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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
| þ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015.
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 1-15829
FEDEX CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| Delaware | 62-1721435 | |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
| 942 South Shady Grove Road, Memphis, Tennessee | 38120 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (ZIP Code) | |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (901) 818-7500
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Name of each exchange on which registered | |
| Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Rule 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ¨ No þ
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 þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Date File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) 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. þ
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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer þ |
Accelerated filer ¨ | Non-accelerated filer ¨ | Smaller reporting company ¨ | |||
| (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No þ
The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, computed by reference to the closing price as of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, November 30, 2014, was approximately $46.8 billion. The Registrant has no non-voting stock.
As of July 10, 2015, 282,430,208 shares of the Registrant’s common stock were outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders to be held on September 28, 2015 are incorporated by reference in response to Part III of this Report.
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| EXHIBITS | ||||
| E-1 | ||||
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| ITEM 1. | BUSINESS |
Overview
FedEx Corporation (“FedEx”) provides a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services through companies competing collectively, operating independently and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. These companies are included in four business segments:
| • | FedEx Express: Federal Express Corporation (“FedEx Express”) is the world’s largest express transportation company, offering time-definite delivery to more than 220 countries and territories, connecting markets that comprise more than 90% of the world’s gross domestic product. The FedEx Express segment also includes FedEx Trade Networks, Inc. (“FedEx Trade Networks”), which provides international trade services, specializing in customs brokerage and global ocean and air freight forwarding, FedEx SupplyChain Systems, Inc. (“FedEx SupplyChain Systems”), which offers a range of supply chain solutions, and Bongo International, LLC (“Bongo”), which is a leader in cross-border enablement technology and solutions. |
| • | FedEx Ground: FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (“FedEx Ground”) is a leading North American provider of small-package ground delivery services. FedEx Ground provides low-cost, day-certain service to any business address in the U.S. and Canada, as well as residential delivery to nearly 100% of U.S. residences through its FedEx Home Delivery service. The FedEx Ground segment also includes FedEx SmartPost, Inc. (“FedEx SmartPost”), which specializes in the consolidation and delivery of high volumes of low-weight, less time-sensitive business-to-consumer packages using the U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”) for final delivery to any residential address or PO Box in the U.S., and GENCO Distribution System, Inc. (“GENCO”), which is a leading North American third-party logistics provider. |
| • | FedEx Freight: FedEx Freight, Inc. (“FedEx Freight”) is a leading U.S. provider of less-than-truckload (“LTL”) freight services across all lengths of haul, offering: FedEx Freight Priority, when speed is critical to meet supply chain needs; and FedEx Freight Economy, when time can be traded for cost savings. The FedEx Freight segment also offers freight delivery service to most points in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and includes FedEx Custom Critical, Inc. (“FedEx Custom Critical”), a leading North American provider of time-specific, critical shipment services. |
| • | FedEx Services: FedEx Corporate Services, Inc. (“FedEx Services”) provides our other companies with sales, marketing, information technology, communications and back-office support. The FedEx Services segment also includes FedEx TechConnect, Inc. (“FedEx TechConnect”), which is responsible for customer service, billings and collections for our U.S. customers and offers technical support services, and FedEx Office and Print Services, Inc. (“FedEx Office”), which provides document and business services and retail access to our package transportation businesses. |
For financial information concerning our reportable business segments, refer to the accompanying financial section, which includes management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition and our consolidated financial statements.
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Our website is located at fedex.com. Detailed information about our services, e-commerce tools and solutions, and citizenship efforts can be found on our website. In addition, we make our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to such reports available, free of charge, through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the SEC. The Investor Relations page of our website, http://investors.fedex.com, contains a significant amount of information about FedEx, including our SEC filings and financial and other information for investors. The information that FedEx posts on its Investor Relations website could be deemed to be material information. FedEx encourages investors, the media and others interested in the company to visit this website from time to time, as information is updated and new information is posted. The information on our website, however, is not incorporated by reference in, and does not form part of, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Except as otherwise specified, any reference to a year indicates our fiscal year ended May 31 of the year referenced.
Strategy
FedEx was incorporated in Delaware on October 2, 1997 to serve as the parent holding company and provide strategic direction to the FedEx portfolio of companies. We intend to continue leveraging and extending the FedEx brand and providing our customers with convenient, seamless access to our entire portfolio of integrated services.
We believe that sales and marketing activities, as well as the information systems that support the extensive automation of our delivery services, are functions that are best coordinated across operating companies. Through the use of advanced information systems that connect the FedEx companies, we make it convenient for customers to use the full range of FedEx services. We believe that seamless information integration is critical to obtain business synergies from multiple operating units. For example, our website, fedex.com, provides a single point of contact for our customers to access FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight shipping, pickup, shipment tracking, customer service and invoicing information, as well as FedEx Office services. Similarly, by making one call to FedEx Expedited Freight Services, our customers can quickly and easily evaluate surface and air freight shipping options available from FedEx Express, FedEx Freight and FedEx Custom Critical in order to select the service best meeting their needs. Through this one point of contact, customers can select from a broad range of freight services, based on their pickup-and-delivery requirements, time sensitivity and the characteristics of the products being shipped. Also, we have integrated our LTL and parcel sales teams to enhance the effectiveness of our sales efforts and provide additional simplicity for our customers.
We manage our business as a portfolio — in the long-term best interest of the enterprise, not a particular operating company. As a result, we base decisions on capital investment, expansion of delivery, information technology and retail networks, and service additions or enhancements on achieving the highest overall long-term return on capital for our business as a whole. For each FedEx company, we focus on making appropriate investments in the technology and assets necessary to optimize our long-term earnings performance and cash flow. We are also focused on increasing returns to our stockholders, as evidenced by the recent increase in our quarterly dividend.
While we have increased our emphasis on competing collectively and managing collaboratively, we continue to believe that operating independent networks, each focused on its own respective markets, results in optimal service quality, reliability and profitability from each business unit. Each FedEx company focuses exclusively on the market sectors in which it has the most expertise and can be independently enhanced and managed to provide outstanding service to our customers. Each company’s operations, cost structure and culture are designed to serve the unique customer demands of a particular market segment and as a result, we are able to adapt our networks in response to changing needs.
Our “compete collectively, operate independently, manage collaboratively” strategy also provides flexibility in sizing our various operating companies to align with varying macro-economic conditions and customer demand for the market segments in which they operate, allowing us to leverage and manage
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change. Volatility and uncertainty have become the norms in the global transportation market, and we are able to use our flexibility to accommodate changing conditions in the global economy. For example, in response to sluggish economic growth, in 2013 we retired from service 10 aircraft and related engines and shortened the depreciable lives of an additional 76 aircraft and related engines. In 2014, we began replacing some of our retired aircraft with the more efficient, lower-emission Boeing 767-300 Freighter aircraft (“B767F”). The B767F is approximately 30% more fuel efficient and has unit operating costs that are more than 20% lower than the MD10 aircraft it is replacing. In 2015, to continue rationalizing capacity and modernizing our aircraft fleet to more effectively serve customers, we retired an additional 15 aircraft and 21 related engines and adjusted the retirement schedule of 23 aircraft and 57 engines.
At the same time, we continue to expand network capacity at our growing and highly successful FedEx Ground segment where we continue to boost package volumes.
The following four trends have driven world commerce and shaped the global marketplace, and we believe they will continue to do so over the long term:
| • | Globalization: As the world’s economy has become more fully integrated, companies are sourcing and selling globally. With customers in more than 220 countries and territories, we facilitate this supply chain through our global reach, delivery services and information capabilities. Despite the recent slow-down in global trade growth, we continue to believe that globalization will drive international volume growth over the long term. |
| • | Supply Chain Acceleration: While the growth of global trade has slowed, companies of all sizes continue to depend on the delivery of just-in-time inventory to help them compete. We have taken advantage of the move toward more efficient supply chains by helping customers obtain more visibility into their supply chains and near real-time information to manage inventory in motion, thereby reducing overhead and obsolescence and speeding time-to-market. |
| • | Increase in High-Tech and High-Value-Added Businesses: High-tech and high-value-added goods have increased as a percentage of total economic output, and our various operating companies offer a unique menu of services to fit virtually all shipping needs of high-tech and high-value-added industries. |
| • | Growth of E-Commerce: E-commerce continues to be a catalyst for the other three trends and is a vital growth engine for businesses, as the Internet is increasingly being used to purchase goods and services. Through our global transportation and technology networks, we contribute to and benefit from the growth of e-commerce. |
These trends have produced an unprecedented expansion of customer access — to goods, services and information. Through our global transportation, information technology and retail networks, we help to make this access possible. We continue to position our companies to facilitate and capitalize on this access and to achieve stronger long-term growth, productivity and profitability. To this end, we are investing in long-term strategic projects focused on expanding and modernizing our global networks to accommodate future volume growth and increase customer convenience, such as investments in Boeing 777-300 Freighter (“B777F”) and B767F aircraft. We also continue to broaden and more effectively bundle our portfolio of services in response to the needs and desires of our customers. For example, during 2015, we:
| • | Entered into an agreement to acquire TNT Express N.V. (“TNT Express”), which will allow us to more quickly broaden our portfolio of international transportation solutions to take advantage of market trends, especially the continuing growth in e-commerce. |
| • | Made the strategic acquisition of Bongo, a leader in cross-border enablement technologies and solutions, which has capabilities that complement and expand the FedEx portfolio of offerings important to the rapidly growing global e-commerce market. |
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| • | Made the strategic acquisition of GENCO, a leading North American third-party logistics provider, allowing us to expand our service offerings in the growing e-commerce marketplace. |
| • | Continued to reduce transit times and provide a better pickup experience within FedEx Ground’s growing and highly profitable network. |
| • | Launched FedEx Global Returns, a shipping solution designed to simplify the worldwide returns process via FedEx Express and FedEx Ground, enhancing customers’ ability to manage their returns through editable return labels, customs documents and flexible return destinations. |
| • | Marked significant milestones in our FedEx Express European business, including 30 years of service in the German market, the successful integration of Opek Sp. z o.o. in Poland, which was acquired in 2012, and expansion into the Nordic market through a new facility that is being built at Copenhagen Airport, Denmark, which will serve as a gateway for inbound and outbound shipments for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. |
| • | Enhanced service offerings at FedEx Office through: FedEx Pack Plus, an in-store packing solution where specially trained FedEx Office pack and ship professionals can help pack items that will not fit into typical boxes; and the expansion of the range of professional print products available for commercial customers, and small businesses and consumers through FedEx Office retail locations. |
Profit Improvement Initiatives
During 2013, we saw challenging global economic conditions — particularly for FedEx Express — as ongoing shifts from priority to deferred shipping services significantly impacted profitability. In response to these trends, in 2013 we announced programs targeting annual profitability improvement of $1.6 billion. Our plans position FedEx Express to exit 2016 with a run rate of $1.6 billion of additional operating profit from the then 2013 base business. Our profit improvement programs include multiple initiatives, primarily across FedEx Express and FedEx Services, that are reducing our overall cost structure and enhancing the quality of our revenue.
In 2015 we made substantial progress in achieving our profit improvement goals. The FedEx Express segment has improved operating income by approximately 70% from 2013 with essentially flat revenue during the three-year period. FedEx Services has reduced its total expenses while investing in major information technology transformation projects. In addition, our incentive compensation programs have been gradually reinstated so that 2016 business plan objectives represent more fully funded compensation targets.
During 2014, we completed a voluntary program offering cash buyouts to eligible U.S.-based employees in certain staff functions. As a result of this program, approximately 3,600 employees left the company.
We are also streamlining support functions and eliminating redundant systems and processes. At the same time, in addition to modernizing our air fleet, we are transforming our U.S. domestic express network by closing and realigning regional and district facilities, reorganizing pickup-and-delivery operations while maintaining our outstanding service levels, improving flight and crew scheduling, refining aircraft maintenance processes and improving fuel efficiency of our vehicle fleet.
Internationally, we are working to improve the quality of our international revenue as customers continue to make more economical choices in a low-growth global economy by moving the linehaul of certain slower-moving shipments to third-party transportation providers and better leveraging capacity within the FedEx Express international network through, for example, the reduction of flights to and from Asia. Recent international acquisitions will also help drive increases in international domestic revenues. Lastly, we are improving revenue quality by adding value for our customers with innovative and market-leading
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solutions, adding services for vertical industries, including healthcare and aerospace, and expanding our e-commerce service offerings. Our way forward is clear, as we continue to make FedEx an even leaner, more efficient business.
Reputation and Responsibility
By competing collectively under the FedEx brand, our operating companies benefit from one of the world’s most recognized brands. FedEx is one of the most trusted and respected companies in the world, and the FedEx brand name is a powerful sales and marketing tool. Among the many reputation awards we received during 2015, FedEx ranked 12th in FORTUNE magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list — the 14th consecutive year we have been ranked in the top 20 on the list. Additionally, FedEx ranked 17th on the Reputation Institute’s 2015 “Most Reputable Companies in the U.S.” list, which measures the corporate reputations of the largest U.S. companies based on consumers’ trust, esteem, admiration and good feeling towards a company. Lastly, in 2015 FedEx was again listed on Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list.
FedEx is well recognized as a leader, not only in the transportation industry and for technological innovation, but also in global citizenship. We understand that a sustainable global business is tied to our global citizenship, and we are committed to connecting the world responsibly and resourcefully. Our latest published update to our global citizenship report is available at http://csr.fedex.com. These reports describe how we think about our responsibilities in the area of global citizenship and include important goals and metrics that demonstrate our commitment to fulfilling these responsibilities.
Our People
Along with a strong reputation among customers and the general public, FedEx is widely acknowledged as a great place to work. For instance, for the past four years, since its inaugural release, FedEx Express was named as one of the top global companies to work for by The Great Place to Work® Institute in its ranking of the World’s Best Multinational Workplaces. In order to even be considered for this honor, a company must appear on at least five national Best Workplaces lists and have at least 5,000 employees worldwide. It is our people — our greatest asset — that give us our strong reputation. In addition to superior physical and information networks, FedEx has an exemplary human network, with more than 325,000 team members who are “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards, and the needs of their customers and communities. Through our internal Purple Promise and Humanitarian Award programs, we recognize and reward employees who enhance customer service and promote human welfare. For additional information on our people-first philosophy and workplace initiatives, see http://csr.fedex.com.
Our Community
FedEx is committed to actively supporting the communities we serve worldwide through the strategic investment of our people, resources and network. We provide financial contributions, in-kind charitable shipping services and volunteer efforts by our team members to help a variety of non-profit organizations achieve their goals and make a measurable impact on the world. We have three core focus areas: disaster preparedness, relief and recovery (American Red Cross, Direct Relief and The Salvation Army); pedestrian and road safety (Safe Kids Worldwide, United Nations Road Safety Collaboration and EMBARQ); and sustainability (EMBARQ, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Arbor Day Foundation,). We support minority access to higher education by funding scholarships, are a major sponsor of the National Civil Rights Museum and also support Teach for America, Junior Achievement and ORBIS International. Additionally, FedEx supports communities throughout the U.S. with an annual United Way employee giving campaign. In the midst of the Ebola outbreak that ravaged West Africa, FedEx teamed with numerous humanitarian organizations and government agencies that were leading the U.S. government’s Ebola response efforts to move much needed medical materials to Monrovia, Liberia, an area heavily affected by the Ebola virus. Similarly, in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Nepal, FedEx
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worked with disaster relief agencies and committed approximately $1 million in cash, transportation support and a chartered flight to deliver critical medical aid and supplies. For additional information on our community involvement and disaster relief efforts, see http://csr.fedex.com.
The Environment
In furtherance of our commitment to protecting the environment, we have made significant progress over the last several years in an effort to increase FedEx Express vehicle fuel efficiency 30% from a 2005 baseline by 2020 — we have already reached more than 29% cumulative improvement in fuel economy. Having nearly achieved our goal, the company expects to surpass and then revisit the goal in 2016. We also continue with our goal to reduce aircraft emissions by 30% by 2020 on an emissions per available-ton-mile basis, a goal that we increased from 20% in 2012. We have also established a goal of obtaining 30% of our jet fuel from alternative fuels by the year 2030. These efforts help us continue to reduce our environmental footprint as evidenced in 2014 when we saved 100 million gallons of jet fuel at FedEx Express and avoided more than 976,000 metric tons of carbon emissions — all while our volumes were up.
We will continue to expand on-site renewable energy generation in our facilities where feasible. To meet our future operational needs, as discussed above, we are adding more fuel-efficient aircraft to our fleet. The use of newer and more fuel-efficient aircraft is reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and airport noise and increasing our jet fuel efficiency. We have an impressive global alternative fuel fleet with over 1,045 alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrid, electric and hydrogen fueled vehicles, among others. We operate eleven solar facilities around the world, which collectively avoided 3,145 metric tons of CO2e emissions in 2014. In addition, ten FedEx Express facilities in the U.S. have received certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®), the U.S. Green Building Council’s system for rating the environmental performance of buildings, and six more are being reviewed for certification. FedEx Express has made LEED certification the standard for newly built U.S. facilities. In addition, two FedEx Ground facilities achieved LEED certification in 2014 and FedEx Ground is pursuing certification at three more facilities.
We also continue to evaluate the environmental impacts of our packaging and copy and print services, and minimize waste generation through efforts that include recycling and the use of copy paper with recycled content, among other environmentally-responsible available choices. In 2014, 98% of paper purchased for use by FedEx Office was third-party-certified as responsibly sourced. We also use FedEx-branded cardboard packaging at FedEx Express and FedEx Ground, which is made from approximately 60% recycled content. One example of our environmentally-responsible activities is the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council, a U.S. nonprofit organization that supports and recognizes sustainable procurement of which we are a founding member. We continue to support the Council, contributing to discussions on how to improve sustainable purchasing in the areas of transportation and fuels, fiber- and timber-based products and more. For additional information on the ways we are minimizing our impact on the environment, see http://csr.fedex.com.
Governance
FedEx has an independent Board of Directors committed to the highest quality corporate governance. The Board has taken significant steps to enhance its accountability to stockholders in recent years. For example, in September 2011, stockholders approved our proposal to amend FedEx’s certificate of incorporation in order to allow holders of 20% or more of FedEx’s common stock the right to call special meetings of stockholders. Additionally, in June 2012, the Board adopted a lead independent director corporate governance structure.
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Our Board of Directors periodically reviews all aspects of our governance policies and practices, including our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, in light of best practices and makes whatever changes are necessary to further our longstanding commitment to the highest standards of corporate governance. The Guidelines and the Code, which apply to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer and senior financial officers, are available in the corporate governance section of the Investor Relations page of our website at http://investors.fedex.com. We will post in the Governance & Citizenship section of the Investor Relations page of our website information regarding any amendment to, or waiver from, the provisions of the Code to the extent such disclosure is required.
Business Segments
The following describes in more detail the operations of each of our reportable segments:
FedEx Express Segment
FedEx Express
Overview
FedEx Express invented express distribution over 40 years ago in 1973 and remains the industry leader, providing rapid, reliable, time-definite delivery of packages and freight to more than 220 countries and territories through an integrated global network. FedEx Express offers a wide range of U.S. domestic and international shipping services for delivery of package and freight, connecting markets that generate more than 90% of the world’s gross domestic product through door-to-door, customs-cleared service, with a money-back guarantee. FedEx Express’s unmatched air route authorities and extensive transportation infrastructure, combined with leading-edge information technologies, make it the world’s largest express transportation company. FedEx Express employs approximately 166,000 employees and has approximately 53,000 drop-off locations (including FedEx Office centers), 647 aircraft and approximately 56,000 vehicles and trailers in its integrated global network.
Services
FedEx Express offers a wide range of U.S. domestic and international shipping services for delivery of packages and freight. Overnight and deferred package services are backed by money-back guarantees and extend to nearly the entire U.S. population. FedEx Express offers three U.S. overnight package delivery services: FedEx First Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight and FedEx Standard Overnight. FedEx SameDay service is available for urgent shipments up to 150 pounds to virtually any U.S. destination. FedEx Express also offers U.S. express overnight and deferred freight services backed by money-back guarantees to handle the needs of the time-definite freight market. Additionally, FedEx One Rate gives U.S. customers a simple, predictable flat rate shipping option that is calculated based on the packaging type, service selected and destination.
International express and deferred package delivery with a money-back guarantee is available to more than 220 countries and territories, with a variety of time-definite services to meet distinct customer needs. FedEx International Priority package services provide time-definite delivery within one, two or three business days worldwide. FedEx International Economy package services provide time-definite delivery within five business days worldwide. FedEx International First package services provide time-definite delivery to select postal codes in 20 key global markets, with delivery to select U.S. ZIP Codes as early as 8:00 a.m. from more than 90 countries in one or two business days, delivery by 10 a.m. in one business day to Canada and by 11:00 a.m. in one business day to Mexico. FedEx Express also offers domestic pickup-and-delivery services within certain non-U.S. countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, China, India, Mexico, Brazil, France, Poland and South Africa. In addition, FedEx Express offers comprehensive international express and deferred freight services, backed by a money-back guarantee, real-time tracking and advanced customs clearance.
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We also provide FedEx Delivery Manager, which allows our U.S. residential customers to customize home deliveries to fit their schedule by providing a range of options to schedule dates, locations and times of delivery. By signing up at fedex.com, customers can receive notification of FedEx Express and FedEx Ground packages en route to their homes, and can choose various delivery options.
For information regarding FedEx Express e-shipping tools and solutions, see “FedEx Services — Customer-Driven Technology.”
