business activities is primarily generated through operating activities, bank overdrafts, commercial paper, the existing multicurrency credit facility, and, when necessary, the issu- ance of bonds and other capital instruments.
Capital expenditures mainly comprise the purchase of computer equipment, capitalised software, and the cost of leasehold improvements.
Within the Company’s working capital, trade accounts receiv- able, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, comprise ap- proximately 80% of total current assets as of December 31, 2014. Accounts payable, accrued salaries and wages, payroll taxes and employee benefits, and sales and value added taxes comprise approximately 80% of total current liabilities as of December 31, 2014. Working capital financing needs increase as business grows.
Management believes that the ability to generate cash from operations combined with additional capital resources avail- able is sufficient to support the expansion of existing business activities and to meet short- and medium-term financial com- mitments. The Company may utilise available cash resources, secure additional financing, or issue additional shares to finance acquisitions.
6.1 Analysis of cash flow statements
Cash and cash equivalents decreased by EUR 268 to EUR 695 as of December 31, 2014. The decrease was mainly due to
the repayment of EUR 346 of long-term debt, the EUR 291 pay- ment of dividends, the purchase of treasury shares of EUR 281, and capital expenditures of EUR 80. This was partly offset by the generation of EUR 785 in operating cash flows.
Cash flows from operations are generally derived from receipt of cash from customers less payments to associates, regula- tory authorities, employees, and other operating disbursements. Cash receipts are dependent on general business trends, foreign currency fluctuations, and cash collection trends measured by DSO. DSO varies significantly within the various countries in which the Company has operations due to the various market practices within these countries. In general, an improvement in DSO reduces the balance of trade accounts receivable resulting in cash inflows from operating activities. Cash disbursement activity is predominantly associated with scheduled payroll payments to the associates. Given the nature of these liabilities, the Company has limited flexibility to adjust its disbursement schedule. Also, the timing of cash disbursements differs significantly amongst various countries. The following table illustrates cash flows from or used in oper- ating, investing, and financing activities:
in EUR 2014 2013
Summary of cash flow information
Cash flows from operating activities 785 520
Cash used in investing activities (93) (55)
Cash used in financing activities (978) (570)
Cash flows from operating activities increased by EUR 265 to EUR 785 in 2014, which includes the cash proceeds of EUR 109 for the sale of a portion of the CICE receivables in 2014. The remaining increase is primarily attributable to less pick-up in the business at the end of 2014 compared to the end of 2013 and a decrease in DSO at the end of 2014 compared to the end of 2013. DSO was 53 days for the full year 2014 compared to 54 days for the full year 2013.
Cash used in investing activities totalled EUR 93 compared to EUR 55 in 2013. The Company’s capital expenditures amount- ed to EUR 80 in 2014 and EUR 81 in 2013.
Cash used in financing activities totalled EUR 978, compared to EUR 570 in 2013. In 2014, the Company repaid long-term debt of EUR 346, whereas in 2013 the Company issued long- term debt of EUR 398, net of issuance costs and repaid long- term debt of EUR 345. Furthermore, the Company paid divi- dends of EUR 291 and EUR 266 in 2014 and 2013, respectively, and purchased treasury shares for EUR 281 and EUR 297 in 2014 and 2013, respectively.
6.2 Additional capital resources
As of December 31, 2014, the Company’s total capital resourc- es amounted to EUR 5,811 comprising EUR 1,673 in debt and EUR 4,138 in equity, excluding treasury shares and noncontrol- ling interests. Long-term debt, including current maturities, was EUR 1,585 as of December 31, 2014 and EUR 1,914 as of December 31, 2013 and includes long- and medium-term notes. The borrowings, which are unsecured, are denominat- ed in Euros and Swiss Francs. The borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2014 mature in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. During 2014, the Company decreased its short- and long-term debt including foreign currency effects by EUR 386. The Company maintains a French commercial paper pro- gramme (“Billet de Trésorerie programme”). Under the programme, the Company may issue short-term commercial paper up to a maximum amount of EUR 400, with maturity per individual paper of 365 days or less. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, EUR 51 and EUR 82, respectively, were outstanding under the programme, with maturities of up to 365 days. The weighted-average interest rate on commercial paper outstanding was 0.76% and 0.43% as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. In addition, the Company maintains a committed EUR 600 multicurrency revolving credit facility with a maturity date of October 2018, which was amended in May 2014 for pricing and two new 1-year-extension options at the discretion of the banks were included. The facility is used for general corporate purposes including refinancing of advances and outstanding letters of credit. The interest rate is based on LIBOR, or EURIBOR for drawings denominated in Euro, plus a margin between 0.35% and 1.05% per annum, depending on certain debt-to-EBITDA ratios. A utilisation fee of 0.10%, 0.20%, and 0.40%, applies on top of the interest rate, for cash drawings of up to 33.33%, 66.67%, and above 66.67%, respectively, of the total commitment not used for letters of credit. The letter of credit fee equals the applicable margin, and the commit- ment fee equals 35% of the applicable margin. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, there were no outstanding borrowings under the credit facility. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had EUR 534 available un- der the facility after utilising the Euro equivalent of EUR 66 in the form of letters of credit.
Net debt decreased by EUR 121 to EUR 975 as of
December 31, 2014. The calculation of net debt based upon financial measures in accordance with U.S. GAAP is presented on page 41.
