was responsible, along with several other entities believed to be financially solvent, for past and future cleanup and monitoring costs at the Bayou Bonfouca NPL Superfund site located in Slidell, Louisiana. The site was owned by the parent of an AGS predecessor from 1882 until 1902. Some of the bridge timbers used in the 1882 construction of the predecessor's bridge across Lake Pontchartrain were treated at the site. The United States and the State of Louisiana filed suit to recover all costs incurred (estimated in the complaint at around $100 million) and unspecified amounts to be incurred. Defendants in that suit include AGS and all other entities the EPA earlier identified as potentially responsible parties. AGS believes it never owned, operated or had any other culpable connection to the site and denies responsibility. AGS has now entered into settlement negotiations with the Justice Department in an effort to avoid litigation costs. At this juncture, a settlement with the Justice Department and Louisiana is expected to be at a level immaterial to NS' financial statements. PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF CONRAIL INC. On October 23, 1996, NS announced its intention to commence an all-cash tender offer for Conrail Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (Conrail). On October 24, 1996, Atlantic Acquisition Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of NS, offered to purchase
PAGE 17 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition - ------ ----------------------------------------------------------- and Results of Operations. (continued) ------------------------- all outstanding shares of (i) common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and (ii) Series A ESOP Convertible Junior Preferred Stock, without par value (collectively, the Shares), of Conrail including, in each case, the associated Common Stock Purchase Rights, at a price of $100 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, or approximately $9.1 billion in the aggregate. NS intends ultimately to effect a merger in which all remaining Conrail shareholders also will receive the same cash price paid in the tender offer. Shares tendered in the offer or acquired in any subsequent merger would be held in a voting trust pending regulatory approval by the STB. The offer followed the October 15 announcement that Conrail had entered into a merger agreement with CSX Corporation (CSX), whereby Conrail stockholders would receive $92.50 cash per share for up to 40 percent of their Shares and receive CSX common stock for the balance of their Shares. Based on the October 15, 1996, closing price of CSX common stock in NYSE composite trading (the Closing Price), the aggregate value of the CSX transaction was approximately $8.1 billion. On November 5, 1996, Conrail's Board of Directors unanimously reaffirmed its conclusion that the merger with CSX is in Conrail's best interest and rejected NS' offer. On November 6, 1996, CSX and Conrail announced that they had amended the terms of their merger agreement. Under the revised terms, CSX raised the cash portion of its offer to $110 per Share and left unchanged the ratio pursuant to which certain Conrail stockholders would receive shares of CSX common stock - an offer valued at approximately $8.4 billion in the aggregate based on the November 6, 1996, Closing Price of CSX common stock. On November 8, 1996, NS announced that it had increased to $110 per share, or approximately $10.0 billion in the aggregate, its all-cash offer. On November 13, Conrail reaffirmed its commitment to the merger with CSX and recommended that its stockholders not tender into the increased NS offer. NS' tender offer is conditioned upon, among other things, the receipt by NS of an informal written opinion from the staff of the STB that the use of the voting trust is consistent with the policies of the STB, NS having obtained sufficient financing for the tender offer and subsequent merger, the valid tender of a majority of Conrail's shares on a fully diluted basis, Subchapter 25F of Pennsylvania's Business Corporation Law not being applicable to the offer, Conrail's Rights Agreement (or poison pill) having been redeemed or otherwise made inapplicable to NS' tender offer, the merger agreement between CSX and Conrail having been terminated in accordance with its terms or otherwise, and other conditions. The full terms and conditions of the tender offer and certain other disclosures, to all of which the foregoing summary is subject, are set forth in documents filed on October 24 and November 8 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See also Part II, Item 1, "Legal Proceedings" on page 19. NS expects future cash flows of the merged entity to be sufficient to service and retire the acquisition and related debt.
PAGE 18 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition - ------ ----------------------------------------------------------- and Results of Operations. (continued) ------------------------- The STB has 15 months after accepting NS' application to acquire control of Conrail to decide whether or not to approve the application or impose conditions. If the STB does not approve or if NS deems the conditions imposed by the STB too onerous, NS would have the right to and could be required to sell all Conrail shares held in the voting trust. Such a disposition could result in a significant loss in and over the period of disposition. STOCK PURCHASE PROGRAM On October 23, 1996, NS announced that the share purchase program authorized by the Board of Directors in January 1996 had been suspended.