International Expansion
We are focused on the long-term expansion of our international presence, especially in key markets such as China, India, Europe, Latin America and Southern Africa. In April 2015, we entered into a conditional agreement to acquire TNT Express, which has express delivery operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Following the closing of the acquisition, we anticipate integrating the TNT Express operations with the FedEx Express network. This acquisition will expand our global portfolio, particularly in Europe, lower our costs to serve European markets by increasing density in our pickup-and-delivery operations and accelerate our global growth.
In 2014 we made a strategic move in Southern Africa by acquiring the businesses operated by our service provider in the following seven countries: South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zambia. These acquisitions, along with our 2013 acquisitions of transportation companies in Poland, France and Brazil and our 2012 acquisition of a Mexican domestic express package delivery company, gives us more robust global transportation networks and added capabilities in important international markets, continues our strategic European, Latin American and African growth plans and are expected to provide important contributions to our long-term growth, productivity and profitability. As part of our European growth strategy, FedEx Express plans to open a new gateway facility in 2016 for inbound and outbound shipments for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The building is a milestone for FedEx Express growth in the Nordics region, which has seen the opening of eight new stations since 2011. The facility will give customers better connectivity from the Nordics to Europe and the rest of the world.
Since we began serving mainland China in 1984, we have expanded our service to cover more than 400 cities across the country and, in 2009, we began operations at our Asia-Pacific hub at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in southern China. Our new North Pacific regional hub at the Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, which opened in April 2014, serves as a consolidation point for shipments from northern Asia to the U.S., and operates as an international gateway for customers in western Japan. Additionally, in October 2012, we announced plans to establish a new International Express and Cargo Hub in Shanghai. This new facility, with designated onsite customs clearance, will be located at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport and is slated for completion in early 2017. These hubs will allow us to continue to better serve our global customers doing business in the Asia-Pacific markets.
To facilitate the use of our growing international network, we offer a full range of international trade consulting services and a variety of online tools that enable customers to more easily determine and comply with international shipping requirements.
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U.S. Postal Service Agreement
In 2013, FedEx Express entered into a new seven-year agreement with the USPS for the provision of domestic air transportation services to the USPS for its First Class, Priority and Express Mail that runs through September 2020. FedEx Express also provides transportation and delivery for the USPS’s international delivery service called Global Express Guaranteed (“GXG”) under a separate agreement. For more information about our relationship with the USPS, see Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Risk Factors”).
Pricing
FedEx Express periodically publishes list prices in its Service Guides for the majority of its services. In general, shipping rates are based on the service selected, destination zone, weight, size, any ancillary service charge and whether the customer charged the shipment to a FedEx account. As announced in September 2014, FedEx Express increased shipping rates by an average of 4.9% for U.S. domestic, U.S. export and U.S. import services, effective January 5, 2015.
FedEx Express has an indexed fuel surcharge for U.S. domestic and U.S. outbound shipments and for shipments originating internationally, where legally and contractually possible. The surcharge percentage is subject to monthly adjustment based on a rounded average of a certain spot price for jet fuel. For example, the fuel surcharge for May 2015 was based on the average spot price for jet fuel published for March 2015. Changes to the FedEx Express fuel surcharge, when calculated according to the average spot price for jet fuel and FedEx Express trigger points, are applied effective from the first Monday of the month. These trigger points may change from time to time, but information on the fuel surcharge for each month is available at fedex.com approximately two weeks before the surcharge is applicable. We routinely review our fuel surcharges and our fuel surcharge methodology. On February 2, 2015, we updated the tables used to determine our fuel surcharges at FedEx Express. The weighted average U.S. domestic and U.S. outbound fuel surcharge as a percentage of the base rates for the past three years was: 2015 — 6%; 2014 — 9%; and 2013 — 12%. The 2013 percentage reflects certain fuel surcharge reductions that were associated with our 2013 base rate increase. See the “Fuel” section of Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition”) for a description and discussion of the net impact of fuel on our operating results.
Operations
FedEx Express’s primary sorting facility, located in Memphis, serves as the center of the company’s multiple hub-and-spoke system. A second national hub facility is located in Indianapolis. In addition to these national hubs, FedEx Express operates regional hubs in Newark, Oakland, Fort Worth and Greensboro and major metropolitan sorting facilities in Los Angeles and Chicago.
Facilities in Anchorage, Paris, Guangzhou, Cologne/Bonn and Osaka serve as sorting facilities for express package and freight traffic moving to and from Asia, Europe and North America. Additional major sorting and freight handling facilities are located at Narita Airport in Tokyo, Stansted Airport outside London and Pearson Airport in Toronto. The facilities in Guangzhou, Paris, Cologne/Bonn and Osaka are also designed to serve as regional hubs for their respective market areas. A facility in Miami — the Miami Gateway Hub — serves our South Florida, Latin American and Caribbean markets.
Throughout its worldwide network, FedEx Express operates city stations and employs a staff of customer service agents, cargo handlers and couriers who pick up and deliver shipments in the station’s service area. In some international areas, independent agents (“Global Service Participants”) have been selected
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to complete deliveries and to pick up packages. For more information about our sorting and handling facilities, see Part I, Item 2 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “FedEx Express Segment.”
FedEx Office offers retail access to FedEx Express shipping services at all of its U.S. and Canadian retail locations. FedEx Express also has alliances with certain other retailers to provide in-store drop-off sites. Our unmanned FedEx Drop Boxes provide customers the opportunity to drop off packages in office buildings, shopping centers and corporate or industrial parks.
Fuel Supplies and Costs
During 2015, FedEx Express purchased jet fuel from various suppliers under contracts that vary in length and which provide for estimated amounts of fuel to be delivered. The fuel represented by these contracts is purchased at market prices. Because of our indexed fuel surcharge, we do not have any jet fuel hedging contracts. See “FedEx Express — Pricing.”
The following table sets forth FedEx Express’s costs for jet fuel and its percentage of consolidated revenues for the last five fiscal years:
| Fiscal Year |
Total Jet Fuel Cost (in millions) |
Percentage of Consolidated Revenues |
||||||
| 2015 |
$ | 2,816 | 5.9 | % | ||||
| 2014 |
3,506 | 7.7 | ||||||
| 2013 |
3,683 | 8.3 | ||||||
| 2012 |
3,867 | 9.1 | ||||||
| 2011 |
3,178 | 8.1 | ||||||
Most of FedEx Express’s vehicle fuel needs are satisfied by retail purchases with various discounts.
Competition
As described in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Risk Factors”), the express package and freight markets are both highly competitive and sensitive to price and service, especially in periods of little or no macro-economic growth. The ability to compete effectively depends upon price, frequency, capacity and speed of scheduled service, ability to track packages, extent of geographic coverage, reliability and innovative service offerings.
Competitors within the U.S. include other package delivery concerns, principally United Parcel Service, Inc. (“UPS”), passenger airlines offering express package services, regional delivery concerns, air freight forwarders and the USPS. FedEx Express’s principal international competitors are DHL, UPS, TNT Express, foreign postal authorities, freight forwarders, passenger airlines and all-cargo airlines. Many of FedEx Express’s international competitors are government-owned, -controlled or -subsidized carriers, which may have greater resources, lower costs, less profit sensitivity and more favorable operating conditions than FedEx Express.
Employees
David J. Bronczek is the President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Express, which is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. As of May 31, 2015, FedEx Express employed approximately 114,000 permanent full-time and approximately 52,000 permanent part-time employees, of which 13% are employed in the Memphis area. FedEx Express’s international employees represent 37% of all employees.
The pilots of FedEx Express, who constitute a small percentage of our total employees, are represented by the Air Line Pilots
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Association, International (“ALPA”), and are employed under a collective bargaining agreement. This agreement became amendable in March 2013, and the parties are currently in negotiations. In October 2014, FedEx Express formally requested assistance from the National Mediation Board (“NMB”) to mediate the negotiations and the NMB has been actively mediating the talks since that time. The NMB is the U.S. governmental agency that oversees labor agreements for entities covered by the Railway Labor Act of 1926, as amended (the “RLA”). The conduct of mediated negotiations has no impact on our operations.
Attempts by other labor organizations to organize certain other groups of FedEx Express employees occur from time to time. Although these organizing attempts have not resulted in any certification of a U.S. domestic collective bargaining representative of FedEx Express employees (other than ALPA), we cannot predict the outcome of these labor activities or their effect, if any, on FedEx Express or its employees. Certain of FedEx Express’s non-U.S. employees are unionized. FedEx Express believes its employee relations are excellent.
FedEx Trade Networks
FedEx Trade Networks provides international trade services, specializing in customs brokerage and global ocean and air freight forwarding. Specifically, FedEx Trade Networks provides international trade advisory services, including assistance with the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (“C-TPAT”) program, and through its WorldTariff subsidiary, publishes customs duty and tax information for over 180 customs areas worldwide. Additionally, FedEx Trade Networks provides customs clearance services for FedEx Express at its major U.S. hub facilities.
As trade throughout the world grows, so does the FedEx Trade Networks solutions portfolio. Value-added services of FedEx Trade Networks include 128 freight forwarding offices in 26 countries and Global Trade Data, an information tool that allows customers to track and manage imports. In addition, in 2015, FedEx Trade Networks strengthened its Latin America trade lane services with enhanced shipping options to meet customer demand. The trade lanes include the following routes: Germany to Mexico, Germany to Brazil, Hong Kong to Mexico and U.S. to Mexico.
FedEx Trade Networks has approximately 5,000 employees and 150 offices in 128 service locations throughout North America and in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, India, Latin America and the Middle East. FedEx Trade Networks maintains a network of air and ocean freight-forwarding service providers and has entered into strategic alliances to provide services in certain countries in which it does not have owned offices.
FedEx SupplyChain Systems
FedEx SupplyChain is an integrated logistics provider offering a range of supply chain solutions that leverage FedEx information technology and transportation networks around the world. The company offers services that include critical inventory logistics, transportation management and temperature-controlled transportation through a network of owned and managed resources — all tightly integrated via advanced information technology systems. FedEx SupplyChain also offers expanded visibility and control features, as well as forward stocking locations to support worldwide FedEx Critical Inventory Logistics customers with high-value, critical orders.
Bongo
In December 2014, we acquired Bongo, a leader in cross-border enablement technologies and solutions. Bongo’s capabilities complement and expand the FedEx portfolio of offerings important to international e-commerce. Bongo’s technology and processes provide a comprehensive and integrated end-to-end solution that helps retailers and e-tailers grow by reaching international e-commerce consumers. Bongo’s capabilities include export compliance management, Harmonized System classification, currency conversions,
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international payment options inclusive of language translation, shopping cart management, duty and tax calculations and credit card fraud protection. Bongo is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, and is a subsidiary of FedEx Trade Networks.
FedEx Ground Segment
FedEx Ground
Overview
By leveraging the FedEx brand, maintaining a low cost structure and efficiently using information technology and advanced automation systems, FedEx Ground continues to enhance its competitive position as a leading provider of business and residential money-back guaranteed ground package delivery services. FedEx Ground serves customers in the North American small-package market, focusing on business and residential delivery of packages weighing up to 150 pounds. Ground service is provided to 100% of the continental U.S. population and overnight service of up to 400 miles to nearly 100% of the continental U.S. population. Service is also provided to nearly 100% of the Canadian population. In addition, FedEx Ground offers service to Alaska and Hawaii through a ground and air network operation coordinated with other transportation providers.
FedEx Ground continues to improve the speed, reach and service capabilities of its network, by reducing transit time for many of its lanes and introducing or expanding overnight ground service in many metropolitan areas. FedEx Ground’s ongoing network expansion program is substantially increasing the company’s daily pickup capacity through the addition of new hubs featuring the latest automated sorting technology, the expansion of existing hubs and the expansion or relocation of other existing facilities.
The company offers our FedEx Home Delivery service, which reaches nearly 100% of U.S. residences. FedEx Home Delivery is dedicated to meeting the delivery needs of residential customers and provides routine Saturday and evening delivery and premium options such as day-specific, appointment and signature delivery. FedEx Home Delivery brings unmatched services to residential shippers and their customers and is the first residential ground package delivery service to have offered a money-back guarantee.
Additionally, FedEx Delivery Manager allows our U.S. residential customers to customize home deliveries to fit their schedule by providing a range of options to schedule dates, locations and times of delivery. By signing up at fedex.com, customers can receive notification of FedEx Ground packages en route to their homes and can choose various delivery options.
Pricing
FedEx Ground periodically publishes list prices for the majority of its services in its Service Guide. In general, U.S. shipping rates are based on the service selected, destination zone, weight, size, any ancillary service charge and whether the customer charged the shipment to a FedEx account. As previously announced, on January 5, 2015, FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery average list prices increased 4.9%.
In addition, as announced in May 2014, FedEx Ground began applying dimensional weight pricing to all shipments effective January 5, 2015. Previously, FedEx Ground applied dimensional weight pricing only to packages measuring three cubic feet or greater. Dimensional weight pricing is a common industry practice that sets the transportation price based on package volume – the amount of space a package occupies in relation to its actual weight.
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FedEx Ground has an indexed fuel surcharge, which is subject to a monthly adjustment. The surcharge percentage is based on a rounded average of the national U.S. on-highway average price for a gallon of diesel fuel as published monthly by the U.S. Department of Energy. For example, the fuel surcharge for May 2015 was based on the average diesel fuel price published for March 2015. Changes to the FedEx Ground fuel surcharge, when calculated according to the rounded index average and FedEx Ground trigger points, are applied effective from the first Monday of the month. These trigger points may change from time to time, but information on the fuel surcharge for each month is available at fedex.com approximately two weeks before the surcharge is applicable. On February 2, 2015, we updated the tables used to determine the fuel surcharges at FedEx Ground. See the “Fuel” section of Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition”) for a description and discussion of the net impact of fuel on our operating results.
Operations
FedEx Ground operates a multiple hub-and-spoke sorting and distribution system consisting of 547 facilities, including 33 hubs, in the U.S. and Canada. FedEx Ground conducts its operations primarily with approximately 47,000 owner-operated vehicles and approximately 48,000 company-owned trailers. To provide FedEx Home Delivery service, FedEx Ground leverages its existing pickup operation and hub and linehaul network. FedEx Home Delivery’s operations are often co-located with existing FedEx Ground facilities to achieve further cost efficiencies.
Advanced automated sorting technology is used to streamline the handling of millions of packages daily. Using overhead laser and six-sided camera-based bar code scan technology, hub conveyors electronically guide packages to their appropriate destination chute, where they are loaded for transport to their respective destination terminals for local delivery. Software systems and Internet-based applications are also deployed to offer customers new ways to connect internal package data with external delivery information. FedEx Ground provides shipment tracing and proof-of-delivery signature functionality through the FedEx website, fedex.com. For additional information regarding FedEx Ground e-shipping tools and solutions, see “FedEx Services — Customer-Driven Technology.”
FedEx Office offers retail access to FedEx Ground shipping services at all of its U.S. and Canadian retail locations. FedEx Ground is also available as a service option at many FedEx Authorized ShipCenters in the U.S.
As of May 31, 2015, FedEx Ground had approximately 62,000 employees. In addition, FedEx Ground relies on independent small businesses to conduct its linehaul and pickup-and-delivery operations, as the use of independent contractors is well suited to the needs of the ground delivery business and its customers. Henry J. Maier is the President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Ground. FedEx Ground is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and its primary competitors are UPS, the USPS and regional delivery carriers.
Independent Contractor Model
Although FedEx Ground is involved in numerous lawsuits and other proceedings (such as state tax or other administrative challenges) where the classification of its independent contractors is at issue, the company believes its relationship with its contractors is generally excellent. For a description of these proceedings, see Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Risk Factors”) and Note 18 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
FedEx Ground has made changes to its relationships with the small businesses it contracts with that, among other things, provide incentives for improved service and enhanced regulatory and other compliance by the contractors. For example, FedEx Ground has implemented its Independent Service Provider (“ISP”) model in a number of states. The ISP model requires pickup-and-delivery contractors based in those states to, among other things: (i) assume responsibility for the pickup-and-delivery operations of an entire
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geographic service area that includes multiple routes, and (ii) negotiate independent agreements with FedEx Ground, rather than agree to a standard contract. To date, FedEx Ground has transitioned to the ISP model in 17 states and is in the process of transitioning to the model in four additional states. Depending on a number of considerations, FedEx Ground may transition to it in other states as well.
In addition, because of state-specific legal and regulatory issues, FedEx Ground only contracts with businesses that (i) are organized as corporations registered and in good standing under applicable state law, and (ii) ensure that their personnel who provide services under an operating agreement with FedEx Ground are treated as their employees. FedEx Ground also has an ongoing nationwide program to incentivize owners who choose to grow their businesses by adding routes. During May 2015, approximately 93% of FedEx Ground’s package volume was delivered by business owners operating multiple routes.
FedEx SmartPost
FedEx SmartPost (a subsidiary of FedEx Ground) is a leading national small-parcel consolidator, which specializes in the consolidation and delivery of high volumes of low-weight, less time-sensitive business-to-consumer packages, using the USPS for final delivery to residences. The company picks up shipments from customers (including e-tailers and catalog companies), provides sorting and linehaul services and then delivers the packages to a USPS facility for final delivery by a postal carrier. Through its network of 27 distribution hubs and approximately 9,000 employees, FedEx SmartPost provides delivery to all residential addresses in the U.S., including PO Boxes and military destinations.
On March 16, 2015, we announced that our FedEx SmartPost business will be merged into FedEx Ground effective September 1, 2015. The FedEx SmartPost service remains an important component of our service offerings and this internal structural change will enhance our ability to leverage the strengths of both the FedEx Ground and FedEx SmartPost networks to maximize operational efficiencies and will provide greater flexibility to meeting the needs of our e-commerce customers. There are no planned personnel reductions associated with this merger.
GENCO
On January 30, 2015, we acquired GENCO, a leading North American third-party logistics provider. With a comprehensive portfolio of supply chain services, GENCO’s expertise will expand existing FedEx service offerings in the evolving retail and e-commerce markets. GENCO’s infrastructure and supply chain capabilities include reverse logistics, providing triage, test and repair, remarketing and product liquidation solutions. Additionally, GENCO’s breadth of expertise in targeted vertical markets — such as technology, healthcare and retail — aligns with our strategic priorities in these areas. With more than 10,000 employees at approximately 150 facilities, GENCO offers a complete range of product lifecycle logistics® services to customers in the technology, consumer, industrial, retail, and healthcare markets. GENCO is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The financial results of this business are included in the FedEx Ground segment from the date of acquisition. GENCO has a small number of employees that are members of unions.
FedEx Freight Segment
FedEx Freight
FedEx Freight is a leading U.S. provider of LTL freight services, offering choice, simplicity and reliability to meet the needs of LTL shippers — FedEx Freight Priority, when speed is critical to meet supply chain needs, and FedEx Freight Economy, when time can be
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traded for cost savings. Through one comprehensive network of service centers and advanced information systems, FedEx Freight provides service to virtually every U.S. ZIP Code (including Alaska and Hawaii) with industry-leading transit times. FedEx Freight Priority, which has the fastest published transit times of any nationwide LTL service, offers a no-fee money-back guarantee on eligible shipments. Internationally, FedEx Freight Canada offers FedEx Freight Priority service, serving most points in Canada, as well as FedEx Freight Priority and FedEx Freight Economy service between Canada and the U.S. In addition, FedEx Freight serves Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands via alliances.
Through its many service offerings, FedEx Freight can match customers’ time-critical needs with industry leading transit times. With the expansion of FedEx electronic solutions, LTL shippers have the convenience of a single shipping and tracking solution for FedEx Freight, FedEx Express and FedEx Ground. These solutions make freight shipping easier and provide customers easy access to their account information. The FedEx Freight Advance Notice feature available on FedEx Freight Priority shipments uses the company’s innovative technology systems to proactively notify FedEx Freight customers via the Internet, e-mail or fax when a shipment may be delayed beyond its estimated delivery date, providing customers with greater visibility and control of their LTL freight shipments. Customers can also process cross-border LTL shipments to and from Canada and Mexico, as well as intra-Canada and -Mexico shipments, through FedEx Ship Manager at fedex.com, FedEx Ship Manager Software, FedEx Ship Manager Server and FedEx Web Services. Additionally, FedEx Freight A.M. Delivery offers freight delivery by 10:30 a.m. within and between the U.S. and Canada, backed by a money-back guarantee.
FedEx Freight has an indexed fuel surcharge that applies to certain LTL shipments, which is subject to weekly adjustment based on a rounded average of the national U.S. on-highway average price for a gallon of diesel fuel. On February 2, 2015, we updated the tables used to determine FedEx Freight fuel surcharges. As previously announced, on January 5, 2015, FedEx Freight implemented a 4.9% average increase in certain U.S. and other shipping rates.
As of May 31, 2015, the FedEx Freight segment was operating approximately 65,000 vehicles and trailers from a network of approximately 370 service centers and had approximately 40,000 employees. Michael L. Ducker is the President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Freight, which is based in Memphis, Tennessee. FedEx Freight’s primary competitors are YRC Worldwide Inc. (which includes YRC Regional Transportation and YRC Freight), Con-way Freight (a subsidiary of Con-way Inc.), UPS Freight, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. and ABF Freight (a subsidiary of ArcBest Corporation).
In 2015, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (“Teamsters”) petitioned for Labor Board elections at sixteen FedEx Freight facilities. The Teamsters lost the vote or withdrew the petition prior to the election at twelve facilities and won the vote at four facilities. With respect to the elections that the Teamsters won, there are three appeals pending and FedEx Freight is considering whether to appeal the other election.