Under the terms of the various short- and long-term credit agreements, the Company is subject to covenants requiring, among other things, compliance with certain financial tests and ratios. As of December 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants.
For further details regarding financing arrangements refer to Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.
The Company manages its cash position to ensure that con- tractual commitments are met and reviews cash positions against existing obligations and forecasted cash expendi- tures. The Company’s policy is to invest excess funds primarily in investments with maturities of 12 months or less, and in money market and fixed income funds with sound credit rat- ings, limited market risk, and high liquidity.
The Company’s current cash and cash equivalents and short- term investments are invested primarily within Europe and the USA. In most cases, there are no restrictions on the trans- ferability of these funds among entities within the Company.
6.3 Contractual obligations
The Company’s contractual obligations translated using December 31, 2014 exchange rates are as follows:
in EUR 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Thereafter Total
Contractual obligations by year
Short-term debt obligations 88 88
Long-term debt obligations 1 291 292 497 400 104 1,585
Interest on debt obligations 49 44 43 20 12 3 171
Operating leases 168 119 86 57 41 46 517
Purchase and service contractual obligations 63 42 27 5 137
Total 369 496 448 579 453 153 2,498
Short-term debt obligations consist of borrowings outstanding under the French commercial paper programme and other short-term debt. Long-term debt obligations consist primarily of the CHF 350 fixed rate notes due 2016, the CHF 350 fixed rate notes due 2017, the EUR 500 medium-term notes due 2018, the EUR 400 medium-term notes due 2019, and the CHF 125 fixed rate notes due 2020. These debt instruments were issued partly for acquisitions, share buyback pro- grammes, to refinance existing debt, optimise available inter- est rates, and increase the flexibility of cash management. Future minimum rental commitments under non-cancellable leases comprise the majority of the operating lease obliga- tions of EUR 517 presented above. The Company expects to fund these commitments with existing cash and cash flows from operations. Operating leases are employed by the Com- pany to maintain the flexible nature of the branch network. As of December 31, 2014, the Company has future purchase and service contractual obligations of approximately EUR 137, primarily related to IT development and maintenance agree- ments, marketing sponsorship agreements, equipment purchase agreements, and other supplier commitments.
6.4 Additional funding requirements
The Company plans to invest approximately EUR 90 in prop- erty, equipment, and leasehold improvements for existing op- erations in 2015. The focus of these investments will be on information technology.
Additionally, the Company announced on March 11, 2015 the acquisition of Knightsbridge Human Capital Services, the mar- ket leader in career transition and talent development services in Canada, for an enterprise value of CAD 80. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and is ex- pected to close in Q2 2015.
Further planned cash outflows include distribution of dividends for 2014 on May 5, 2015 in the amount of CHF 2.10 per share to shareholders of record on April 30, 2015. The maximum amount of dividends payable based on the total number of outstanding shares (excluding treasury shares) as of December 31, 2014 of 173,448,569 is CHF 364. Payment of dividends is subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.
The Company launched the following share buyback pro- grammes on a second trading line with the aim of subse- quently cancelling the shares and reducing share capital:
• EUR 400 in June 2012 (completed in September 2013) • EUR 250 in September 2013 (completed in November 2014) • EUR 250 in November 2014 (acquired 576,750 shares for
EUR 32 as of December 31, 2014)
At the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of Adecco S.A. held on April 15, 2014, the shareholders approved the cancellation of 10,181,696 treasury shares acquired until December 31, 2013 under the share buyback programmes and the corresponding reduction of Adecco S.A.’s share capital by 10,181,696 registered shares with a nominal value of CHF 1.00 each. The cancellation of 10,181,696 treasury shares was completed on July 7, 2014. Effective July 7, 2014, the share capital of the Company amounts to CHF 179 divided into
179,081,810 shares. The Board of Directors of Adecco S.A. will propose to the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of April 21, 2015 to cancel the total number of 4,606,873 treasury shares acquired in 2014 under the share buyback programmes. The Company plans to invest an additional EUR 218 to complete the second EUR 250 share buyback programme. The Company has entered into certain guarantee contracts and standby letters of credit that total EUR 638, including the letters of credit issued under the multicurrency revolving credit facility (EUR 66). The guarantees primarily relate to govern- ment requirements for operating a temporary staffing busi- ness in certain countries and are generally renewed annually. Other guarantees relate to operating leases and credit lines. The standby letters of credit mainly relate to workers’ compen- sation in the USA. If the Company is not able to obtain and maintain letters of credit and/or guarantees from third parties, then the Company would be required to collateralise its obli- gations with cash. Due to the nature of these arrangements and historical experience, the Company does not expect to be required to collateralise its obligations with cash.
6.5 Income taxes
The Company has reserves for taxes that may become payable in future periods as a result of tax audits. At any given time, the Company is undergoing tax audits in different tax jurisdictions, which cover multiple years. Ultimate outcomes of these audits could, in a future period, have a material impact on cash flows. Based on the outcome of examinations, or as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations for specific jurisdictions, it is reasonably possible that the related unrecognised tax benefits for tax positions taken regarding previously filed tax returns could materially change in the next 12 months from those recorded as liabilities for uncertain tax positions in the financial statements. An estimate of the range of the possible changes cannot be made until issues are further developed or examinations closed.
6.6 Credit ratings
As of December 31, 2014, the Company’s long-term credit rat- ing was Baa2 stable outlook from Moody’s and BBB+ stable