PAGE 19 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION --------------------------- NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Item 1. Legal Proceedings. - ------ ----------------- Conrail. On October 15, 1996, Conrail Inc. ("Conrail") and CSX Corporation ("CSX") announced an agreement to merge, in connection with which CSX announced its intention to commence a multi-tier tender offer for shares of Conrail stock in return for cash and shares of CSX stock. On October 23, 1996, NS announced it would make a competing, all-cash tender offer for all shares of Conrail stock; on the same date, NS, Atlantic Acquisition Corporation (a wholly owned Pennsylvania subsidiary of NS) and a Conrail stockholder who is an NS employee (such parties together, the "Plaintiffs") filed a complaint against Conrail and its directors and against CSX (such parties together, the "Defendants") in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Plaintiffs sought, among other things, certain declaratory and injunctive relief and alleged various breaches of fiduciary duty and violations of certain federal securities laws. The District Court set a November 12 hearing date - two days prior to the date then set for a Special Meeting at which Conrail stockholders were to be asked to approve an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation that ultimately would be necessary to permit CSX to acquire sufficient shares of Conrail stock virtually to assure approval of that merger. On October 30, 1996, Plaintiffs amended the complaint. In addition to the allegations cited in the original complaint, the amended complaint alleges, among other things, that provisions in the merger agreement between Conrail and CSX, which prohibit the Conrail Board from redeeming the rights issuable under a Conrail-adopted rights plan (Conrail's "Poison Pill") and from amending or otherwise taking further action with respect to the Conrail rights plan, are ultra vires under Pennsylvania law and constitute a breach of the Conrail directors' fiduciary duties of loyalty and care; that the tender offer materials distributed by Conrail and CSX misrepresented key terms of the Conrail rights plan necessary to an understanding of the effects of that plan; that the provisions of the merger agreement between Conrail and CSX which prohibit the Conrail directors from withdrawing their recommendation that Conrail stockholders accept and approve the proposed CSX transaction and from terminating the merger agreement between Conrail and CSX for a period of 180 days from the date of execution of that agreement are ultra vires under Pennsylvania law and constitute a breach of the Conrail directors' fiduciary duties of loyalty and care; and that CSX has knowingly participated in the illegal conduct of Conrail and its directors. In the amended complaint, Plaintiffs seek certain declaratory and injunctive relief in addition to that sought pursuant to the original complaint.
PAGE 20 Item 1. Legal Proceedings. (continued) - ------ ----------------- On November 1, Plaintiffs requested that the District Court temporarily enjoin the Defendants from taking, or in certain instances to require them to take, certain actions, including taking the steps necessary to prevent a "Distribution Date" from occurring under the Conrail rights plan. At the hearing on November 4 to hear arguments concerning Plaintiffs' motion, Conrail advised that its directors earlier that day had adopted a resolution deferring the "Distribution Date" under that plan. As a result of Conrail's announcement that its Special Meeting had been rescheduled from November 14, the District Court moved its hearing from November 12 to November 18. At that hearing, Plaintiffs also will seek to enjoin the CSX offer from expiring on November 20 and CSX from acquiring shares pursuant to the CSX offer. The value of NS' offer for Conrail is approximately $10 billion in cash; analysts estimate the value of the last CSX offer (part cash and part stock) at about $8.4 billion. Although the final outcome of these competing efforts to acquire Conrail - including any relief that may be granted by the District Court and any conditions that may be imposed by the Surface Transportation Board - cannot be predicted with certainty, NS will continue to take all the steps it believes necessary and desirable to protect the interests of its stockholders, rail patrons and the general public by seeking to assure the presence of balanced and competitive rail service in the East. Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K. - ------ -------------------------------- (a) Exhibits: Bylaws as amended effective July 23, 1996 Computation of Per Share Earnings Financial Data Schedule (b) Reports on Form 8-K: None
PAGE 21 SIGNATURES ---------- Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION ----------------------------------------- (Registrant) Date: November 13, 1996 /s/ Dezora M. Martin ------------------- ----------------------------------------- Dezora M. Martin Corporate Secretary (Signature) Date: November 13, 1996 /s/ John P. Rathbone ------------------- ----------------------------------------- John P. Rathbone Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) (Signature)
PAGE 22 NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES INDEX TO EXHIBITS ----------------- Electronic Submission Exhibit Number Description Page Number - ----------- ----------------------------------------- ----------- 3(ii) Bylaws of Norfolk Southern Corporation as amended effective July 23, 1996 23-30 11 Statement re Computation of Per Share Earnings 31-32 27 Financial Data Schedule (This exhibit is required to be submitted electronically pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.) 33