FedEx Custom Critical
FedEx Custom Critical provides a range of expedited, time-specific freight-shipping services throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Among its services are Surface Expedite, for exclusive-use and network-based transport of critical shipments and expedited shipments; Air Expedite, which offers an array of air solutions to meet customers’ critical delivery times; White Glove Services, for shipments that require extra care in handling, temperature control or specialized security; and ShipmentWatch, an offering through which FedEx Custom Critical manages SenseAware® devices to track customers’ shipments — by programming the device to the customer’s requirements prior to the shipment, sending the device to the shipper and then proactively monitoring the shipment from pickup to delivery. Service from FedEx Custom Critical is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In addition, its subsidiary FedEx Truckload Brokerage provides freight brokerage solutions within the U.S. and into and out of Canada and Mexico. FedEx Custom
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Critical continuously monitors shipments through an integrated proprietary shipment-control system, including two-way satellite communications on exclusive-use shipments.
FedEx Services Segment
FedEx Services
FedEx Services provides our other companies with sales, marketing, information technology, communications, customer service and certain other back-office support. Through FedEx Services and its subsidiary FedEx TechConnect, we provide a convenient single point of access for many customer support functions, enabling us to more effectively sell the entire portfolio of transportation services and to help ensure a consistent and outstanding experience for our customers.
T. Michael Glenn is the President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Services, which is based in Memphis, Tennessee. As of May 31, 2015, the FedEx Services segment had approximately 30,000 employees (including approximately 15,000 at FedEx Office).
Customer-Driven Technology
FedEx is a world leader in technology, and FedEx founder Frederick W. Smith’s vision that “the information about a package is as important as the delivery of the package itself” remains at the core of our comprehensive technology strategy. In fact, FedEx ranked No. 6 overall on the 2015 InformationWeek Elite 100 list — a compilation of the top business technology innovators in the U.S.
Our technology strategy is driven by our desire for customer satisfaction. We strive to build technology solutions that will solve our customers’ business problems with simplicity, convenience, speed and reliability. The focal point of our strategy is our award-winning website, together with our customer integrated solutions.
The fedex.com website was launched nearly 20 years ago, and during that time, customers have shipped and tracked billions of packages at fedex.com. The fedex.com website is widely recognized for its speed, ease of use and customer-focused features. At fedex.com, our customers ship packages, determine international documentation requirements, track package status, pay invoices and access FedEx Office services. The advanced tracking capability within FedEx Tracking provides customers with a consolidated view of inbound and outbound shipments.
FedEx Mobile is a suite of services available on most web-enabled mobile devices, such as the BlackBerry® and Android™ smartphones, and includes enhanced support for Apple products, such as the iPhone®, iPod touch® and iPad® devices. The FedEx Mobile website has expanded to more than 220 countries and territories and 26 languages. FedEx Mobile allows customers to track the status of packages, create shipping labels, get account-specific rate quotes and access drop-off location information. FedEx Office has its own iPhone®, iPad® and Android™ apps that allow customers to print directly from their devices to any FedEx Office location in the U.S. or have the order delivered right to their door, while also allowing customers to get account-specific pricing, track print orders or packages, or find the nearest FedEx Office location. FedEx Office self-serve printers give customers even more flexibility by allowing direct USB access to print documents, as well as the ability to retrieve and print documents from customers’ cloud accounts. FedEx also uses wireless data collection devices to scan bar codes on shipments, thereby enhancing and accelerating the package information available to our customers.
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FedEx continues to provide customers with innovative solutions. For example, in May 2014 FedEx TechConnect opened a package laboratory providing FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight customers with free package testing and design services.
We design our e-commerce tools and solutions to be easily integrated into our customers’ applications, as well as into third-party software developed by leading e-procurement, systems integration and enterprise resource planning companies. Our FedEx Ship Manager suite of solutions offers a wide range of options to help our customers manage their parcel and LTL shipping and associated processes.
Marketing
The FedEx brand name is symbolic of outstanding service, reliability and speed. Emphasis is placed on promoting and protecting the FedEx brand, one of our most important assets. As a result, FedEx is one of the most widely recognized brands in the world. In addition to television, print and digital advertising, we promote the FedEx brand through corporate sponsorships and special events. For example, FedEx sponsors:
| • | PGA TOUR and the Champions Tour golf organizations, as the “Official Shipping Company,” and FedExCup, a season-long points competition for PGA TOUR players |
| • | The Title sponsor of the FedEx St. Jude Classic, a PGA TOUR event that raises millions of dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital |
| • | The National Football League (NFL), as its “Official Delivery Service Sponsor” and “Official Office Services Provider of the NFL” |
| • | FedExField in Washington, DC |
| • | The #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry driven by Denny Hamlin in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series |
| • | ATP World Tour men’s professional tennis circuit and French Open tennis tournament |
| • | FedExForum in Memphis, TN |
Information Security
FedEx Services has a team of highly qualified professionals dedicated to securing information about our customers’ shipments and protecting our customers’, vendors’ and employees’ privacy, and we strive to provide a safe, secure online environment for our customers. We are committed to compliance with applicable information security laws, regulations and industry standards — including, for example, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, a set of comprehensive requirements for enhancing payment account data security developed by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council. For a description of risks related to information security, see Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Risk Factors”).
Global ISO 9001 Certification
FedEx Services provides our customers with a high level of service quality, as evidenced by our ISO 9001 certification for our global express and ground operations. ISO 9001 registration is required by thousands of customers around the world. FedEx’s global certification, encompassing the processes of FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Services, enhances our single-point-of-access strategy and solidifies our reputation as the quality leader in the transportation industry. ISO 9001 is currently the most rigorous international standard for Quality Management and Assurance. ISO standards were developed by the International Organization for
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Standardization in Geneva, Switzerland to promote and facilitate international trade. More than 150 countries, including European Union members, the U.S. and Japan, recognize ISO standards.
FedEx Office
FedEx Office’s network of digitally-connected locations offers access to copying and digital printing through retail and web-based platforms, signs and graphics, professional finishing, computer rentals, and the full range of FedEx day-definite ground shipping and time-definite global express shipping services. FedEx Office’s network of locations provides convenient access points to FedEx Express and FedEx Ground services for higher margin retail customers. Customers may also have their FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery packages delivered to any FedEx Office location nationwide by choosing the “Hold at FedEx Location” option when initiating a shipment — or even when a shipment is on its way — free of charge. In addition, in 2014 FedEx Office introduced the FedEx Ship&Get® pilot program, which is a shipping and delivery option available at select retail locations that allows customers to use stand-alone kiosks and lockers that are managed electronically to ship or pick up packages at their convenience.
In addition, FedEx Office offers packing services, and packing supplies and boxes are included in its retail offerings. By allowing customers to have items professionally packed by specially trained FedEx Office team members and then shipped using FedEx Ground day-definite shipping and time-definite global FedEx Express shipping services, FedEx Office offers a complete “pack-and-ship” solution. In November 2014, FedEx Office rolled out a new packing feature, Pack Plus, which expanded FedEx Office’s packing and shipping capabilities. FedEx Pack Plus offerings include new custom box building capabilities and techniques, a more robust assortment of specialty boxes and additional packing supplies, equipment and tools to serve our customers’ needs.
Almost all FedEx Office locations provide local pickup-and-delivery service for print jobs completed by FedEx Office. A FedEx courier picks up a customer’s print job at the customer’s location and then returns the finished product to the customer. Options and services vary by location. Additionally, through cloud printing with FedEx Office Print Online, customers can upload files from some of the most popular cloud websites including Box, Dropbox and Google Drive™ and then select from a variety of printing options. Customers can choose to pick up their completed order at FedEx Office locations nationwide or have the order delivered right to their door. Customers also have the ability to access these same cloud files through a USB drive or mobile device at self-serve copiers in FedEx Office locations, giving them seamless access to their files across our online and retail channels. Lastly, FedEx SameDay City service is offered in more than 20 markets across the U.S., which allows customers to get their packages across town on the same day with local delivery by FedEx Office uniformed team members in branded FedEx Office delivery vehicles.
As of May 31, 2015, FedEx Office operated approximately 1,800 customer facing centers, including 25 locations in Canada, as well as 31 closed production centers. FedEx Office is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
Trademarks
The “FedEx” trademark, service mark and trade name is essential to our worldwide business. FedEx, FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Office, FedEx Services, FedEx SupplyChain, FedEx TechConnect, FedEx Trade Networks, FedEx SmartPost and FedEx Custom Critical, among others, are trademarks, service marks and trade names of Federal Express Corporation, or the respective companies, for which registrations, or applications for registration, are on file, as applicable. We have authorized, through licensing arrangements, the use of certain of our trademarks, service marks and trade names by our contractors and Global Service Participants to support our business. In addition, we license the use of certain of our trademarks, service marks and trade names on promotional items for the primary purpose of enhancing brand awareness.
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Regulation
Air. Under the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended, both the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) and the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) exercise regulatory authority over FedEx Express.
The FAA’s regulatory authority relates primarily to operational aspects of air transportation, including aircraft standards and maintenance, as well as personnel and ground facilities, which may from time to time affect the ability of FedEx Express to operate its aircraft in the most efficient manner. FedEx Express holds an air carrier certificate granted by the FAA pursuant to Part 119 of the federal aviation regulations. This certificate is of unlimited duration and remains in effect so long as FedEx Express maintains its standards of safety and meets the operational requirements of the regulations.
In September 2010, the FAA proposed rules that would significantly reduce the maximum number of hours on duty and increase the minimum amount of rest time for our pilots, and thus require us to hire additional pilots and modify certain of our aircraft. When the FAA issued final regulations in December 2011, all-cargo carriers, including FedEx Express, were exempt from these new pilot fatigue requirements, and instead required to continue complying with previously enacted flight and duty time rules. In December 2012, the FAA reaffirmed the exclusion of us from the new rule. It is reasonably possible, however, that future security or flight safety requirements could impose material costs on us.
The DOT’s authority relates primarily to economic aspects of air transportation. The DOT’s jurisdiction extends to aviation route authority and to other regulatory matters, including the transfer of route authority between carriers. FedEx Express holds various certificates issued by the DOT, authorizing FedEx Express to engage in U.S. and international air transportation of property and mail on a worldwide basis.
Under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001, as amended, the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”), an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, has responsibility for aviation security. The TSA requires FedEx Express to comply with a Full All-Cargo Aircraft Operator Standard Security Plan, which contains evolving and strict security requirements. These requirements are not static, but change periodically as the result of regulatory and legislative requirements, imposing additional security costs and creating a level of uncertainty for our operations. It is reasonably possible that these rules or other future security requirements could impose material costs on us.
FedEx Express participates in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (“CRAF”) program. Under this program, the U.S. Department of Defense may requisition for military use certain of FedEx Express’s wide-bodied aircraft in the event of a declared need, including a national emergency. FedEx Express is compensated for the operation of any aircraft requisitioned under the CRAF program at standard contract rates established each year in the normal course of awarding contracts. Through its participation in the CRAF program, FedEx Express is entitled to bid on peacetime military cargo charter business. FedEx Express, together with a consortium of other carriers, currently contracts with the U.S. government for such charter flights.
Ground. The ground transportation performed by FedEx Express is integral to its air transportation services. The enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 abrogated the authority of states to regulate the rates, routes or services of intermodal all-cargo air carriers and most motor carriers. States may now only exercise jurisdiction over safety and insurance. FedEx Express is registered in those states that require registration.
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The operations of FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight and FedEx Custom Critical in interstate commerce are currently regulated by the DOT and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which retain limited oversight authority over motor carriers. Federal legislation preempts regulation by the states of rates and service in intrastate freight transportation.
Like other interstate motor carriers, our operations, including those at FedEx Express, are subject to certain DOT safety requirements governing interstate operations. In addition, vehicle weight and dimensions remain subject to both federal and state regulations.
International. FedEx Express’s international authority permits it to carry cargo and mail from points in its U.S. route system to numerous points throughout the world. The DOT regulates international routes and practices and is authorized to investigate and take action against discriminatory treatment of U.S. air carriers abroad. The right of a U.S. carrier to serve foreign points is subject to the DOT’s approval and generally requires a bilateral agreement between the U.S. and the foreign government. In addition, the carrier must then be granted the permission of such foreign government to provide specific flights and services. The regulatory environment for global aviation rights may from time to time impair the ability of FedEx Express to operate its air network in the most efficient manner. Additionally, global air cargo carriers, such as FedEx Express, are subject to current and potential additional aviation security regulation by foreign governments.
Our operations outside of the U.S., such as FedEx Express’s growing international domestic operations, are also subject to current and potential regulations, including certain postal regulations and licensing requirements, that restrict, make difficult and sometimes prohibit, the ability of foreign-owned companies such as FedEx Express to compete effectively in parts of the international domestic transportation and logistics market.
Communication. Because of the extensive use of radio and other communication facilities in its aircraft and ground transportation operations, FedEx Express is subject to the Federal Communications Commission Act of 1934, as amended. Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission regulates and licenses FedEx Express’s activities pertaining to satellite communications.
Environmental. Pursuant to the Federal Aviation Act, the FAA, with the assistance of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), is authorized to establish standards governing aircraft noise. FedEx Express’s aircraft fleet is in compliance with current noise standards of the federal aviation regulations. In addition to federal regulation of aircraft noise, certain airport operators have local noise regulations, which limit aircraft operations by type of aircraft and time of day. These regulations have had a restrictive effect on FedEx Express’s aircraft operations in some of the localities where they apply but do not have a material effect on any of FedEx Express’s significant markets. Congress’s passage of the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 established a National Noise Policy, which enabled FedEx Express to plan for noise reduction and better respond to local noise constraints. FedEx Express’s international operations are also subject to noise regulations in certain of the countries in which it operates.
Concern over climate change, including the impact of global warming, has led to significant U.S. and international legislative and regulatory efforts to limit greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions, including our aircraft and diesel engine emissions. For example, in 2015, the EPA issued a proposed finding on GHG emissions from aircraft and its relationships to air pollution. The final finding is a regulatory prerequisite to the EPA’s adoption of a new certification standard for aircraft emissions. Additionally, in 2009, the European Commission approved the extension of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (“ETS”) for GHG emissions, to the airline industry. Under this decision, all FedEx Express flights that are wholly within the European Union are now covered by the ETS requirements, and each year we are required to submit emission allowances in an amount equal to the carbon dioxide emissions from such flights. For a description of such efforts and their potential effect on our cost structure and operating results, see Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Risk Factors”).
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We are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations relating to, among other things, the shipment of dangerous goods, contingency planning for spills of petroleum products, the disposal of waste oil and the disposal of toners and other products used in FedEx Office’s copy machines. Additionally, we are subject to numerous regulations dealing with underground fuel storage tanks, hazardous waste handling, vehicle and equipment emissions and noise and the discharge of effluents from our properties and equipment. We have environmental management programs to ensure compliance with these regulations.
Customs. Our activities, including customs brokerage and freight forwarding, are subject to regulation by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and the TSA within the Department of Homeland Security (customs brokerage and security issues), the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (ocean freight forwarding) and the DOT (air freight forwarding). Our offshore operations are subject to similar regulation by the regulatory authorities of foreign jurisdictions.
Labor. All U.S. employees at FedEx Express are covered by the RLA, while labor relations within the U.S. at our other companies are governed by the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, as amended (the “NLRA”). Under the RLA, groups that wish to unionize must do so across nationwide classes of employees. The RLA also requires mandatory government-led mediation of contract disputes supervised by the NMB before a union can strike or an employer can replace employees or impose contract terms. This part of the RLA helps minimize the risk of strikes that would shut down large portions of the economy. Under the NLRA, employees can unionize in small localized groups, and government-led mediation is not a required step in the negotiation process.
The RLA was originally passed to govern railroad and express carrier labor negotiations. As transportation systems evolved, the law expanded to cover airlines, which are the dominant national transportation systems of today. As an air express carrier with an integrated air/ground network, FedEx Express and its employees have been covered by the RLA since the founding of the company in 1971. The purpose of the RLA is to offer employees a process by which to unionize (if they choose) and engage in collective bargaining while also protecting global commerce from damaging work stoppages and delays. Specifically, the RLA ensures that an entire transportation system, such as at FedEx Express, cannot be shut down by the actions of a local segment of the network.
The U.S. Congress has, in the past, considered adopting changes in labor laws that would make it easier for unions to organize units of our employees. For example, there is always a possibility that Congress could remove most FedEx Express employees from the jurisdiction of the RLA, thereby exposing the FedEx Express network to sporadic labor disputes and the risk that small groups of employees could disrupt the entire air/ground network. In addition, federal and state governmental agencies have and may continue to take actions that could make it easier for our employees to organize under the RLA or NLRA. For a description of these potential labor law changes, see Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Risk Factors”).
We present information about our risk factors on pages 81 through 86 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
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| ITEM 2. | PROPERTIES |
FedEx Express Segment
FedEx Express’s principal owned and leased properties include its aircraft, vehicles, national, regional and metropolitan sorting facilities, administration buildings, FedEx Drop Boxes and data processing and telecommunications equipment.
Aircraft and Vehicles
As of May 31, 2015, FedEx Express’s aircraft fleet consisted of the following:
| Description |
Owned | Leased | Total | Maximum Gross Structural Payload (Pounds per Aircraft)(1) |
||||||||||||
| Boeing B777F |
25 | 0 | 25 | 233,300 | ||||||||||||
| Boeing MD11 |
31 | 25 | 56 | 192,600 | ||||||||||||
| Boeing MD10-30 |
12 | 1 | 13 | 175,900 | ||||||||||||
| Boeing MD10-10 |
36 | 0 | 36 | 137,500 | ||||||||||||
| Boeing 767F |
18 | 3 | 21 | (2) | 127,100 | |||||||||||
| Airbus A300-600 |
32 | 36 | 68 | 106,600 | ||||||||||||
| Airbus A310-200/300 |
21 | 0 | 21 | 83,170 | ||||||||||||
| Boeing B757-200 |
119 | 0 | 119 | (3) | 63,000 | |||||||||||
| ATR 72-202/212 |
21 | 0 | 21 | 17,970 | ||||||||||||
| ATR 42-300/320 |
26 | 0 | 26 | 12,070 | ||||||||||||
| Cessna 208B |
241 | 0 | 241 | 2,830 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total |
582 | 65 | 647 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| (1) | Maximum gross structural payload includes revenue payload and container weight. |
| (2) | Includes four aircraft not currently in operation and awaiting completion of modification. |
| (3) | Includes eighteen aircraft not currently in operation and awaiting completion of modification. |
| • | The B777Fs are two-engine, wide-bodied cargo aircraft that have a longer range and larger capacity than any other aircraft we operate. |
| • | The MD11s are three-engine, wide-bodied aircraft that have a longer range and larger capacity than MD10s. |
| • | The MD10s are three-engine, wide-bodied aircraft that have received an Advanced Common Flightdeck (ACF) modification, which includes a conversion to a two-pilot cockpit, as well as upgrades of electrical and other systems. |
| • | The B767Fs are two-engine, long-range, wide-bodied cargo aircraft. |
| • | The A300s and A310s are two-engine, wide-bodied aircraft that have a longer range and more capacity than B757s. |
| • | The B757s are two-engine, narrow-bodied aircraft configured for cargo service. |
| • | The ATR and Cessna 208 turbo-prop aircraft are leased to independent operators to support FedEx Express operations in areas where demand does not justify use of a larger aircraft. |
An inventory of spare engines and parts is maintained for each aircraft type.
In addition, FedEx Express leases smaller aircraft to operators, and these operators use the aircraft to move FedEx packages to and from airports served by FedEx Express’s larger jet aircraft. The lease agreements generally call for the lessee to provide the flight crews, maintenance, fuel and other supplies required to operate the aircraft, and FedEx Express reimburses the lessee for these items. The lease agreements are for terms not exceeding one year and are generally cancelable upon 30 days’ notice.
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At May 31, 2015, FedEx Express operated approximately 56,000 ground transport vehicles, including pickup-and-delivery vans, larger trucks called container transport vehicles and over-the-road tractors and trailers.
Aircraft Purchase Commitments
The following table is a summary of the number and type of aircraft we were committed to purchase as of May 31, 2015, with the year of expected delivery:
| B767F(1) | B777F(2) | Total | ||||||||||
| 2016 |
11 | 2 | 13 | |||||||||
| 2017 |
12 | — | 12 | |||||||||
| 2018 |
11 | 2 | 13 | |||||||||
| 2019 |
6 | 2 | 8 | |||||||||
| 2020 |
— | 3 | 3 | |||||||||
| Thereafter |
— | 9 | 9 | |||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
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| Total |
40 | 18 | 58 | |||||||||
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|
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| (1) | As of May 31, 2015, our obligation to purchase three of these aircraft was conditioned upon there being no event that causes FedEx Express or its employees to not be covered by the RLA. |
| (2) | As of May 31, 2015, our obligation to purchase nine of these aircraft was conditioned upon there being no event that causes FedEx Express or its employees to not be covered by the RLA. |
As of May 31, 2015, deposits and progress payments of $472 million had been made toward aircraft purchases and other planned aircraft-related transactions. Also see Note 17 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements for more information about our purchase commitments.
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Sorting and Handling Facilities
At May 31, 2015, FedEx Express operated the following major sorting and handling facilities:
| Location |
Acres | Square Feet |
Sorting Capacity (per hour) (1) |
Lessor |
Lease Expiration Year |
|||||||||||||
| National |
||||||||||||||||||
| Memphis, Tennessee |
784 | 3,663,000 | 475,000 | Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority |
2036 | |||||||||||||
| Indianapolis, Indiana |
316 | 2,509,000 | 214,000 | Indianapolis Airport Authority |
2028 | |||||||||||||
| Regional |
||||||||||||||||||
| Fort Worth, Texas |
168 | 948,000 | 76,000 | Fort Worth Alliance Airport Authority |
2021 | |||||||||||||
| Newark, New Jersey |
70 | 595,000 | 156,000 | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |
2030 | |||||||||||||
| Oakland, California |
75 | 448,935 | 63,000 | City of Oakland | 2036 | |||||||||||||
| Greensboro, N. Carolina |
165 | 593,000 | 29,000 | Piedmont Triad Airport Authority |
2031 | |||||||||||||
| Metropolitan |
||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago, Illinois |
66 | 597,000 | 23,000 | City of Chicago | 2018/2028 | (5) | ||||||||||||
| Los Angeles, California |
34 | 305,300 | 57,000 | City of Los Angeles | 2021/2025 | (6) | ||||||||||||
| International |
||||||||||||||||||
| Anchorage, Alaska(2) |
64 | 332,000 | 25,000 | State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities |
2023 | |||||||||||||
| Paris, France(3) |
111 | 1,238,000 | 63,000 | Aeroports de Paris | 2029 | |||||||||||||
| Cologne, Germany(3) |
11 | 325,000 | 20,000 | Cologne Bonn Airport | 2040 | |||||||||||||
| Guangzhou, China(4) |
155 | 873,006 | 64,000 | Guangdong Airport Management Corp. |
2029 | |||||||||||||
| Osaka, Japan(4) |
17 | 425,206 | 9,000 | New Kansai International Airport Co., Ltd. |
2024 | |||||||||||||
| (1) | Documents and packages. |
| (2) | Handles international express package and freight shipments to and from Asia, Europe and North America. |
| (3) | Handles intra-Europe express package and freight shipments, as well as international express package and freight shipments to and from Europe. |
| (4) | Handles intra-Asia express package and freight shipments, as well as international express package and freight shipments to and from Asia. |
| (5) | Property is held under two separate leases — lease for original hub expires in 2018, and lease for new facility expires in 2028. |
| (6) | Property is held under two separate leases — lease for sorting and handling facility expires in 2021, and lease for ramp expansion expires in 2025. |
FedEx Express’s primary sorting facility, which serves as the center of its multiple hub-and-spoke system, is located at the Memphis International Airport. FedEx Express’s facilities at the Memphis International Airport also include aircraft hangars, aircraft ramp areas, vehicle parking areas, flight training and fuel facilities, administrative offices and warehouse space. FedEx Express leases these facilities from the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (the “Authority”). The lease obligates FedEx Express to maintain and insure the leased property and to pay all related taxes, assessments and other charges. The lease is subordinate to, and FedEx Express’s rights thereunder could be affected by, any future lease or agreement between the Authority and the U.S. government.
FedEx Express has additional international sorting-and-handling facilities located at Narita Airport in Tokyo, Stansted Airport outside London and Pearson Airport in Toronto. FedEx Express also has a substantial presence at airports in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Dubai and Miami.
Administrative and Other Properties and Facilities
The World Headquarters of FedEx Express is located in southeastern Shelby County, Tennessee. FedEx Express owns or leases 638 facilities for city station operations in the United States. In addition, 606 city stations are owned or leased throughout FedEx Express’s international network. The majority of these leases are for terms of five to ten years. City stations serve as a sorting and distribution center for a particular city or region. We believe that suitable alternative facilities are available in each locale on satisfactory terms, if necessary.
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As of May 31, 2015, FedEx Express had approximately 41,000 Drop Boxes. FedEx Express also has approximately 15,000 FedEx Authorized ShipCenters and other types of staffed drop-off locations, such as FedEx Office centers. Internationally, FedEx Express had approximately 7,000 drop-off locations.
FedEx Ground Segment
FedEx Ground’s corporate offices are located in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. As of May 31, 2015, FedEx Ground had approximately 48,000 company-owned trailers and owned or leased 547 facilities, including 33 hubs. In addition, approximately 47,000 owner-operated vehicles support FedEx Ground’s business. Of the 357 facilities that support FedEx Home Delivery, 275 are co-located with existing FedEx Ground facilities. Leased facilities generally have terms of five years or less. The 33 hub facilities are strategically located to cover the geographic area served by FedEx Ground. The hub facilities average approximately 383,000 square feet and range in size from 114,000 to 825,500 square feet.
FedEx Freight Segment
FedEx Freight’s corporate headquarters are located in Memphis, Tennessee, with some administrative offices for the FedEx Freight business in Harrison, Arkansas. As of May 31, 2015, the FedEx Freight segment operated approximately 65,000 vehicles and trailers and approximately 370 service centers, which are strategically located to provide service throughout North America. These facilities range in size from approximately 860 to 220,000 square feet of office and dock space. FedEx Custom Critical’s headquarters are located in Green, Ohio.
FedEx Services Segment
FedEx Services’ corporate headquarters are located in Memphis, Tennessee. FedEx Services leases state-of-the-art technology centers in Collierville, Tennessee and Colorado Springs, Colorado. These facilities house personnel responsible for strategic software development and other functions that support FedEx’s technology and e-commerce solutions. FedEx Office’s corporate headquarters are located in Dallas, Texas in leased facilities. As of May 31, 2015, FedEx Office operated approximately 1,800 customer facing centers, including 25 locations in Canada, as well as 31 closed production centers. Substantially all FedEx Office centers are leased, generally for terms of five to ten years with varying renewal options. FedEx Office centers are generally located in strip malls, office buildings or stand-alone structures and customer facing centers average 3,900 square feet in size. FedEx Services has an agreement with OfficeMax North America, Inc. to offer FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipping services at OfficeMax retail locations (approximately 800 locations). Additionally, the FedEx Authorized Ship Center program offers U.S. domestic and international FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipping and drop-off services through a network of approximately 5,500 franchised and independent “pack and ship” retail locations.
| ITEM 3. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
FedEx and its subsidiaries are subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of their business. For a description of material pending legal proceedings, see Note 18 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
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| ITEM 4. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES |
Not applicable.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Information regarding executive officers of FedEx is as follows (included herein pursuant to Instruction 3 to Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K and General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K):
| Name and Office |
Age |
Positions and Offices Held and Business Experience | ||
| Frederick W. Smith Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
70 | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx since January 1998; Chairman of FedEx Express since 1975; Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Express from April 1983 to January 1998; Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Express from 1977 to January 1998; and President of FedEx Express from June 1971 to February 1975. | ||
| David J. Bronczek President and Chief Executive Officer, FedEx Express |
61 | President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Express since January 2000; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of FedEx Express from January 1998 to January 2000; Senior Vice President — Europe, Middle East and Africa of FedEx Express from June 1995 to January 1998; Senior Vice President — Europe, Africa and Mediterranean of FedEx Express from June 1993 to June 1995; Vice President — Canadian Operations of FedEx Express from February 1987 to March 1993; and several sales and operations managerial positions at FedEx Express from 1976 to 1987. Mr. Bronczek serves as a director of International Paper Company, an uncoated paper and packaging company. | ||
| Robert B. Carter Executive Vice President — FedEx Information Services and Chief Information Officer |
56 | Executive Vice President — FedEx Information Services and Chief Information Officer of FedEx since January 2007; Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of FedEx from June 2000 to January 2007; Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of FedEx from February 1998 to June 2000; Vice President — Corporate Systems Development of FedEx Express from September 1993 to February 1998; Managing Director — Systems Development of FedEx Express from April 1993 to September 1993. Mr. Carter serves as a director of First Horizon National Corporation, a financial services holding company. | ||
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| Name and Office |
Age |
Positions and Offices Held and Business Experience | ||
| Michael L. Ducker President and Chief Executive Officer, FedEx Freight Corporation |
61 | President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Freight Corporation since January 2015; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and President of International for FedEx Express from December 2009 to January 2015; Executive Vice President and President of International of FedEx Express from December 1999 to December 2009; Senior Vice President of Asia/Pacific of FedEx Express from September 1995 to December 1999; and various management positions in operations at FedEx Express from 1978 to 1995. Mr. Ducker serves as Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and as a director of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., a global creator of flavors and fragrances used in consumer products. | ||
| T. Michael Glenn Executive Vice President — Market Development and Corporate Communications |
59 | Executive Vice President — Market Development and Corporate Communications of FedEx since January 1998; Senior Vice President — Marketing, Customer Service and Corporate Communications of FedEx Express from June 1994 to January 1998; Senior Vice President — Marketing and Corporate Communications of FedEx Express from December 1993 to June 1994; Senior Vice President — Worldwide Marketing Catalog Services and Corporate Communications of FedEx Express from June 1993 to December 1993; Senior Vice President — Catalog and Remail Services of FedEx Express from September 1992 to June 1993; Vice President — Marketing of FedEx Express from August 1985 to September 1992; and various management positions in sales and marketing and senior sales specialist of FedEx Express from 1981 to 1985. Mr. Glenn serves as a director of Pentair, Inc., a diversified industrial manufacturing company operating in water and technical products business segments, and as a director of Level 3 Communications, Inc., a global communications services company. | ||
| Alan B. Graf, Jr. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
61 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of FedEx since January 1998; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of FedEx Express from February 1996 to January 1998; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of FedEx Express from December 1991 to February 1996; Vice President and Treasurer of FedEx Express from August 1987 to December 1991; and various management positions in finance and a senior financial analyst of FedEx Express from 1980 to 1987. Mr. Graf serves as a director of Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., a real estate investment trust that focuses on acquiring, constructing, developing, owning and operating apartment communities, and as a director of NIKE, Inc., a designer and marketer of athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for sports and fitness activities. | ||
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| Name and Office |
Age |
Positions and Offices Held and Business Experience | ||
| Henry J. Maier President and Chief Executive Officer, FedEx Ground |
61 | President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Ground since June 2013; Executive Vice President — Strategic Planning and Communications of FedEx Ground from September 2009 to June 2013; Senior Vice President — Strategic Planning and Communications of FedEx Ground from December 2006 to September 2009; Vice President — Marketing of FedEx Services from March 2000 to December 2006; Vice President — Marketing and Communications of FedEx Ground from June 1999 to March 2000; and various management positions in logistics, sales, marketing and communications with RPS, Inc. and Caliber Logistics, Inc. from 1986 to 1999. | ||
| Christine P. Richards Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
60 | Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of FedEx since June 2005; Corporate Vice President — Customer and Business Transactions of FedEx from March 2001 to June 2005; Senior Vice President and General Counsel of FedEx Services from March 2000 to June 2005; Staff Vice President — Customer and Business Transactions of FedEx from November 1999 to March 2001; Vice President — Customer and Business Transactions of FedEx Express from 1998 to November 1999; and various legal positions with FedEx Express from 1984 to 1998. | ||
Executive officers are elected by, and serve at the discretion of, the Board of Directors. There is no arrangement or understanding between any executive officer and any person, other than a director or executive officer of FedEx or of any of its subsidiaries acting in his or her official capacity, pursuant to which any executive officer was selected. There are no family relationships between any executive officer and any other executive officer or director of FedEx or of any of its subsidiaries.
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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
FedEx’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FDX.” As of July 10, 2015, there were 12,601 holders of record of our common stock. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sale prices, as reported on the NYSE, and the cash dividends paid per share of common stock.
| Sale Prices | ||||||||||||
| High | Low | Dividend | ||||||||||
| Fiscal Year Ended May 31, 2015 |
||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter |
$ | 178.79 | $ | 163.60 | $ | 0.20 | ||||||
| Third Quarter |
183.51 | 163.57 | 0.20 | |||||||||
| Second Quarter |
179.79 | 148.37 | 0.20 | |||||||||
| First Quarter |
155.31 | 138.30 | 0.20 | |||||||||
| Fiscal Year Ended May 31, 2014 |
||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter |
$ | 144.85 | $ | 130.64 | $ | 0.15 | ||||||
| Third Quarter |
144.39 | 128.17 | 0.15 | |||||||||
| Second Quarter |
140.55 | 106.38 | 0.15 | |||||||||
| First Quarter |
113.34 | 94.60 | 0.15 | |||||||||
FedEx also paid a cash dividend on July 2, 2015 ($0.25 per share). We expect to continue to pay regular quarterly cash dividends, though each subsequent quarterly dividend is subject to review and approval by our Board of Directors. We evaluate the dividend payment amount on an annual basis at the end of each fiscal year. There are no material restrictions on our ability to declare dividends, nor are there any material restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to transfer funds to us in the form of cash dividends, loans or advances.
The following table provides information on FedEx’s repurchases of our common stock during the fourth quarter of 2015.
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
| Period |
Total Number of Shares Purchased |
Average Price Paid per Share |
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Programs |
Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Programs |
||||||||||||
| March 1-31, 2015 |
50,000 | $ | 171.83 | 50,000 | 13,550,000 | |||||||||||
| April 1-30, 2015 |
800,000 | 169.51 | 800,000 | 12,750,000 | ||||||||||||
| May 1-31, 2015 |
550,000 | 170.74 | 550,000 | 12,200,000 | ||||||||||||
|
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|
|
|
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| Total |
1,400,000 | 170.12 | 1,400,000 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
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The repurchases were made under the stock repurchase program approved by our Board of Directors and announced on September 29, 2014 and through which we were authorized to purchase, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, up to an aggregate of 15 million shares of our common stock. As of July 10, 2015, 11.3 million shares remained authorized for purchase under the September 2014 stock repurchase program, which is the only such program that currently exists. The program does not have an expiration date.
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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Selected financial data as of and for the five years ended May 31, 2015 is presented on page 143 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
Management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition is presented on pages 39 through 87 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Quantitative and qualitative information about market risk is presented on page 142 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
FedEx’s consolidated financial statements, together with the notes thereto and the report of Ernst & Young LLP dated July 14, 2015 thereon, are presented on pages 90 through 141 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Management’s Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The management of FedEx, with the participation of our principal executive and financial officers, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed in our filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, including ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to FedEx management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on such evaluation, our principal executive and financial officers have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of May 31, 2015 (the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K).
Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management’s report on our internal control over financial reporting is presented on page 88 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The report of Ernst & Young LLP with respect to our internal control over financial reporting is presented on page 89 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
During our fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2015, no change occurred in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
None.
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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information regarding members of the Board of Directors, compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, FedEx’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and certain other aspects of FedEx’s corporate governance (such as the procedures by which FedEx’s stockholders may recommend nominees to the Board of Directors and information about the Audit Committee, including its members and our “audit committee financial expert”) will be presented in FedEx’s definitive proxy statement for its 2015 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held on September 28, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference. Information regarding executive officers of FedEx is included above in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Executive Officers of the Registrant” pursuant to Instruction 3 to Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K and General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K. Information regarding FedEx’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is included above in Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Reputation and Responsibility — Governance.”
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information regarding director and executive compensation will be presented in FedEx’s definitive proxy statement for its 2015 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held on September 28, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and related stockholder matters, as well as equity compensation plan information, will be presented in FedEx’s definitive proxy statement for its 2015 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held on September 28, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information regarding certain relationships and transactions with related persons (including FedEx’s policies and procedures for the review and preapproval of related person transactions) and director independence will be presented in FedEx’s definitive proxy statement for its 2015 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held on September 28, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Information regarding the fees for services provided by Ernst & Young LLP during 2015 and 2014 and the Audit Committee’s administration of the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP, including the Committee’s preapproval policies and procedures (such as FedEx’s Policy on Engagement of Independent Auditor), will be presented in FedEx’s definitive proxy statement for its 2015 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held on September 28, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) and (2) Financial Statements; Financial Statement Schedules
FedEx’s consolidated financial statements, together with the notes thereto and the report of Ernst & Young LLP dated July 14, 2015 thereon, are listed on pages 37 through 38 and presented on pages 90 through 141 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. FedEx’s “Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts,” together with the report of Ernst & Young LLP dated July 14, 2015 thereon, is presented on pages 145 through 146 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. All other financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is included in FedEx’s consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.
(a)(3) Exhibits
See the Exhibit Index on pages E-1 through E-12 for a list of the exhibits being filed or furnished with or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| FEDEX CORPORATION | ||||||
| Dated: July 14, 2015 | By: | /s/ FREDERICK W. SMITH |
||||
| Frederick W. Smith | ||||||
| Chairman, President and | ||||||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature |
Capacity |
Date | ||
| /s/ FREDERICK W. SMITH |
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| Frederick W. Smith |
||||
| /s/ ALAN B. GRAF, JR. |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| Alan B. Graf, Jr. |
||||
| /s/ JOHN L. MERINO |
Corporate Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| John L. Merino |
||||
| /s/ JAMES L. BARKSDALE * |
Director |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| James L. Barksdale |
||||
| /s/ JOHN A. EDWARDSON * |
Director |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| John A. Edwardson |
||||
| /s/ MARVIN R. ELLISON * |
Director |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| Marvin R. Ellison |
||||
| /s/ KIMBERLY A. JABAL * |
Director |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| Kimberly A. Jabal |
||||
| /s/ SHIRLEY ANN JACKSON * |
Director |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| Shirley Ann Jackson |
||||
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| Signature |
Capacity |
Date | ||
| /s/ GARY W. LOVEMAN * |
Director |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| Gary W. Loveman |
||||
| /s/ R. BRAD MARTIN * |
Director |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| R. Brad Martin |
||||
| /s/ JOSHUA COOPER RAMO * |
Director |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| Joshua Cooper Ramo |
||||
| /s/ SUSAN C. SCHWAB * |
Director |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| Susan C. Schwab |
||||
| /s/ DAVID P. STEINER * |
Director |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| David P. Steiner |
||||
| /s/ PAUL S. WALSH * |
Director |
July 14, 2015 | ||
| Paul S. Walsh |
||||
| *By: /s/ JOHN L. MERINO |
July 14, 2015 | |||
| John L. Merino |
||||
| Attorney-in-Fact |
||||
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FINANCIAL SECTION TABLE OF CONTENTS
| PAGE | ||||
| Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition |
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| 39 | ||||
| 41 | ||||
| 53 | ||||
| 54 | ||||
| 54 | ||||
| 56 | ||||
| 61 | ||||
| 65 | ||||
| 68 | ||||
| 68 | ||||
| 70 | ||||
| 70 | ||||
| Contractual Cash Obligations and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements |
72 | |||
| 73 | ||||
| 73 | ||||
| 77 | ||||
| 77 | ||||
| 79 | ||||
| 81 | ||||
| 86 | ||||
| Consolidated Financial Statements |
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| Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting |
88 | |||
| 89 | ||||
| 91 | ||||
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| Consolidated Statements of Income |
93 | |||
| Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income |
94 | |||
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
95 | |||
| 96 | ||||
| 97 | ||||
| Other Financial Information |
||||
| 142 | ||||
| 143 | ||||
| 145 | ||||
| 146 | ||||
| 147 | ||||
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
FINANCIAL CONDITION
The financial section of the FedEx Corporation (“FedEx”) Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”) consists of the following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition (“MD&A”), the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and Other Financial Information, all of which include information about our significant accounting policies, practices and the transactions that underlie our financial results. The following MD&A describes the principal factors affecting the results of operations, liquidity, capital resources, contractual cash obligations and critical accounting estimates of FedEx. The discussion in the financial section should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report, particularly “Item 1: Business” and our detailed discussion of risk factors included in this MD&A.
ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION
Our MD&A is composed of three major sections: Results of Operations, Financial Condition and Critical Accounting Estimates. These sections include the following information:
| • | Results of operations includes an overview of our consolidated 2015 results compared to 2014 results, and 2014 results compared to 2013 results. This section also includes a discussion of key actions and events that impacted our results, as well as our outlook for 2016. |
| • | The overview is followed by a financial summary and analysis (including a discussion of both historical operating results and our outlook for 2016) for each of our reportable transportation segments. |
| • | Our financial condition is reviewed through an analysis of key elements of our liquidity, capital resources and contractual cash obligations, including a discussion of our cash flows and our financial commitments. |
| • | Critical accounting estimates discusses those financial statement elements that we believe are important to understanding certain of the material judgments and assumptions incorporated in our financial results. |
| • | We conclude with a discussion of risks and uncertainties that may impact our financial condition and operating results. |
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
We provide a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services through companies competing collectively, operating independently and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Our primary operating companies are Federal Express Corporation (“FedEx Express”), the world’s largest express transportation company; FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (“FedEx Ground”), a leading North American provider of small-package ground delivery services; and FedEx Freight, Inc. (“FedEx Freight”), a leading U.S. provider of less-than-truckload (“LTL”) freight services. These companies represent our major service lines and, along with FedEx Corporate Services, Inc. (“FedEx Services”), form the core of our reportable segments.
Our FedEx Services segment provides sales, marketing, information technology, communications and certain back-office support to our transportation segments. In addition, the FedEx Services segment provides customers with retail access to FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipping services through FedEx Office and Print Services, Inc. (“FedEx Office”), and provides customer service, technical support and billing and collection services through FedEx TechConnect, Inc. (“FedEx TechConnect”). See “Reportable Segments” for further discussion and refer to “Item 1: Business” for a more detailed description of each of our operating companies.
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The key indicators necessary to understand our operating results include:
| • | the overall customer demand for our various services based on macro-economic factors and the global economy; |
| • | the volumes of transportation services provided through our networks, primarily measured by our average daily volume and shipment weight; |
| • | the mix of services purchased by our customers; |
| • | the prices we obtain for our services, primarily measured by yield (revenue per package or pound or revenue per hundredweight and shipment for LTL freight shipments); |
| • | our ability to manage our cost structure (capital expenditures and operating expenses) to match shifting volume levels; and |
| • | the timing and amount of fluctuations in fuel prices and our ability to recover incremental fuel costs through our fuel surcharges. |
The majority of our operating expenses are directly impacted by revenue and volume levels. Accordingly, we expect these operating expenses to fluctuate on a year-over-year basis consistent with changes in revenues and volumes. Therefore, the discussion of operating expense captions focuses on the key drivers and trends impacting expenses other than changes in revenues and volume. The line item “Other operating expenses” includes costs predominantly associated with outside service contracts (such as security and facility services), insurance, professional fees, uniforms and advertising.
Except as otherwise specified, references to years indicate our fiscal year ended May 31, 2015 or ended May 31 of the year referenced and comparisons are to the prior year. References to our transportation segments include, collectively, our FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight segments.
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CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
Retirement Plans Mark-to-Market Adjustment
On June 12, 2015, we announced a change in our accounting method for recognizing actuarial gains and losses for defined benefit pension and postretirement healthcare benefits. This method of accounting is referred to as “mark-to-market” or MTM accounting. Historically, we have recognized actuarial gains and losses, subject to a corridor, by amortizing them into operating results over the average future service period of active employees in these plans. We have elected to immediately recognize actuarial gains and losses in our consolidated operating results in the year in which the gains and losses occur. This change will provide greater transparency into operating results by more quickly recognizing the effects of economic and interest rate conditions on plan obligations, investments and assumptions. The actuarial gains and losses are measured annually as of May 31 and, accordingly, are recorded during the fourth quarter. In addition, for purposes of calculating the expected return on plan assets, we will no longer use an averaging technique permitted under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for the market-related value of plan assets but instead will use actual fair value of plan assets. We have applied these changes retrospectively.
Our operating segment results follow internal management reporting, which is used for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Historically, total net periodic benefit cost was allocated to each segment. We will continue to record service cost, interest cost and expected return on plan assets at the business segments. Annual recognition of actuarial gains and losses (the “MTM adjustment”) will be reflected in our segment results only at the corporate level.
Additionally, although the actual asset returns of our funded plans are recognized in each fiscal year through the MTM adjustment, we continue to recognize an expected return on assets (“EROA”) in the determination of net pension cost. At the segment level, we have set our EROA at 6.5% for all periods presented, with an offsetting credit at the corporate level to reflect the consolidated EROA in each period. We have set our consolidated EROA assumption at 6.5% for 2016.
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The following tables compare summary operating results and changes in revenues and operating income (dollars in millions, except per share amounts) for the years ended May 31. All amounts have been recast to conform to the current year presentation reflecting the pension accounting changes and allocation of corporate headquarters costs further discussed in this MD&A and Note 1, Note 13 and Note 14 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements:
| Percent Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2015/2014 | 2014/2013 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated revenues |
$ | 47,453 | $ | 45,567 | $ | 44,287 | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| FedEx Express Segment operating income(1) |
1,584 | 1,428 | 929 | 11 | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
| FedEx Ground Segment operating income(2) |
2,172 | 2,021 | 1,859 | 7 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||
| FedEx Freight Segment operating income(3) |
484 | 351 | 246 | 38 | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
| Corporate, eliminations and other(4) |
(2,373 | ) | 15 | 1,400 | NM | NM | ||||||||||||||||
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| Consolidated operating income |
1,867 | 3,815 | 4,434 | (51 | ) | (14 | ) | |||||||||||||||
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| FedEx Express Segment operating margin(1) |
5.8 | % | 5.3 | % | 3.4 | % | 50 | bp | 190 | bp | ||||||||||||
| FedEx Ground Segment operating margin(2) |
16.7 | % | 17.4 | % | 17.6 | % | (70 | )bp | (20 | )bp | ||||||||||||
| FedEx Freight Segment operating margin(3) |
7.8 | % | 6.1 | % | 4.6 | % | 170 | bp | 150 | bp | ||||||||||||
| Consolidated operating margin(4) |
3.9 | % | 8.4 | % | 10.0 | % | (450 | )bp | (160 | )bp | ||||||||||||
| Consolidated net income |
$ | 1,050 | $ | 2,324 | $ | 2,716 | (55 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||||||||||
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| Diluted earnings per share |
$ | 3.65 | $ | 7.48 | $ | 8.55 | (51 | ) | (13 | ) | ||||||||||||
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| Year-over-Year Changes | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | Operating Income | |||||||||||||||
| 2015/2014 | 2014/2013 | 2015/2014 | 2014/2013 | |||||||||||||
| FedEx Express segment(1) |
$ | 118 | $ | (50 | ) | $ | 156 | $ | 499 | |||||||
| FedEx Ground segment(2) |
1,367 | 1,039 | 151 | 162 | ||||||||||||
| FedEx Freight segment(3) |
434 | 356 | 133 | 105 | ||||||||||||
| FedEx Services segment |
9 | (44 | ) | — | — | |||||||||||
| Corporate, eliminations and other(4) |
(42 | ) | (21 | ) | (2,388 | ) | (1,385 | ) | ||||||||
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| $ | 1,886 | $ | 1,280 | $ | (1,948 | ) | $ | (619 | ) | |||||||
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| (1) | FedEx Express segment 2015 expenses include impairment and related charges of $276 million resulting from the decision to permanently retire and adjust the retirement schedule of certain aircraft and related engines. Operating expenses for 2013 include $405 million of direct and allocated business realignment costs and an impairment charge of $100 million resulting from the decision to retire 10 aircraft and related engines. |
| (2) | FedEx Ground segment 2013 operating expenses include $105 million of allocated business realignment costs. |
| (3) | FedEx Freight segment 2013 operating expenses include $50 million of direct and allocated business realignment costs. |
| (4) | Operating income includes a loss of $2.2 billion in 2015, a loss of $15 million in 2014 and a gain of $1.4 billion in 2013 associated with our mark-to-market pension accounting further discussed in Note 1 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Operating income in 2015 also includes a $197 million charge in the fourth quarter to increase the legal reserve associated with the settlement of a legal matter at FedEx Ground to the amount of the settlement, which is further discussed in Note 18 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. |
Overview
Our results for 2015 include a $2.2 billion loss ($1.4 billion, net of tax, or $4.81 per diluted share) associated with our fourth quarter mark-to-market benefit plans adjustment. In addition, we recorded impairment and related charges of $276 million ($175 million, net of tax, or $0.61 per diluted share) associated with aircraft and engine retirements at FedEx Express, and a $197 million ($133 million, net of tax, or $0.46 per diluted share) charge in the fourth quarter to increase the legal reserve associated with the settlement of a legal matter at FedEx Ground to the amount of the settlement. These items are further described below in this MD&A. While these charges significantly impacted our results, each of our transportation segments had strong performance during 2015. All of our transportation segments experienced higher volumes, coupled with improved yields at FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight. In addition, our results benefited from our profit improvement program commenced in 2013, the positive net impact of fuel, and a lower year-over-year impact from severe winter weather. Our 2015 results include higher maintenance expense, primarily due to the timing of aircraft maintenance events at FedEx Express, and higher incentive compensation accruals, which were not affected by the mark-to-market accounting adoption, the aircraft impairment or the legal reserve adjustment described above.
In 2015, we repurchased an aggregate of $1.3 billion of our common stock through open market purchases. Share repurchases in 2015 had a $0.14 year-over-year positive impact on earnings per diluted share (net of interest expense on debt used to fund a portion of the program). See additional information on the share repurchase program in Note 1 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Our revenues for 2014 increased due to improved performance of all our transportation segments. In addition, our 2014 results benefited from our voluntary employee severance program and reduced variable incentive compensation, partially offset by the significant negative net impact of fuel, an estimated $70 million year-over-year negative impact of severe weather and one fewer operating day. Our year-over-year earnings comparisons benefited from the inclusion in 2013 results of business realignment costs and an aircraft impairment charge.
In 2014, we repurchased an aggregate of $4.9 billion of our common stock through open market purchases and through accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) agreements with two banks. Share repurchases in 2014 had a modest positive impact on earnings per diluted share. See additional information on the share repurchase program in Note 1 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
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In 2013, we incurred a noncash pre-tax mark-to-market gain of $1.4 billion from actuarial adjustments to pension and postretirement healthcare plans related to the measurement of plan assets and liabilities, which resulted in a positive impact to our earnings of $2.63 per diluted share. In addition, we recorded business realignment costs of $560 million, primarily related to our voluntary cash buyout program, and we retired from service 10 aircraft and related engines, which resulted in a noncash asset impairment charge of $100 million. These items negatively impacted our earnings by $1.31 per diluted share.
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The following graphs for FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight show selected volume trends (in thousands) for the years ended May 31:
| (1) | International domestic average daily package volume represents our international intra-country express operations. |
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The following graphs for FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight show selected yield trends for the years ended May 31:
Revenue
Revenues increased 4% in 2015 due to improved performance at all our transportation segments. At FedEx Ground, revenues increased 12% in 2015 due to higher volume from continued growth in both our FedEx Home Delivery service and commercial business, the inclusion of GENCO Distribution System, Inc. (“GENCO”) results from the date of acquisition and increased yields. At FedEx Freight, revenues increased 8% in 2015 primarily due to higher average daily shipments and revenue per shipment. Revenues at FedEx Express were flat during 2015 due to U.S. domestic and international package volume growth, which were offset by lower fuel surcharges and the negative impact of exchange rates.
Revenues increased 3% in 2014, primarily due to higher volumes at FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight and yield increases at FedEx Ground. Revenues at all of our transportation segments in 2014 were negatively impacted by one fewer operating day and unusually severe weather. At our FedEx Ground segment, revenues increased 10% in 2014 due to higher volume from market share gains and increased yields as a result of rate increases. Revenues at FedEx Freight increased 7% during 2014 primarily due to higher average daily LTL shipments and revenue per LTL shipment. At FedEx Express, revenues were flat as lower fuel surcharges and lower freight revenue were offset by revenue growth in our base U.S. and international export package business and growth in our freight-forwarding business at FedEx Trade Networks. The demand shift from our priority international services to our economy international services dampened revenue growth at FedEx Express.
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Retirement Plans MTM Adjustments
We incurred noncash pre-tax mark-to-market losses of $2.2 billion in 2015 ($1.4 billion, net of tax, or $4.81 per diluted share) and $15 million in 2014 ($9 million, net of tax, or $0.03 per diluted share) and a $1.4 billion gain in 2013 ($835 million, net of tax, or $2.63 per diluted share) from actuarial adjustments to pension and postretirement healthcare plans related to the measurement of plan assets and liabilities. For more information see further discussion in the “Critical Accounting Estimates” section of this MD&A and Note 1 and Note 13 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Business Realignment, Impairment and Other Charges
In May 2015, we made the decision to retire from service seven Boeing MD11 aircraft and 12 related engines, four Airbus A310-300 aircraft and three related engines, three Airbus A300-600 aircraft and three related engines and one Boeing MD10-10 aircraft and three related engines and related parts, and adjusted the retirement schedule of an additional 23 aircraft and 57 engines. As a consequence of this decision, impairment and related charges of $276 million ($175 million, net of tax, or $0.61 per diluted share), of which $246 million was noncash, were recorded in the fourth quarter. The decision to permanently retire these aircraft and engines aligns with FedEx Express’s plans to rationalize capacity and modernize its aircraft fleet to more effectively serve its customers. These combined changes will not have a material impact on our near-term depreciation expense.
In 2013, we recorded business realignment costs of $560 million, primarily related to our voluntary cash buyout program. Furthermore, in 2013, we retired from service 10 aircraft and related engines, which resulted in a noncash asset impairment charge of $100 million. These items negatively impacted our earnings by $1.31 per diluted share.
See the “Long-lived Assets” section of our “Critical Accounting Estimates” for additional discussion of our accounting for aircraft retirement decisions.
Legal Reserve Increase
On June 12, 2015, we announced an agreement in principle with the plaintiffs in the FedEx Ground independent contractor litigation that is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California to settle the matter for $228 million. The settlement agreement has been filed with the court for approval. The settlement resolves claims dating back to 2000 that concern a model that FedEx Ground no longer operates. As a consequence, a charge of $197 million ($133 million, net of tax, or $0.46 per diluted share) was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015 to increase the reserve for this matter to the amount of the settlement. The charge is included in the caption “Other” in our consolidated statements of income. For further information see Note 18 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Operating Expenses
The following tables compare operating expenses expressed as dollar amounts (in millions) and as a percent of revenue for the years ended May 31, and prior year amounts have been revised to conform to the current year presentation regarding pension accounting changes:
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||
| Salaries and employee benefits |
$ | 17,110 | $ | 16,171 | $ | 16,055 | ||||||
| Purchased transportation |
8,483 | 8,011 | 7,272 | |||||||||
| Rentals and landing fees |
2,682 | 2,622 | 2,521 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
2,611 | 2,587 | 2,386 | |||||||||
| Fuel |
3,720 | 4,557 | 4,746 | |||||||||
| Maintenance and repairs |
2,099 | 1,862 | 1,909 | |||||||||
| Business realignment, impairment and other charges |
276 | (1) | — | 660 | (2) | |||||||
| Retirement plans mark-to-market adjustment |
2,190 | 15 | (1,368 | ) | ||||||||
| Other |
6,415 | (3) | 5,927 | 5,672 | ||||||||
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| Total operating expenses |
$ | 45,586 | $ | 41,752 | $ | 39,853 | ||||||
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| Percent of Revenue | ||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Operating expenses: |
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| Salaries and employee benefits |
36.1 | % | 35.5 | % | 36.3 | % | ||||||
| Purchased transportation |
17.9 | 17.6 | 16.4 | |||||||||
| Rentals and landing fees |
5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
5.5 | 5.7 | 5.4 | |||||||||
| Fuel |
7.8 | 10.0 | 10.7 | |||||||||
| Maintenance and repairs |
4.4 | 4.1 | 4.3 | |||||||||
| Business realignment, impairment and other charges |
0.6 | (1) | — | 1.5 | (2) | |||||||
| Retirement plans mark-to-market adjustment |
4.6 | — | (3.1 | ) | ||||||||
| Other |
13.5 | (3) | 13.0 | 12.8 | ||||||||
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| Total operating expenses |
96.1 | 91.6 | 90.0 | |||||||||
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| Operating margin |
3.9 | % | 8.4 | % | 10.0 | % | ||||||
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| (1) | Includes charges resulting from the decision to permanently retire and adjust the retirement schedule of certain aircraft and related engines at FedEx Express. |
| (2) | Includes predominantly severance costs associated with our voluntary buyout program and charges resulting from the decision to retire 10 aircraft and related engines at FedEx Express. |
| (3) | Includes a $197 million charge in the fourth quarter to increase the legal reserve associated with the settlement of a legal matter at FedEx Ground to the amount of the settlement. |
Our operating expenses for 2015 include a $2.2 billion loss ($1.4 billion, net of tax) associated with our mark-to-market pension accounting as described above. In addition, we recorded charges of $276 million ($175 million, net of tax) associated with the decision to permanently retire and adjust the retirement schedule of certain aircraft and related engines at FedEx Express, and a $197 million ($133 million, net of tax) charge in the fourth quarter to increase the reserve associated with the settlement of an independent contractor proceeding at FedEx Ground to the amount of the settlement. The settlement is further discussed in this MD&A and Note 18 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Our 2015 operating expenses also increased primarily due to volume-related growth in salaries and employee benefits and purchased transportation expenses, higher maintenance and repairs expense and higher incentive compensation accruals. However, operating margin benefited from revenue growth, our profit improvement program, which we commenced in 2013, the net impact of fuel (as further described below) and a lower year-over-year impact from severe winter weather.
Operating expenses included an increase in salaries and employee benefits expense of 6% in 2015 due to the timing of merit increases for many of our employees at FedEx Express, additional staffing to support volume growth and higher incentive compensation accruals. These factors were partially offset by the positive impact of our voluntary buyout program. Other expenses were driven 8% higher in 2015 due to the legal reserve increase discussed above and the inclusion of GENCO results. Purchased transportation costs increased 6% in 2015 due to volume growth and higher service provider rates at FedEx Ground and volume growth, higher utilization and higher service provider rates at FedEx Freight. The timing of aircraft maintenance events at FedEx Express primarily drove an increase in maintenance and repairs expense of 13% in 2015.
Our 2014 operating expenses grew due to the volume-related growth and higher utilization of third-party providers in purchased transportation expense, higher depreciation and amortization expense due to the accelerated depreciation on certain aircraft at FedEx Express (as further described below) and the year-over-year impact of unusually severe weather. These factors were partially offset by the inclusion in 2013 of costs associated with our business realignment program, an aircraft impairment charge, as well as lower fuel expense, one fewer operating day and lower maintenance and repairs expense.
Purchased transportation costs increased 10% in 2014 due to volume growth at FedEx Ground, higher utilization of third-party transportation providers at FedEx Express, including recent business acquisitions at FedEx Express, higher utilization of third-party transportation providers at FedEx Freight and the expansion of our freight-forwarding business at FedEx Trade Networks.
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Depreciation and amortization expense increased 8% in 2014 primarily due to accelerated depreciation on certain aircraft scheduled for retirement, and aircraft placed in service at FedEx Express ($74 million). Salaries and employee benefits expense in 2014 increased 1% due to the benefits from our voluntary employee buyout program, lower pension expense, the delayed timing or absence of merit increases for many of our employees and reduced variable incentive compensation. Maintenance and repairs decreased 2% in 2014 due to network adjustments at FedEx Express and the continued modernization of our aircraft fleet, which impacted the timing of certain maintenance events.
Fuel
The following graph for our transportation segments shows our average cost of jet and vehicle fuel per gallon for the years ended May 31:
Fuel expense decreased 18% during 2015 primarily due to lower aircraft fuel prices. However, fuel prices represent only one component of the two factors we consider meaningful in understanding the impact of fuel on our business. Consideration must also be given to the fuel surcharge revenue we collect. Accordingly, we believe discussion of the net impact of fuel on our results, which is a comparison of the year-over-year change in these two factors, is important to understand the impact of fuel on our business. In order to provide information about the impact of fuel surcharges on the trend in revenue and yield growth, we have included the comparative weighted-average fuel surcharge percentages in effect for 2015, 2014 and 2013 in the accompanying discussions of each of our transportation segments.
The index used to determine the fuel surcharge percentage for our FedEx Freight business adjusts weekly, while our fuel surcharges for the FedEx Express and FedEx Ground businesses incorporate a timing lag of approximately six to eight weeks before they are adjusted for changes in fuel prices. For example, the fuel surcharge index in effect at FedEx Express in May 2015 was set based on March 2015 fuel prices. In addition, the structure of the table that is used to determine our fuel surcharge at FedEx Express and FedEx Ground does not adjust immediately for changes in fuel price, but allows for the fuel surcharge revenue charged to our customers to remain unchanged as long as fuel prices remain within certain ranges.
Beyond these factors, the manner in which we purchase fuel also influences the net impact of fuel on our results. For example, our contracts for jet fuel purchases at FedEx Express are tied to various indices, including the U.S. Gulf Coast index. While many of these indices are aligned, each index may fluctuate at a different pace, driving variability in the prices paid for jet fuel. Furthermore, under these contractual arrangements, approximately 75% of our jet fuel is purchased based on the index price for the preceding week, with the remainder of our purchases tied to the index price for the preceding month, rather than based on daily spot rates. These contractual provisions mitigate the impact of rapidly changing daily spot rates on our jet fuel purchases.
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Because of the factors described above, our operating results may be affected should the market price of fuel suddenly change by a significant amount or change by amounts that do not result in an adjustment in our fuel surcharges, which can significantly affect our earnings either positively or negatively in the short-term.
We routinely review our fuel surcharges and our fuel surcharge methodology. On February 2, 2015, we updated the tables used to determine our fuel surcharges at FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight.
The net impact of fuel had a significant benefit to operating income in 2015. This was driven by decreased fuel prices during 2015 versus the prior year, which was partially offset by the year-over-year decrease in fuel surcharge revenue during these periods.
The net impact of fuel on our operating results does not consider the effects that fuel surcharge levels may have on our business, including changes in demand and shifts in the mix of services purchased by our customers. While fluctuations in fuel surcharge percentages can be significant from period to period, fuel surcharges represent one of the many individual components of our pricing structure that impact our overall revenue and yield. Additional components include the mix of services sold, the base price and extra service charges we obtain for these services and the level of pricing discounts offered.
Fuel expense decreased 4% during 2014 primarily due to lower average price per gallon of jet fuel and lower aircraft fuel usage. The net impact of fuel had a significant negative impact on operating income in 2014. This was driven by decreased fuel surcharge revenue during 2014 versus prior year, which was slightly offset by the year-over-year decrease in fuel prices.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $75 million in 2015 primarily due to increased interest expense from our January 2015 debt offering and 2014 debt issuances. Interest expense increased $78 million in 2014 primarily due to increased interest expense from our January 2014 debt offering, 2013 debt issuances and a reduction in capitalized interest.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate was 35.5% in 2015, 36.5% in 2014 and 37.4% in 2013. Due to its effect on income before income taxes, the adoption of MTM accounting reduced our 2015 effective tax rate by 80 basis points and increased our effective tax rates by 20 basis points in 2014 and 100 basis points in 2013. Our permanent reinvestment strategy with respect to unremitted earnings of our foreign subsidiaries provided a benefit of approximately $48 million to our 2015 provision for income taxes. Our cumulative permanently reinvested foreign earnings were $1.9 billion at the end of 2015 and $1.6 billion at the end of 2014.
For 2016, we expect our effective tax rate to be between 36.0% and 37.0% prior to any year-end MTM adjustment. The actual rate, however, will depend on a number of factors, including the amount and source of operating income and the impact of the MTM adjustment.
Additional information on income taxes, including our effective tax rate reconciliation, liabilities for uncertain tax positions and our global tax profile can be found in Note 12 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Business Acquisitions
On April 6, 2015, we entered into a conditional agreement to acquire TNT Express N.V. (“TNT Express”) for €4.4 billion (currently, approximately $4.9 billion). This combination is expected to expand our global portfolio, particularly in Europe, lower our costs to serve our European markets by increasing density in our pickup-and-delivery operations and accelerate our global growth. This acquisition is expected to be completed in the first half of calendar year 2016. The closing of the acquisition is subject to customary conditions, including obtaining all necessary approvals and competition clearances. We expect to secure all relevant competition approvals.
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During 2015, we acquired two businesses, expanding our portfolio in e-commerce and supply chain solutions. On January 30, 2015, we acquired GENCO, a leading North American third-party logistics provider, for $1.4 billion, which was funded using a portion of the proceeds from our January 2015 debt issuance. The financial results of this business are included in the FedEx Ground segment from the date of acquisition.
In addition, on December 16, 2014, we acquired Bongo International, LLC (“Bongo”), a leader in cross-border enablement technologies and solutions, for $42 million in cash from operations. The financial results of this business are included in the FedEx Express segment from the date of acquisition.
In 2014, we expanded the international service offerings of FedEx Express by completing our acquisition of the businesses operated by our previous service provider, Supaswift (Pty) Ltd., in seven countries in Southern Africa, for $36 million in cash from operations. The financial results of this business are included in the FedEx Express segment from the date of acquisition.
In 2013, we completed our acquisitions of Rapidão Cometa Logística e Transporte S.A., a Brazilian transportation and logistics company, for $398 million; TATEX, a French express transportation company, for $55 million; and Opek Sp. z o.o., a Polish domestic express package delivery company, for $54 million. The financial results of these businesses are included in the FedEx Express segment from their respective date of acquisition.
The financial results of these acquired businesses were not material, individually or in the aggregate, to our results of operations and therefore, pro forma financial information has not been presented.
Profit Improvement Programs
During 2013, we announced profit improvement programs primarily through initiatives at FedEx Express and FedEx Services targeting annual profitability improvement of $1.6 billion at FedEx Express. Our plans position FedEx Express to exit 2016 with a run rate of $1.6 billion in additional operating profit from the then 2013 base business. Our ability to achieve the profit improvement target and other benefits from these programs is dependent upon a number of factors, including the health of the global economy and future customer demand.
In 2015 we made substantial progress in achieving our profit improvement goals. FedEx Express has improved operating income by approximately 70% from 2013 with essentially flat revenue during the three-year period. FedEx Services has reduced its total expenses while investing in major information technology transformation projects. In addition, our incentive compensation programs have been gradually reinstated so that 2016 business plan objectives represent more fully funded compensation targets.
During 2014, we completed a program to offer voluntary cash buyouts to eligible U.S.-based employees in certain staff functions. As a result of this program, approximately 3,600 employees left the company. We recognized costs of $560 million ($353 million, net of tax, or $1.11 per diluted share) during 2013, which were related primarily to severance when eligible employees accepted their offers. Payments under this program were made at the time of departure and totaled approximately $300 million in 2014 and $180 million in 2013.
The cost of the program is included in the caption “Business realignment, impairment and other charges” in our consolidated statements of income. Also included in that caption are other external costs directly attributable to our business realignment activities, such as professional fees. See Note 1 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the voluntary employee severance program.
In addition, see the “Long-lived Assets” section of our “Critical Accounting Estimates” for a discussion of fleet modernization actions taken in 2015 and 2013.
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Outlook
We anticipate revenue and earnings growth in 2016, prior to any year-end MTM adjustment, driven by continued improvements in the performance of all of our transportation segments, including the continued execution of the profit improvement programs noted above. We expect continued moderate global economic growth to drive volume and yield improvements. Our expectations for earnings growth in 2016 are dependent on key external factors, including fuel prices and global economic conditions. Our outlook for 2016 does not contemplate any impact from our announced intent to acquire TNT Express, such as integration planning or transaction costs or the operating activities of TNT Express if the transaction is consummated.
Our capital expenditures for 2016 are expected to approximate $4.6 billion for continued expansion of the FedEx Ground network and additional aircraft deliveries in 2016 to support our fleet modernization program at FedEx Express. We will continue to evaluate our investments in critical long-term strategic projects to ensure our capital expenditures generate high returns on investments and are balanced with our outlook for global economic conditions. For additional details on key 2016 capital projects, refer to the “Capital Resources” and “Liquidity Outlook” sections of this MD&A.
Our outlook is dependent upon a stable pricing environment for fuel, as volatility in fuel prices impacts our fuel surcharge levels, fuel expense and demand for our services. Volatility in fuel costs may impact earnings because adjustments to our fuel surcharges lag changes in actual fuel prices paid. Therefore, the trailing impact of adjustments to our fuel surcharges can significantly affect our earnings either positively or negatively in the short-term.
As described in Note 18 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements, we are involved in a number of lawsuits and other proceedings that challenge the status of FedEx Ground’s owner-operators as independent contractors. FedEx Ground anticipates continuing changes to its relationships with its owner-operators. As previously announced, FedEx Ground reached an agreement, which is subject to court approval, to settle an independent contractor case in California, and we accrued a related charge in the fourth quarter of 2015. Additionally, during the first quarter of 2015, we established an accrual for the estimated probable loss in the Oregon cases that was required to be recognized pursuant to applicable accounting standards. With respect to the matters that are pending outside of California and Oregon, the nature, timing and amount of any changes are dependent on the outcome of numerous future events. We cannot reasonably estimate the potential impact of any such changes or a meaningful range of potential outcomes, although they could be material. However, we do not believe that any such changes will impair our ability to operate and profitably grow our FedEx Ground business. See Note 18 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements for additional information.
See “Risk Factors” for a discussion of these and other potential risks and uncertainties that could materially affect our future performance.
Seasonality of Business
Our businesses are cyclical in nature, as seasonal fluctuations affect volumes, revenues and earnings. Historically, the U.S. express package business experiences an increase in volumes in late November and December. International business, particularly in the Asia-to-U.S. market, peaks in October and November in advance of the U.S. holiday sales season. Our first and third fiscal quarters, because they are summer vacation and post winter-holiday seasons, have historically experienced lower volumes relative to other periods. Normally, the fall is the busiest shipping period for FedEx Ground, while late December, June and July are the slowest periods. For FedEx Freight, the spring and fall are the busiest periods and the latter part of December through February is the slowest period. For FedEx Office, the summer months are normally the slowest periods. Shipment levels, operating costs and earnings for each of our companies can also be adversely affected by inclement weather, particularly the impact of severe winter weather in our third fiscal quarter.
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New accounting rules and disclosure requirements can significantly impact our reported results and the comparability of our financial statements.
On June 1, 2013, we adopted the authoritative guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) requiring additional information about reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income, including changes in accumulated other comprehensive income balances by component and significant items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. We have adopted this guidance by including expanded accumulated other comprehensive income disclosure requirements in Note 9 of our consolidated financial statements.
On May 28, 2014, the FASB and International Accounting Standards Board issued a new accounting standard that will supersede virtually all existing revenue recognition guidance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (and International Financial Reporting Standards), which has been subsequently updated to defer the effective date of the new revenue recognition standard by one year. This standard will be effective for us beginning in fiscal 2019. The fundamental principles of the new guidance are that companies should recognize revenue in a manner that reflects the timing of the transfer of services to customers and the amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration that a company expects to receive for the goods and services provided. The new guidance establishes a five-step approach for the recognition of revenue. Based on our preliminary assessment, we do not anticipate that the new guidance will fundamentally change our revenue recognition policies, practices or systems.
We believe that no other new accounting guidance was adopted or issued during 2015 that is relevant to the readers of our financial statements. However, there are numerous new proposals under development which, if and when enacted, may have a significant impact on our financial reporting.
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FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight represent our major service lines and, along with FedEx Services, form the core of our reportable segments. Our reportable segments include the following businesses:
| FedEx Express Segment | FedEx Express (express transportation) FedEx Trade Networks (air and ocean freight forwarding and customs brokerage) FedEx SupplyChain Systems (logistics services) Bongo (cross-border enablement technology and solutions) | |
| FedEx Ground Segment | FedEx Ground (small-package ground delivery) FedEx SmartPost (small-parcel consolidator) GENCO (third-party logistics) | |
| FedEx Freight Segment | FedEx Freight (LTL freight transportation) FedEx Custom Critical (time-critical transportation) | |
| FedEx Services Segment | FedEx Services (sales, marketing, information technology, communications and back-office functions) FedEx TechConnect (customer service, technical support, billings and collections) FedEx Office (document and business services and package acceptance) | |
The operating expenses line item “Intercompany charges” on the accompanying consolidated financial statements of our transportation segments reflects the allocations from the FedEx Services segment to the respective transportation segments. The allocations of net operating costs are based on metrics such as relative revenues or estimated services provided.
The FedEx Services segment provides direct and indirect support to our transportation businesses, and we allocate all of the net operating costs of the FedEx Services segment (including the net operating results of FedEx Office) to reflect the full cost of operating our transportation businesses in the results of those segments. Within the FedEx Services segment allocation, the net operating results of FedEx Office, which are an immaterial component of our allocations, are allocated to FedEx Express and FedEx Ground. We review and evaluate the performance of our transportation segments based on operating income (inclusive of FedEx Services segment allocations). For the FedEx Services segment, performance is evaluated based on the impact of its total allocated net operating costs on our transportation segments. We believe these allocations approximate the net cost of providing these functions. Our allocation methodologies are refined periodically, as necessary, to reflect changes in our businesses.
During the fourth quarter of 2015, we changed our method of accounting for our defined benefit pension and postretirement healthcare plans to immediately recognize actuarial gains and losses resulting from the remeasurement of these plans in earnings in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. This method of accounting is referred to as MTM accounting as described in this MD&A and Note 1 and Note 13 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. FedEx’s segment operating results follow internal management reporting, which is used for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Historically, total net periodic benefit cost was allocated to each segment. We continue to record service cost, interest cost and EROA at the business segments as well as an allocation from FedEx Services of their comparable costs. Annual recognition of actuarial gains and losses will be reflected in our segment results only at the corporate level. Additionally, although the actual asset returns are recognized in each fiscal year through a MTM adjustment, we continue to recognize EROA in the determination of net pension cost. At the segment level, we have set our EROA at 6.5% for all periods presented, which will equal our consolidated EROA assumption for 2016. In fiscal years where
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the consolidated EROA is greater than 6.5%, that difference is reflected as a credit in “Corporate, eliminations and other.” We have adjusted prior-period segment information to conform to the current period’s presentation to ensure comparability of the segment results across all periods, including comparisons going forward in 2016.
In addition, in 2015, we ceased allocating to our transportation segments the costs associated with our corporate headquarters division. These costs included services related to general oversight functions, including executive officers and certain legal and finance functions as well as our annual MTM adjustment and certain other charges or credits. This change allows for additional transparency and improved management of our corporate oversight costs. These costs were previously included in the operating expenses line item “Intercompany charges” on the accompanying unaudited financial summaries of our transportation segments. These costs are now included in “Corporate, eliminations and other” in our segment reporting and reconciliations. Prior year amounts have been revised to conform to the current year segment presentation. See Note 14 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements for more information. The increase in these unallocated costs in 2015 from the prior year was driven by a loss associated with our MTM adjustment as further discussed in this MD&A and Note 1 and Note 13 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements and an increase in legal contingency reserves recorded in the first and fourth quarters of 2015 associated with a legal matter at FedEx Ground described in Note 18 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
OTHER INTERSEGMENT TRANSACTIONS
Certain FedEx operating companies provide transportation and related services for other FedEx companies outside their reportable segment. Billings for such services are based on negotiated rates, which we believe approximate fair value, and are reflected as revenues of the billing segment. These rates are adjusted from time to time based on market conditions. Such intersegment revenues and expenses are eliminated in our consolidated results and are not separately identified in the following segment information, because the amounts are not material.
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FedEx Express offers a wide range of U.S. domestic and international shipping services for delivery of packages and freight including priority services, which provide time-definite delivery within one, two or three business days worldwide, and deferred or economy services, which provide time-definite delivery within five business days worldwide. The following tables compare revenues, operating expenses, operating expenses as a percent of revenue, operating income and operating margin (dollars in millions) for the years ended May 31, and amounts have been recast to conform to the current year presentation reflecting the pension accounting changes and allocation of corporate headquarters costs further discussed in this MD&A and Note 1, Note 13 and Note 14 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements:
| Percent Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2015/2014 | 2014/2013 | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenues: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Package: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. overnight box |
$ | 6,704 | $ | 6,555 | $ | 6,513 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| U.S. overnight envelope |
1,629 | 1,636 | 1,705 | — | (4 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. deferred |
3,342 | 3,188 | 3,020 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total U.S. domestic package revenue |
11,675 | 11,379 | 11,238 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| International priority |
6,251 | 6,451 | 6,586 | (3 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||||||||
| International economy |
2,301 | 2,229 | 2,046 | 3 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total international export package revenue |
8,552 | 8,680 | 8,632 | (1 | ) | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| International domestic(1) |
1,406 | 1,446 | 1,398 | (3 | ) | 3 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total package revenue |
21,633 | 21,505 | 21,268 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Freight: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. |
2,300 | 2,355 | 2,562 | (2 | ) | (8 | ) | |||||||||||||
| International priority |
1,588 | 1,594 | 1,678 | — | (5 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| International airfreight |
180 | 205 | 276 | (12 | ) | (26 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total freight revenue |
4,068 | 4,154 | 4,516 | (2 | ) | (8 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
Other(2) |
1,538 | 1,462 | 1,387 | 5 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total revenues |
27,239 | 27,121 | 27,171 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Salaries and employee benefits |
10,104 | 9,797 | 9,835 | 3 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Purchased transportation |
2,544 | 2,511 | 2,331 | 1 | 8 | |||||||||||||||
| Rentals and landing fees |
1,693 | 1,705 | 1,684 | (1 | ) | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
1,460 | 1,488 | 1,350 | (2 | ) | 10 | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel |
3,199 | 3,943 | 4,130 | (19 | ) | (5 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Maintenance and repairs |
1,357 | 1,182 | 1,244 | 15 | (5 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Business realignment, impairment and other charges(3) |
276 | — | 243 | NM | NM | |||||||||||||||
| Intercompany charges(4) |
1,842 | 1,888 | 2,215 | (2 | ) | (15 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Other |
3,180 | 3,179 | 3,210 | — | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses |
25,655 | 25,693 | 26,242 | — | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Operating income |
$ | 1,584 | $ | 1,428 | $ | 929 | 11 | 54 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Operating margin |
5.8 | % | 5.3 | % | 3.4 | % | 50 | bp | 190 | bp | ||||||||||
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| Percent of Revenue | ||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||
| Salaries and employee benefits |
37.1 | % | 36.1 | % | 36.2 | % | ||||||
| Purchased transportation |
9.3 | 9.3 | 8.6 | |||||||||
| Rentals and landing fees |
6.2 | 6.3 | 6.2 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
5.4 | 5.5 | 5.0 | |||||||||
|
Fuel |
11.7 | 14.5 | 15.2 | |||||||||
| Maintenance and repairs |
5.0 | 4.4 | 4.6 | |||||||||
| Business realignment, impairment and other charges(3) |
1.0 | — | 0.9 | |||||||||
| Intercompany charges(4) |
6.8 | 6.9 | 8.1 | |||||||||
|
Other |
11.7 | 11.7 | 11.8 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total operating expenses |
94.2 | 94.7 | 96.6 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Operating margin |
5.8 | % | 5.3 | % | 3.4 | % | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| (1) | International domestic revenues represent our international intra-country express operations. |
| (2) | Includes FedEx Trade Networks, FedEx SupplyChain Systems and Bongo. |
| (3) | 2015 includes $276 million of impairment and related charges resulting from the decision to permanently retire and adjust the retirement schedule of certain aircraft and related engines. 2013 includes $143 million of predominantly severance costs associated with our voluntary buyout program and a $100 million impairment charge resulting from the decision to retire 10 aircraft and related engines. |
| (4) | Includes allocations of $262 million in 2013 for business realignment costs. |
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The following table compares selected statistics (in thousands, except yield amounts) for the years ended May 31:
| Percent Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2015/2014 | 2014/2013 | ||||||||||||||||
| Package Statistics(1) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Average daily package volume (ADV): |
||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. overnight box |
1,240 | 1,164 | 1,134 | 7 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
| U.S. overnight envelope |
527 | 538 | 574 | (2 | ) | (6 | ) | |||||||||||||
| U.S. deferred |
916 | 869 | 835 | 5 | 4 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total U.S. domestic ADV |
2,683 | 2,571 | 2,543 | 4 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| International priority |
410 | 410 | 421 | — | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| International economy |
176 | 170 | 155 | 4 | 10 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total international export ADV |
586 | 580 | 576 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| International domestic(2) |
853 | 819 | 785 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total ADV |
4,122 | 3,970 | 3,904 | 4 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Revenue per package (yield): |
||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. overnight box |
$ | 21.29 | $ | 22.18 | $ | 22.52 | (4 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||||||||
| U.S. overnight envelope |
12.15 | 11.97 | 11.66 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
| U.S. deferred |
14.36 | 14.44 | 14.18 | (1 | ) | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. domestic composite |
17.13 | 17.42 | 17.33 | (2 | ) | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| International priority |
60.05 | 61.88 | 61.28 | (3 | ) | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| International economy |
51.54 | 51.75 | 51.77 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| International export composite |
57.50 | 58.92 | 58.72 | (2 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
| International domestic(2) |
6.49 | 6.95 | 6.99 | (7 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Composite package yield |
20.66 | 21.32 | 21.36 | (3 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Freight Statistics(1) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Average daily freight pounds: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. |
7,833 | 7,854 | 7,612 | — | 3 | |||||||||||||||
| International priority |
2,887 | 2,922 | 3,048 | (1 | ) | (4 | ) | |||||||||||||
| International airfreight |
684 | 798 | 1,066 | (14 | ) | (25 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total average daily freight pounds |
11,404 | 11,574 | 11,726 | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Revenue per pound (yield): |
||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. |
$ | 1.16 | $ | 1.18 | $ | 1.32 | (2 | ) | (11 | ) | ||||||||||
| International priority |
2.17 | 2.15 | 2.16 | 1 | — | |||||||||||||||
| International airfreight |
1.04 | 1.01 | 1.01 | 3 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Composite freight yield |
1.40 | 1.41 | 1.51 | (1 | ) | (7 | ) | |||||||||||||
| (1) | Package and freight statistics include only the operations of FedEx Express. |
| (2) | International domestic statistics represent our international intra-country express operations. |
FedEx Express Segment Revenues
FedEx Express total revenues were flat in 2015 as U.S. and international package volume and base yield growth were offset by lower fuel surcharges and unfavorable exchange rates.
U.S. domestic volumes increased 4% in 2015 driven by both our overnight box and deferred service offerings. U.S. domestic yields decreased 2% in 2015 due to the negative impact of lower fuel surcharges, which were partially offset by higher rates. International export volumes grew 1%, driven by a 4% growth in our international economy service offering. The 2% decrease in international export yields in 2015 was due to the negative impact of lower fuel surcharges and unfavorable exchange rates, which were partially offset by higher rates and weight per package. International domestic revenues declined 3% in 2015 due to the negative impact of unfavorable exchange rates, which were partially offset by a 4% volume increase.
FedEx Express segment revenues were also flat in 2014. Lower fuel surcharges, lower freight revenue, unfavorable exchange rates and one fewer operating day were offset by revenue growth in our U.S. and international export package base business and the growth of our freight-forwarding business at FedEx Trade Networks. In addition, the demand shift from our priority international services to our economy international services dampened revenue growth.
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Freight yields decreased 7% in 2014 due to lower fuel surcharges and lower rates. Freight average daily pounds decreased by 1% in 2014 due to weakness in global economic conditions and capacity reductions. U.S. domestic yields increased 1% in 2014 primarily due to higher rates and weight per package, partially offset by lower fuel surcharges. International export package revenues increased 1% in 2014 as base business growth was offset by lower fuel surcharges and the demand shift to our lower-yielding economy services. International priority yields increased 1% in 2014, while international priority volumes declined 3%. Within this category, volumes for lower-yielding distribution services declined, while international priority volumes, excluding these distribution services, increased 1%. International domestic average daily volumes increased 4% in 2014 primarily due to prior year international business acquisitions.
Our U.S. domestic and outbound fuel surcharge and the international fuel surcharges ranged as follows for the years ended May 31:
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| U.S. Domestic and Outbound Fuel Surcharge: |
||||||||||||
| Low |
1.50 | % | 8.00 | % | 10.00 | % | ||||||
| High |
9.50 | 10.50 | 14.50 | |||||||||
| Weighted-average |
6.34 | 9.47 | 11.84 | |||||||||
| International Fuel Surcharges: |
||||||||||||
| Low |
0.50 | 12.00 | 12.00 | |||||||||
| High |
18.00 | 19.00 | 20.50 | |||||||||
| Weighted-average |
12.80 | 16.26 | 17.02 | |||||||||
On February 2, 2015, FedEx Express updated the tables used to determine fuel surcharges. On September 16, 2014, FedEx Express announced a 4.9% average list price increase for FedEx Express U.S. domestic, U.S. export and U.S. import services effective January 5, 2015. In January 2014, we implemented a 3.9% average list price increase for FedEx Express U.S. domestic, U.S. export and U.S. import services.
FedEx Express Segment Operating Income
Despite flat revenues, FedEx Express operating income and operating margin increased in 2015, driven by U.S. domestic and international package base yield and volume growth, benefits associated with our profit improvement program, the positive net impact of fuel, reduced pension expense, lower international expenses due to currency exchange rates, lower depreciation expense and a lower year-over-year impact from severe winter weather. These factors were partially offset by higher maintenance expense and higher incentive compensation accruals. Additionally, results for 2015 were negatively impacted by $276 million ($175 million, net of tax) of impairment and related charges, of which $246 million was noncash, resulting from the decision to permanently retire and adjust the retirement schedule of certain aircraft and related engines.
Within operating expenses, salaries and employee benefits increased 3% in 2015 due to the timing of annual merit increases for many of our employees and higher incentive compensation accruals. These factors were partially offset by the benefits from our voluntary employee severance program and lower pension expense. Maintenance and repairs expense increased 15% in 2015 primarily due to the timing of aircraft maintenance events. Costs associated with the growth of our freight-forwarding business at FedEx Trade Networks drove an increase in purchased transportation costs of 1% in 2015. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased 2% in 2015 driven by the expiration of accelerated depreciation for certain aircraft that were retired from service during the year.
Fuel expense decreased 19% in 2015 due to lower aircraft fuel prices. The net impact of fuel had a significant benefit in 2015 to operating income. See the “Fuel” section of this MD&A for a description and additional discussion of the net impact of fuel on our operating results.
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FedEx Express operating income and operating margin in 2014 were positively impacted by the inclusion in 2013 of costs associated with our business realignment program and an aircraft impairment charge as discussed above. In addition, FedEx Express results in 2014 benefited from the revenue growth in our U.S. and international export package business, lower pension expense, our voluntary employee severance program and lower maintenance expense. These factors were partially offset by lower freight revenues, a significant negative net impact of fuel and higher depreciation expense. In addition, operating income in 2014 reflects one fewer operating day and the year-over-year negative impact of severe weather.
In 2014, salaries and employee benefits were flat due to lower pension expense, the delayed timing or absence of annual merit increases for many of our employees, benefits from our voluntary employee severance program and lower variable incentive compensation. Intercompany charges decreased 15% in 2014 due to the inclusion in the prior year results of costs associated with the business realignment program at FedEx Services, as well as lower allocated sales and information technology costs. FedEx Express maintenance and repairs costs decreased 5% in 2014 due to network reductions and the benefits from the retirement of aircraft and related engines, as well as the timing of major maintenance events. Purchased transportation costs increased 8% in 2014 due to higher utilization of third-party transportation providers, including recent business acquisitions, and costs associated with the expansion of our freight-forwarding business at FedEx Trade Networks. Depreciation and amortization expense increased 10% during 2014 as a result of $74 million of year-over-year incremental accelerated depreciation due to the shortened life of certain aircraft scheduled for retirement, and aircraft placed into service.
Fuel costs decreased 5% in 2014 due to lower aircraft fuel prices and usage. The net impact of fuel had a significant negative impact on operating income in 2014. See the “Fuel” section of this MD&A for a description and additional discussion of the net impact of fuel on our operating results.
FedEx Express Segment Outlook
We expect revenues and earnings to increase at FedEx Express during 2016 primarily due to improved U.S. domestic and international export volume and package yields, as we continue to focus on revenue quality while managing costs. In addition, we expect operating income to improve through the continued execution of our profit improvement programs, including managing network capacity to match customer demand, reducing structural costs, modernizing our fleet and driving productivity increases throughout our U.S. and international operations.
Capital expenditures at FedEx Express are expected to increase in 2016 driven by our aircraft fleet modernization programs, as we add new aircraft that are more reliable, fuel-efficient and technologically advanced and retire older, less-efficient aircraft.
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FedEx Ground service offerings include day-certain service delivery to businesses in the U.S. and Canada and to nearly 100% of U.S. residences. FedEx SmartPost consolidates high-volume, low-weight, less time-sensitive business-to-consumer packages and utilizes the United States Postal Service (“USPS”) for final delivery. On January 30, 2015, we acquired GENCO, a leading North American third-party logistics provider. GENCO’s financial results are included in the following table from the date of acquisition, which has impacted the year-over-year comparability of revenue and operating expenses. The following tables compare revenues, operating expenses, operating expenses as a percent of revenue, operating income and operating margin (dollars in millions) and selected package statistics (in thousands, except yield amounts) for the years ended May 31, and amounts have been recast to conform to the current year presentation reflecting the pension accounting changes and allocation of corporate headquarters costs further discussed in this MD&A and Note 1, Note 13 and Note 14 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements:
| Percent Change |
||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2015/2014 | 2014/2013 | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenues: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| FedEx Ground |
$ | 11,563 | $ | 10,634 | $ | 9,652 | 9 | 10 | ||||||||||||
| FedEx SmartPost |
1,005 | 983 | 926 | 2 | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| GENCO |
416 | — | — | NM | NM | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total revenues |
12,984 | 11,617 | 10,578 | 12 | 10 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Salaries and employee benefits |
2,146 | 1,749 | 1,577 | 23 | 11 | |||||||||||||||
| Purchased transportation |
5,021 | 4,635 | 4,191 | 8 | 11 | |||||||||||||||
| Rentals |
485 | 402 | 331 | 21 | 21 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
530 | 468 | 434 | 13 | 8 | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel |
12 | 17 | 17 | (29 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Maintenance and repairs |
244 | 222 | 190 | 10 | 17 | |||||||||||||||
| Intercompany charges(1) |
1,123 | 1,095 | 1,086 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Other |
1,251 | 1,008 | 893 | 24 | 13 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses |
10,812 | 9,596 | 8,719 | 13 | 10 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Operating income |
$ | 2,172 | $ | 2,021 | $ | 1,859 | 7 | 9 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Operating margin |
16.7 | % | 17.4 | % | 17.6 | % | (70 | )bp | (20 | )bp | ||||||||||
| Average daily package volume: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| FedEx Ground |
4,850 | 4,588 | 4,222 | 6 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
| FedEx SmartPost |
2,061 | 2,186 | 2,058 | (6 | ) | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Revenue per package (yield): |
||||||||||||||||||||
| FedEx Ground |
$ | 9.37 | $ | 9.10 | $ | 8.94 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| FedEx SmartPost |
$ | 1.93 | $ | 1.78 | $ | 1.77 | 8 | 1 | ||||||||||||
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| Percent of Revenue | ||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||
| Salaries and employee benefits |
16.5 | % | 15.0 | % | 14.9 | % | ||||||
| Purchased transportation |
38.7 | 39.9 | 39.6 | |||||||||
| Rentals |
3.7 | 3.5 | 3.1 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
4.1 | 4.0 | 4.1 | |||||||||
| Fuel |
0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | |||||||||
| Maintenance and repairs |
1.9 | 1.9 | 1.8 | |||||||||
| Intercompany charges(1) |
8.7 | 9.4 | 10.3 | |||||||||
| Other |
9.6 | 8.7 | 8.4 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total operating expenses |
83.3 | 82.6 | 82.4 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Operating margin |
16.7 | % | 17.4 | % | 17.6 | % | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| (1) | Includes allocations of $105 million in 2013 for business realignment costs. |
FedEx Ground Segment Revenues
FedEx Ground segment revenues increased 12% in 2015 due to volume and yield growth at FedEx Ground, the inclusion of GENCO results and yield growth at FedEx SmartPost, partially offset by lower volumes at FedEx SmartPost.
Average daily volume at FedEx Ground increased 6% in 2015 due to continued growth in our FedEx Home Delivery service and commercial business. Yield increased 3% in 2015 primarily due to higher dimensional weight charges and rate increases.
FedEx SmartPost average daily volume decreased 6% in 2015 due to the reduction in volume from a major customer. FedEx SmartPost yield increased 8% in 2015 due to rate increases and improved customer mix, partially offset by higher postage costs. FedEx SmartPost yield represents the amount charged to customers net of postage paid to the USPS.
FedEx Ground segment revenues increased 10% in 2014 due to both volume and yield growth at FedEx Ground and volume growth at FedEx SmartPost. In addition, 2014 revenues were negatively impacted by one fewer operating day, unusually severe weather and lower fuel surcharges.
Average daily volume at FedEx Ground increased 9% during 2014 due to market share gains resulting from continued growth in our FedEx Home Delivery service and commercial business. FedEx Ground yield increased 2% during 2014 primarily due to rate increases and higher residential surcharges, partially offset by lower fuel surcharge revenue.
FedEx SmartPost volumes grew 6% during 2014 primarily due to growth in e-commerce. Yields at FedEx SmartPost increased 1% during 2014 primarily due to rate increases and change in service mix, partially offset by higher postage costs and lower fuel surcharges.
The FedEx Ground fuel surcharge is based on a rounded average of the national U.S. on-highway average price for a gallon of diesel fuel, as published by the Department of Energy. Our fuel surcharge ranged as follows for the years ended May 31:
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Low |
4.50 | % | 6.50 | % | 6.50 | % | ||||||
| High |
7.00 | 7.00 | 8.50 | |||||||||
| Weighted-average |
5.90 | 6.66 | 7.60 | |||||||||
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On February 2, 2015, FedEx Ground updated the tables used to determine fuel surcharges. On September 16, 2014, FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery announced a 4.9% increase in average list price effective January 5, 2015. In addition, as announced in May 2014, FedEx Ground began applying dimensional weight pricing to all shipments effective January 5, 2015. In January 2014, FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery implemented a 4.9% increase in average list price. FedEx SmartPost rates also increased.
FedEx Ground Segment Operating Income
FedEx Ground segment operating income increased 7% in 2015 driven by higher revenue per package and volumes, the positive net impact of fuel, and a lower year-over-year impact from severe winter weather. The increase to operating income was partially offset by higher network expansion costs, as we continue to invest heavily in our FedEx Ground and FedEx SmartPost businesses. The decline in operating margin for 2015 is primarily attributable to network expansion costs and the inclusion of GENCO results.
The inclusion of GENCO results in the FedEx Ground segment results has impacted the year-over-year comparability of all operating expenses. Including the incremental costs from GENCO, salaries and employee benefits increased 23% driven by additional staffing to support volume growth. Volume growth and higher service provider rates drove purchased transportation expense to increase 8% in 2015. Other expense increased 24% in 2015 primarily due to the addition of GENCO results and higher self-insurance costs. Network expansion caused rentals expense to increase 21% in 2015. Depreciation and amortization expense increased 13% in 2015 due to network expansion and trailer purchases.
FedEx Ground segment operating income increased 9% in 2014 driven by higher volumes and yields. Operating income comparisons were also positively impacted by the inclusion in 2013 of costs associated with our business realignment program. The increase to operating income in 2014 was partially offset by higher network expansion costs, as we continue to invest heavily in the growing FedEx Ground and FedEx SmartPost businesses, and the net negative impact of fuel. In addition, operating income in 2014 was negatively affected by year-over-year impact of unusually severe weather and one fewer operating day. The decline in operating margin for 2014 is primarily attributable to the negative net impact of fuel and network expansion costs. Operating margin in 2014 benefited from the inclusion in 2013 of costs associated with our business realignment program.
Salaries and employee benefits expense increased 11% during 2014 primarily due to additional staffing to support volume growth and higher healthcare costs. Other expense increased 13% primarily due to higher self-insurance costs and credit card fees. Rentals expense increased 21% in 2014 due to network expansion. Depreciation and amortization expense increased 8% in 2014 due to network expansion and trailer purchases.
FedEx Ground Segment Outlook
FedEx Ground segment revenues and operating income are expected to continue to grow in 2016, led by volume growth across all our major services due to market share gains. We also anticipate yield growth to continue in 2016 through yield management programs, including our dimensional weight rating changes. However, the full-year impact of the GENCO acquisition will have a negative impact on FedEx Ground operating margin in 2016 due to integration costs and the impact of intangible asset amortization arising from purchase accounting.
Capital expenditures at FedEx Ground are expected to increase in 2016 as we continue to make investments to grow our highly profitable FedEx Ground network through facility expansions and equipment purchases. The impact of these investments on our cost structure will partially offset earnings growth in 2016.
On March 16, 2015, we announced that our FedEx SmartPost business will be merged into FedEx Ground effective September 1, 2015. The FedEx SmartPost service remains an important component of our service offerings and this internal structural change will enhance our ability to leverage the strengths of both the FedEx Ground and FedEx SmartPost networks to maximize operational efficiencies and will provide greater flexibility to meeting the needs of our e-commerce customers. No personnel reductions associated with this merger are expected, and the estimated cost of the merger activities is immaterial to our results.
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Effective June 1, 2015, we will begin recording revenues associated with FedEx SmartPost on a gross basis including postal fees in revenues and expenses, versus our previous net treatment, due to operational changes occurring in 2016 which result in us being the principal in all cases for the FedEx SmartPost service. This change will be prospective as the operational changes did not occur until the beginning of 2016. While we expect this to have a negative impact of approximately 120 basis points on the FedEx Ground operating margin in 2016, it will not impact the total operating income of FedEx Ground.
We will continue to vigorously defend various attacks against our independent contractor model and incur ongoing legal costs as a part of this process. While we believe that FedEx Ground’s owner-operators are properly classified as independent contractors, it is reasonably possible that we could incur additional material losses in connection with one or more of these matters or be required to make material changes to our contractor model. However, we do not believe that any such changes will impair our ability to operate and profitably grow our FedEx Ground business.
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FedEx Freight service offerings include priority LTL services when speed is critical and economy services when time can be traded for savings. The following table compares revenues, operating expenses, operating expenses as a percent of revenue, operating income, operating margin (dollars in millions) and selected statistics for the years ended May 31, and amounts have been recast to conform to the current year presentation reflecting the pension accounting changes and allocation of corporate headquarters costs further discussed in this MD&A and Note 1, Note 13 and Note 14 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements:
| Percent Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2015/2014 | 2014/2013 | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenues |
$ | 6,191 | $ | 5,757 | $ | 5,401 | 8 | 7 | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Salaries and employee benefits |
2,698 | 2,442 | 2,336 | 10 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| Purchased transportation |
1,045 | 981 | 865 | 7 | 13 | |||||||||||||||
| Rentals |
129 | 131 | 118 | (2 | ) | 11 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
230 | 231 | 217 | — | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel |
508 | 595 | 598 | (15 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Maintenance and repairs |
201 | 179 | 191 | 12 | (6 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Business realignment, impairment and other charges(1) |
— | — | 3 | NM | NM | |||||||||||||||
| Intercompany charges(2) |
444 | 431 | 452 | 3 | (5 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Other |
452 | 416 | 375 | 9 | 11 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses |
5,707 | 5,406 | 5,155 | 6 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Operating income |
$ | 484 | $ | 351 | $ | 246 | 38 | 43 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Operating margin |
7.8 | % | 6.1 | % | 4.6 | % | 170 | bp | 150 | bp | ||||||||||
| Average daily LTL shipments (in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Priority |
66.9 | 62.9 | 59.3 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| Economy |
28.6 | 27.7 | 26.4 | 3 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total average daily LTL shipments |
95.5 | 90.6 | 85.7 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Weight per LTL shipment |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Priority |
1,272 | 1,262 | 1,237 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| Economy |
1,003 | 1,000 | 990 | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Composite weight per LTL shipment |
1,191 | 1,182 | 1,161 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| LTL revenue per shipment |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Priority |
$ | 229.57 | $ | 223.61 | $ | 220.32 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Economy |
264.34 | 258.05 | 256.38 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Composite LTL revenue per shipment |
$ | 240.09 | $ | 234.23 | $ | 231.52 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| LTL revenue per hundredweight |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Priority |
$ | 18.05 | $ | 17.73 | $ | 17.80 | 2 | — | ||||||||||||
| Economy |
26.34 | 25.80 | 25.90 | 2 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Composite LTL revenue per hundredweight |
$ | 20.15 | $ | 19.82 | $ | 19.94 | 2 | (1 | ) | |||||||||||
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| Percent of Revenue | ||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||
| Salaries and employee benefits |
43.6 | % | 42.4 | % | 43.3 | % | ||||||
| Purchased transportation |
16.9 | 17.1 | 16.0 | |||||||||
| Rentals |
2.1 | 2.3 | 2.2 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
3.7 | 4.0 | 4.0 | |||||||||
| Fuel |
8.2 | 10.3 | 11.1 | |||||||||
| Maintenance and repairs |
3.2 | 3.1 | 3.5 | |||||||||
| Business realignment, impairment and other charges(1) |
— | — | — | |||||||||
| Intercompany charges(2) |
7.2 | 7.5 | 8.4 | |||||||||
| Other |
7.3 | 7.2 | 6.9 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total operating expenses |
92.2 | 93.9 | 95.4 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Operating margin |
7.8 | % | 6.1 | % | 4.6 | % | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| (1) | 2013 includes severance costs associated with our voluntary buyout program. |
| (2) | Includes allocations of $47 million in 2013 for business realignment costs. |
FedEx Freight Segment Revenues
FedEx Freight segment revenues increased 8% in 2015 due to higher average daily shipments and revenue per shipment. Average daily LTL shipments increased 5% in 2015 due to higher demand for our FedEx Freight Priority and FedEx Freight Economy service offerings. LTL revenue per shipment increased 3% in 2015 due to higher rates and higher weight per LTL shipment.
FedEx Freight segment revenues increased 7% during 2014 due to higher average daily LTL shipments and revenue per LTL shipment. Revenues in 2014 were negatively impacted by one fewer operating day. Average daily LTL shipments increased 6% in 2014 due to higher demand for both of our service offerings. LTL revenue per shipment increased 1% in 2014 due to changes in shipment characteristics, primarily higher weight per LTL shipment.
The weekly indexed LTL fuel surcharge is based on the average of the U.S. on-highway prices for a gallon of diesel fuel, as published by the Department of Energy. The indexed LTL fuel surcharge ranged as follows for the years ended May 31:
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Low |
20.90 | % | 22.70 | % | 21.80 | % | ||||||
| High |
26.20 | 23.70 | 24.40 | |||||||||
| Weighted-average |
24.30 | 23.20 | 23.38 | |||||||||
On February 2, 2015, FedEx Freight updated the tables used to determine fuel surcharges. On September 16, 2014, FedEx Freight announced a 4.9% average increase in certain U.S. and other shipping rates effective January 5, 2015. In June 2014, FedEx Freight increased its published fuel surcharge indices by three percentage points. In March 2014, FedEx Freight increased certain U.S. and other shipping rates by an average of 3.9%.
FedEx Freight Segment Operating Income
FedEx Freight segment operating income and operating margin increased in 2015 due to higher LTL revenue per shipment and higher average daily LTL shipments. These factors were partially offset by a 10% increase in salaries and employee benefits expense, driven by staffing to support volume growth and higher incentive compensation accruals. Volume growth, higher utilization and higher service provider rates drove an increase to purchased transportation expense of 7% in 2015. Other expense increased 9% in 2015 driven partially by higher cargo claims.
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FedEx Freight segment operating income and operating margin increased in 2014 due to the positive impacts of higher average daily LTL shipments, higher LTL revenue per shipment and greater network efficiency. Operating income comparisons also benefited from the inclusion in 2013 of costs associated with our business realignment program as discussed below. Operating income in 2014 was negatively impacted by higher depreciation and amortization expense, the negative year-over-year impact of severe weather and one fewer operating day.
Purchased transportation expense increased 13% in 2014 due to increased use of rail and road third-party transportation providers and higher rates. Salaries and employee benefits increased 5% in 2014 primarily due to a volume-related increase in labor hours and higher healthcare costs. Other operating expenses increased 11% in 2014 due to higher self-insurance costs, bad debt expense and real estate taxes. Intercompany charges decreased 5% in 2014 primarily due to the inclusion in the prior year results of costs associated with the business realignment program at FedEx Services, partially offset by higher allocated sales costs.
FedEx Freight Segment Outlook
We expect continued revenue and operating income growth, as well as improvement in our operating margin during 2016 driven by moderate volume growth from our differentiated LTL services. We also anticipate effective yield management practices to result in increased revenues. FedEx Freight earnings growth will also be positively impacted by continued improvement in productivity along with further investment in technology.
Capital expenditures at FedEx Freight are expected to increase in 2016 primarily driven by investments in vehicles, as well as additional investments in facilities.
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Cash and cash equivalents totaled $3.8 billion at May 31, 2015, compared to $2.9 billion at May 31, 2014. The following table provides a summary of our cash flows for the periods ended May 31 (in millions). All amounts have been recast to conform to the current year presentation reflecting the MTM accounting changes further discussed in this MD&A and Note 1, Note 13 and Note 14 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements:
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Operating activities: |
||||||||||||
| Net income |
$ | 1,050 | $ | 2,324 | $ | 2,716 | ||||||
| Business realignment, impairment and other charges |
246 | — | 479 | |||||||||
| Retirement plans mark-to-market adjustment |
2,190 | 15 | (1,368 | ) | ||||||||
| Other noncash charges and credits |
2,317 | 3,173 | 3,396 | |||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities |
(437 | ) | (1,248 | ) | (535 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Cash provided by operating activities |
5,366 | 4,264 | 4,688 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Investing activities: |
||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures |
(4,347 | ) | (3,533 | ) | (3,375 | ) | ||||||
| Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
(1,429 | ) | (36 | ) | (483 | ) | ||||||
| Proceeds from asset dispositions and other |
24 | 18 | 55 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Cash used in investing activities |
(5,752 | ) | (3,551 | ) | (3,803 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Financing activities: |
||||||||||||
| Purchase of treasury stock, including ASRs |
(1,254 | ) | (4,857 | ) | (246 | ) | ||||||
| Principal payments on debt |
(5 | ) | (254 | ) | (417 | ) | ||||||
| Proceeds from debt issuances |
2,491 | 1,997 | 1,739 | |||||||||
| Dividends paid |
(227 | ) | (187 | ) | (177 | ) | ||||||
| Other |
344 | 582 | 285 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
1,349 | (2,719 | ) | 1,184 | ||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
(108 | ) | (3 | ) | 5 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 855 | $ | (2,009 | ) | $ | 2,074 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 3,763 | $ | 2,908 | $ | 4,917 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Cash Provided by Operating Activities. Cash flows from operating activities increased $1.1 billion in 2015 primarily due to higher segment operating income, the inclusion in the prior year of payments associated with our voluntary employee buyout program and lower incentive compensation payments. Cash flows from operating activities decreased $424 million in 2014 primarily due to voluntary employee severance program payouts, an income tax refund received in the prior year, higher income tax payments and higher pension contributions, partially offset by higher segment operating income. We made contributions of $660 million to our tax-qualified U.S. domestic pension plans (“U.S. Pension Plans”) in 2015 and 2014 and $560 million in 2013.
Cash Used in Investing Activities. Capital expenditures were 23% higher in 2015 largely due to increased spending for aircraft at FedEx Express and sort facility expansion at FedEx Ground, and were 5% higher in 2014 than in 2013, largely due to increased spending at FedEx Ground and FedEx Express. See “Capital Resources” for a more detailed discussion of capital expenditures during 2015 and 2014.
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Financing Activities. We had various senior unsecured debt issuances in 2015, 2014 and 2013. See Note 6 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements for more information on these issuances. Interest on these notes is paid semiannually. We utilized $1.4 billion of the net proceeds of the 2015 debt issuance to fund our acquisition of GENCO and the remaining proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes. We utilized the net proceeds of the 2014 debt issuance to finance the ASR agreements as discussed below. We utilized the net proceeds of the 2013 debt issuances for working capital and general corporate purposes. See Note 3 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion of business acquisitions.
During 2014, we repaid our $250 million 7.38% senior unsecured notes that matured on January 15, 2014. During 2013, we made principal payments of $116 million related to capital lease obligations and repaid our $300 million 9.65% unsecured notes that matured in June 2012 using cash from operations.
The effect of exchange rate changes on cash during 2015 was driven by the overall strengthening of the U.S. dollar primarily against the Brazilian real, the British pound, the Japanese yen, the Canadian dollar and the Mexican peso.
The following table provides a summary of our common stock share repurchases for the periods ended May 31 (dollars in millions, except per share amounts):
| 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Number of Shares Purchased |
Average Price Paid per Share |
Total Purchase Price |
Total Number of Shares Purchased |
Average Price Paid per Share |
Total Purchase Price |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock purchases |
8,142,410 | $ | 154.03 | $ | 1,254 | 36,845,590 | $ | 131.83 | $ | 4,857 | ||||||||||||||
As of May 31, 2015, 12.2 million shares remained under our share repurchase authorizations. Our share repurchase activity in 2014 includes ASR agreements entered into with two banks to repurchase $2.0 billion of our common stock.
In 2015, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 15 million shares of common stock. It is expected that the share authorization will primarily be utilized to offset equity compensation dilution over the next several years. Shares may be repurchased under this program from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. This is the only repurchase program that currently exists, and it does not have an expiration date.
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Our operations are capital intensive, characterized by significant investments in aircraft, vehicles, technology, facilities, and package-handling and sort equipment. The amount and timing of capital additions depend on various factors, including pre-existing contractual commitments, anticipated volume growth, domestic and international economic conditions, new or enhanced services, geographical expansion of services, availability of satisfactory financing and actions of regulatory authorities.
The following table compares capital expenditures by asset category and reportable segment for the years ended May 31 (in millions):
| Percent Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2015/2014 | 2014/2013 | ||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft and related equipment |
$ | 1,866 | $ | 1,327 | $ | 1,190 | 41 | 12 | ||||||||||||
| Facilities and sort equipment |
1,224 | 819 | 727 | 49 | 13 | |||||||||||||||
| Vehicles |
601 | 784 | 734 | (23 | ) | 7 | ||||||||||||||
| Information and technology investments |
348 | 403 | 452 | (14 | ) | (11 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Other equipment |
308 | 200 | 272 | 54 | (26 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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|
|
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| Total capital expenditures |
$ | 4,347 | $ | 3,533 | $ | 3,375 | 23 | 5 | ||||||||||||
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| FedEx Express segment |
$ | 2,380 | $ | 1,994 | $ | 2,067 | 19 | (4 | ) | |||||||||||
| FedEx Ground segment |
1,248 | 850 | 555 | 47 | 53 | |||||||||||||||
| FedEx Freight segment |
337 | 325 | 326 | 4 | — | |||||||||||||||
| FedEx Services segment |
381 | 363 | 424 | 5 | (14 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Other |
1 | 1 | 3 | NM | NM | |||||||||||||||
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| Total capital expenditures |
$ | 4,347 | $ | 3,533 | $ | 3,375 | 23 | 5 | ||||||||||||
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Capital expenditures during 2015 were higher than the prior year primarily due to increased spending for aircraft at FedEx Express and increased spending for sort facility expansion at FedEx Ground. Aircraft and related equipment purchases at FedEx Express during 2015 included the delivery of 14 Boeing 767-300 Freighter (“B767F”) and 13 Boeing 757 (“B757”) aircraft, as well as the modification of certain aircraft before being placed into service. Capital expenditures during 2014 were higher than the prior year primarily due to increased spending for sort facility expansion and equipment at FedEx Ground and aircraft and related equipment at FedEx Express. Aircraft and related equipment expenditures at FedEx Express during 2014 included the delivery of 17 B757 aircraft, four B767F aircraft and two Boeing 777 Freighter (“B777F”) aircraft, as well as the modification of certain aircraft before being placed into service.
We believe that our cash and cash equivalents, which totaled $3.8 billion at May 31, 2015, cash flow from operations and available financing sources will be adequate to meet our liquidity needs, including working capital, capital expenditure requirements, debt payment obligations and our announced intent to acquire TNT Express. Our cash and cash equivalents balance at May 31, 2015 includes $478 million of cash in offshore jurisdictions associated with our permanent reinvestment strategy. We do not believe that the indefinite reinvestment of these funds offshore impairs our ability to meet our U.S. domestic debt or working capital obligations.
Our capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $4.6 billion in 2016. We anticipate that our cash flow from operations will be sufficient to fund our increased capital expenditures in 2016, which will include spending for network expansion at FedEx Ground and aircraft modernization and re-fleeting at FedEx Express. We expect approximately 45% of capital expenditures in 2016 to be designated for growth initiatives, predominantly at FedEx Ground, and 55% dedicated to maintaining our existing operations. Our expected capital expenditures for 2016 include $1.6 billion in investments for delivery of aircraft and progress payments toward future aircraft deliveries at FedEx Express.
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We have several aircraft modernization programs underway that are supported by the purchase of B777F, B767F and B757 aircraft. These aircraft are significantly more fuel-efficient per unit than the aircraft types previously utilized, and these expenditures are necessary to achieve significant long-term operating savings and to replace older aircraft. Our ability to delay the timing of these aircraft-related expenditures is limited without incurring significant costs to modify existing purchase agreements. During September 2014, FedEx Express entered into an agreement to purchase four additional B767F aircraft, the delivery of which will begin in 2017 and continue through 2019.
We have a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that allows us to sell, in one or more future offerings, any combination of our unsecured debt securities and common stock.
We plan to finance the aggregate consideration of the announced intent to acquire TNT Express by utilizing available cash on our balance sheet and through available financing sources.
A $1 billion revolving credit facility is available to finance our operations and other cash flow needs and to provide support for the issuance of commercial paper. The revolving credit agreement expires in March 2018. The agreement contains a financial covenant, which requires us to maintain a leverage ratio of adjusted debt (long-term debt, including the current portion of such debt, plus six times our last four fiscal quarters’ rentals and landing fees) to capital (adjusted debt plus total common stockholders’ investment) that does not exceed 70%. Our leverage ratio of adjusted debt to capital was 61% at May 31, 2015. We believe the leverage ratio covenant is the only significant restrictive covenant in our revolving credit agreement. Our revolving credit agreement contains other customary covenants that do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially restrict the conduct of our business. We are in compliance with the leverage ratio covenant and all other covenants of our revolving credit agreement and do not expect the covenants to affect our operations, including our liquidity or expected funding needs. As of May 31, 2015, no commercial paper was outstanding, and the entire $1 billion under the revolving credit facility was available for future borrowings.
For 2016, we anticipate making contributions totaling $660 million (approximately $500 million of which are required) to our U.S. Pension Plans. Our U.S. Pension Plans have ample funds to meet expected benefit payments.
On June 8, 2015, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share of common stock, an increase of $0.05 per common share from the prior quarter’s dividend. The dividend was paid on July 2, 2015 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 18, 2015. Each quarterly dividend payment is subject to review and approval by our Board of Directors, and we evaluate our dividend payment amount on an annual basis at the end of each fiscal year.
Standard & Poor’s has assigned us a senior unsecured debt credit rating of BBB and commercial paper rating of A-2 and a ratings outlook of “stable.” Moody’s Investors Service has assigned us a senior unsecured debt credit rating of Baa1 and commercial paper rating of P-2 and a ratings outlook of “negative.” If our credit ratings drop, our interest expense may increase. If our commercial paper ratings drop below current levels, we may have difficulty utilizing the commercial paper market. If our senior unsecured debt credit ratings drop below investment grade, our access to financing may become limited.
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CONTRACTUAL CASH OBLIGATIONS AND OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The following table sets forth a summary of our contractual cash obligations as of May 31, 2015. Certain of these contractual obligations are reflected in our balance sheet, while others are disclosed as future obligations under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Except for the current portion of interest on long-term debt, this table does not include amounts already recorded in our balance sheet as current liabilities at May 31, 2015. We have certain contingent liabilities that are not accrued in our balance sheet in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These contingent liabilities are not included in the table below. We have other long-term liabilities reflected in our balance sheet, including deferred income taxes, qualified and nonqualified pension and postretirement healthcare plan liabilities and other self-insurance accruals. Unless statutorily required, the payment obligations associated with these liabilities are not reflected in the table below due to the absence of scheduled maturities. Accordingly, this table is not meant to represent a forecast of our total cash expenditures for any of the periods presented.
| Payments Due by Fiscal Year (Undiscounted) (in millions) |
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| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Thereafter | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating activities: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating leases |
$ | 2,128 | $ | 2,241 | $ | 1,751 | $ | 1,511 | $ | 1,265 | $ | 7,489 | $ | 16,385 | ||||||||||||||
| Non-capital purchase obligations and other |
432 | 230 | 127 | 69 | 22 | 89 | 969 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest on long-term debt |
325 | 320 | 320 | 320 | 260 | 5,331 | 6,876 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Contributions to our U.S. Pension Plans |
500 | — | — | — | — | — | 500 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Investing activities: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft and aircraft-related capital commitments |
1,255 | 1,024 | 1,399 | 1,017 | 662 | 3,786 | 9,143 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other capital purchase obligations |
129 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 135 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Financing activities: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt |
— | — | — | 750 | 400 | 6,090 | 7,240 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Total |
$ | 4,769 | $ | 3,820 | $ | 3,598 | $ | 3,667 | $ | 2,609 | $ | 22,785 | $ | 41,248 | ||||||||||||||
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Open purchase orders that are cancelable are not considered unconditional purchase obligations for financial reporting purposes and are not included in the table above. Such purchase orders often represent authorizations to purchase rather than binding agreements. See Note 17 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements for more information on such purchase orders.
Operating Activities
In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, future contractual payments under our operating leases (totaling $16 billion on an undiscounted basis) are not recorded in our balance sheet. Credit rating agencies routinely use information concerning minimum lease payments required for our operating leases to calculate our debt capacity. The amounts reflected in the table above for operating leases represent future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases (principally aircraft and facilities) with an initial or remaining term in excess of one year at May 31, 2015. Under the proposed new lease accounting rules, the majority of these leases will be required to be recognized on the balance sheet as a liability with an offsetting right-to-use asset.
The amounts reflected for purchase obligations represent noncancelable agreements to purchase goods or services that are not capital-related. Such contracts include those for printing and advertising and promotions contracts.
Included in the table above within the caption entitled “Non-capital purchase obligations and other” is our estimate of the current portion of the liability ($1 million) for uncertain tax positions. We cannot reasonably estimate the timing of the long-term payments or the amount by which the liability will increase or decrease over time; therefore, the long-term portion of the liability ($35 million) is excluded from the table. See Note 12 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further information.
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We had $472 million in deposits and progress payments as of May 31, 2015 on aircraft purchases and other planned aircraft-related transactions.
Investing Activities
The amounts reflected in the table above for capital purchase obligations represent noncancelable agreements to purchase capital-related equipment. Such contracts include those for certain purchases of aircraft, aircraft modifications, vehicles, facilities, computers and other equipment. Commitments to purchase aircraft in passenger configuration do not include the attendant costs to modify these aircraft for cargo transport unless we have entered into noncancelable commitments to modify such aircraft.
Financing Activities
We have certain financial instruments representing potential commitments, not reflected in the table above, that were incurred in the normal course of business to support our operations, including standby letters of credit and surety bonds. These instruments are required under certain U.S. self-insurance programs and are also used in the normal course of international operations. The underlying liabilities insured by these instruments are reflected in our balance sheets, where applicable. Therefore, no additional liability is reflected for the letters of credit and surety bonds themselves.
The amounts reflected in the table above for long-term debt represent future scheduled payments on our long-term debt. In 2016, we have no scheduled debt payments.
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make significant judgments and estimates to develop amounts reflected and disclosed in the financial statements. In many cases, there are alternative policies or estimation techniques that could be used. We maintain a thorough process to review the application of our accounting policies and to evaluate the appropriateness of the many estimates that are required to prepare the financial statements of a complex, global corporation. However, even under optimal circumstances, estimates routinely require adjustment based on changing circumstances and new or better information.
The estimates discussed below include the financial statement elements that are either the most judgmental or involve the selection or application of alternative accounting policies and are material to our financial statements. Management has discussed the development and selection of these critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors and with our independent registered public accounting firm.
OVERVIEW. We sponsor programs that provide retirement benefits to most of our employees. These programs include defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution plans and postretirement healthcare plans and are described in Note 13 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The rules for pension accounting are complex and can produce tremendous volatility in our results, financial condition and liquidity.
As described in the consolidated results section of this MD&A, in 2015 we adopted MTM accounting for recognition of actuarial gains and losses on our defined benefit pension and postretirement healthcare plans. Previously, we amortized actuarial gains or losses in excess of a corridor amount over the average remaining service lives of our covered employees. Further, we used a calculated value method to determine the value of plan assets amortizing changes in the fair value of plan assets over a period no
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longer than four years. Under our new MTM accounting methodology (as described in Note 1 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements), we will immediately recognize changes in the fair value of plan assets and actuarial gains or losses in our operating results annually in the fourth quarter each year. The remaining components of pension and postretirement healthcare expense, primarily service and interest costs and the expected return on plan assets, will continue to be recorded on a quarterly basis.
We elected to adopt MTM accounting for a number of reasons. Immediate recognition of gains and losses in the income statement is the preferred method of accounting for these plans as it aligns the income statement treatment with the treatment required to measure the related assets and liabilities in the balance sheet. Furthermore, the accumulated actuarial losses relate primarily to the remeasurement of our legacy pension formula which has been frozen for the vast majority of employees since 2008. Due to persistently low interest rates and demographic assumption changes, those accumulated losses have become increasingly material and amortizing them into future periods would punitively burden future operations for legacy benefit costs.
We are required to record year-end adjustments to our financial statements on an annual basis for the net funded status of our pension and postretirement healthcare plans. The funded status of our plans also impacts our liquidity; however, the cash funding rules operate under a completely different set of assumptions and standards than those used for financial reporting purposes. As a result, our actual cash funding requirements can differ materially from our reported funded status.
The “Salaries and employee benefits” caption of our consolidated income statements includes expense associated with service and interest costs and the expected return on plan assets. Our fourth quarter MTM adjustment is included in the “Retirement plans mark-to-market adjustment” caption in our consolidated income statements. A summary of our retirement plans costs over the past three years is as follows (in millions):
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Defined benefit pension plans: |
||||||||||||
| Segment level |
$ | 191 | $ | 285 | $ | 355 | ||||||
| Corporate, eliminations and other |
(232 | ) | (186 | ) | (192 | ) | ||||||
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| Total defined benefit pension plans |
$ | (41 | ) | $ | 99 | $ | 163 | |||||
| Defined contribution plans |
385 | 363 | 354 | |||||||||
| Postretirement healthcare plans |
81 | 78 | 78 | |||||||||
| Retirement plans mark-to-market adjustment |
2,190 | 15 | (1,368 | ) | ||||||||
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| $ | 2,615 | $ | 555 | $ | (773 | ) | ||||||
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The components of the pre-tax mark-to-market losses (gains) are as follows, in millions:
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Discount rate changes |
$ | 791 | $ | 705 | $ | (1,076 | ) | |||||
| Actual versus expected return on assets |
(35 | ) | (1,013 | ) | (696 | ) | ||||||
| Demographic assumption changes |
1,434 | 323 | 404 | |||||||||
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| Total mark-to-market loss (gain) |
$ | 2,190 | $ | 15 | $ | (1,368 | ) | |||||
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2015
The implementation of new U.S. mortality tables in 2015 resulted in an increased participant life expectancy assumption, which increased the overall projected benefit obligation by $1.2 billion. The weighted average discount rate for all of our pension and postretirement healthcare plans declined from 4.57% at May 31, 2014 to 4.38% at May 31, 2015.
2014
The actual rate of return on our U.S. Pension Plan assets of 13.3% exceeded our expected return of 7.75% primarily due to a favorable investment environment for global equity markets. The weighted average discount rate for all of our pension and postretirement healthcare plans decreased from 4.76% at May 31, 2013 to 4.57% at May 31, 2014.
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2013
The weighted average discount rate for all of our pension and postretirement healthcare plans increased from 4.44% at May 31, 2012 to 4.76% at May 31, 2013. The actual rate of return on our U.S. Pension Plan assets of 12.1% exceeded our expected return of 8.0% primarily due to a favorable investment environment for global equity and credit markets.
Following is a discussion of the key estimates we consider in determining our U.S. Pension Plans cost:
DISCOUNT RATE. This is the interest rate used to discount the estimated future benefit payments that have been accrued to date (the projected benefit obligation, or “PBO”) to their net present value and to determine the succeeding year’s ongoing pension expense (prior to any year-end MTM adjustment). The discount rate is determined each year at the plan measurement date. The discount rate at each measurement date is as follows:
| Measurement Date |
Discount Rate | |
| 5/31/2015 |
4.42% | |
| 5/31/2014 |
4.60 | |
| 5/31/2013 |
4.79 | |
| 5/31/2012 |
4.44 |
We determine the discount rate with the assistance of actuaries, who calculate the yield on a theoretical portfolio of high-grade corporate bonds (rated Aa or better). In developing this theoretical portfolio, we select bonds that match cash flows to benefit payments, limit our concentration by industry and issuer, and apply screening criteria to ensure bonds with a call feature have a low probability of being called. To the extent scheduled bond proceeds exceed the estimated benefit payments in a given period, the calculation assumes those excess proceeds are reinvested at one-year forward rates.
The discount rate assumption is highly sensitive. For our largest pension plan, at our May 31, 2015 measurement date, a 50-basis-point increase in the discount rate would have decreased our 2015 PBO by approximately $1.7 billion and a 50-basis-point decrease in the discount rate would have increased our 2015 PBO by approximately $1.9 billion. With the adoption of MTM accounting, the impact of changes in the discount rate on pension expense are predominately isolated to our fourth quarter mark-to-market adjustment. A one-basis-point change in the discount rate for our largest pension plan would have a $37 million effect on the fourth quarter mark-to-market adjustment but only a net $100,000 impact on segment level pension expense.
PLAN ASSETS. The expected average rate of return on plan assets is a long-term, forward-looking assumption. It is required to be the expected future long-term rate of earnings on plan assets. Our pension plan assets are invested primarily in publicly tradeable securities, and our pension plans hold only a minimal investment in FedEx common stock that is entirely at the discretion of third-party pension fund investment managers. As part of our strategy to manage pension costs and funded status volatility, we have transitioned to a liability-driven investment strategy to better align plan assets with liabilities.
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Establishing the expected future rate of investment return on our pension assets is a judgmental matter, which we review on an annual basis and revise as appropriate. Management considers the following factors in determining this assumption:
| • | the duration of our pension plan liabilities, which drives the investment strategy we can employ with our pension plan assets; |
| • | the types of investment classes in which we invest our pension plan assets and the expected compound geometric return we can reasonably expect those investment classes to earn over time; and |
| • | the investment returns we can reasonably expect our investment management program to achieve in excess of the returns we could expect if investments were made strictly in indexed funds. |
For consolidated pension expense, we assumed a 7.75% expected long-term rate of return on our U.S. Pension Plan assets in 2015 and 2014 and 8% in 2013. The actual returns during each of the last three fiscal years have exceeded those long-term assumptions. However, for 2016, we have lowered our expected return on plan assets assumption for long-term returns on plan assets to 6.5% as we continue to implement our asset and liability management strategy. In lowering this assumption we considered our historical returns, our current capital markets outlook and our investment strategy for our plan assets, including the impact of the duration of our plan liability. Our actual return on plan assets has contracted from 2014 as we have increased our asset allocation to lower yielding fixed income investments. At the segment level, we have set our EROA at 6.5% for all periods presented.
A one-basis-point change in our expected return on plan assets impacts our 2016 segment pension expense by $2.3 million. The actual historical annual return on our U.S. Pension Plan assets, calculated on a compound geometric basis, was 6.7%, net of investment manager fees and administrative expenses, for the 15-year period ended May 31, 2015 and 7%, net of investment manager fees and administrative expenses, for the 15-year period ended May 31, 2014. Any difference between actual plan asset performance and the ex